Saint86

What do you mean? He had a contractual release clause value if joining a championship club, we hired him as a championship club. Why would we have paid more than his release clause... Other than if we'd been desperate to have him earlier and wanted to bow down over the dubious interpretation of whether a relegated club is a championship team or a prem team - Which clearly we weren't given swansea were happy to pay his wages whilst he was on holiday and part time working for us 😆

The dippers have started sweating now... https://www.redandwhitekop.com/forum/index.php?topic=354122.33880 Also, much like the saintsweb vs twitter wars of early summer, looks like they've found saintsweb - DT has been rumbled for sure.... 😆 I sincerely hope we sell him to anyone but them - would be beautiful.

On this note, what is happening with the everton fpp charges? Quite evidently teams like as saints were pushed to spend excessive amounts in trying to achieve survival due to the cheating of Everton...

I think its extremely difficult to predict atm as we have no idea what first team 11 we'll ultimately have. I'd like to think we'll be top 3 with the current matchday squad come the end of the year. However the reality is that we'll likely lose some midfield quality, and still need to strengthen at CB and ST. Reckon we will either have a great august (and carry that forward), or we'll be shaky through till about november - if the latter happens i reckon we'll have to settle for making a charge for the playoffs by the end of the year.

Think this will potentially be far harder than some are expecting. They're a side with momentum after a cracking season in league 1 (much like us when we got promoted). We're a side that is having to turn around it's recent form and morale upon landing in the championship, with uncertainty over player commitment and trying to learn a new style with a new look 11. Yes we have better quality, and yes they've changed their mananger... But if Wednesday get at us early on I could see this being a very hard game - we are still too soft at the back imo and their fans will jump on anything to create a great atmosphere.

The folks of Burnley, their chairman's daughter, and apparently this dsr Burnley character can't understand why making excessive references to the fact he has African ancestry might be inappropriate - to them (in much the same way Liverpool are doing us a favour offering us £35M for lavia), tella should be grateful for that video and begging on his knees to be freed from his enforced labour behind the red and white barred prison that is saints fc. 🙄 In all seriousness, they're one of the most racist fanbases / cities in England, so for them they really are making an effort...

Isn't Burnley one of the most racists places in the UK though? Wouldn't surprise me at all that they think that video is in someway clever or complimentary about tella 😅

I could see it selling very well 😅

I would rather he went there than West Ham in all seriousness. Although doesn't help him play European football this year. I guess there is the poch aspect, and it might result in a closer relationship between the two clubs and some prospects heading saints' way.

There is a half decent away kit to be made out of that yellow training top.

Sounds fairly promising. Imagine we're signing him as a bench player to start getting minutes as a sub with a view to pushing into the first team 11 over the course of the season.

Good news for us as i suspect we'll have a lot of teams sitting deep and time wasting. Also, sounds like we may see a few more red cards for penalties this season, although you don't tend to get too many pens for push/holding as a denial of a goal scoring opportunities so may be mitigated somewhat.

Taking our eldest down for his first game tomorrow. Does anyone know what time the players tend to arrive?

https://12ft.io/proxy?ref=&q=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23680433.will-smallbone-excited-back-southampton-stoke-loan/ Short interview piece with him here. Think he could be set for a good season with us this year.

JWP isn't leaving 😛

Are all the people up there as thick, entitled, and childish as this? Or is it just the Liverpool and burnley fans. Guy sounds like he thinks they have a god given right to buy Tella rather than us having the right to sell him at a price we're happy with... or not at all.

I wonder if Thomas Partey is undesirable / not being allowed out of the country (or to saudi) due to the rumoured ongoing legal concerns effecting an unknown north London footballer of his age, position, and stature? 👀 https://metro.co.uk/2023/07/03/premier-league-footballers-bail-extended-after-rape-accusation-19060514/

The negativity about smallbone needs to stop tbh. Utterly misplaced. Will be an important player for us this season.

Agree with all of this. I like him, he seems calm, likeable, in control, and intelligent. But i also worry the defensive issues are a deeper issue than just one of philosophy. We're giving so many gilt edge chances away primarily because of our defensive shape when we lose possession - due largely to the fluidity of the attacking players and lack of thought for a cohesive defensive shape. This will get better simply by the fact that the team will get better in possession (due to understanding the vulnerabilities and knowing where each other are etc.) and lose the ball less, but it does leaves us more open to press and fast counter than at any point under ralph etc. The result of this is that the second we lose the ball its very easy for teams to go straight through is with a couple of direct runners and 1-2 passes. Its a real issue. And its to do with the tactical setup and positioning of players. The back 4 is also playing too narrow when we're under pressure / on the defensive, and yet precious few opposition runners in behind are being picked up - see the goetzpe goal and numerous chances vs bompey etc. Attacking play is great - but the reality is that we cannot be giving away this number of gilt edge chances per game and expect to get promoted. Hopefully Martin isn't so wedded to his philosophy that he can't also address the defensive weaknesses.

Yup, he had a golden opportunity first half vs Bournemouth and shot it flat across the ground at the defender sliding in - had the time and space to either turn or lift it over him. He's struck me as very weak positionally and he seems to be never near his man or able to close them down / catch them. Also seems to be extremely timid in an attacking sense with limited forward passing and doesn't really take anyone on. Not sure what he adds to be honest, like playing with 10men.

We could easily end up in a situation (either through sales or injuries) where bree becomes a long term starter for us this year. Which would be very bad for our promotion prospects based on what i've seen. We categorically need to get one more RB in if either KWP/Tino leave.

AA will start up top. Think you'll see A-A or Edozie on the wing. May see DCC over Bednarek - depends wtf is going on with our CBs transfer wise. Lavia has been playing in 2nd gear all pre season so whether he's going or not i'd drop him. Smallbone/JWP/Alcaraz have all shown far more fight and commitment so far. He's probably leaving regardless, but the others deserve the start and commitment will be important vs a newly promoted Wednesday in a season opener.

Needs a little bit more power for me, but that will come as he fills out.

Smallbone's passing is sick.

Love Stu!