Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[skintsaint]

[SaintTex]

21 minutes ago, CSA96 said:

Another thing I noticed...

August 29: Fernandes sold for £42m
August 29: Azaz signs for £15m
August 29: Jander signs for £12m
August 29: Fellows signs for £10m
September 1: Scienza signs for £8m

Total spend post-Fernandes: £45m

Really good forward planning from Spors and Lederer 

*deal values include add-ons/bonuses

so needed. I would take that 4 to 1 every day...

...and then you got the other £42m or so from the Dibling transfer

[Secret Site Agent]

4 hours ago, SNSUN said:

I'm up for work at 4am, better be complete by then.

Give us a shout then at 5.  Got be in Ebbsfleet by 7.30 am.

[HarvSFC]

For the first time in years we have competition all across the outfield positions. Manning wasn't performing in our last Championship campaign, he was Martin's mate and Meghoma wasn't trusted, so what happened? He kept playing every week. Now, if Manning's form continues, what happens? Jelert takes his place. Downes was also a shoe in, in the team every week, including last season, but again if his poor performances continue, Jander takes his place. If Harwood-Bellis and Stephens continue to look a bit poor, you'd hope they would be taken out of the team with Edwards, Wood or Quarshie all looking to grasp an opportunity. If one of our new forwards doesn't perform we've got Fraser, Matsuki and Robinson waiting in the wings. And then if one of our strikers isn't performing we've got Archer, Stewart, Downs, or Armstrong (shudder) looking to cement the place as their own.

Even if we're not winning a game we'll have five good Championship attackers to bring on.

Best way to raise the performance level of the eleven? Give them genuine competition for their first team place. Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning and Downes have had it very easy up to now. Only weak position squad wise with little competition is goalkeeper.

[Jonnyboy]

I thought I saw a headline today that Harwood-Bellis had gone to Porto?

[Zorba]

1 hour ago, CSA96 said:

Incredible to move on from 20 members of the previous season's first team squad in one summer window - and still trying to get Aribo and Edozie out the door

1. Ramsdale
2. Lumley
3. Walker-Peters
4. Sugawara
5. Bree
6. Bednarek
7. Bella-Kotchap
8. Kayi Sanda
9. Taylor
10. Larios
11. Ugochukwu
12. Smallbone
13. Fernandes
14. Lallana
15. Gronbaek
16. Amo-Ameyaw
17. Dibling
18. Sulemana
19. Brereton Diaz
20. Onuachu

               Ramsdale

KWP   ABK   Taylor   Bree

Sugawara  MF  Ugo  Gronbaek

            Dibling

                Onuachu

 

Championship winning side right there!

[Appy]

4 minutes ago, Zorba said:

               Ramsdale

KWP   ABK   Taylor   Bree

Sugawara  MF  Ugo  Gronbaek

            Dibling

                Onuachu

 

Championship winning side right there!

Gronbaek must’ve made some impression on you 

[woodsaint1]

2 hours ago, egg said:

Just odd that he went somewhere where he won't play. His England chances wouldn't have been any less playing for us. Strange move. 

I do agree its slightly strange, but then its hard to turn Newcastle down (and he knows Eddie Howe). He was still in the England squad when he was second choice at Arsenal. Better to be competing at a top 6 PL side instead of starting at a Championship team

[SaintJackoInHurworth]

1 hour ago, skintsaint said:

The way the Echo have allocated midfield and attack seems a bit arbitrary in that squad list! Fellows is listed as an attacking player on Saints website and presumably Scienza will be put there too! That having been said, Edozie is listed in both as a midfielder not an attacking player!

I personally think the main positions of our players are as follows:

GK = Bazunu, McCarthy, Long, Moody
FB = Roerslev, Jelert, Manning, Welington
CB = Stephens, THB, Wood, Quarshie, Edwards
CM = Downes, Charles, Jander, Sesay
AM = Azaz, Fraser, Matsuki, Aribo
Wing = Fellows, Scienza, Robinson, Edozie
Strikers = Archer, Downs, Stewart, Arma

If anyone is wondering about squad size...

• We have 29 squad players altogether.
• Robinson and Sesay are only 18 and Moody is 17, so they don't affect the 25 squad players over age 21 that can be registered.
• Also, though, Downs, Charles and Quarshie were all under 21 on January 1st so they all count as Under-21 too.
• So we currently have 23 players that will need to be registered, unless Edozie and/or Aribo leave to any of the countries whose transfer deadline has not yet passed.

[pimpin4rizeal]

Not meaning to be negative here but is it just me that feels like there’s some carry over that is slightly dictating to who will be used by still 

I mean for example when juric was here he fancied a few players that where out of favour before with still it feels a bit like he’s been told who’s going that bazunu is going to be number 1 stephens maybe too .I’m not saying it’s a good or bad thing but you don’t really see any surprises who still fancies that the previous didn’t ?

[CSA96]

1 hour ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

Not meaning to be negative here but is it just me that feels like there’s some carry over that is slightly dictating to who will be used by still 

I mean for example when juric was here he fancied a few players that where out of favour before with still it feels a bit like he’s been told who’s going that bazunu is going to be number 1 stephens maybe too .I’m not saying it’s a good or bad thing but you don’t really see any surprises who still fancies that the previous didn’t ?

Really? Maybe not 'surprises' but he's been ruthless with a few people. He inherited three right backs, all of them are gone (ok, KWP chose to leave). Aribo and Smallbone were routine starters in 23/24 and aren't even wanted enough to be here as squad players and were told they were free to go

The only reason it's not surprising to us is because it's obvious just how much shit we have been carrying for the last year or so, but there are some who I assumed would have a role to play this year who it is clear that Still didn't fancy and were told to find themselves an opportunity to play somewhere else

Edited September 2 by CSA96

[saintwbu]

I’m not sure what the motivation would be for the club to be forcing Bazunu into the team - it’s not like he’s a record signing who they’re desperately trying to recoup money on, and they’ve shown they’re happy to write off some pretty big fees; Tall Paul, Sulemana, BBD, ABK all going this summer at significant losses or loans. The managers must just rate Bazunu, regardless of what people think. 

[musesaint]

9 minutes ago, saintwbu said:

I’m not sure what the motivation would be for the club to be forcing Bazunu into the team - it’s not like he’s a record signing who they’re desperately trying to recoup money on, and they’ve shown they’re happy to write off some pretty big fees; Tall Paul, Sulemana, BBD, ABK all going this summer at significant losses or loans. The managers must just rate Bazunu, regardless of what people think. 

Baz makes mistake but he really isn’t as bad as many suggest. As recently as the first game of the season, he pulled off an amazing save minutes before we won the game. If he hadn’t Disney+ would have been 2-0 up and probably would have won the game. There’s always someone who’s “the whipping boy “. At the moment it’s him. At Saintwbu says, the managers and coaches clearly rate Baz more than many of the fans. I’m happy to rely on Will Still’s judgment on that. 

[SNSUN]

6 hours ago, Secret Site Agent said:

Give us a shout then at 5.  Got be in Ebbsfleet by 7.30 am.

Wakey wakey!

[Secret Site Agent]

21 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Wakey wakey!

I'm up I'm up.

 

Thanks for that.

[kwsaint]

37 minutes ago, Secret Site Agent said:

I'm up I'm up.

 

Thanks for that.

Dunno if I’d rather be going to Ebbsfleet or where I’m actually going… Dewsbury

[Pamplemousse]

4 hours ago, musesaint said:

Baz makes mistake but he really isn’t as bad as many suggest. As recently as the first game of the season, he pulled off an amazing save minutes before we won the game. If he hadn’t Disney+ would have been 2-0 up and probably would have won the game. There’s always someone who’s “the whipping boy “. At the moment it’s him. At Saintwbu says, the managers and coaches clearly rate Baz more than many of the fans. I’m happy to rely on Will Still’s judgment on that. 

Indeed. People can argue he can do better but so the whole squad tbh.

[Dank]

6 hours ago, SaintJackoInHurworth said:

The way the Echo have allocated midfield and attack seems a bit arbitrary in that squad list! Fellows is listed as an attacking player on Saints website and presumably Scienza will be put there too! That having been said, Edozie is listed in both as a midfielder not an attacking player!

I personally think the main positions of our players are as follows:

GK = Bazunu, McCarthy, Long, Moody
FB = Roerslev, Jelert, Manning, Welington
CB = Stephens, THB, Wood, Quarshie, Edwards
CM = Downes, Charles, Jander, Sesay
AM = Azaz, Fraser, Matsuki, Aribo
Wing = Fellows, Scienza, Robinson, Edozie
Strikers = Archer, Downs, Stewart, Arma

If anyone is wondering about squad size...

• We have 29 squad players altogether.
• Robinson and Sesay are only 18 and Moody is 17, so they don't affect the 25 squad players over age 21 that can be registered.
• Also, though, Downs, Charles and Quarshie were all under 21 on January 1st so they all count as Under-21 too.
• So we currently have 23 players that will need to be registered, unless Edozie and/or Aribo leave to any of the countries whose transfer deadline has not yet passed.

That's how I look at the players and positions too. If we lose Aribo and Edozie then it's pretty balanced, especially if we occasionally play with two strikers (so we can also play 442). Then Fraser could be counted as a winger and perhaps Matsuki as a CM.

[Toadhall Saint]

Well that was a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Now down to business.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Now the international break. Just under two weeks to prepare for the must-win-at-all-costs.

Hopefully we don’t do the “they’re only fit enough for the bench”, just play them.

Too often you see new players make the debut from the bench; Azaz at the weekend I was pleasantly surprised.

Imagine lining up against Pompey with the majority of our new signings starting and a four at the back formation.

[Thripp87]

I still think the squad is too big and difficult to manage for Still based on numbers. I would certainly like to see Edozie and Aribo leave in the coming days. It is also a shame we have so many loans out, it would be great to have shifted them completely.

What I do like is the fact we have not used the loan market that much for players in. We were handicapped a lot last summer by being forced to make THB perm and then anofher big outlay on Downes just to get back to where we were when we beat Leeds.,

[Wade Garrett]

8 hours ago, HarvSFC said:

For the first time in years we have competition all across the outfield positions. Manning wasn't performing in our last Championship campaign, he was Martin's mate and Meghoma wasn't trusted, so what happened? He kept playing every week. Now, if Manning's form continues, what happens? Jelert takes his place. Downes was also a shoe in, in the team every week, including last season, but again if his poor performances continue, Jander takes his place. If Harwood-Bellis and Stephens continue to look a bit poor, you'd hope they would be taken out of the team with Edwards, Wood or Quarshie all looking to grasp an opportunity. If one of our new forwards doesn't perform we've got Fraser, Matsuki and Robinson waiting in the wings. And then if one of our strikers isn't performing we've got Archer, Stewart, Downs, or Armstrong (shudder) looking to cement the place as their own.

Even if we're not winning a game we'll have five good Championship attackers to bring on.

Best way to raise the performance level of the eleven? Give them genuine competition for their first team place. Harwood-Bellis, Stephens, Manning and Downes have had it very easy up to now. Only weak position squad wise with little competition is goalkeeper.

What if the keeper is playing shit?

[Patches O Houlihan]

5 hours ago, musesaint said:

Baz makes mistake but he really isn’t as bad as many suggest. As recently as the first game of the season, he pulled off an amazing save minutes before we won the game. If he hadn’t Disney+ would have been 2-0 up and probably would have won the game. There’s always someone who’s “the whipping boy “. At the moment it’s him. At Saintwbu says, the managers and coaches clearly rate Baz more than many of the fans. I’m happy to rely on Will Still’s judgment on that. 

Maybe the feeling is that you can train good positioning and agility in a goalkeeper easier than you can train good footballing skills.

He has already played way more minutes than most young keepers his age. Goalies tend to improve with age, and so you could argue his keeping will mature earlier, giving him a longer career at the top level and saving Saints money in the long term if he stays.

He wasn't ready in 22/23 or 23/24. He was rightfully not exposed in 24/25. So far he has been a little better than usual but I still have questions. McCarthy can clearly still make saves, so even though he appears to be the most relaxed reserve keeper I guess there has to still be a little competition there. 

It would be great if the club was proved right, but I'm not seeing it myself. Maybe Rambo will get recalled in January? 

[Fitzhugh Fella]

20 minutes ago, Thripp87 said:

I still think the squad is too big and difficult to manage for Still based on numbers. I would certainly like to see Edozie and Aribo leave in the coming days. It is also a shame we have so many loans out, it would be great to have shifted them completely.

What I do like is the fact we have not used the loan market that much for players in. We were handicapped a lot last summer by being forced to make THB perm and then anofher big outlay on Downes just to get back to where we were when we beat Leeds.,

Four of those loans (ABK, Smallbone, Taylor and Bree) are in the last year of their contracts which in effect means they are permanent transfers.

[Gloucester Saint]

Belgian transfer window closes next Monday so would expect Edozie to have moved by then. He’d be well down the pecking order here now. Turkey and Greece next Friday - could be Aribo’s destination, Saudi is 23 September

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c79lpz27g4xo

[spyinthesky]

6 hours ago, musesaint said:

Baz makes mistake but he really isn’t as bad as many suggest. As recently as the first game of the season, he pulled off an amazing save minutes before we won the game. If he hadn’t Disney+ would have been 2-0 up and probably would have won the game. There’s always someone who’s “the whipping boy “. At the moment it’s him. At Saintwbu says, the managers and coaches clearly rate Baz more than many of the fans. I’m happy to rely on Will Still’s judgment on that. 

If it hadnt been for that save we would be on 2 points atm

[Saint86]

Demolition of the Skates incoming? 👀

[macca155]

Quite the window. 

If Aribo goes, we'll have no African players, in an ANC season.

Serious competition for every place except the GK. Even there, the prospect of Jonah's return should motivate Baz.

I'd assume that if (massive if obviously m) Saints do make it back, then these players should be expected to be in the squad.

Ramsdale

Mads THB 

Charles Jander Azaz 

Robinson Fellows Scienza

For the rest they have 40 odd games to stake a place.

That is way healthier than 23/24

 

[Midfield_General]

Even if Aribo and Edozie go, we've got serious competition for places now, especially at centre back and centre forward (regardless of the debate about quality, I'm just looking at the number of players we have to choose from in each position). 

In defence, if everyone's fit, then even if we play three at the back like we have been doing, then 3 CBs on the pitch and one more on the bench means one is getting left out of the squad entirely. If we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 then two CBs are not even making the bench. Edwards or Quarshie look most at risk. 

At centre forward, if we play 4-2-3-1 then at least one striker is being left out of the squad completely. Downs or Armstrong presumably. 

We've got rid of a spectacular amount of players, but we've still got a lot of players in those positions. Now we've brought in what looks like more quality and the competition for the bench looks much fiercer, it will be interesting to see if our early signings Quarshie and Downs are actually considered good enough or if they get knocked way down the pecking order straightaway. 

Edited September 2 by Midfield_General

[WALK DMC]

4 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Quite the window. 

If Aribo goes, we'll have no African players, in an ANC season.

Serious competition for every place except the GK. Even there, the prospect of Jonah's return should motivate Baz.

I'd assume that if (massive if obviously m) Saints do make it back, then these players should be expected to be in the squad.

Ramsdale

Mads THB 

Charles Jander Azaz 

Robinson Fellows Scienza

For the rest they have 40 odd games to stake a place.

That is way healthier than 23/24

 

I think that all of the players that you have listed with the exception of Ramsdale have 40 games to stake a claim for a place in the Premier league (if we return). Only Mads & THB have any real experience of playing there and Mads was more of a backup for Brentford.  There may be a good reason why Azaz and Fellows weren't picked up by a Premier league team in this window and why Scienza was only picked for around half of the games in the Bundesliga last season in a relegation threatened team. 

I'm really excited about the signings and they clearly give us a shot at promotion, but until we've seen them in action over the course of the season, we may have a different view on whether they are Premier league ready, or otherwise. 

[macca155]

1 minute ago, WALK DMC said:

I think that all of the players that you have listed with the exception of Ramsdale have 40 games to stake a claim for a place in the Premier league (if we return). 

Yes totally, I should have said that. 

I just think we are in a better position than 23/24. No team can buy a new Prem ready 11, they have to take some up with them.

Definitely getting ubove myself here, we have 7 points..... Pompey next

[danjosaint]

43 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

If it hadnt been for that save we would be on 2 points atm

But if he had saved the watford 2nd and iirc stoke 2nd we'd have 3 more points, ifs buts maybe 

[Midfield_General]

7 minutes ago, macca155 said:

Yes totally, I should have said that. 

I just think we are in a better position than 23/24. No team can buy a new Prem ready 11, they have to take some up with them.

Definitely getting ubove myself here, we have 7 points..... Pompey next

Only 5 points so far mate I’m afraid.

Or to look at it another way, already 7 points off top. 

Plenty of work to do - smashing the Skates seems like a good place to start. 

Edited September 2 by Midfield_General

[OldNick]

43 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Even if Aribo and Edozie go, we've got serious competition for places now, especially at centre back and centre forward (regardless of the debate about quality, I'm just looking at the number of players we have to choose from in each position). 

In defence, if everyone's fit, then even if we play three at the back like we have been doing, then 3 CBs on the pitch and one more on the bench means one is getting left out of the squad entirely. If we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 then two CBs are not even making the bench. Edwards or Quarshie look most at risk. 

At centre forward, if we play 4-2-3-1 then at least one striker is being left out of the squad completely. Downs or Armstrong presumably. 

We've got rid of a spectacular amount of players, but we've still got a lot of players in those positions. Now we've brought in what looks like more quality and the competition for the bench looks much fiercer, it will be interesting to see if our early signings Quarshie and Downs are actually considered good enough or if they get knocked way down the pecking order straightaway. 

I feel Quarsie is going to be decent and not as bad as many think. His pace is exceptional and he is good in the air, yes he makes mistakes but most do.

I feel had he been the last man v Stoke he would have got o Thomas a little quicker nd may have seen the problem off

[SuperSAINT]

2 hours ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Four of those loans (ABK, Smallbone, Taylor and Bree) are in the last year of their contracts which in effect means they are permanent transfers.

Believe ABK & Smallbone have year options.

[It's There]

What I like is the turnover will mean the old guard will be training with new players… therefore facing a new/upgraded challenge.. instead of training with predictable players after so many years. This should sharpen them for matches.

[Scummer]

39 minutes ago, OldNick said:

 

I feel had he been the last man v Stoke he would have got o Thomas a little quicker nd may have seen the problem off

I also felt that, the problem seems to be though that we are also trying to use him as an attacking threat. For example taking long throws. He can't do both 

[goodymatt]

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13419169/summer-transfer-spending-premier-league-efl-wsl-scottish-premiership-laliga-ligue-1-serie-a-and-bundesliga-breakdowns
 

interesting read, scroll down to the Championship section to see us win the net spend trophy. I’d like to thank everyone else for playing.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Scummer said:

I also felt that, the problem seems to be though that we are also trying to use him as an attacking threat. For example taking long throws. He can't do both 

Agree, not a fan of a centre back taking long throw-ins deep in opposition territory unless it's late in the game and we are losing.

[Midfield_General]

47 minutes ago, OldNick said:

I feel Quarsie is going to be decent and not as bad as many think. His pace is exceptional and he is good in the air, yes he makes mistakes but most do.

I feel had he been the last man v Stoke he would have got o Thomas a little quicker nd may have seen the problem off

I think he's got promise too but if we play a flat back four, as Still has said he ultimately wants to, then you have to assume at this stage that its Stephens and THB to start. 

Then it would be weird to have more than one CB on the bench so that's one of either Wood, Quarshie or Edwards. Obviously it's very early days and things change all the time, but based on the last few games it looks like Wood is currently third choice, and so would probably be the choice for the bench. 

That would leave Quarshie and Edwards out of the match day squad. I'm not saying I agree with it, or that it won't change with injuries and form, but finishing the window knowing that as it stands you're going to have to leave two out completely each week is an incredible level of depth to have at this level, some might say luxurious. On that basis I have to say I'm quite surprised that we didn't move Edwards out if the QPR interest was genuine. 

Edited September 2 by Midfield_General

[OldNick]

3 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

I'm quite surprised that we didn't move Edwards out if the QPR interest was genuine. 

Not for £5m they only offered 3.5 ffs. That would have tarnished the other work imo

[Midfield_General]

1 minute ago, OldNick said:

Not for £5m they only offered 3.5 ffs. That would have tarnished the other work imo

Yeah, I thought he might go there on loan again though to get his wages off the books if he's unlikely to play that much.

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

I think he's got promise too but if we play a flat back four, as Still has said he ultimately wants to, then you have to assume at this stage that its Stephens and THB to start. 

Then it would be weird to have more than one CB on the bench so that's one of either Wood, Quarshie or Edwards. Obviously it's very early days and things change all the time, but based on the last few games it looks like Wood is currently third choice, and therefore the choice for the bench. 

That would leave Quarshie and Edwards out of the match day squad. I'm not saying I agree with it, or that it won't change with injuries and form, but finishing the window knowing you're going to have to leave two out completely each week as it stands is an incredible level of depth to have at this level. On that basis I have to say I'm quite surprised that we didn't move Edwards out if the QPR interest was genuine. 

I disagree and think Will Still is likely to want two centre backs on the bench.

As to who starts in a back four your picks of Stephens and THB are probably right. Along with others I prefer THB in a centre back partnership of two and think he feels more comfortable with it too as it means his role is clear. Stephens still worries me as he never seems aware of danger lurking around him and is reactive (usually too late) rather than proactive. He's captain so will continue to start but, if he doesn't sharpen up, I hope Will has the nous to drop him.

[spyinthesky]

1 hour ago, danjosaint said:

But if he had saved the watford 2nd and iirc stoke 2nd we'd have 3 more points, ifs buts maybe 

Fair comment on If's But's and Maybe's.

I have a mate who's son is a goal keeping coach at a high level club.

In his opinion, Baz could not be directly faulted with any of the goals conceded this season.

He also reckons that nearly all GK's improve with age and Baz is fairly young in comparison to the majority of keepers.

Baz is not the tallest of 'keepers but has a decent 'spring' and is very quick off his line.

He (and I) reckon that the criticism of Baz is rather unjustified compared to others playing in goal which my mate's son spends time analysing as part of his job. 

Hopefully Baz, and any of our players, doesnt follow fan's forums as criticism does little to inspire confidence just as booing opposition players generally increases their desire to play well.

[Midfield_General]

A few ex-Saints also on the move during the window: 

Dan Nlundulu: Bolton to St Mirren

Michael Obafemi: Burnley to Bochum

Jimmy-Jay Morgan: Chelsea to Peterborough (loan) 

[S-Clarke]

3 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

A few ex-Saints also on the move during the window: 

Dan Nlundulu: Bolton to St Mirren

Michael Obafemi: Burnley to Bochum

Jimmy-Jay Morgan: Chelsea to Peterborough (loan) 

Obafami could have been a powerful player at a decent level, but so many managers got frustrated with him as he never put in the effort to manage his body. I know Ralph spoke out about him, and I think even our old mate Martin questioned his commitment/application when he was at Swansea. (but that may have been another of his deflection tactics!)

A waste.

Edited September 2 by S-Clarke

[spyinthesky]

12 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Obafami could have been a powerful player at a decent level, but so many managers got frustrated with him as he never put in the effort to manage his body. I know Ralph spoke out about him, and I think even our old mate Martin questioned his commitment/application when he was at Swansea. (but that may have been another of his deflection tactics!)

A waste.

But at least he had the pleasure of scoring against Pompey at Fratton Park😇

[Wade Garrett]

21 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

Fair comment on If's But's and Maybe's.

I have a mate who's son is a goal keeping coach at a high level club.

In his opinion, Baz could not be directly faulted with any of the goals conceded this season.

He also reckons that nearly all GK's improve with age and Baz is fairly young in comparison to the majority of keepers.

Baz is not the tallest of 'keepers but has a decent 'spring' and is very quick off his line.

He (and I) reckon that the criticism of Baz is rather unjustified compared to others playing in goal which my mate's son spends time analysing as part of his job. 

Hopefully Baz, and any of our players, doesnt follow fan's forums as criticism does little to inspire confidence just as booing opposition players generally increases their desire to play well.

He doesn’t have a decent spring at all and in my opinion is pretty unathletic for a keeper.

Look at the free-kick against Watford.  As good a shot as it was, and I’m not saying he should have stopped it, he was slow getting across and his dive was nowhere near the ball, about halfway up the goal.  A lot of shots beat him near the middle of the goal.

I do agree that keepers get better with age.  But that’s because their judgement improves.  Good young keepers are as athletic as older ones and make decent saves.  They then build on that platform.  Bazunu isn’t and I can’t see any major improvement in him.

For me, McCarthy should be starting.

[goodymatt]

 

[Saint_lambden]

5 minutes ago, goodymatt said:

 

Genuinely never heard of the bloke.