Sport Republic

[Badger]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Happy with Spors so far. He's clearly been given the remit to direct significant change within the recruitment of the club (which was badly needed) - and since he's been in he's ticked every milestone i'd have set him (scouting setup rebuilt and structured seemingly quite well, took his time on what looks a good manager hire, and made what looks a decent young signing).

In summary - finally looks like SR (Solak now lets be honest), have put power in the hands of proper footballing people.

The Acid Tests really, time will tell. 

Think we've been here before though, so not getting hopes up.

[miserableoldgit]

20 hours ago, Master Bates said:

 

I am probably being stupid....but who did what?

[Wade Garrett]

3 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Happy with Spors so far. He's clearly been given the remit to direct significant change within the recruitment of the club (which was badly needed) - and since he's been in he's ticked every milestone i'd have set him (scouting setup rebuilt and structured seemingly quite well, took his time on what looks a good manager hire, and made what looks a decent young signing).

In summary - finally looks like SR (Solak now lets be honest), have put power in the hands of proper footballing people.

You may be right, but from what I’ve seen he doesn’t deserve a pat on the back just yet.  Can’t be judged until the squad rebuild starts taking shape.

Edited June 12 by Wade Garrett

[Convict Colony]

11 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

I am probably being stupid....but who did what?

Daz Stevenson made up a rumour which going from his feed he does a lot.

[Badger]

5 hours ago, Convict Colony said:

Daz Stevenson made up a rumour which going from his feed he does a lot.

Don't know how you reached that conclusion.

From his page he looks like the quiet 'old boy' who sits in the corner of his local nursing his pint, and will have a chat with all and sundry. Every pub used to have them.

 

So it it really beyond the realms of possibility that someone popped in and in the middle of a casual chat about the weather, cost of a pint etc, just dropped into the conversation, as anyone might,  that they had received or tabled a £150m bid for Saints that day ?

 Of course we've no idea if it was Dragan himself stopping by for a swift one on the way home, or some Arab cunt (for an orange juice). 

Anyway, I'll leave it for other to decide how credible this is.

Edited June 12 by Badger

[pimpin4rizeal]

Think I’d rather have the Arabs then sports republic .. all the rumours are more signing players to loan to goztepe etc after the season we just had it’s a joke really .. shows how shit they are that they’ve made gao look good 

[Nolan]

9 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Think I’d rather have the Arabs then sports republic .. all the rumours are more signing players to loan to goztepe etc after the season we just had it’s a joke really .. shows how shit they are that they’ve made gao look good 

The Sheikh got their Spanish team Almeria relegated to the second division. 

What evidence is there that he would be any better ?

 

 

 

Edited June 12 by Nolan

[Matthew Le God]

1 hour ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Think I’d rather have the Arabs then sports republic .. all the rumours are more signing players to loan to goztepe etc after the season we just had it’s a joke really .. shows how shit they are that they’ve made gao look good 

Don't believe everything you read.

[Dusic]

10 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

If we head into September with Smallbone in CM and Bazunu our first choice in Goal, then I'm sorry, it's going to be no different.

No different than...getting promoted again?

[pimpin4rizeal]

1 hour ago, Nolan said:

The Sheikh got their Spanish team Almeria relegated to the second division. 

What evidence is there that he would be any better ?

 

 

 

He’s done a great job with the boxing at least  .. plus the bar is low even gao didn’t get us relegated and he hardly did anything .. this multi club shit seems like we are being used imo using our resources to fund other clubs isn’t really washing for me 

Edited June 12 by pimpin4rizeal

[Matthew Le God]

28 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

 this multi club shit seems like we are being used imo using our resources to fund other clubs isn’t really washing for me 

Juan and Matsuki were signed for minimal prices and remain Saints assets. It isn't funding other clubs, them improving out on loan benefits Saints. It also allows Saints to get work permits for players they couldn't otherwise sign.

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Dusic said:

No different than...getting promoted again?

We only got through the playoffs because Bazunu was injured, we'd have still been a Championship side had he still been number 1.

[Matthew Le God]

58 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

We only got through the playoffs because Bazunu was injured, we'd have still been a Championship side had he still been number 1.

Would he really have been tested that much by West Brom and Leeds to the extent we wouldn't win? McCarthy wasn't particularly overstretched in any of the playoff games.

We beat both with Bazunu in goal during the season. How did that happen?

Edited June 12 by Matthew Le God

[Willo of Whiteley]

People do take a lot of stuff on the internet as fact don’t they

[CSA96]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Would he really have been tested that much by West Brom and Leeds to the extent we wouldn't win? McCarthy wasn't particularly overstretched in any of the playoff games.

We beat both with Bazunu in goal during the season. How did that happen?

McCarthy had a really good game at the Hawthorns in the first leg of the semi-final, as I remember it, which involved a lot of claiming contested crosses. As we all know, Bazunu would've flapped being put under those kind of deliveries

There was also a cracking reaction save at Wembley to stop Leeds equalising. So I'm not sure I particularly agree with your assessment of McCarthy's contribution to our playoff success

(I'm not a McCarthy fan and feared the worst for the playoffs with him stepping in... but to rewrite history and suggest he didn't make a significant contribution to our promotion in those games is unfair)

Edited June 13 by CSA96

[BarberSaint]

13 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

You may be right, but from what I’ve seen he doesn’t deserve a pat on the back just yet.  Can’t be judged until the squad rebuild starts taking shape.

 

 

I think we judge them in two seasons' time: when we might have both been promoted and stayed up or been promoted with at least six players who will be good enough in the top league in which case it'll be three seasons.

[FredVaFC59100]

On 11/06/2025 at 07:41, BarberSaint said:

 

 

Aren't your balls round, or something?

No, it's because of our metric system...

[CB Fry]

3 hours ago, BarberSaint said:

 

 

I think we judge them in two seasons' time: when we might have both been promoted and stayed up or been promoted with at least six players who will be good enough in the top league in which case it'll be three seasons.

Correct, even then it's a low bar for success.

Best case scenario is in the summer of 2027 SR get us back to where they found us in the first place.

[SouSaint]

7 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Would he really have been tested that much by West Brom and Leeds to the extent we wouldn't win? McCarthy wasn't particularly overstretched in any of the playoff games.

We beat both with Bazunu in goal during the season. How did that happen?

Bazunu wouldn't have saved the shot McCarthy did from Dan James. It was a fairly routine save but Bazunu has history of being absolutely useless at shots down low to his left from outside the box, mainly because he doesn't move his feet quick enough. 

If Bazunu starts the season for us then Sport Republic will be on track for yet another failure of a transfer window. 

[AlexLaw76]

15 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Correct, even then it's a low bar for success.

Best case scenario is in the summer of 2027 SR get us back to where they found us in the first place.

Yeah, but now we have a multi-club ownership model.

Exciting, yes?

[Dusic]

11 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

We only got through the playoffs because Bazunu was injured, we'd have still been a Championship side had he still been number 1.

And Smallbone? Guy scored the the 2nd most important goal of the season and assisted the most important.

Sure he might struggle at PL level but he was good in the Championship.

If you would base a judgement of Spors on Smallbone starting a football match in the Championship then I think thats more than a little OTT.

[Saint86]

On 13/06/2025 at 05:40, SouSaint said:

Bazunu wouldn't have saved the shot McCarthy did from Dan James. It was a fairly routine save but Bazunu has history of being absolutely useless at shots down low to his left from outside the box, mainly because he doesn't move his feet quick enough. 

If Bazunu starts the season for us then Sport Republic will be on track for yet another failure of a transfer window. 

Baz started the last championship season and we got promoted 🤔

[Saint Fan CaM]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

Baz started the last championship season and we got promoted 🤔

We got promoted because Baz got injured and we had a marginally better keeper for a good proportion of the season. Add to that the injury to his already floppy wrists and the dire games he’s had since his return from injury and it’s not hard to believe he’d be a disaster. Best not to live in the past - everything’s moved on and if Rambo goes we need a new, equally as good keeper. That’s not Bazunu.

[BarberSaint]

On 13/06/2025 at 05:28, CB Fry said:

Correct, even then it's a low bar for success.

Best case scenario is in the summer of 2027 SR get us back to where they found us in the first place.

 

 

And  then leave?

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

We got promoted because Baz got injured and we had a marginally better keeper for a good proportion of the season. Add to that the injury to his already floppy wrists and the dire games he’s had since his return from injury and it’s not hard to believe he’d be a disaster. Best not to live in the past - everything’s moved on and if Rambo goes we need a new, equally as good keeper. That’s not Bazunu.

 

We got promoted because we were better than most of the dross we now find ourselves among again.

[Crab Lungs]

3 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

We got promoted because Baz got injured and we had a marginally better keeper for a good proportion of the season. Add to that the injury to his already floppy wrists and the dire games he’s had since his return from injury and it’s not hard to believe he’d be a disaster. Best not to live in the past - everything’s moved on and if Rambo goes we need a new, equally as good keeper. That’s not Bazunu.

I believe this too. There’s no way we’re promoted with him in the sticks. 

[Badger]

6 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

I believe this too. There’s no way we’re promoted with him in the sticks. 

I think in a parallel universe where Bazunu hadn’t been injured we know how that low, to the left hand corner, shot from Dan James might have ended up …

(Await MLG with a ‘butterfly effect’ post, or whatever it was called …) 

[Crab Lungs]

29 minutes ago, Badger said:

I think in a parallel universe where Bazunu hadn’t been injured we know how that low, to the left hand corner, shot from Dan James might have ended up …

(Await MLG with a ‘butterfly effect’ post, or whatever it was called …) 

That was one of the saves I was thinking of! He no way gets to that.

[Nolan]

 

 

 

Edited 23 hours ago by Nolan

[SaintLondon]

PR machine in full swing.. 

[disconnect]

I heard they were raffling off the club in the clubhouse after dinner

[Weston Super Saint]

Is this like one of those 'full confidence in the manager' statements?

[Gloucester Saint]

On 13/06/2025 at 09:08, Dusic said:

And Smallbone? Guy scored the the 2nd most important goal of the season and assisted the most important.

Sure he might struggle at PL level but he was good in the Championship.

If you would base a judgement of Spors on Smallbone starting a football match in the Championship then I think thats more than a little OTT.

Context - if Still wants a central midfield 3, no reasons why he wouldn’t use Smallbone whatsoever as alongside Downes and Aribo he often performed well. In a central two however, Smallbone got swamped for Martin in the Champ. 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

I don’t think I’m the only one but I’ve got almost full confidence in Dragan Solak, I believe he’s a genuine fella.

I’m quite content with how things are now changing, just feels right.

[miserableoldgit]

24 minutes ago, TheAlehouseBrawlers said:

I don’t think I’m the only one but I’ve got almost full confidence in Dragan Solak, I believe he’s a genuine fella.

I’m quite content with how things are now changing, just feels right.

Yes. I know all about once (twice, three times etc) bitten and all that....but it does feel a blt different this time. A bit like the adults have taken charge and sent the kids out to play on their own. It will be interesting to see what tomorrows Alfie House/Adam Blackmores interviews contain. Rather than take the cynicism route, I will keep an open mind until I hear it.🤞

[samcrocker]

How upset will people be if Kuryu Matsuki gets sold without paying for Southampton?

Dodgy Twitter (X) rumours linking him to Germany so it's a possibility.

Only cost 1.5m Euros, so even selling for 5m would be a decent profit in books, for effectively bringing him to Europe...

If we can use Goztepe like this surely that is a good part of the group model?

[Doctoroncall]

5 minutes ago, samcrocker said:

How upset will people be if Kuryu Matsuki gets sold without paying for Southampton?

Dodgy Twitter (X) rumours linking him to Germany so it's a possibility.

Only cost 1.5m Euros, so even selling for 5m would be a decent profit in books, for effectively bringing him to Europe...

If we can use Goztepe like this surely that is a good part of the group model?

If he’s seen as a player that could reach premier league then it doesn’t make sense. 

[Dusic]

Considering the lack of visibility and accountability that some owners show on a regular basis I will take the fact that Dragan seemingly invited two local journalists for an interview as a good sign.

PR? Undoubtedly. But better that than a Gao type who is silent and hidden.

[SuperSAINT]

30 minutes ago, Dusic said:

Considering the lack of visibility and accountability that some owners show on a regular basis I will take the fact that Dragan seemingly invited two local journalists for an interview as a good sign.

PR? Undoubtedly. But better that than a Gao type who is silent and hidden.

Exactly. His alternative is to NOT do an interview? 

[Convict Colony]

2 hours ago, Nolan said:

 

 

 

Good to see Adam dressed up

[Wade Garrett]

The comments Dragan have made are a step in the right direction.  The proof is in the pudding though.  Transfer business is key and a balance has to be struck between potential and those that can immediately improve the first team.

Really interested in what he has to say.  He must be pleased with the season ticket renewals, apparently the number is much higher than the club expected.

[skintsaint]

The only thing working harder than Adam on this business trip is his shirt buttons by the looks of things.

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, SaintLondon said:

PR machine in full swing.. 

What is wrong with some positivity and openness from the owner? He's certainly shaken things up recently and appears to be putting football people in place and trusting them to make decisions. Add to that the fact that he is actually engaging with the press and fans from time to time and i don't have any real issue with him - I actually quite like him and hope he can turn things around (post Kraft and Ankerson) and brings success to the club. I'm certainly happier with him than that Saudi billionaire who failed in Spain.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Let’s see where we are come September 1st. 
I have more confidence in Dragan Solak, seemingly the adult has entered the room and taken away what was Rasmus’ little toy that he didn’t understand or know how to use.

[Matthew Le God]

7 hours ago, SaintLondon said:

PR machine in full swing.. 

Would you prefer radio silence from the owner?

[benjii]

5 hours ago, skintsaint said:

The only thing working harder than Adam on this business trip is his shirt buttons by the looks of things.

[SW5 SAINT]

Sports Republic no intention of selling Saints then, well not this year anyway……maybe next summer…! So where would that leave Sports Republic with just Goztepe and Valenciennes……?

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, SW5 SAINT said:

Sports Republic no intention of selling Saints then, well not this year anyway……maybe next summer…! So where would that leave Sports Republic with just Goztepe and Valenciennes……?

The whole Sport Republuc project falls apart without a keystone club. So little incentive to sell Saints at a point when their value is lower than they've spent on it.

[Badger]

8 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

The comments Dragan have made are a step in the right direction.  The proof is in the pudding though.  Transfer business is key and a balance has to be struck between potential and those that can immediately improve the first team.

Really interested in what he has to say.  He must be pleased with the season ticket renewals, apparently the number is much higher than the club expected.

I’ve no real axe to grind with Dragan given what he has put into the club.  He’s  a successful businessman, clearly has a good head on him. His only blemish to date is those he’s been (or chosen to be) surrounded by.
 

He seems to have the right intentions for the club and the decks appear to be cleared,  so fresh start.

Just hope Spors lives up to reputation and is an upgrade on the last recruitment regime. Selections of Still, and one signing, a 19 year old with limited experience, there is some way to go though. 
 

Await the Solent interview. If nothing else it’s a refreshing change from Gao’s vow of silence. 

[Badger]

9 hours ago, samcrocker said:

How upset will people be if Kuryu Matsuki gets sold without paying for Southampton?

Dodgy Twitter (X) rumours linking him to Germany so it's a possibility.

Only cost 1.5m Euros, so even selling for 5m would be a decent profit in books, for effectively bringing him to Europe...

If we can use Goztepe like this surely that is a good part of the group model?

Depends if we feel he can cut it here, and the terms of any deal. Buy back option at specified price, or large % of any sell to on.