Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[spyinthesky]

9 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

And the River Itchen flows into Southampton Water and never reaches the sea,

Nor does the River Test which meets the River Itchen at Dock Head and flows into Southampton Water thence onwards to the Solent.

Next debating point. Could people go promenading or walk out to the sea on Wigan Pier????

[Convict Colony]

So what we saying, King Canute never tried to push back the sea, he was trying to tame an estuary ?

His agent will be fuming.

[OldNick]

10 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Semantics here. It's a coastal body of water because it reaches 'the coast'. It doesn't folow littorally that the boundary on the sides of it is a coast. After all, it's not called Southampton Sea, is it?

If Trump was in charge it would be

[Convict Colony]

1 minute ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Maybe it was baby steps - even he wasn't arrogant enough to try to hold back the real sea on his first go? 

should of gone down the local wave machine pool and tried there first.

[goodymatt]

21 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Haven't we statistically created more chances than any other team?

We have the highest xG (9.3 goals) having only scored 6. In comparison Coventry are 2nd (7.7 xG) but have scored 14! They have been very clinical (not sustainable/swayed by the QPR game) and Rudoni has played a part. Shame we weren’t able to bring him here. Hopefully we start taking our chances after the international break.

Only Wrexham are above us (9) for big chances missed, we have 8.

We’ve conceded 6 goals but were expected to concede 5.4, so although Bazunu has only saved 45.5% of the shots on his goal, it’s pretty clear he’s not to blame for the goals conceded so far. Perhaps more of a coincidence he’s carrying on his low save percentage. Time will tell if backing him is a mistake.

[DT]

35 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

My stance has always been that he's no more than average but the criticisms that we see on here are unreasonable expectations. I am trying to introduce a sense of perspective. Anyone who thinks we are going to attract anyone better is going to be disappointed. And even if we did the reason far would have been very similar. 

I'm more concerned by the porous disorganised from of him to get honest. Some people swear by silly statistics such as xGA or whatever but the best defences don't even allow any shots near their goals.

We can't attract a better keeper than Bazanu? Must have dreamt the Ramsdale season. Still not great, but better at actually not diving over shots (mostly).

There are so many good keepers out there but we have a persistent blindness to the position's importance, shown most clearly by deciding to scrimp with a shirt filler like Long rather than investing at the front end ahead of Baz and McCan'tsave. And no, Ramsdale isn't coming back after the 'loan'. 

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

But why should he have got there? He had to cover the whole goal. None of us knew where the ball was going until it was kicked. To critices him, or any goalkeeper,  for not getting across to that is just silly. 

It’s really not Whitey.  I talk a lot of bullshit, I grant you, but on this particular subject I do know what I’m talking about.

I did say earlier that while I don’t think he should have saved it, he should have got a lot closer than he did.

[trousers]

 

 

[Sheaf Saint]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

 

 

Both of them could be useful assets if we can't sort out a move for them. Edozie was starting to look very dangerous last time round in this league, before being cynically taken out and crocked at Norwich. And Aribo is a solid if unspectacular midfielder who could be useful in an area where we're still a little light after shifting MF and Smallbone.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Convict Colony said:

So what we saying, King Canute never tried to push back the sea, he was trying to tame an estuary ?

His agent will be fuming.

Wherever that took place. If indeed it did. Sources differ. 

 

[trousers]

11 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Both of them could be useful assets if we can't sort out a move for them. Edozie was starting to look very dangerous last time round in this league, before being cynically taken out and crocked at Norwich. And Aribo is a solid if unspectacular midfielder who could be useful in an area where we're still a little light after shifting MF and Smallbone.

Yep, agree. Aribo is a very good 'utility' player at this level 👍🏻

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, DT said:

We can't attract a better keeper than Bazanu? Must have dreamt the Ramsdale season. Still not great, but better at actually not diving over shots (mostly).

There are so many good keepers out there but we have a persistent blindness to the position's importance, shown most clearly by deciding to scrimp with a shirt filler like Long rather than investing at the front end ahead of Baz and McCan'tsave. And no, Ramsdale isn't coming back after the 'loan'. 

You must have also dreamt that we are still in the Premier League. 

[SW11_Saint]

2 hours ago, OneMrsWallace said:

I definitely thought it was getting too late for signing the quality we did but I also think plenty have expressed a genuine concern that key positions haven't been addressed, namely GK and CB. CF will only be a problem if the new system doesn't deliver more chances and the midfield don't pitch in with a few goals. So good window yes, but some gaps that may need to be addressed in January. 

CB?!?

[Toussaint]

54 minutes ago, suewhistle said:

That reminds me of a song:

Columbus he set sail to find out if the world was round,

He kept on sailing to the west until he ran aground,

He thought he'd found the Indies but he'd found the USA, 

I know some navigators who can still do that today..

 

The other issue we haven't really addressed is how wide the coastal strip is: do we count the area covered by coastal breezes? Ah sod it, I was always better at glaciation; bergschrunds, pingoes, kames, eskers, roche moutonnée, erratics..

How long have we got to wait for the next match??!

 

 

Sue, just so you know, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. 

[Dusic]

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2

When you take a look at the overall ins and outs for the Championship it really highlights that our spending (and fees received) is, alongside Ipswich, a huge outlier when compared to the remaining teams. 

Many have only paid a fee for max of one or two players and some none at all.

We can moan about not having an upgrade in goal or another striker but compared to the majority of squads we are ludicrously strong and certainly should have a massive chance to get automatic promotion.

[sfc4prem]

5 minutes ago, Dusic said:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2

When you take a look at the overall ins and outs for the Championship it really highlights that our spending (and fees received) is, alongside Ipswich, a huge outlier when compared to the remaining teams. 

Many have only paid a fee for max of one or two players and some none at all.

We can moan about not having an upgrade in goal or another striker but compared to the majority of squads we are ludicrously strong and certainly should have a massive chance to get automatic promotion.

So essentially Will Still has been properly backed and there really is no excuse?

Well, let's hope he's worth his salt then!

[Turkish]

6 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

So essentially Will Still has been properly backed and there really is no excuse?

Well, let's hope he's worth his salt then!

He has some slack for a month or so as had to build a new team during the window but this is correct 

We’ve shipped out 20 players and brought in 9, along with Charles, Edwards and Baz (but that’s another story) you’ve for 12 players there plus Robinson as the surprise package of the season don’t have the “scar tissue” excuse. THB and Downes are top players in this league so there really aren’t any excuses. With the squad we have we should be top 2, play offs is the minimum 

I like Still thought and although performances have been poor he does have a bit about him and not a bullshitter like Russ. I think we will build up a head of steam between now and Christmas and come January be really kick on

[suewhistle]

37 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Sue, just so you know, I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. 

So, what's new on this forum? I might have been casting aspersions on his maritime abilities, I might have just been bored, which the reference to the next match indicated or it might have indicated my need for a cuppa. Don't worry about it, I've seen far worse drivel on here.

[AlexLaw76]

24 minutes ago, Dusic said:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/championship/transfers/wettbewerb/GB2

When you take a look at the overall ins and outs for the Championship it really highlights that our spending (and fees received) is, alongside Ipswich, a huge outlier when compared to the remaining teams. 

Many have only paid a fee for max of one or two players and some none at all.

We can moan about not having an upgrade in goal or another striker but compared to the majority of squads we are ludicrously strong and certainly should have a massive chance to get automatic promotion.

it is obvious that we have a ridiculous squad in this league. Comfortably top 2 or 3. We are, again, in a 3 horse race.

Some on here talk like other clubs have a team full of Maldini's and Romario's 

[hypochondriac]

24 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

it is obvious that we have a ridiculous squad in this league. Comfortably top 2 or 3. We are, again, in a 3 horse race.

Some on here talk like other clubs have a team full of Maldini's and Romario's 

You say that but I'd say all the teams we've played so far have matched or surpassed us for at least significant periods of each game. Arguably we've been second best in all of them.

[AlexLaw76]

13 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

You say that but I'd say all the teams we've played so far have matched or surpassed us for at least significant periods of each game. Arguably we've been second best in all of them.

tactics innit, being wide open all over the pitch is just plain daft

Of course we will lose and do daft things, but we have better players, nearly in all areas of the pitch, than most teams

Edited Tuesday at 20:09 by AlexLaw76

[Football Special]

50 minutes ago, Turkish said:

He has some slack for a month or so as had to build a new team during the window but this is correct 

We’ve shipped out 20 players and brought in 9, along with Charles, Edwards and Baz (but that’s another story) you’ve for 12 players there plus Robinson as the surprise package of the season don’t have the “scar tissue” excuse. THB and Downes are top players in this league so there really aren’t any excuses. With the squad we have we should be top 2, play offs is the minimum 

I like Still thought and although performances have been poor he does have a bit about him and not a bullshitter like Russ. I think we will build up a head of steam between now and Christmas and come January be really kick on

Really hope you are right on that mate, completely understand he needs time and give him some slack.....but please please please smash the Skates 

[Turkish]

Just now, Football Special said:

Really hope you are right on that mate, completely understand he needs time and give him some slack.....but please please please smash the Skates 

Let’s face it if it wasn’t them we’d all have this down as a guaranteed 3 points. This is the sort of team we should be beating comfortably at home. They’re at best midtable. Of course it being them adds a lot of spice but take the emotion out 9/10 we win comfortably 

[bpsaint]

https://talksport.com/football/3521784/arsenal-man-united-best-free-agents-transfer-news/
 

Plenty of free agents up for grabs still, Fraser Forster anyone? 😂😂

[Willo of Whiteley]

There is no excuse for us not finishing top two. It’s very simple.

[HKsaint]

Snatch up Fraser Forster and Antonio 

[Saint Fan CaM]

15 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Both of them could be useful assets if we can't sort out a move for them. Edozie was starting to look very dangerous last time round in this league, before being cynically taken out and crocked at Norwich. And Aribo is a solid if unspectacular midfielder who could be useful in an area where we're still a little light after shifting MF and Smallbone.

You’d have to say though, if Aribo or Edozie get anywhere near starts, it would signify that either there’s been a disastrous series of injuries and/or the new recruits from this window have failed to bed in for some reason (possibly because Still’s management/coaching is not working). It would be damning indictment of the recruitment team if they were just deemed better than the new recruits, but I can’t see that being the case.

[skintsaint]

7 hours ago, HKsaint said:

Snatch up Fraser Forster and Antonio 

What a waste of money that would be. 

[SuperSAINT]

7 hours ago, HKsaint said:

Snatch up Fraser Forster and Antonio 

Our set pieces aren’t great & Antonio not great on corners by all accounts…

Edited Wednesday at 07:52 by SuperSAINT

[saintant]

49 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

You’d have to say though, if Aribo or Edozie get anywhere near starts, it would signify that either there’s been a disastrous series of injuries and/or the new recruits from this window have failed to bed in for some reason (possibly because Still’s management/coaching is not working). It would be damning indictment of the recruitment team if they were just deemed better than the new recruits, but I can’t see that being the case.

Aribo is well capable of doing a good job in the Championship and may well have been in the manager's thoughts but for the fact that he made it clear he wanted to move on. Still has repeatedly said he does not want players who do not want to be here. However, if Aribo doesn't find another club I think he should be reintegrated into the squad and considered on merit - if so he would be a valuable asset.

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 hours ago, saintant said:

Aribo is well capable of doing a good job in the Championship and may well have been in the manager's thoughts but for the fact that he made it clear he wanted to move on. Still has repeatedly said he does not want players who do not want to be here. However, if Aribo doesn't find another club I think he should be reintegrated into the squad and considered on merit - if so he would be a valuable asset.

Clearly these guys will be re-integrated in some way back into the squad if they remain SFC players, however it would be an unwelcome surprise to find them starting ahead of the signings we’ve made - they’re clearly not suited to the way Still wants to play and/or been seen to be ineffective in the past. It’s likely their wage demands versus their ability indicate why their agent has not been able to find new homes for them, so they’ll more likely remain proverbial scar tissue rather than valuable assets.

[Chez]

16 hours ago, Turkish said:

I think we will build up a head of steam between now and Christmas and come January be really kick on

Going to take a few weeks to integrate all of the latest batch of signings, but I think the likes of Fellows and Jelert could start immediately. If we can get a couple of wins quickly, that will make it much easier to bring the others into the side and then things could start snowballing. 

[Patrick Bateman]

2 minutes ago, Chez said:

Going to take a few weeks to integrate all of the latest batch of signings, but I think the likes of Fellows and Jelert could start immediately. If we can get a couple of wins quickly, that will make it much easier to bring the others into the side and then things could start snowballing. 

I'm pretty sure we'll see Azaz and Fellows start against Portsmouth. Both already used to an English derby and knows what it means - I suspect the others may start from the bench. Mads will obviously start too, but he's now an old head in the squad 😂

[CampionSaint]

1 hour ago, Patrick Bateman said:

I'm pretty sure we'll see Azaz and Fellows start against Portsmouth. Both already used to an English derby and knows what it means - I suspect the others may start from the bench. Mads will obviously start too, but he's now an old head in the squad 😂

Mads has settled in well but I find it interesting that Denmark have presumably chosen Jelert ahead of him as he has more recent caps than Mads.  I wonder what they see that we haven't yet ?

[Patches O Houlihan]

48 minutes ago, CampionSaint said:

Mads has settled in well but I find it interesting that Denmark have presumably chosen Jelert ahead of him as he has more recent caps than Mads.  I wonder what they see that we haven't yet ?

Whilst Jelert is a RB he has four seasons of experience playing on the left in ~30% of games according to Transfermarkt. Mads is very much right sided.

I wonder if Jelert offers a little more going forward. 

RB - Mads is surely first choice for the skates. 

I'd need to see Jelert play compared to Manning - may be a little lightweight for this game; but may be technically and defensively better than Manning - and we now have proper creative forwards so don't need our FBs to bomb on quite so much

[TheSoundman]

48 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Whilst Jelert is a RB he has four seasons of experience playing on the left in ~30% of games according to Transfermarkt. Mads is very much right sided.

I wonder if Jelert offers a little more going forward. 

RB - Mads is surely first choice for the skates. 

I'd need to see Jelert play compared to Manning - may be a little lightweight for this game; but may be technically and defensively better than Manning - and we now have proper creative forwards so don't need our FBs to bomb on quite so much

We've also got other options on free kicks too now.

[hypochondriac]

3 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

I'm pretty sure we'll see Azaz and Fellows start against Portsmouth. Both already used to an English derby and knows what it means - I suspect the others may start from the bench. Mads will obviously start too, but he's now an old head in the squad 😂

Yep 

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Downes Charles 

Fellows Azaz Fraser 

Archer 

Would be my guess. 

Edited Wednesday at 15:24 by hypochondriac

[AlexLaw76]

3 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Yep 

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Downes Charles 

Fellows Azaz Robinson 

Archer 

Would be my guess. 

 

Bazunu

Mads Stephen’s Wood THB Manning

Charles

azaz

fellows Frazer

Archer

 

be awful to watch, wide open all over the park, but the flat track bully in us will see a win by 1 goal against Pompey, and onto the next game with more of the same

Edited Wednesday at 15:26 by AlexLaw76

[Saint NL]

I just saw that Stuart Armstrong signed for Aberdeen. A good signing for them imo

 

Edited Wednesday at 15:31 by Saint NL

[gio1saints]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Yep 

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Downes Charles 

Fellows Azaz Robinson 

Archer 

Would be my guess. 

Jay is away with England atm -so in the practice and training matches between now and pompey it will be Ryan Fraser and Leo Scienza on that left hand side. Which means Will should be able to have a good look at Scienza in particular to see if he can do the job he wants of him at LW. 
I think I’d not find it surprising - but disappointing - if Jay was dropped for this home match though in favour of old hand Fraser. Jay scores v Pompey he’s set for life and probably knows it. So if he’s given the chance I think he’s totally going for it. And I reckon he will score. Who wouldn’t go mental if Jay scored? 

[derry]

Personally I wouldn't piss about. I'd put all the new signings in against Pompey. I've had enough of defensively poor wing backs. KWP was a myth, a dynamic winger but a liability as a defender, often never in position or wrong side of mark. Still has two weeks to integrate the new players. Azaz has already played so if we want to play wingers so we can play a back four there's no point in wasting time. All he has to do is decide who plays up top, who will play alongside Jander, (Downes is training),  along with the two central defenders probably THB and Stephens. We've been substandard attack wise so now we can turn this around. Time to ditch the timidity and get on with it.

[Saint_lambden]

1 hour ago, hypochondriac said:

Yep 

Bazunu 

Mads THB Stephens Manning 

Downes Charles 

Fellows Azaz Fraser 

Archer 

Would be my guess. 

Yep. I think Jander will eventually replace Downes but Still won't want to overload on the new lads for this one and a strong core of THB/Stephens/Downes/Charles with a lot of Championship know-how is required. Fraser is almost a definite to start too in my view for his experience and I can see it being on the right given his defensive work to help Mads nullify Murphy who is their biggest threat. I know people don't want us to think like that but the reality is that there has to be a balance and we can't go all guns blazing. A shift to 4-2-3-1 matches them up and is a positive, attacking change with a lot of strength on the bench as insurance if required or to see the game out/kill it off.  

Edited Wednesday at 16:30 by Saint_lambden

[Wade Garrett]

3 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

Yep. I think Jander will eventually replace Downes but Still won't want to overload on the new lads for this one and a strong core of THB/Stephens/Downes/Charles with a lot of Championship know-how is required. Fraser is almost a definite to start too in my view for his experience and I can see it being on the right given his defensive work to help Mads nullify Murphy who is their biggest threat. I know people don't want us to think like that but the reality is that there has to be a balance and we can't go all guns blazing. A shift to 4-2-3-1 matches them up and is an attacking shift with a lot of strength on the bench as insurance if required or to see the game out/kill it off.  

Downes will probably invent another bout of the shits to avoid playing.  Fucking malingering sicknote.

[HarvSFC]

Remember that the 2014-15 team never had to "gel". We had no other option but to play all the new players due to the turnover that summer. An expected, but narrow opening day defeat to Liverpool and then we won 8 of our next 10 league matches, one of those losses coming against a Tottenham side under Poch entering their best years of their recent history.

I'd like to think the saying that teams need to gel is just an excuse, especially after a two week international break. No excuse but to play our best available side against Portsmouth.

[SuperSAINT]

On 29/08/2025 at 17:54, Saint_lambden said:

Fan dab Edozie 🇧🇪 

Any update on Edozie? 

[saintant]

40 minutes ago, derry said:

Personally I wouldn't piss about. I'd put all the new signings in against Pompey. I've had enough of defensively poor wing backs. KWP was a myth, a dynamic winger but a liability as a defender, often never in position or wrong side of mark. Still has two weeks to integrate the new players. Azaz has already played so if we want to play wingers so we can play a back four there's no point in wasting time. All he has to do is decide who plays up top, who will play alongside Jander, (Downes is training),  along with the two central defenders probably THB and Stephens. We've been substandard attack wise so now we can turn this around. Time to ditch the timidity and get on with it.

Agree but we all know there is no way Will Still picks all the newbies. Think he'll probably give Fellows a go along with Azaz and Mads who've already played but that'll be it. He'll stick with the nucleus of those that have started games this season and have a strong bench to pick from.

[Secret Site Agent]

On 02/09/2025 at 06:22, kwsaint said:

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

Ebbsfleet definatly.

 

Dewsbury, id rather go to down town Gaza high street wearing a Star of David Tee shirt.

[Hopper]

Still doesn’t strike as the type to mess around integrating players. Mads came more or less straight in, Azaz the same with the other two not registered in time for Watford. It think we will see a mostly changed 11 only question might be Jander but he looks handy from everything seen and if Still feels he is a better option than Downes or Charles I think he will come in.

[Patches O Houlihan]

30 minutes ago, Hopper said:

Still doesn’t strike as the type to mess around integrating players. Mads came more or less straight in, Azaz the same with the other two not registered in time for Watford. It think we will see a mostly changed 11 only question might be Jander but he looks handy from everything seen and if Still feels he is a better option than Downes or Charles I think he will come in.

With Charles away on international duty you'd think Jander will spend 2 weeks paired up with Flynn in midfield training, with Jack and THB behind them. Maybe that will be the core for the next one?

Still says he does what he needs to do to win each match. Charles might be preferred but is away for the training period and the above could be a solid option.

Edited Thursday at 06:44 by Patches O Houlihan

[Convict Colony]

If they are foreign enough they are good enough, let the new boys play.