Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[pimpin4rizeal]

6 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Is it not pretty obvious why goalkeepers and strikers are a bit different in that regard?

Well we have signed shit loads of players who barely get a game look at last season the likes of bbd, Taylor etc .. so does it really matter if we take the gamble of getting a goalkeeper in early .. also it’s not like whoever we sign is gonna also be on ramsdale type wages 

Main point I’m making is it would be nice if we could a johannson or someone secured rather then scratching about in the last couple of days in the windows or ending up relying on bazunu  when it’s super likely ramsdale won’t be here 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Well we have signed shit loads of players who barely get a game look at last season the likes of bbd, Taylor etc .. so does it really matter if we take the gamble of getting a goalkeeper in early .. also it’s not like whoever we sign is gonna also be on ramsdale type wages 

Main point I’m making is it would be nice if we could a johannson or someone secured rather then scratching about in the last couple of days in the windows or ending up relying on bazunu  when it’s super likely ramsdale won’t be here 

What happens if Ramsdale does not leave and you've already signed a replacement?

Edited 14 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[SouSaint]

Isnt Ramsdale rumoured to have a release clause? Imagine if someone activates it on deadline day. 🫣

[Matthew Le God]

2 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

Isnt Ramsdale rumoured to have a release clause? Imagine if someone activates it on deadline day. 🫣

Such clauses often come with conditions as to the latest in the window they can be activated in order to avoid being left  without time to get a replacement. 

[revolution saint]

58 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Such clauses often come with conditions as to the latest in the window they can be activated in order to avoid being left  without time to get a replacement. 

Do you know if Ramsdales does?

[Kenilworthy59]

8 hours ago, SouSaint said:

Isnt Ramsdale rumoured to have a release clause? Imagine if someone activates it on deadline day. 🫣

It would be even worse if someone triggered it

[Charlie Wayman]

Pretty depressing prospect. We'll struggle with this lot, Still or no Still.

 

[Reply to Willo of Whiteley] 12 hrs ago

Edited 5 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Kenilworthy59]

27 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Pretty depressing prospect. We'll struggle with this lot, Still or no Still.

 

[Reply to Willo of Whiteley] 12 hrs ago

Bristol City made the play-offs last season. Even though we might think we are poor, our players are still better than what is a really low standard

[Willo of Whiteley]

As a squad, it is a strong Championship squad, you can’t deny that.

My concern at the moment is a competent and clinical striker, we don’t know enough about Downs to work out whether he’s been brought in as a striker or a prospect. Maybe out wide too, Ryan Fraser was excellent a couple of years ago, I doubt he’s the same player, we need a bit of pace out wide.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the likes of JWP, Tella and Lavia were all in the squad for the first game or two of the Championship two seasons ago. 

[Chez]

6 minutes ago, Kenilworthy59 said:

Bristol City made the play-offs last season. Even though we might think we are poor, our players are still better than what is a really low standard

no matter the quality of players in the squad, they need to become a functional hard working unit again that is tight at the back, dominant in midfield and creates and takes chances. Like or loathe Martin, he handled considerable unrest and turnover of player and then turned a bunch of losers into a side that won a lot of games. The side had a pattern of play that by and large worked. Hopefully Still can do that, he's got his work cut out if you ask me, but let's see.

[Chez]

15 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

Ryan Fraser was excellent a couple of years ago, I doubt he’s the same player, we need a bit of pace out wide.

 

he played 39 games but only started 13. He was a very good impact sub.  The late goal at Millwall sticks in my mind. He's only 31, so no reason why he can't be just as sharp, but having not played last season, his motivation will have taken a hit. Still could turn that around...that's his job after all. 

[Farmer Saint]

2 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Pretty depressing prospect. We'll struggle with this lot, Still or no Still.

 

[Reply to Willo of Whiteley] 12 hrs ago

We're no worse now (in fact I would say we're far better) than the team we had under Martin, and he managed to get us promoted.

[Farmer Saint]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

As a squad, it is a strong Championship squad, you can’t deny that.

My concern at the moment is a competent and clinical striker, we don’t know enough about Downs to work out whether he’s been brought in as a striker or a prospect. Maybe out wide too, Ryan Fraser was excellent a couple of years ago, I doubt he’s the same player, we need a bit of pace out wide.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the likes of JWP, Tella and Lavia were all in the squad for the first game or two of the Championship two seasons ago. 

I think Archer is the embodiment of a clinical striker ie. a great finisher.

[Matthew Le God]

1 hour ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

My concern at the moment is a competent and clinical striker, we don’t know enough about Downs to work out whether he’s been brought in as a striker or a prospect. 

Archer has a very good record of 18 goals in only 40 Championship games.

Stewart was prolific in a small sample of Championship games with 10 goals in only 13 games.

Brereton Diaz has had a 22 goal Championship season.

Armstrong had a 24 goal Championship season in his last full one.

Downs was top scorer for the best team in 2.Bundesliga last season, he isn't merely for the future. 

[lambtiss]

12 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Archer has a very good record of 18 goals in only 40 Championship games.

Stewart was prolific in a small sample of Championship games with 10 goals in only 13 games.

Brereton Diaz has had a 22 goal Championship season.

Armstrong had a 24 goal Championship season in his last full one.

Downs was top scorer for the best team in 2.Bundesliga last season, he isn't merely for the future. 

All true but that doesn’t matter if you aren’t creating chances 

[Dusic]

2 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

As a squad, it is a strong Championship squad, you can’t deny that.

My concern at the moment is a competent and clinical striker, we don’t know enough about Downs to work out whether he’s been brought in as a striker or a prospect. Maybe out wide too, Ryan Fraser was excellent a couple of years ago, I doubt he’s the same player, we need a bit of pace out wide.

It’s worth bearing in mind that the likes of JWP, Tella and Lavia were all in the squad for the first game or two of the Championship two seasons ago. 

Striker isnt the issue. Creativity is.

[Teamsaint1]

1 hour ago, Farmer Saint said:

We're no worse now (in fact I would say we're far better) than the team we had under Martin, and he managed to get us promoted.

 Che Adams would improve this side immediately, and significantly. 
we looked disjointed and badly lacking in confidence up front today. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

The loan market for us is going to be absolutely crucial. 

[hypochondriac]

23 minutes ago, Teamsaint1 said:

 Che Adams would improve this side immediately, and significantly. 
we looked disjointed and badly lacking in confidence up front today. 

Isn't that what Downs is for? 

[Teamsaint1]

27 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Isn't that what Downs is for? 

Yes, but the difference is that Downs is less of a known quantity at this stage. Hopefully Downs will be great , and better than Adams. but either way, Adams would significantly improve the attack right now. 

[Matthew Le God]

1 minute ago, Teamsaint1 said:

Yes, but the difference is that Downs is less of a known quantity at this stage. Hopefully Downs will be great , and better than Adams. but either way, Adams would significantly improve the attack right now. 

If Downs is already better than Adams, then Adams doesn't improve starting XI.

[sockeye]

Based on that showing today the midfield needs serious work. Middlesbrough’s Azaz - worth looking into?

[Matthew Le God]

3 minutes ago, sockeye said:

Based on that showing today the midfield needs serious work. Middlesbrough’s Azaz - worth looking into?

A midfield of Downes, Charles and Fernandes is superb for the Championship. Aribo and Smallbone as backup is fine in the second tier, not the Premier League. 

Edited 40 minutes ago by Matthew Le God

[sockeye]

1 minute ago, Matthew Le God said:

A midfield of Downes, Charles and Fernandes is superb for the Championship. 

I more meant in an attacking sense.

[Matthew Le God]

Just now, sockeye said:

I more meant in an attacking sense.

So not the midfield then?

Lots of very good attacking players at Championship level in our squad.

[SWLondon Saint]

5 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

So not the midfield then?

Lots of very good attacking players at Championship level in our squad.

Not on today's showing. AA, BBD, Fraser all looked totally toothless. Archer offered nothing as the focal point either. We looked a lot better when Robinson came on and Downs had no service but scored a good goal with what felt like his only touch!

[Matthew Le God]

7 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Not on today's showing. AA, BBD, Fraser all looked totally toothless. Archer offered nothing as the focal point either. We looked a lot better when Robinson came on and Downs had no service but scored a good goal with what felt like his only touch!

Don't judge them on a pre-season friendly, then. Look at how they've done when they've had full Championship seasons.

Edited 24 minutes ago by Matthew Le God

[ErwinK1961]

3 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Don't judge them on a pre-season friendly, then. Look at how they've done when they've had full Championship seasons.

I think it’s better to start judging them on the here and now, playing for the manager who is here now and the way he wants to play now. 

Archer scoring 18 in 40 several years ago has no relevance to whether he suits Still’s tactics. BBD’s one good season several years ago has no bearing on his confidence and belief now. Armstrong scoring as many as he did two years ago has no relevance to his desire to be here and want to play for the club now.

It seems clear Still wants to attack from the wings and get balls into the box. This relies on having players who have pace, can beat a man and deliver a final box into the box. BBD, AA, Archer are not those players. Fraser maybe, but he was better as an impact sub two years ago, so god knows what he’ll be like now. Edozie is all fart and no shit and has been his whole career.

Saying “we’ve got a great squad on paper” means nothing if they don’t fit into what we’re trying to do.

[CSA96]

 

[Badger]

26 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

So not the midfield then?

Lots of very good attacking players at Championship level in our squad.

Remind us all again how many goals Archer scored in 40 games in case anyone has missed it. BBD too.

Unfortunately very few people seem to share your optimism.