Saint86

Austrian you say? 🙃

Not sure why you guys all argue with him, he's full on Mr Negative about everything related to the club.

Yeah I agree. I keep seeing people assume thats the case without seeing it evidenced or demonstrated as such in another sale? It makes no sense to me as it defeats the point of a "buy back" clause if the value it stipulates isn't in effect real. I assumed they would be separate clauses with the sell on percentage not relevant to Chelsea buying him back. Is anyone able to definitely answer this one?

Are we still in for Williams?

Everything must be given a negative spin by certain posters. Unless ofc its already negative - in which case they double down... 😆 The reality is that he's a great signing at that money. Very good job well done by our recruitment team.

I'd be a bit surprised if we let him go. He has blistering pace, a decent touch, and can finish. He's been noticeable for what chance creation in preseason and adds something to our attack. In the past Ralph has criticised his training attitude and said he needs to be more serious, and i think if he were ever to get a run in the side that he'd prove a valuable player. If we are to lose an attacking player then surely it needs to be long first and foremost? Nothing against the guy, but he's far and away our worst attacker now. I could actually see us singing AA as a forward/CAM and using SA in the middle with JWP at times.

Best to just use the ignore function i find.

That's our choice though. If we could afford to negotiate a worthwhile deal and not have that clause we would do 🤷‍♂️ But if you banned these types of clauses we wouldn't get the player...

Why should it be banned? Look at it like a 3 year loan where chelsea pay us to develop their player? Do you want loans banned? 🤷‍♂️

In all seriousness.... Southgate is shit 🙄 Nice guy, built a team spirit etc etc. but tactically he's dire.

I don't think there is an awful lot of difference in value between Grealish and Sancho. Right now, for me, the key point is that you aren't tackling Grealish without giving away a foul 🤷‍♂️ - and on top of that he is a very competent attacking player - creativity, final product, dribbling, positioning etc. But its the mere fact that he's a walking free kick machine that adds so much to a team's play - opponents are scared to tackle him, his presence on the ball just builds pressure, and there is a very good chance he'll either directly create something or win you a direct/indirect free kick in a dangerous area. In the same way that Wilkinson added drop goals to England's rugby world cup team, Grealish adds a comparable tactical balance to the teams he plays for imo.

Our idea of defense is a better attack 😀

He isn't going unless we get a bid in the region of 45-50million and he decides he wants to go. Villa without grealish are worse than saints imo, certainly no better anyway. If you look at any of his interviews last season he was very happy at saints and was only thinking of his future with the club - he fits perfectly into the manager's plans here as well. Only way he goes this summer is for a top 5 club imo. I doubt very much that he's off to villa.

Don't get me wrong Tajuk, we aren't unique in mistakenly releasing players. But that era of management was an utter car crash that has tied several millstones around out club. If you ignore the damage done to the academy in terms of talent drain (and also the income that has cost the club - white being the latest)... you've also got players like Hoedt, Lemina, Forsters Contract, Carillo, Ely, Boufal etc... not to mention Puel, MoPe, and Hughes. That lot took a near champions league level squad and ruined the club inside 2seasons... here we are but a few years later with a £100m+ debt, still unable to shift all of those wasted signings / high earners, and unable to significantly strength. That management era make Lowe's look good 🤣.

More importantly. Within a week of finally shipping out lemina... And academy product the les Reed era released for free sells for £50m. And yet people blame our current owner 😅

Probably one of your last visits to St Mary's so enjoy it. Maybe leave a little "an unvaccinated was 'ere" sticker on the seat / row 🤭

Not sure there was much code about it... although, you have to hope we'd get some right back cover?

I could see him at Chelsea tbh. Tammy leaving, haaland by no means a cert... And... Well... Fuck me how do you put this... Werner 😱 Chelsea are buying a striker this window 😅

Exactly this. He could very well just be looking after himself by keeping his options open for a dream move to a bigger club and top level football.... Which is fair enough given his ability level, age, and injury record... and with a world cup next year after missing the squad this summer. Think some of our fans need to get their heads screwed on when they're wishing he'd leave etc. If he stays and signs a new contract thats great. The guy would have won golden boot 2 seasons ago if he'd taken a few penalties, as it is he missed out on it by 1 goal to a guy who did score several penalties. If he runs his contract down or ends up leaving saints for a comparable wage and a team like west ham/Everton/arsenal/spurs, then yean, looks like an almost sideways move and he just wants the money. But if he goes to a champions league team then do our fan's really blame him? At the moment its too early to tell which scenario is true so you have to wait and see. I don't think he'll run his contract down anyway. If he has any desire to go to the world cup then he needs a great season, and he'll only get that being the main man in an attack and giving his all - the last thing he'll want is another extended period on the side-lines at this stage in his career (with his injury record) and no long term security.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9833975/Leicester-City-announce-plans-add-8-000-seats-King-Power-Stadium.html If you want to visualise and experience an expanded St Mary's, soon you'll be able to an King Power to do it. All you'll need is some rose tinted glasses and you'll get an almost perfect look and feel.

He looks to have been the main keeper in the pre season friendlies? Certainly seen him making a fair few saves - but that could just be that we defend worse with him in goal 😆

Get ready for another season of Yolo Ralphampton FC 🤷‍♂️ I'm actually really excited to see Tella get more game time this year. And i think with a fit Romeu and Perraud joining, our first 11 looks much more balanced and more dangerous than it did for most of last season. A lot will hinge on whether Ings goes, and how interested he is if he stays.

I think you'll find that the sentiment of that statement is utter tosh. Until they do something meaningful that surpasses our recent achievements they remain fair game in my most humble opinion. We beat them in the championship, have been to Wembley more than them since our return, and they haven't bettered our league finish under Koeman despite being on a far better footing. In the trials and tribulations of medium sized clubs that don't win anything and have nothing better to do, West Ham are absolutely fair game 🥳... We even took the gloss off their Payet season 😆. Who cares if we actually beat them every season 🙄

We are sure as hell not bidding £30m 😆

Personally don't see the issue with this. Not all experience has to be of top level success. Look's like he's been hired as he knows the club, can help prepare those players for what they'll experience in trying to break into senior teams (the pitfalls along the way), and help prepare those who don't make it.