Saint Fan CaM

29 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Well he certainly knows how to pick clubs that will provide the maximum amount of controversy - not sure which set of fans will hate him most.

6 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

Complete oversight to leave a pic of MLT on the wall too. Someone should be sacked. 🥲

For what it's worth, I like stripey kits. Including this one. 

All I saw in the background was the subtle two finger salute! 😂

Gotta say - 2nd kit looks great. And modelled by Fernandes so he must be staying right? 🤞🙏🏼

14 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I think Tyler Dibling is on the autistic spectrum and struggles with change. He probably needs to be handled in a very specific way. 

1 hour ago, revolution saint said:

Based on what exactly?  That he failed to settle at Chelsea when he was 16?  That doesn't make him autistic.

1 hour ago, Disco Stu said:

Who started this rumour? I don't think it's something we should speculate on.

We’re all on the autistic spectrum and there are an infinite number of ways it can manifest itself in an individual. Struggling with change is remarkably common among the population, whether that be in home life, in work or just living in general - it’s just that some have better coping strategies than others.  It’s not a taboo subject and nor should it be swept under the carpet. I have direct experience with a family member by the way.

Whether the condition affects Tyler Dibling is speculation, however the club should be commended for bringing him ‘home’ after his Chelsea experience didn’t work out. How far that ‘nurturing’ stretches now he’s an adult on a senior contract remains to be seen, however my feeling is both parties would like to see him renew his contract…the terms are as always the issue.

No transfer news then? 😏😉

7 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Heard the same thing. There is no word in the world that rhymes with “orange”.

Mad right!

Arguably that’s not correct. Lozenge…suck on that if you will!

3 hours ago, Chez said:

Not many sides get better after relegation.

We have lost KWP, Onuachu, Sulemana and Lumley. Downs and Quarshie have come the other way. Is the squad strengthened? difficult to know until we see those two players play a few games.

I think it's fair to say we will lose a couple of our `wanted' and better quality players (let's say Ramsdale and Fernandes for argument's sake). So, to stand still (in terms of squad quality) we need to find two players as good as those, which is very unlikely.

We then need to see maybe 6 more players depart (let's say ABK, Taylor, BBD, Armstrong, Bednarek and Edwards) and then bring in, maybe, 3 to replace them. All three replacements will need to be improvements for the squad to be strengthened. 

In reality, the quality is not going to increase. We might be stay about the same, if we are lucky, and that would be a win. 

The context I’m thinking about is over several seasons - not just last seasons relegation. I would argue that overall squad quality has drifted in a downwards spiral since the days of Koeman’s departure (roughly speaking). Yes, we’ve added some individual quality where needed on occasion (Ramsdale / Fernandes) and that has helped to boost the overall squad quality, but those additions have been restorative - not building an improvement. Take them out and overall squad quality will plummet again. On the flip side, retaining Stephens, Manning, Aribo, Taylor, BBD etc, diminishes overall squad quality but they’re still with us.

Each successive season squad quality has been depleted to the point where last season the deficiencies were displayed in all their graphic ugliness. I would argue that to get promotion this season and then stay up, there is an significant improvement in squad quality required (without the loss of our best players). Whether that transformation happens this window, the next two windows or atall is questionable. Is it too much to expect a decent sized club like SFC to retain 7 to 9 players of Ramsdale / Fernandes quality, even in the Championship? I don’t think so…

6 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

That's life really and hopefully next time we are much more hard nosed about binning off those who aren't going to cut it. Reminder that Dean Hammond was our captain but that didn't matter when we got to the prem. 

I think we all know that Stephens and Manning will still be stinking the place out!

1 hour ago, Chez said:

he's still with us because he's under contract and not yet left because our asking price for him is probably massive, so PL clubs may want to see a bit more before making such a big financial outlay. He has no control over the actions of buying teams, but just because there isn't a buyer right now, that doesn't mean he has no choice but to sign a new contract with us. A buyer could emerge at any point between now and the end of his contract in 2027. I am pretty sure his agent will have been contacted by a host of teams, so will be fully aware that Saints are not the only team that rate him.

He's not signed a new contract with us because:
a) we have not offered him as much as he thinks he's worth - possibly, but as likely his agent thinks this
b) we are in the championship and he wants to play in the PL - maybe, but not for certain…he’s not pressing to move
c) he doesn't have to sign a new contract if he doesn't want to - obvious…applies to any player
d) waiting before signing a new contract gives him much more flexibility and negotiating strength - in his case I’m not so sure, but if so that applies to any player

My guess is that Tyler’s contract situation is somewhat unique to Tyler. My only hope is that if he stays it doesn’t affect his ability to show up this season - for many of us that’s the critical point I think.

39 minutes ago, SaintLondon said:

I have been reliably informed that it's going to be an extremely busy few weeks with comings and going. I was told, it'll be fun for the fans but not for the team doing it behind the scenes. 

Let’s hope that’s a positive. As per the past, it’s the best players that have left, replaced with lesser players meaning the overall quality of the squad drops. That’s been happening for some years resulting in the shitshow of last season.

7 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Last time we were preparing for the Championship it went: 

1st July: Manning (Perm)

6th July: Lumley (Perm)

12th July: Charles (Perm) 

 

Unspecified date in July/ August: Stewart (Perm)

21st August: Downes (Loan)

25th August: THB (Loan)

25th August: Holgate (Loan)

 

So we got a few cheap perms in early and then the two 'big' signings, Downes and THB, both came towards the end of the window and were both loans, with Stewart somewhere between the two (and let's just forget about Holgate shall we).

Different management and recruitment team now of course, but from what we've seen so far, we may definitely be following a similar pattern. Let's hope so. 

 

There’s an important factor missing from that analysis - the timing of outgoings. It also doesn’t factor in the need to refresh the worst performing squad in PL history - i.e. was the previous post-PL seasons window as in need of a refresh as it is now?

57 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He wants to stay but hasn't got a deal from Saints they feel is acceptable yet - which disproves the bollocks we should nail them down to long term contracts on low wages as they'll have no idea what they're really worth

He wants to leave but hasn't got a deal from another club which Saints and Diblings bros feel is acceptable yet - which disproves the bollocks we should nail them down to long term contracts on low wages as they'll have no idea what they're really worth

He is open minded and happy to stay or leave depending on what's on offer- which disproves the bollocks we should nail them down to long term contracts on low wages as they'll have no idea what they're really worth

Well that’s just like saying ‘irrespective of how Dibling and his agent feel/think, we should not nail him down to a long term contract on low wages’. In reality there’s no scenario where Dibling and his agent would allow that to happen so the point is moot.

As you say, there’s likely no acceptable deal being presented at the moment, however he doesn’t want to go due to personal reasons. Clearly he and his agent think they can hang out for a better deal from Saints at some point in the future. A simple impasse that may get resolved if he smashes the upcoming Championship season and raises his real stock value. Even then he’ll have limited options if he’s not willing to leave Saints.

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

I think it’s hilariously naive that there are still people who think we can tie down all our top young players into long contracts on low wages and them and their agents will be like starry eyed little boys signing the contract as soon as the can with no idea of anything else going on in the insestuous, money obsessed  football world, what their market value and wage expectations should be. 
 

Agreed - and yet Dibling is still with us, with no new contract signed or a new deal offered from another club.  Why is that do you think?

3 hours ago, Lighthouse said:

The rest of our squad also being substandard doesn’t make Yuki any better. Neither is any manager responsible for Sugawara’s regular, calamitous brain farts. I’ll judge him as what he is, a player with a decent enough delivery but an absolute liability defensively.

3 hours ago, egg said:

Yep. Awful defender. Bree at RB should be one of Still's easier choices. 

Very selective memories IMO. There were occasions when he made excellent interceptions (as well as covering for substandard CB’s), plus being left exposed because the likes of Dibling left him stranded upfield after another failed pass or running into a blind alley. You can’t have it both ways - if he got into advanced positions on orders to cross, then there’s less chance defending adequately in a system NONE of the fullbacks were entirely comfortable with - but who covered for him? Even KWP came under criticism at times under Martin’s system.

2 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

He might ‘prove himself’ to be this season’s Danny Fox but he looked nothing like a PL player.

Outside of Fernandes and Ramsdale who did? Also his manager(s) were not up to the PL job were they? Seems a bit disingenuous judging him against such a backdrop.

I’m 50-50 on whether it’s worth keeping him or not - he’s seemingly got loads of potential, but there’s little evidence that he has what it takes to realise that potential at the moment. Maybe that’s something that happens at Championship level who knows. I’m not sure he really wants to leave and I wonder whether the stupidly high £100m price tag is an indication of that rather than anything else, although it’s baffling why he’s not signed a new deal. If it’s a game of cat and mouse I don’t think his agent is in a particularly strong position frankly.

For me Suga is not the worst defender or indeed player in a team of misfits. Manning is worse in my opinion for a start as he’s not got the attacking delivery and is useless in defence.  Suga has been playing for the most part under a system that was totally unsuitable for the squad and as such was placed into difficult defensive positions when the likes of wonder boy Dibling fucked up and gave the ball away in our half. In terms of the handballs - yes, it’s not great - but there’s a definite argument that on another day/time, it’s judged as a “ball to hand” accidental thing. There has to be a scapegoat I guess, but to my mind there’s at least 16 other first team players that fit that mould too.

4 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

Not PL quality, cos they were bought for the Championship...

So what you’re saying is the club deliberately bought players not good enough for the PL because it was nailed on we’d be in the Championship this season? 🤔

1 hour ago, Matthew Le God said:

This had been long rumoured but neither Southampton or Göztepe have ever publically confirmed that Southampton's Juan Santos is on loan at Göztepe for a 2nd season. He played in a friendly for them yesterday. 

 

 

Southampton’s player? Might as well be Göztepe’s player for all the good he’ll do our club!

21 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Sadly I don't see Bazunu going this season. I think it is likely they try to sell him next summer, especially if we are promoted as his stock will be higher. Please prove me wrong Saints.

Can you imagine the heyday the skates will have when dear Baz flaps around and gifts them a winning goal or two? It’ll be too painful to watch.

2 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Of course he won't be leaving, the guy has been out injured for 12 months so will have no suitors unless or until he can prove that all that is behind him.

I thought he’d gone off on loan to prove his fitness following injury? And actually ended up proving he’s actually quite shit.

In a way I’m glad that Still had the opportunity to witness the lack of fitness and ability across the squad this early in pre-season. If he has any sense of the overall deficit that exists in the squad (which I think he’s starting to realise) he’ll be begging Spors to shift most of the first half team out the door plus a few others and recruit some real talent in.

Even if a player is willing to stretch himself and attempts to put the effort in, does not mean he has the capacity to get fitter or suddenly develop a better footballing brain. Or to put it more crudely, you can’t make a purse out of pigs ear. Example of how this works…Stephens - not improved over how many seasons?

21 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Which of them are cringey playing at  Championship level?

It would be quicker listing those who might actually be worthy of a start. And from the post match interview Still thinks the pretty much the same - he was clearly disappointed in the performance (don’t think his comments on the 2nd half excluded that team).  What he will find out however is these players were selected to play a different, much slower system - they just don’t have what it takes both in physical and mental attributes to play a fast, pressing, goal scoring game. 

Yes this was the first pre-season game, but it was against a relatively lower level side. It’s going to be a shit show unless there’s a significant improvement in either the players or new players arriving. And I predict neither will happen…there I said it.

Still sounded a bit pissed off in his post match interview - lots of work yet to be done!

5 hours ago, SaintJackoInHurworth said:

Southampton Incoming Transfer Rumours so far this summer

I have taken a bit of time to gather details about players who rumours have suggested have been linked to Southampton. I have excluded rumours that seem to be only coming from Saints Marching rather than any more credible source - though not suggesting any of these sources are necessarily credible!

Player

Club

Position

Source(s)

Date

Goalkeepers
Anthony Patterson	Sunderland	GK	https://www.footballinsider247.com/southampton-plotting-to-sign-sunderland-star-anthony-patterson	3/7
Daniel Peretz	Bayern Munich	GK	https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25122469.bayern-munich-goalkeeper-reportedly-interests-southampton	29/4
Yahia Fofana	Angers	GK	https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/southampton-involved-in-double-premier-league-transfer-battle-for-yahia-fofana	23/5
Aleksandar Vulic	Spartak	GK	https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25122469.bayern-munich-goalkeeper-reportedly-interests-southampton	29/4

Defenders
Max Johnston	Sturm Graz	RB	www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-push-to-sign-max-johnston-as-walker-peters-replacement	25/6
Joe Mendes	SC Braga	RB	www.expressen.se/sport/fotboll/forre-aik-backen-joe-mendes-aktuell-for-flytt	4/7
Juma Bah	Man City	CB	www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/25229683.southampton-linked-man-city-defender-played-still	11/6
Matt Targett	Newcastle	FB	https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/newcastle-could-use-matt-targett-in-southampton-tyler-dibling-deal	17/5

Midfielders
Bobby Clark	Liverpool	Midfield	www.thisisanfield.com/2025/07/bobby-clark-wanted-by-at-least-15-clubs-liverpool-have-sell-on-clause	14/6
Lewis O’Brien	Forest	Midfield	https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/birmingham-southampton-transfer-race-nottingham-forest-lewis-obrien	22/6
Besfort Zeneli	Elfsborg	Midfield	https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/southampton-can-land-their-new-pierre-emile-hojbjerg-as-midfielder-reacts-to-saints-links	12/6

Wingers
Lucas Cepeda	Colo-Colo	Winger	https://eflanalysis.com/transfers/southampton-make-bid-for-excellent-forward-but-39m-real-madrid-deal-poses-major-problem	11/6
Luis Guilherme	West Ham	Winger	https://www.claretandhugh.info/saints-interest-in-wonderkid-could-have-unexpected-consequences-report	7/5
Adnane Abid	Patro Eisden	Winger	https://insidefutbol.com/2025/05/19/southampton-were-present-to-check-up-on-young-winger/683841	19/5
Jesrun Rak-Saki	C.Palace	Winger	https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-reigniting-move-to-sign-rak-sakyi	12/6

Forwards
Richard Kone	Wycombe	Striker	https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/middlesbrough-birmingham-city-southampton-richard-kone-wycombe-wanderers-5181670	17/6
William Boving	Sturm Graz	Forward	https://www.footballinsider247.com/exclusive-southampton-want-to-sign-title-winning-forward-william-boving	29/5

 

Very good - thanks. Trouble is the two signings we have made are not on there and not one of those listed have been seen anywhere near Staplewood! Serves to demonstrate  the value in the media rumour mill and highlights the massive value of the CoT - isn’t that right @Turkish? 😉

9 hours ago, maysie said:

On the SP app homepage it says expiration date bottom left

True, but mine has not updated for a couple of years now?!?