Saint Fan CaM

So you think Sugawara is more able to perform well than Mads? OK then.

I agree with those saying we need to keep Quarshie in place to gain experience and create a solid partnership with Stephens (would prefer THB but Cap’n Jack will never be replaced unless he’s injured). I believe it’s been confirmed that Mads has had a good pre-season, so it would be strange not to get an international defender straight into the starting 11.

Will believe he’s gone to Everton when I see it on the OS. I thought Still said he was available for selection this weekend - perhaps he’ll use the opportunity to come in in the 88th minutes to wave goodbye? Perhaps he’ll get injured by a burly Stoke slugger and the transfer put into doubt? If it comes into being then I’m pleased that it’s Everton who have had their pants pulled down. I mean - £45m + on a nipper that’s got some tricks, but has hardly played like a £45m player for us. He will go with my blessing and sigh of relief that it’s over. I’m sure many of us will be watching his ‘development’ closely.

Meh - bye…thanks for the £££…hope that mean’s Fernandes stays.

How many more in this ‘fine harvest’ then? Can’t see that that information would sink any ships.

Great signing for Goztepe! 😉 Should walk straight into our team as a starter - Prem quality albeit not a big name. Have to remember who he’s got next to him in defence though - that’s going to knock 20% off his game. Overall happy with this signing.

That’s true - there’s still time to get it right. The trouble is we know the turn around in the squad was a huge undertaking and so far there’s been so little relative movement, added to SR’s previous performance in the market, so it’s not hard to understand why there’s so much pessimism. I think there’s slightly more chance of Fernandes being sold than Dibling, but either way those two go and don’t get replaced with quality and it’s the same old watering down of the squad as we’ve experienced time and time again.

Yeah I was just thinking that with two clubs now in the race, its highly unlikely we’ll be able to resist an inflated fee. If either/or Dibling and Fernandes don’t play at the weekend (minor knocks in training!) we’ll know why.

Think this could be our first home defeat of the season. Stoke may well have only played lesser teams but they’ve still got to do the business…be well drilled etc. Their GD after 2 games shows they know where the net is. Going with 0-1 or possibly 1-3 if the wheels really come off. If we end up with 3 points I’ll start to believe Still is the real deal because this match would previously have been a big banana skin.

That might be funny if it were not somewhat likely to come true. There’s still time to come out of the window with a couple of quality signings and with a bit of luck Fernandes still in place. I dread to think how the season will pan out without more creativity in the side - we’re 1 or 2 injuries away from a bad run of form.

Agree with this - madness to expect a youngster to have a fully developed game. He’d have cost £40m and would be playing in a Prem side if he were the finished article. Think he’s doing ok.

Take it all back - the lad has really improved this year and particularly since he’s had the ‘Martin shackles’ taken off him.

Fair enough. I don’t think he’s ever played down the middle for Saints or at least very rarely, but as you say that was where he had his best performances regrettably pre-Saints.

Put Manning on who stands off against their player will be a disaster IMO.

Saints doing ok but there are some big questions over the defensive coaching when five at the back. There are still scars from RM and last season. Cant help but think that’s connected to Stephens and THB.

Ref has been bought - utter shite!

Excellent move from Saints.

My word our striker options are fucking trash.

I’m confused - one minute you’re suggesting BBD could be the focal point up front and the next you’re questioning my suggestion that he could do exactly that instead of Armstrong? While he was being played on the wing there would be times when he received the ball, held it up well and lay it off. His huge weakness was getting from the wing into goal scoring positions. Personally I think he’s a clear classic case of ‘square peg in a round hole’.

Mmm, I’d be using BBD in the middle - more ability to hold the ball up than Armstrong or Archer, but we all know who will come on at around 65 minutes…Archer and nothing will change for the better. The good news is the midfield looks reasonable, so if we press well we may gain advantage. How we use that advantage is another question.

Yeah, that’s a pretty good summary that reflects how I feel right now. There’s definitely unfinished business in terms of outgoings such as Aribo, ABK, Smallbone and Edozie and it was clear that it would be difficult to shift these players…particularly ABK whose life as a pro footballer at anything other than a club at grass roots level is probably over. The only imperative for Spors now is the addition of creative midfielder such as Spertsyan (who would be an incredible find if it happens). If somehow either Rudoni or Scienza also come in you’d have to say it’s been an exceptional window given the changes required, even if we do end up losing Dibling. Losing Fernandes would be a blow unless both Rudoni and Scienza come in. I’m not convinced BBD has anything to offer the team unless both Stewart and Downs are both out injured at the same time which is unlikely, however I feel sure he’s not leaving this window.

Middlesbrough are looking pretty good value - scored for fun at Millwall away.

Michael Portillo was in the Platform Tavern last night. Make of that what you will.

This report suggests he’s worth less than €10m…circa €3m. Probably about our level of expenditure…

The best ChatGPT came up with. But where’s he got his hand?!?. 🙄