Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Saint86]

19 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Not seen any links what so ever for THB or Dibling leaving. They might attract interest, but what's the point in panicking when there is literally no rumour or 'noise' to panic over?

To be fair, Smallbone and Aribo are ones we really need to cycle out of the squad anyway - so all the better if they do move on and we replace with better.

We have already rejected a £19-20M for THB at the start of this month. We have 7 first team CBs on the books - someone is going, likely 2 given the rumours we're in for another one. Several premier league clubs have been rumoured for Dibling - and if he doesn't sign a new deal he is off.

Aribo and Smallbone are two of the mid level players sure... the issue we have is that they are our squad depth. With Fernandes, Dibling, Edozie, Smallbone, and Aribo all linked with exits, thats an area of the team that already needed strengthening, instead potentially being gutted.

There is a lot of business to be done, and again its after pre season. Which means we look to be on course to repeat 23/24, i.e., an unsettled august and dropped points.

Edited yesterday at 08:42 by Saint86

[Give it to Ron]

3 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

We have already rejected a £19-20M for THB at the start of this month. Several premier league clubs have been rumoured for Dibling - and if he doesn't sign a new deal he is off.

Aribo and Smallbone are two of the mid level players sure... the issue we have is that they are our squad depth. With Fernandes, Dibling, Edozie, Smallbone, and Aribo all linked with exits, thats an area of the team that already needed strengthening, instead potentially being gutted.

There is a lot of business to be done, and again its after pre season. Which means we look to be on course to repeat 23/24, i.e., an unsettled in august and dropped points.

Robinson, Matsuki and Sesay are now in squad to replace some of those above.

Fernandes will go I can’t believe anyone thinks he will be here at end of transfer window- I dont blame him  especially if Athletico are interested.

[disconnect]

I'm hoping Harwood-Bellis and Dibling will stay, whilst we move on players like Aribo, Wood, Stewart & Fraser who shouldn't really be starting and probably taking up decent wages. Some of the latest links (real or not) are a bit more promising with players who would genuinely be starters, whilst Quarshie and Downs look like they could and should be regulars, albeit some of the players they're replacing are not exactly world beaters. 

Will we see any surprise players leaving? Armstrong or Archer perhaps? Edwards?

[gio1saints]

We have a potentially similar situation with Tyler. When he gets the ball he looks a “ fuori classe ” as they say in Italy but he’s not matured yet into the dominant player he “ might” become. 
 

I hope he will be our Jack Grealish and really shine this season and next before leaving g for that mega bucks move. He’s at least 1 season off being really worth £50m+ though imo. Right now he’s a punt at £25-£30m or so I’d guess - which I’d hope we say NO to of course. 

[hypochondriac]

5 minutes ago, disconnect said:

I'm hoping Harwood-Bellis and Dibling will stay, whilst we move on players like Aribo, Wood, Stewart & Fraser who shouldn't really be starting and probably taking up decent wages. Some of the latest links (real or not) are a bit more promising with players who would genuinely be starters, whilst Quarshie and Downs look like they could and should be regulars, albeit some of the players they're replacing are not exactly world beaters. 

Will we see any surprise players leaving? Armstrong or Archer perhaps? Edwards?

I'm still a bit worried we might lose someone like Charles or Downes which means a position I thought we were sorted in will need strengthening. 

[revolution saint]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

I'm still a bit worried we might lose someone like Charles or Downes which means a position I thought we were sorted in will need strengthening. 

Yes, definitely a bit of a worry but with Ipswich seemingly signing that Hackney for 20M (20 fucking million!) then I think that cuts down the potential moves for Downes.  Fair play to them and they needed to sort out their midfield but that's a hell of a fee for the championship.  Could see someone deciding Charles might be worth a punt too.  Hopefully we can hold onto both because, as you say, first choice CM is an area we look pretty good in.

[saintant]

18 minutes ago, disconnect said:

I'm hoping Harwood-Bellis and Dibling will stay, whilst we move on players like Aribo, Wood, Stewart & Fraser who shouldn't really be starting and probably taking up decent wages. Some of the latest links (real or not) are a bit more promising with players who would genuinely be starters, whilst Quarshie and Downs look like they could and should be regulars, albeit some of the players they're replacing are not exactly world beaters. 

Will we see any surprise players leaving? Armstrong or Archer perhaps? Edwards?

THB is in the latest training pictures. Couldn't spot Tyler who seems to be keeping a very low profile.

[saintant]

7 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Yes, definitely a bit of a worry but with Ipswich seemingly signing that Hackney for 20M (20 fucking million!) then I think that cuts down the potential moves for Downes.  Fair play to them and they needed to sort out their midfield but that's a hell of a fee for the championship.  Could see someone deciding Charles might be worth a punt too.  Hopefully we can hold onto both because, as you say, first choice CM is an area we look pretty good in.

Where would Charles go? He's not good enough for the Premier League and presumably wouldn't want to go to another Championship club which just leaves a move abroad. Same with Downes really.

[revolution saint]

Just now, saintant said:

Where would Charles go? He's not good enough for the Premier League and presumably wouldn't want to go to another Championship club which just leaves a move abroad. Same with Downes really.

Leeds and Arsenal have both been linked with Charles and I can see a mid level prem team thinking they might be getting a future gem.  He's not in that much of a different position to Wharton before he went to Palace.  Hopefully won't happen but it's not completely unrealistic.

Tend to agree with you on Downes - I thought Ipswich might have been tempted which is why I mentioned them but that looks unlikely now.

[SWLondon Saint]

Don't know why there are so many people panicking about the squad right now when it's been obvious for ages it's a pile of 💩 that will be difficult to sort out quickly. Of course Spors as the new guy is going to come in and say he'll sort it - that's just par for the course. I don't think he or Still when he joined would ever have thought 'Oh, we'll be able to shift all these and get in new, better players in a month flat.' like everyone on here seems to expect.

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Leeds and Arsenal have both been linked with Charles and I can see a mid level prem team thinking they might be getting a future gem.  He's not in that much of a different position to Wharton before he went to Palace.  Hopefully won't happen but it's not completely unrealistic.

Tend to agree with you on Downes - I thought Ipswich might have been tempted which is why I mentioned them but that looks unlikely now.

Despite these links I think Charles needs regular games to develop which he likely wouldn't get in the Premier league. He could be tempted by more money I guess.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Don't know why there are so many people panicking about the squad right now when it's been obvious for ages it's a pile of 💩 that will be difficult to sort out quickly. Of course Spors as the new guy is going to come in and say he'll sort it - that's just par for the course. I don't think he or Still when he joined would ever have thought 'Oh, we'll be able to shift all these and get in new, better players in a month flat.' like everyone on here seems to expect.

Does everyone on here expect that? You, presumably, are the only exception.

[Give it to Ron]

3 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Don't know why there are so many people panicking about the squad right now when it's been obvious for ages it's a pile of 💩 that will be difficult to sort out quickly. Of course Spors as the new guy is going to come in and say he'll sort it - that's just par for the course. I don't think he or Still when he joined would ever have thought 'Oh, we'll be able to shift all these and get in new, better players in a month flat.' like everyone on here seems to expect.

The same Spors who with others at top gave Stephens a new 3 year deal?

I am not panicking yet let’s see where are when window closes.

[Challenger]

6 minutes ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Don't know why there are so many people panicking about the squad right now when it's been obvious for ages it's a pile of 💩 that will be difficult to sort out quickly. Of course Spors as the new guy is going to come in and say he'll sort it - that's just par for the course. I don't think he or Still when he joined would ever have thought 'Oh, we'll be able to shift all these and get in new, better players in a month flat.' like everyone on here seems to expect.

Same as all the other pre seasons under SR then. When they stop buying the shit players in the first place, this cycle might come to an end.

 

[Smirking_Saint]

2 hours ago, hypochondriac said:

I agree with that and I am frustrated that we haven't got in at least a couple more signings by now to strengthen our attack. Currently it's pretty toothless. 

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

Stewart - 36/70 for Sunderland (albeit league 1)

Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson - The former two looked largely excellent in the prem, with a slight TD drop off and JR has been excellent so far in pre season

Downs is an unknown quantity, and of course we could lose people, but we aren’t in the premier league anymore, even if the above output is halved I think we have more than enough… do we have to build on the above ? Of course

But I really don’t think, comparative to other squads we are in bad shape at all… we can afford to ‘wait’ for the right targets, where as the likes of Brum and Wrexham, as good as their recruitment looks, cannot

[Wade Garrett]

3 hours ago, egg said:

Asking that question misses the point. We've become a stepping stone club for players capable of bigger and better. To get those players, we have to sell them when a half decent offer comes in. That's our reality. 

Funny how other sides aren’t so quick to sell their decent players.  Granted most of them go eventually, but the priority at other clubs seems to be the first XI.

I think a good few on here have been brainwashed that we have to sell our top talent asap.

[SW11_Saint]

31 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

Stewart - 36/70 for Sunderland (albeit league 1)

Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson - The former two looked largely excellent in the prem, with a slight TD drop off and JR has been excellent so far in pre season

Downs is an unknown quantity, and of course we could lose people, but we aren’t in the premier league anymore, even if the above output is halved I think we have more than enough… do we have to build on the above ? Of course

But I really don’t think, comparative to other squads we are in bad shape at all… we can afford to ‘wait’ for the right targets, where as the likes of Brum and Wrexham, as good as their recruitment looks, cannot

Agree, assuming we keep most of those listed I think we’ll be fine up front. Where we are lacking is #10 / creative midfielders. If/when we lose Matty & Dibling we are going to be in dire straits in that department. 

Edited yesterday at 10:24 by SW11_Saint

[UpweySaint]

25 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

Stewart - 36/70 for Sunderland (albeit league 1)

Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson - The former two looked largely excellent in the prem, with a slight TD drop off and JR has been excellent so far in pre season

Downs is an unknown quantity, and of course we could lose people, but we aren’t in the premier league anymore, even if the above output is halved I think we have more than enough… do we have to build on the above ? Of course

But I really don’t think, comparative to other squads we are in bad shape at all… we can afford to ‘wait’ for the right targets, where as the likes of Brum and Wrexham, as good as their recruitment looks, cannot

Sensible post. Ideal world we would see more change and I expect the club feel similar but we may need to be patient. Worth reflecting that were a lot of the players in our squad coming in with their records or being picked up by other clubs it might be seen as good business. An example would be I was impressed Birmingham got Doyle on loan but I think he’s probably comparable to Downes or Charles.

It could also be a big year for Matsuki, Robinson, Dibling and maybe even Sesay.

I still think we’re missing a 10 and would like to see more proven quality on the wing - I’m thinking more classic winger than wide forward type player. If Matty goes some more creativity in the middle would be valuable. I’m less worried about Bazunu as others but if we can find the right target it’s an area we could do with strengthening. Otherwise I think the squad is good enough to be competing for automatic promotion - I don’t see anybody getting past Ipswich though. They look well set to go straight back up.

 

[John B]

40 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

Stewart - 36/70 for Sunderland (albeit league 1)

Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson - The former two looked largely excellent in the prem, with a slight TD drop off and JR has been excellent so far in pre season

Downs is an unknown quantity, and of course we could lose people, but we aren’t in the premier league anymore, even if the above output is halved I think we have more than enough… do we have to build on the above ? Of course

But I really don’t think, comparative to other squads we are in bad shape at all… we can afford to ‘wait’ for the right targets, where as the likes of Brum and Wrexham, as good as their recruitment looks, cannot

Add a few top class loanees and we could have a decent season if Still is any good as a manager

[Fabrice29]

47 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

Stewart - 36/70 for Sunderland (albeit league 1)

Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson - The former two looked largely excellent in the prem, with a slight TD drop off and JR has been excellent so far in pre season

Downs is an unknown quantity, and of course we could lose people, but we aren’t in the premier league anymore, even if the above output is halved I think we have more than enough… do we have to build on the above ? Of course

But I really don’t think, comparative to other squads we are in bad shape at all… we can afford to ‘wait’ for the right targets, where as the likes of Brum and Wrexham, as good as their recruitment looks, cannot

Totally agree with this, toothless isn't the word I would use. If we create chances there's goals in the team and presumably we'll be better defensively so we'll be competitive in most games. It's interesting that Still use the word "personality" recently. I think thats what we lack. Only Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson seem to be willing to show some personality before they get to the box and if one of those goes and leaves us with very inexperienced players thats clearly the weakest area. Still has never been the highest of attacking coaches so I don't expect us to create things through style of play as such, so we'll need some "personality" to help unlock defences but if we stay in enough games we've clearly got goals in the side.

[Rebel]

45 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

Stewart - 36/70 for Sunderland (albeit league 1)

Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson - The former two looked largely excellent in the prem, with a slight TD drop off and JR has been excellent so far in pre season

Downs is an unknown quantity, and of course we could lose people, but we aren’t in the premier league anymore, even if the above output is halved I think we have more than enough… do we have to build on the above ? Of course

But I really don’t think, comparative to other squads we are in bad shape at all… we can afford to ‘wait’ for the right targets, where as the likes of Brum and Wrexham, as good as their recruitment looks, cannot

To be fair to Ross Stewart he had a great goal scoring record for Sunderland in the Championship for the brief period of time he was fit.  My issue is the odds on him being match fit for any length of time this season are not good.  

I think he will stay for this season - but we should let him quietly leave next summer when his contract is up.

BBD and Armstrong proved they can play together at Blackburn as part of the 3 behind a centre forward - and score goals.  But I don't think either of them work with Archer - for a start both BBD and Archer are best as inside forwards on the left.  And if you play Armstrong and Archer they are too similar albeit on different sides of the pitch - both want to be the finisher.  Neither is creative or good at taking on and beating a man or putting a cross in.

Archer looks a lot more clinical than Armstrong though who needs 4 or 5 chances for every goal or so it seems.

Also I have a feeling we have seen the best of Armstrong and BBD in terms of their career - I am not sure they will score that number of goals again. Neither exactly shone during their loans last season.  

I think we will lose Archer to a low end premier league team late in the transfer window - but I hope we replace him with a more all round and versatile forward - William Boving perhaps.

I think we will stick with Adarma and BBD - and they will score goals for us just not as many as we'd like. I don't think either will be first choice forwards though.  If we do go back up we need to sell both of them quickly and upgrade.

I think there is an outside chance Adarma will leave for somewhere like Boro this summer though.

[Football Special]

3 hours ago, Dusic said:

John Percy (very reliable) saying Firest have had talks re Fernandes and that he meets all of their criteria for a new signing. He was the person who first mentioned their interest end of last season.

I think its now clear he will be going as too much interest from a range of clubs and being honest he should be playing at a high level because he could be an elite player.

I think its probably now looking like we will do well to keep just one of the big four - I think all will probably go because its so hard to keep players when PL clubs want them.

I heard from a Forest contact back in May that Fernandes had been mentioned several times as a target for them, would hate him to go there to be honest unless they are paying £50M+ , would rather he goes to Italy or Spain 

[SW11_Saint]

41 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

Sensible post. Ideal world we would see more change and I expect the club feel similar but we may need to be patient. Worth reflecting that were a lot of the players in our squad coming in with their records or being picked up by other clubs it might be seen as good business. An example would be I was impressed Birmingham got Doyle on loan but I think he’s probably comparable to Downes or Charles.

It could also be a big year for Matsuki, Robinson, Dibling and maybe even Sesay.

I still think we’re missing a 10 and would like to see more proven quality on the wing - I’m thinking more classic winger than wide forward type player. If Matty goes some more creativity in the middle would be valuable. I’m less worried about Bazunu as others but if we can find the right target it’s an area we could do with strengthening. Otherwise I think the squad is good enough to be competing for automatic promotion - I don’t see anybody getting past Ipswich though. They look well set to go straight back up.

 

Wonder if they’re considering David Brooks? If fit, he might fit the bill. 

Or bring back Stuey Armstrong! 

[OldNick]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Funny how other sides aren’t so quick to sell their decent players.  Granted most of them go eventually, but the priority at other clubs seems to be the first XI.

I think a good few on here have been brainwashed that we have to sell our top talent asap.

Perhaps the other clubs players are not stand out enogh for clubs to want them. Also we burned a fortune on players 2 years ago and the club has to balance the books.

When you say other clubs havent sold their best players, which players do you mean?

[OldNick]

18 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

Wonder if they’re considering David Brooks? If fit, he might fit the bill. 

Or bring back Stuey Armstrong! 

I dont think they are the difference, I still cant forget that miss by Brooks against cardiff !!

[coalman]

1 hour ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Im at odds at this frankly..

Armstrong - 30+ G/A last EFL season

Archer - 18 goals last EFL season bookies top goal scorer favourite 

BBD - 22 and 14 for blackburn in the EFL

The trouble with these three is they aren't an out ball. Archer needs someone to play off. Armstrong and BBD won't stretch play out wide. Armstrong struggles to hold the ball up (and scored 3 in 16 last season). We need someone the ball is going to stick to so we can transition from defence to attack and while any of these three are useful up front they don't represent that option for us.

They need people feeding them so they can finish. Fernandes isn't going to be here. Dibling may or may not. So it's hard to see where we're going to create chances from. If Edozie is off to Strasbourg then relying on an untested Robinson seems optimistic. And the last thing we want is the madness of trying to play Fraser through the middle as we tried during the Spain trip.

[hypochondriac]

7 minutes ago, coalman said:

The trouble with these three is they aren't an out ball. Archer needs someone to play off. Armstrong and BBD won't stretch play out wide. Armstrong struggles to hold the ball up (and scored 3 in 16 last season). We need someone the ball is going to stick to so we can transition from defence to attack and while any of these three are useful up front they don't represent that option for us.

They need people feeding them so they can finish. Fernandes isn't going to be here. Dibling may or may not. So it's hard to see where we're going to create chances from. If Edozie is off to Strasbourg then relying on an untested Robinson seems optimistic. And the last thing we want is the madness of trying to play Fraser through the middle as we tried during the Spain trip.

Indeed. It's about the system rather than looking at historical stats from individual players in different systems from years ago. In all the pre season games so far we have looked largely toothless and created very little. 

[beatlesaint]

2 hours ago, SWLondon Saint said:

Don't know why there are so many people panicking about the squad right now when it's been obvious for ages it's a pile of 💩 that will be difficult to sort out quickly. Of course Spors as the new guy is going to come in and say he'll sort it - that's just par for the course. I don't think he or Still when he joined would ever have thought 'Oh, we'll be able to shift all these and get in new, better players in a month flat.' like everyone on here seems to expect.

I think people expected a few more new faces through the door by now, esp after the early departures of Tall Paul and Kamaldeen. I agree that most of it depends on getting rid of deadwood first and formost but I had hoped we would be in a stronger position come the first game next week. 

[OldNick]

As Will Smallbone is pictred in the 3rd kit launch he must be in the plans. I personally think he will do ok in the Championship, he afterall was instramental in the playoff games and Leeds away

[danjosaint]

7 minutes ago, OldNick said:

As Will Smallbone is pictred in the 3rd kit launch he must be in the plans. I personally think he will do ok in the Championship, he afterall was instramental in the playoff games and Leeds away

Yep and Bazunu will do well as he had a good game the other night 

[Smirking_Saint]

18 minutes ago, coalman said:

The trouble with these three is they aren't an out ball. Archer needs someone to play off. Armstrong and BBD won't stretch play out wide. Armstrong struggles to hold the ball up (and scored 3 in 16 last season). We need someone the ball is going to stick to so we can transition from defence to attack and while any of these three are useful up front they don't represent that option for us.

They need people feeding them so they can finish. Fernandes isn't going to be here. Dibling may or may not. So it's hard to see where we're going to create chances from. If Edozie is off to Strasbourg then relying on an untested Robinson seems optimistic. And the last thing we want is the madness of trying to play Fraser through the middle as we tried during the Spain trip.

Stewart or Downs can hold the ball up, Id imagine its why Downs has been brought in

System wise, I do agree with you and @hypochondriac, Im just suggesting we’re not in as dire position as many may think.

As it stands, Fernandes and Dibling are here, the club has said it wants more creativity, so I’d imagine we’ll get that as well as replacing TD or MF is necessary

We scored 6 goals in pre season largely without MF, TD or DD AND playing RF at No.10…. Not that I’m too concerned with pre season form anyway

Im sure we’ll be ok

[hypochondriac]

4 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

Stewart or Downs can hold the ball up, Id imagine its why Downs has been brought in

System wise, I do agree with you and @hypochondriac, Im just suggesting we’re not in as dire position as many may think.

As it stands, Fernandes and Dibling are here, the club has said it wants more creativity, so I’d imagine we’ll get that as well as replacing TD or MF is necessary

We scored 6 goals in pre season largely without MF, TD or DD AND playing RF at No.10…. Not that I’m too concerned with pre season form anyway

Im sure we’ll be ok

I don't think we're in a dire position. We are sti pretty likely to finish high up the table. The thing is I'm ambitious and I want us to attempt to win the league. With that mindset I'd say we are currently short of where we need to be to compete at the very top, particularly when we lose our three or four best players. 

[Smirking_Saint]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I don't think we're in a dire position. We are sti pretty likely to finish high up the table. The thing is I'm ambitious and I want us to attempt to win the league. With that mindset I'd say we are currently short of where we need to be to compete at the very top, particularly when we lose our three or four best players. 

I do think ots a difficult balancing act really, spend bug money now and we likely have to re arm with less funds if we go up

Don’t spend in key areas and we risk not getting promoted 

I do think both us and Ipswich go up in the autos though, we just look stronger than the rest on paper

Tough position for the club really

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I do think ots a difficult balancing act really, spend bug money now and we likely have to re arm with less funds if we go up

Don’t spend in key areas and we risk not getting promoted 

I do think both us and Ipswich go up in the autos though, we just look stronger than the rest on paper

Tough position for the club really

It's all relative though isn't it. I'd expect us to spend 20-30 million with a couple of top quality loans. 15 million on the Fernandes replacement, ten million on rak sakyi or simililar and the rest for strengthening elsewhere including a keeper. I am confident we will do that anyway, just a shame it has to be last minute. 

[Smirking_Saint]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

Totally agree with this, toothless isn't the word I would use. If we create chances there's goals in the team and presumably we'll be better defensively so we'll be competitive in most games. It's interesting that Still use the word "personality" recently. I think thats what we lack. Only Dibling/Fernandes/Robinson seem to be willing to show some personality before they get to the box and if one of those goes and leaves us with very inexperienced players thats clearly the weakest area. Still has never been the highest of attacking coaches so I don't expect us to create things through style of play as such, so we'll need some "personality" to help unlock defences but if we stay in enough games we've clearly got goals in the side.

My main issue is leadership really, we’ve been really lacking there since Fonte left, and I don’t buy into Stephens being the answer to that, but Im not going down that debate again

Ultimately I want to see a change in two personality areas, one, we HAVE to become more resilient, we have had a real tendancy to completely fold under pressure over the last 4-5 years and as such need pitch leaders to change that

Secondly is what you touched on, Russell apent a lot of time training certain characteristics into the side, and it will take time to coach that out of them, but overall we need to become less risk averse and, especially at this level, assert our dominance on the opposition with actual progressive action, not just possession for possession sake

[OneMrsWallace]

7 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

I do think ots a difficult balancing act really, spend bug money now and we likely have to re arm with less funds if we go up

Don’t spend in key areas and we risk not getting promoted 

I do think both us and Ipswich go up in the autos though, we just look stronger than the rest on paper

Tough position for the club really

It is a tricky position but it is also of their making (I appreciate that's obvious). Appointing Spors was a sensible move but he isn't going to be a miracle worker. We're busy talking players but Still might prove a disappointment. There are so many variables it makes my head spin tbh. Just hoping for a decent performance against Wrexham to indicate some chance of a decent season.

[Dusic]

We don't need a striker but Richard Kone has been mentioned on here a few times. Seems to be heading to Swansea for about £4.5m.

[Saint Mikey]

11 minutes ago, Dusic said:

We don't need a striker but Richard Kone has been mentioned on here a few times. Seems to be heading to Swansea for about £4.5m.

Interesting story, fair play to him: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Kone

[Doctoroncall]

13 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

My main issue is leadership really, we’ve been really lacking there since Fonte left, and I don’t buy into Stephens being the answer to that, but Im not going down that debate again

Ultimately I want to see a change in two personality areas, one, we HAVE to become more resilient, we have had a real tendancy to completely fold under pressure over the last 4-5 years and as such need pitch leaders to change that

Secondly is what you touched on, Russell apent a lot of time training certain characteristics into the side, and it will take time to coach that out of them, but overall we need to become less risk averse and, especially at this level, assert our dominance on the opposition with actual progressive action, not just possession for possession sake

It’s strange as I have been watching a few clubs podcasts including Birmingham and Wrexham as the majority of them raise personality and leadership in a player. Such a big miss for us these past four seasons or so that there hasn’t been a Fonte, VVD, Marsden, Case type character. 
 

 

 

[goodymatt]

 

[Smirking_Saint]

3 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

It’s strange as I have been watching a few clubs podcasts including Birmingham and Wrexham as the majority of them raise personality and leadership in a player. Such a big miss for us these past four seasons or so that there hasn’t been a Fonte, VVD, Marsden, Case type character. 
 

 

 

I think THB is the closest to it, JWP was ok but more of a consistent grafter rather than inspirer on the pitch

But yeah… we’re definitely missing somebody 

[gio1saints]

Looks like a potential replacement for Kameldeen / SamE. 
 

Its frightening how impotent we look in attack - despite all the strikers we have with goals in their past history. BBD, Adarma, RStewart and Cameron have not made any fantastic impression on me in preseason. Nor watching them fail all of last season either. When they get the ball I never sense panic in the opposition.

Ive literally only got 30 minutes one goal Damian Down who probably does not give a damn about anything except scoring ( good) Quarsie, Jay R ( and Tyler IF he stays) that I am paying to watch this season atm and hope will not be frightened to shoot and attack. I want those three /four to start and if the others are still around they can support them- from the bench- or by leaving and opening up spaces for other fearless & effective players frankly. 

Edited 22 hours ago by gio1saints

[Fabrice29]

45 minutes ago, Smirking_Saint said:

My main issue is leadership really, we’ve been really lacking there since Fonte left, and I don’t buy into Stephens being the answer to that, but Im not going down that debate again

Ultimately I want to see a change in two personality areas, one, we HAVE to become more resilient, we have had a real tendancy to completely fold under pressure over the last 4-5 years and as such need pitch leaders to change that

Secondly is what you touched on, Russell apent a lot of time training certain characteristics into the side, and it will take time to coach that out of them, but overall we need to become less risk averse and, especially at this level, assert our dominance on the opposition with actual progressive action, not just possession for possession sake

Nothing was for possessions sake. We scored a lot of goals and I will be surprised if we score as many this season, even if we're more successful. The possession was designed to break down defences and it worked, a lot. We won't be doing that this season so yes, I disagree with criticism of our last team in this division but 100% agree we need more resilience and we'll need people to be creative in a more stable system.

[Charlie Wayman]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Funny how other sides aren’t so quick to sell their decent players.  Granted most of them go eventually, but the priority at other clubs seems to be the first XI.

I think a good few on here have been brainwashed that we have to sell our top talent asap.

Quite. If supposedly we are building a team that can compete in the PL then why on earth would we even consider selling our most gifted young players? Fernades, Dibling & Harwood-Bellis surely are key core players around whom we should be rebuilding our future. I cannot envisage any discernible strategy that allows the club to sell any of these players and still hope to reach the PL and stay there.

What folly to sell your seed corn and expect to survive the ensuing famine.

[egg]

3 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

Funny how other sides aren’t so quick to sell their decent players.  Granted most of them go eventually, but the priority at other clubs seems to be the first XI.

I think a good few on here have been brainwashed that we have to sell our top talent asap.

You still miss the point. 

Our business model is to sign players who'll give us a year or two then be sold for profit to a bigger club. 

We have to sell those players to be able to attract the next batch - they won't come here if we don't do that. 

Other clubs who operate in that way do the same. Clubs that don't operate in that way don't. You can't compare how we operate to a club that doesn't. 

[revolution saint]

40 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Seems like he's a hard working traditional winger and we ain't got many of those.  Had an interesting journey to La Liga if anyone's interested: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6289789/2025/04/20/carlos-vicente-interview-alaves-lamine-yamal-la-liga/

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Football Special said:

I heard from a Forest contact back in May that Fernandes had been mentioned several times as a target for them, would hate him to go there to be honest unless they are paying £50M+ , would rather he goes to Italy or Spain 

Nobody is paying £50m+ for Fernandes.

Edited 21 hours ago by saintant

[SWLondon Saint]

18 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Nothing was for possessions sake. We scored a lot of goals and I will be surprised if we score as many this season, even if we're more successful. The possession was designed to break down defences and it worked, a lot. We won't be doing that this season so yes, I disagree with criticism of our last team in this division but 100% agree we need more resilience and we'll need people to be creative in a more stable system.

Sure, except that the top scoring team that season weren't playing a possession style like ours and had inferior players (Ipswich) and the 2nd highest scoring team were more pragmatic about possession, playing on the counter and pressing us in our box and absolutely tonked us to the tune of 8 goals or so?

[Wade Garrett]

8 minutes ago, egg said:

You still miss the point. 

Our business model is to sign players who'll give us a year or two then be sold for profit to a bigger club. 

We have to sell those players to be able to attract the next batch - they won't come here if we don't do that. 

Other clubs who operate in that way do the same. Clubs that don't operate in that way don't. You can't compare how we operate to a club that doesn't. 

I’m not ‘missing the point’ but thanks for putting me straight.

[redkeith]

48 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Saw him play in a 1 nil win for Alaves against Villareal.  

It was a real back to the walls job by Alaves ,  They had there keeper send off just after half time, and then a central midfield sent off at the start of 20 minutes of injury time. 

It is hard to say based on that wether he is an 8 or a 10 , but one thing that stood out was his work rate. When they went down to 9 men, Alaves resorted to a bank of 4 behind a bank of 3 with Vicente doing all of the pressing on his own.   

I would be very pleased if we signed him.