Saint Fan CaM

Talk is cheap. In terms of essentials we’ve yet to sign Downes and Fraser, get linked with/sign a decent goalkeeper, get linked with/sign a decent LB, get linked with/sign a decent striker. In terms of bench you can bet Lallana and Manning will be getting some splinters.

Personally I reckon he’s a write-off entirely (although the club will not allow that due to the investment). His agility was always questionable, but with the injury he’s picked up it will take a lot of work to get back to anywhere near EPL standard and the likelyhood is the injury will impede that. If we get relegated again he might get a look in I suppose.

Thanks for the explanation, however that still doesn’t explain how keeping KWP on a contract that suits both parties has any clear detrimental effect on FFP compliance. It assumes that signing a new RB of equal ability at least, will cost significantly less than the funds we get for KWP and still allow new players to be signed. That’s a massive assumption and risk. Having said that, we are a selling club and that’s how we’ve operated previously, but I’m not convinced there’s a FFP imperative. As many have previously said, the problem with the approach is a continual decline in overall squad quality leading to a potential decline in results etc. Russ will find his tactics mercilessly exploited in the EPL trying to get lesser players perform like Man City. Our squad is not exactly brimming over with EPL quality, so I really do fear for the season ahead if we’re to sell our best players who can work in the system and keep deadwood players on the books out of some kind of loyalty.

See you’ve said that as others have, but nobody can explain why…it’s just speculation. And he wouldn’t be a new signing.

No it’s not. We could offer him a decent new contract, a guaranteed start and continued PL football. Of course he may want a move in which case it’s likely he’ll move, but I don’t think we know that as fact so I don’t see it as inevitable.

Nothing less than a tactical shambles considering the supposed squad quality on offer. And that’s across the whole side not just in attack…we were lucky not to have faced a more attack-minded and clinical team in the group. If we concede first I think we’ll crumble.

I understand why he would wait to know if we got promoted, but why is it inevitable he’s going this window? If he wanted to stay and a suitable deal was there from the club, surely he’d at leat consider it?

Or indeed lack of them… 🤔😏

Nice to see Jose Fonte commentating on the Beeb Spain game tonight.

I’m not sure KWP for all his worth to us, will bring in enough money to strengthen the squad…it will effectively weaken it IMO by taking out our best player and introducing two more who are potentially not as good. It is the basic flaw in the transfer policy…continually weaken the overall quality of the team until eventually we get relegated. So no, there’s no detrimental effect regarding FFP by retaining KWP if that’s possible.

Don’t profess to know all the ins and outs of FFP (PSR) but I’m not sure retaining KWP on a new contract will be to our detriment in terms of its restraints. If you think so, perhaps you could explain? Incidentally, Sugawara looks to be a bit of a talent and doubt he’ll be signed without an assurance of 1st team football. I notice he appears to be two-footed so perhaps the thinking is KWP and he can interchange flanks depending on who we’re facing. Then there’s Manning and Bree as backups for both positions. Meghoma (sp?) probably has a year or two more development before pushing for a 1st team place.

Well if there’s truth in the Japanese LB story it doesn’t take a magical crystal ball to predict what is likely to happen. The fact he’s likely to sign early in the window suggests RM has asked for the maximum amount of pre-season time with the lad to bring him on-board with the system and so mitigate as far as possible the effects of KWP leaving. If KWP is allowed to leave that does indicate there’s been little change to the manner in which SR operates - sell mature, experienced pro’s and buy young, cheap, unknown potential stars. Now, having said that, I’m not convinced KWP wants to go so until he’s sold I’ll retain hope that he’ll sign a new contract.

Me too, however RM’s system generally does nothing to embolden players like him to run anyone ragged except himself. At the moment his problem is not knowing when or how to release the ball unless it’s backwards which to be honest makes him pretty damn useless as an attacking forward. Contrast him with Fraser who gets his head up and delivers some dangerous balls into the box.

Just hope Saints don’t dally around in getting the job done with Downes. We’ve had this before…wait and another club steals in with a better offer.

As @Turkish said, if it’s a free probably a no brainer, but I suspect there’s more than a little agent work going on if there’s a contract offer from Fulham.

That’s Pickford for you.

Yeah…unsure…31 year old winger doesn’t get the juices flowing much, but who knows, he could be another Fraser and full of energy?

Based on this looks like he’s got a better shot on him and moves faster than Che. Big unit but is he carrying a bit of timber at times so perhaps could be fitter (and therefore even better).

Think you’ve inadvertently answered your own question there. The systems are similar in design, but England didn’t deploy the system very well atall. And there are similarities to some Saints performance’s - for example, sometimes there is no movement up top…anyone watching the last season would recognise this.

That’s very true actually. Think that was a reflection on the general useless communication of the tactical ideas the coaching team were trying to implement. It was quite frankly one of the worst examples we’ve ever seen in recent years.

Got to say (again), watching England was like watching Saints to a large extent. The system is wide open to counter attack, a bit boring for large portions of the game and a lack of closing down/press in numbers.

Thanks that’s useful, however I reckon that’s going to change over the course of the season.

Trouble with comparing how Shankland fares versus Che in the Scotland team is that Che is not played to his best ability - I.e. the tactics/system employed means he hardly sees enough of the ball. The question IMO is how different are the two players in their clubs systems and does Shankland have the nouse to play in a RM team? For me, I’m not sure either of them are good enough.

Have to say I’m so glad the Northam has sold out - proved a point about the concept of expanding the ‘home end’ / cop. I’m looking forward to seeing it in person for the first time, so I hope everyone’s in good voice for that! Quite surprised also to read that ST’s have all but sold out - I wonder how many matchday tickets will be available to purchase?

Horrendous