Saint Fan CaM

I guess we’ll never know, but almost certainly. Why would Saints agree to a £34m player about to be signed playing for the club he’s departing? Doesn’t make sense.

My point is that Utd don’t particularly need to keep their transfer business quiet (but May wish to do so at times!) - Saints would prefer quiet negotiations, particularly when spending larger sums. Which of the latest signings were widely known about in the media long before they were announced?

Don’t think that’s the case. The fact he played last night and put in a big performance tells me this is a player that was happy and was not too bothered to be moving as he got an improved deal. Agent played a blinder.

Point being with the type of deals Utd make, that there are many fewer clubs with the spend power they have and of course when they offer a player a deal, the player will be more likely to be pressing for a move. In short, completely different scenario. When we go big (in our terms) the risks are higher.

Absolutely this!

It’s not about being special though is it? If you’re about to spend a small fortune you don’t want to (a) alert other clubs to the extent of your spend and (b) alert other clubs to the fact you’ve unearthed a gem. There are definitely instances where Saints have specified a ‘quiet approach’ for these reasons - maybe not all the time, but for specific cases it makes eminent sense.

Wonder why there’s been nothing from Saints on the new lads coming in including AMN? Perhaps there’ll be a big photoshoot at Staplewood later today?

Really? You’re sounding like an abrasive MLG there (largely unsurprising given your previous posts), so perhaps attempt to explain why you disagree?

Well obviously there are outgoings, but I don’t expect Valery to be going anywhere…think in our present situation he’s flexible CB/FB cover and Ralph seems to have time for him. Personally I think he’s a capable squad member that we can rely on in an emergency.

Can’t say I’m surprised to know Gakpo isn’t coming to be honest - the manner in which the transfer was progressing suggests this was not a deal Saints were really invested in…it’s very unusual for them to advance negotiations without agreement to a mutual blackout of info until the deal is done. Unless Gakpo was in some way a smokescreen, but I doubt that. Or perhaps Saints got taken for a ride by PSV, but I’m not buying that either. I don’t understand those that are suggesting Saints went in for Gakpo just to show ‘we tried’…FFS we’ve spent over £50m already this window, got some amazing talent and we’re sitting 8th in the table. What more can we expect?!

It seems to be slipping away, if indeed there was any real intent on PSV’s part in the first place.

With Larios providing excellent FB cover, AMN will almost certainly be employed as DM especially with Lavia recovering and for some time as they’ll not want to rush Lavia back. It will be the decider for him I expect too.

Edozie I’d heard of but not Larios. Two more looking as outstanding talents who want to be playing EPL football. Shields really is the real deal and let’s not forget how significant SR have been backing him at the first opportunity. Still hope we get a striker, a ACM and a decent CB though.

We should smash them on this form. 2-1.

Why would he come over and receive the foul abuse some ‘supporters’ dish out? Especially when he’s hurting from a defeat himself.

Unfortunately for me this was one of those nights where I had other plans and so missed the entire game. Came in late and was elated to see the score, but disappointed to find out there was no MOTD to watch. I’ve now seen both goals - Lavia’s was excellently taken and a result of his individual skill. Delighted for AA - his goal came about because of Perraud’s searching cut back pass and AA’s good positioning, something I’ve criticised him for lacking in the past. With the right transfers and a bit of luck injury-wise and this season could be a huge success.

Wasn’t there a medical booked for yesterday or today? I’m hoping that’s for one or more of AMN, Gakpo or Calleta-Carr. Tick tock Saints - get it done!

Fabrizio Romano has just tweeted that we’ve done the deal for Gakpo - 4 years with an option to extend. Arrives next week. Is this legit?!?! Amazing news if true.

Doubt it will be €50m straight up - most deals at that level include various elements such as sell-on fees etc. Even at that price, assuming he’s really all he’s cracked up to be and given his age, it’s not unreasonable to expect a small return on him 2-3 years down the the line. Plus there’s the extra EPL money that comes from a higher place in the table. Factor that in and perhaps it’s not so much of a gamble for SR?

My thoughts entirely - if he was going the other way, we’d be saying he’s found his level. Hope this is a AMN decoy sort of thingy.

On a slightly different tack, I was in the Northam for the Utd game and returned to my seat at half-time to see a guy walk straight past a Steward at the top of the stairs with two pints of lager in his hands. The guy managed to almost get to his seat before another senior steward stopped him and asked him to return to the concourse. He was fine about it and had a wry smile - obviously testing out the resolve of the stewards.

Can you imagine an 11th hour triple signing of AMN, Caleta-Car and Gakpo?! It would surely be marked as the best window for decades and significantly improve the odds for us getting a top half finish. Exciting times hopefully, but I cannot help but believe Gakpo from PSV is too ambitious a signing for #saintsy SFC?

Tick tock! 🤑

Think that’s a great idea.

Other than slowing it down? It was noticeable to me how the two CB’s pretty much ignored JWP completely when playing out from the back, despite him calling for the ball. Could that have been a deliberate instruction from the coaches or something discussed by the players themselves? Again, there was a time when nearly everything went through Prowsey.