Saint86

Apparently Juan is staying at Goztepe next season. How much did Saints pay for him? Anyone know if we've received a loan fee or anything?

Keeping AA is the obvious choice and people are mad to consider selling him for anything other than silly money. He was arguably the best player in the championship in our promotion season, and was top on combined goals/assists from memory?

That close to the start of the season it will be near full strength from both sides you'd imagine.

What a pair...

Leicester forums yesterday saying that Martin is 100% done, that they're also trying to sign someone from saints, and that people's heads will fall off (in a bad way) over who that is... It couldn't be Stephens... could it? Hopefully not Adam Armstrong though...

THB and Edwards as a minimum should be given a chance to see how they play together and whether they can develop. Potentially with an experienced head (fonte esq) to settle things down and take a lead. The objective is to build for the premier league, not sign players like Keane who are already established pros and who are being considered a weak link / excess to requirements in a poor Everton side. Sanda has shown there is some potential to him as well, and in a similar boat there is Charles (in CM). I personally would like to see all them retained and their pathways into the first team and opportunities to develop not being blocked. So, if we are serious about promotion and building a future team for them prem, i think the likes of THB, Edwards, Charles, Downes (if he can sort out his attitude), and Fernandes should all be on a "to be retained" list. And that shouldn't change unless silly money offers are received. Ditto ramsdale... If the club can afford it and we're happy to play hardball. Keep all of them and it's a very solid spine for championship team, and one that has the scope to grow into the next fonte, Spiderman, lallana, Lambert style core of a side.

The CoT were a couple of weeks ago 👀

Will be gutted if Martin goes to Leicester tbh. He is a quality manager and will only have improved by his time with us re the push to the playoffs, winning them, and then the lessons he's doubtless learned in the prem... I think there is a very real risk that Leicester come in and take bazunu, Fraser, Stephens, manning and bednarek all off of us this summer for knock down prices... All of them were invaluable to our promotion push last year and losing them would decimate our defensive capabilities at this level - something we simply can't afford. Stephens especially was imperious at the back, and baz's possession and distribution play were second to none. Fraser as well was a machine on the wing contributing with key goals. Really hoping this season obscures just how good they were and Leicester fail to take them off our hands 😖😬. 👀

Sadly we already have more ample 3rd / 4th CBs 🫣

No smoke without fire. But I wouldn't be surprised if we're after an investor more than a full sale.

The guy is worth barely any more than Solak, his track record in spain isn't remotely impressive (especially given the relative levels of opposition in their 2nd tier), and at least under Solak's more recent tighter control Saints have started to make the right moves? Equally, will he back the club more than Solak has? If the guy had tens of billions i'd be more interested - but is it really a good time to rip everything up and indulge in a load of uncertainty over an increase in owner wealth from £1.5B to £2B? Could this be as an investor / co-owner perhaps?

Strong first interview from him i thought. He's calm and unassuming, but you can see how his self confidence and belief has grown across his numerous interviews so far. I do think that dealing with our dressing room (morale / exits / turnover) and the pressures of immediate promotion will be a significant challenge for him (and to me, this is where the risk lies), but his general man malmanagement and tactical nous seem to be his strong points. Over to him and Spors now for what needs to be a very strong summer - but so far, Spors has made solid moves and hit any targets i could have set (i.e., sort out the recruitment team after SR/ RA previously gutted it, and made a solid managerial appointment - all in good order before the summer). It seems like we're in safe hands post Solak getting more involved / shaking the tree.

I think there is a pretty good chance that Leicester will get a transfer embargo myself.

Agreed on this. It will be interesting to see what kind of business we do and where we focus (positions / outgoings etc.). It should give a good indication of how well prepared we are. I think the split window will add an interesting dynamic to the window as well - not least from a negotiating aspect. I.e., clubs can't afford to be evidently rich, or weak in certain areas going into the pause - or risk it being exploited. Equally will agents try to use it to stall and negotiate, or will players favour clubs that are ready to complete moves if it means they can be in and sorted for pre season.

Yup.

Guess we didn't copy the first team's tactics - at least Ruben Diaz will be happy 🫠

This is tradition / obligatory at this point... 😘

Lets me honest, city are basically u21 and u18 Galactico's when it comes to youth football.

Genuine query here as i've got lost in Leicester's particular PSR shenanigans and would dearly love to have what they're likely facing spelled out in black and white for me 😅🥰. I looked into their overspending a while back but always get lost in the applications of the rules with Leicester and what charges were taken against them and what they weaselled out off last time. My understanding was that they were in breach last season in the championship, and in the premier league relegation season before that. From that, i understood that they appealed the premier league/championship points deduction on the loopholes to do with timings and then not being able to be sanctioned by the premier league whilst in the championship (a loophole that i now think has retrospectively has now been closed for future offences). I can see how they abused the rules to avoid the premier league sanction, but they were still in breach of championship PSR rules when the accounts were released at the end of last season??? so is there not also a points deduction pending for that as well?!?! And, If i recall correctly, their rolling 3 year losses (note, not PSR losses) was something like £200M for this current 3 year window. So they've absolutely smashed the PSR allowance and should be facing a sanction that should have been implemented this season when the accounts were released?!?! However, there has been barely even a whisper of that sanction - let alone it being applied this season. So is the current consensus the following: That they've completely escaped the previous premier league sanction. That they've breached the loss limits for last year's accounts, and they are going to face the charge for that next season (although surely it should have been applied this year). And there is a possible outstanding charge for the previous championship season? If anyone can confirm this or set it out clearly it would be much appreciated

Do you think the club will let Dibling go into the last year of his contract? I think its far more likely that we're posturing re the £100M figure we keep bandying about, when deep down the club know we will do a deal at any figure over circa £40-50M for him because we will be forced to sell him next summer for even less. The reality is that with two years left on his contract, this is the last chance we'll get to really maximise his value, and we badly need that money to build for the long term future - a player that won't sign a new contract and that we will be forced to sell next summer regardless is sadly not part of any long term future. That or we finally stop disrespecting our best kids and actually give him a fair wedge. But we've been consistently reluctant to do that under SR. AGR being a pristine fuck up having gone to Lyon for relatively sod all compensation (£150K) as well.

It is going to be a very competitive season next year.

My understanding was that Leicester were sitting on something like losses of £200M for the 3 year window closing last season. What i am struggling to understand is how they've got away with it so far, but i think they are well and truly cooked now. Points deduction this season, and a points deduction if they get promoted.

Thought we got better after the subs. Clear that we started a bunch of players that cannot wait to leave and do not care anymore. the likes of Stewart, smallbone, Sanda and Robinson all showed they can probably do a job for us next year. Woods didn't impress me at all, although possibly harsh on him given the shit show he was playing in the middle of. THB, Sanda, Edwards may not be the worst set of CB's next season. Certainly young and with a chance to grow and improve if they get to play regularly.

Stewart actually looks like he might be useful next season at least - once he's got some match fitness and if he can stay fit...

I thought, "the monkey's off their backs now, maybe they'll play with some freedom"... instead they are making it quite clear that as a squad, they collectively could not give a shit, have zero respect for the badge or fans, and are intent to just walk around on the pitch for their pay cheque and exit stage left in the summer. Absolutely disgraceful performance.