Badger

Update on the Ratkov situation: https://onefootball.com/en/news/lotito-to-want-ratkov-to-start-as-gattuso-pushes-back-43313334 In short - manager doesn’t want him. Owner wants to keep faith in the player. Hope we’re not hanging on for this one. We love a summer soap opera at Saints don’t we ? Last year Spertsynation Street, now this.

What time is the fly past ? I’ll look out for it.

Interesting suggestion. If it is something like this wonder if anything outstanding from the Archer deal might also be absorbed into it. Makes it a bit more palatable if we’re paying less (or zero !!!) on those two. No idea if that can be written into the books though.

That puts a far rosier and more favourable slant on it (glass half full) than I would give looking at the relative sums flowing between us and Villa over the last couple of seasons. Scienza and Jander in my book had been funded by the sale of Fernandes. But valid point you make, that the important thing re the sale - if it happens - is not the amount incoming but who it is reinvested on.

The loan CB we might have gone for was Alleyne. But gone to Burnley. Burnley ffs….

Appalling negotiation if true. That’s effectively exchanging THB for what we’ve paid (been fleeced on) for Archer and Dobbin. How many would be happy with that ?

Let’s wait and see but fair point. Given the money we’ve given them for Archer and Dobbin though, perhaps £45m might not be unreasonable!

Which should increase his value if that’s the case. £30m minimum plus add ons.

Think the surprise is that Villa as a CL side might be in for him.

Infuriating to see other teams making these moves, and signings of players within our budget. Others have strengthened the spine of their sides ( GK - as have we - but CB, MF, CF still lacking). There’s another ten days of the window so not giving up hope, but as things stand (and with the THB rumour) we’ve clearly gone backwards.

Hoping it’s on par with the January signings, or deadline day last year then. Think we’ve missed a few affordable and decent options this summer so far.

Partly agree, but having seen them get £60m for a CB we should be looking at £30m plus the add-ons. Just get the fucking adequate replacements in. Other than Anel no names have really emerged (not impressed by the Estoril bloke with a fairly limited career to date).

No doubt we will, the worry is who with and what standard

Or since someone thought he looked as good as Maguire from Hull (in a match at St Mary’s) who was getting great reviews at the time.

Stephens almost shepherding him from the halfway line without ever looking like making a challenge didn’t help matters.

They also had a GK that made saves, something we lacked for half a season. Johansen made a good save from THB that would have drawn us level when they were down to 10 men (some stupid bastard sent off after diving. Wonder what happened to him after) Agree about Watford.

Shame. Agree. Proven at this level - although still not a direct Stewart replacement. But it seems we’d rather pursue a bloke who doesn’t want to be here, and it wouldn’t be summer without an extended youth opportunities programme for a Man City player.

Agree to a point. But: After West Ham/Wolves I’d say we’re up there as one of the more attractive and ambitious clubs in the division (same can be said for Middlesbrough with their new found wealth). The points deduction could - and should - be overcome fairly quickly. (The longer it isn’t then the more of an albatross it becomes, and as said above need a win tomorrow to show progress in the last week of the window). The manager situation does give me some concern and no doubt our immediate competitors are banging this drum to agents. Hope Tonda remains but out of our (supporters) hands. I’d expect top eight without any further additions (and no major departures).

Shame. Think putting Anel in the back four and the team would soon be (b)rimming with confidence again.

Yet the club made it known to him they weren’t happy that he questioned the appointment or described it as a big gamble when announced. Just goes to show the tightrope he’s walking, and damned if he does say something, and damned if he doesn’t.

Were we even interested and in the running ?

£5m ?Can’t see it if the interested clubs are Preston and West Brom. There might be a £2m extra on some unlikely event like either achieving promotion but we won’t see that.

Fair point about Coventry but we had goals through the team last season it wasn’t just dependent on the right side of Fellows and Matsuki. But it has to be maintained or improved this season.

Just wonder how much we might raise from Archer and Downs. Archer possibly £3-4m, don’t see the clubs he’s linked with having the funds we want. Downs , very little, probably more of a deal structured on a next sale % in hope he improves. Then there’s BBD, surely Derby can rustle up £3m or so.

Jury’s out at the least (being kind) in respect of Dobbin. For me neither he or Mubama stack up as a replacement for Stewart or what we needed. Despite the fiasco at the end of last season our squad was in a relatively strong shape. It’s now weaker and it seems disappointing if we’re scrabbling around the loan market. That said,Spors pulled some decent rabbits out of the hat at the end of the last window. So still hope.