Saint86

Exactly this.

No, the ball trajectory didn't change at all in the views I've seen, no visible evidence of a connection, so no evidence that it impacted her fingers... she could just as easily have been moving her hand to avoid the ball... So it isn't clear and obvious and it's a lucky pen, and one that was well saved initially given the keeper is 5'4" especially.

Thought the England women were poor. Got lucky with the penalty as certainly wasn't a clear and obvious handball, Haiti should have equalised late on - was a good save. All a bit flat, and does seem like they've let the Euro's and all the attention go to their heads prematurely - reality is that without a strong showing in this tournament its not worth much.

Armstrong with a couple of attempted leg breaker passes so far, mara as well. Smallbone's got some nice vision on him.

The way I see it, we have an owner that is backing us, and we are setting high prices for our best assets. The first prices to get met will be the few that are sold, and we'll keep whatever is left. The price we're setting for players is an extra strategic layer on that aimed at at least trying to focus the likely sales... some we don't want to sell we've set really high, some we setting a reasonably expensive price for and will allow to leave if its met, and others we're actively trying to shift. It will be a case of who blinks first... If by some miracle no other club gets desperate and comes in then we'll lower our prices - but it's advantage saints in every regard as it stands... And it's nice to have an owner prepared to be tough, hasn't happened since cortese was calling the shots. I.e. Top clubs know that if they want lavia they have to move before city's clause kicks in next summer, sides like west ham physically have to sign a CM, other clubs will miss defensive targets etc. It is very unlikely that with all the pressures in all the various leagues, no club gets desperate enough to pay what we want or reach a reasonably expensive compromise. Around all that you have two kinds of overly negative viewpoints from some of the fanbase - one where some fans believe we have no power as a club and will be forced to sell all our best players 🙄🙄, and ones that seem to think every rumour of a player being linked away at a low price is true... 🙄🙄🙄. There is also that particularly odd view raised on here earlier this summer that man City can tell us who we sell lavia to and that we couldn't possibly ask for more than £32M-40M because of our side agreement with city...😂🤣 The only way we'll drop our prices is if its late in the window and we've not made either 1 big sale or enough smaller ones. So I remain fully comfortable with how the window is going personally - we're showing strength and ambition so far.

Looks like a vomit again.

I agree with Le Trimmier. This feels like more a case of them considering that a second tier club is too small to have a designated reporter. When Sheldon left, there was a big song and dance about the handover to jacob - that hasn't been the case this time. Will wait to see what happens, but on the basis that they think a club's division (not its fanbase) merits dropping them i'm not very impressed. Pretty silly if that is the case by them as well given their business model is a subscription based service and i'll be cancelling mine if there is no coverage... Alfie house is actually the best saints reporter out there at the moment, so quite happy to switch my attention to the echo if the Athletic don't consider us worthy of reporting on.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/fc-portsmouth/transfers/verein/1020 They've certainly been busy.... although i can't say that any of that stands out as good business...

What are they up to anyway? Any chance of them getting relegated (again)?

The last linked article feels like a bit of a blast from the past now - that was the last game where Ralph had what resembled a fully fit squad. Could have been so different last year, particulary if we'd signed some bloody attacking competence in the summer. Main thing now is that we get back ASAP with minimal collateral damage.

They don't. Ranked 24th for dribbles last season.

Sorry what? Explains a lot tbh.

People shouldn't need to be constantly reminded... but JWP isn't leaving... 😎 On the Ings topic, A fit Ings gets us promoted. He is still one of the best finishers in english football, albeit he is about to turn 31. I guess he's done less mileage than most due to his earlier career injuries, but that in itself is still a risk. And there is question over pay/motivation. Would make some sense from the perspective that he could do a job for 2 years and allow some of the younger players to develop. If he's interested and we can do it without overstretching, then i would bring him back.

Saw this in Bristol as well the other day. on a 5year old. Weird.

What?!?! Its an absolute non starter. This is sports washing and an attempt to build interest and tourism in Saudi Arabia - the money is good because no one wants to go there and that will never change whilst the saudi's run around dismembering the free press in various international embassies or funding civil wars in yemen etc. Jude bellingham joined Real (in the face of better pay options), the lanky Robot boy is at Man City, and Mbappe is at PSG... That's your three best players in world football in the making (if not already) - and i reckon that no young player with a serious love of the game grows holds a dream of playing and living in a league with no history/prestige and in a desert country with one of the worst human rights records in the world... They're signing old players or the ones only in it for the money. Its no threat at all to the premier league or europe, and if anything its benefitting those leagues as they're getting paid silly money for old players to improve their squads.

The romeu transfer was linked to the Edozie and larios transfers, not the lavia one.

So how much did we get and what were his wages?

Anyone know what kind of wages he was on? Want to see know if my £3M a year ballpark figure is anywhere near close

Basically stronger than our starting 11 for most of last season lets be honest.

I've been relatively impressed with all the kids that have featured so far in pre season. They're certainly up to the required standard to either be squad players or provide back up depth between them. Some will clearly be more involved than others, and i think A-A is definitely one of those. The kid looks a genuinely good prospect that we've picked up on the cheap.

We probably can't - but we can prepare for the uncertainty. We're transitioning in style and our overall squad and depth is good for the championship. We'll have strategic areas to strengthen but in around that we could end up with any number of potential line ups depending on who stays/gos. Fans will need to be patient as things settle down and we learn the style. Its also important to remember that often the championship sees teams promoted after a bad start.

Am i the only one who thinks Ballard has the potential to really ignite this season? Sure he needs a bit of luck and some faith, but those ahead of him aren't exactly great, and what Ballard is is an extremely confidant and competent goal scorer - and someone who will suit are possession heavy build up with lots of players and movement in and around the box. I'm not saying to hold high expectations on the kid, but i do think he could do really well this year if he gets his chance.

Fantastic news for him - one of my favourite saints players in recent years. Great attitude both on and off the pitch by all accounts, and someone who put family over a big pay day (with the girona move) - so for it to work out like this for him is well deserved and a nice story.

Surely we haven't just spent nearly £15M on charles if we don't consider him ready to play regularly this season?! Alongside JWP will be charles and smallbone i'd imagine. Doyle will also get minutes in the 8 role. Possible we may see one more addition there i guess. The likes of Carlos, Stu, Sulemana, Tella, Edozie, A-A (Sam Amo-Ameyaw) will play further forward.

I don't know, but with phrases like "future bloodline" being whipped out, I can only assume we're worshipping a new vampire novel. And I'm here for it...