Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[trousers]

27 minutes ago, James G said:

Would folk be up to the idea, if we return to the Premier League, to break the rules on spending and go for the 10 point deduction 

Going simply on logic, if it could be demonstrated that doing so increased our chances of staying up then, yes, otherwise, no...

[Göztepe]

Southampton should transfer tall players other than the wings, they should increase the average height from 1.81 to 1.85 and above, success is also an important factor, in addition, tall players can be sold more easily and expensively, as Göztepe, our average height is 1.85, although we are the least expensive team in the league, we are the 3rd team that has the most goal opportunities and the least goal opportunities. I don't understand why there are differences in player profiles. Stoppers should be at least 1.90, full-backs at least 1.80, defensive midfielders at least 1.85, central midfielders at least 1.80, center forwards at least 1.85.

[Danbert]

3 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Southampton should transfer tall players other than the wings, they should increase the average height from 1.81 to 1.85 and above, success is also an important factor, in addition, tall players can be sold more easily and expensively, as Göztepe, our average height is 1.85, although we are the least expensive team in the league, we are the 3rd team that has the most goal opportunities and the least goal opportunities. I don't understand why there are differences in player profiles. Stoppers should be at least 1.90, full-backs at least 1.80, defensive midfielders at least 1.85, central midfielders at least 1.80, center forwards at least 1.85.

Thanks for that Rasmus

[coalman]

6 hours ago, James G said:

Would folk be up to the idea, if we return to the Premier League, to break the rules on spending and go for the 10 point deduction 

It doesn't matter how much you spend if you spend unwisely.

[Wade Garrett]

7 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Southampton should transfer tall players other than the wings, they should increase the average height from 1.81 to 1.85 and above, success is also an important factor, in addition, tall players can be sold more easily and expensively, as Göztepe, our average height is 1.85, although we are the least expensive team in the league, we are the 3rd team that has the most goal opportunities and the least goal opportunities. I don't understand why there are differences in player profiles. Stoppers should be at least 1.90, full-backs at least 1.80, defensive midfielders at least 1.85, central midfielders at least 1.80, center forwards at least 1.85.

If this is a joke, well done.  If it’s serious, you’re an onion.

[Oisin]

7 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Southampton should transfer tall players other than the wings, they should increase the average height from 1.81 to 1.85 and above, success is also an important factor, in addition, tall players can be sold more easily and expensively, as Göztepe, our average height is 1.85, although we are the least expensive team in the league, we are the 3rd team that has the most goal opportunities and the least goal opportunities. I don't understand why there are differences in player profiles. Stoppers should be at least 1.90, full-backs at least 1.80, defensive midfielders at least 1.85, central midfielders at least 1.80, center forwards at least 1.85.

All very true, I remember Barca playing Mascherano at 1.74 at centre back, with Xavi (1.7) and Iniesta (1.71) in midfield and Messi (1.7) up front. Dreadful side.

Best centre back this millennium? Cannavaro - tiny.

Best full backs? Lahm and Roberto Carlos. Midgets

Otherwise the argument stacks up well.

[Turkish]

10 hours ago, James G said:

Would folk be up to the idea, if we return to the Premier League, to break the rules on spending and go for the 10 point deduction 

Can’t we sell a couple of players for our French nd turkish cousins for vastly inflated fees so we comply? It wouldn’t exactly be something theyve never done before 🤔

[Dman]

51 minutes ago, Oisin said:

All very true, I remember Barca playing Mascherano at 1.74 at centre back, with Xavi (1.7) and Iniesta (1.71) in midfield and Messi (1.7) up front. Dreadful side.

Best centre back this millennium? Cannavaro - tiny.

Best full backs? Lahm and Roberto Carlos. Midgets

Otherwise the argument stacks up well.

Mascherano aside (who was a CM at the time), none of these played in the PL. 

PL football is physical and full of atheltisim. You're comparing apples and oranges. 

[Dman]

10 hours ago, Fabrice29 said:

It is an utterly ridiculous idea and anyone suggesting otherwise or even contemplating it shouldn't be working in football. Next stupid question...

I'm sure Forest are absolutely gutted they decided to take this approach. 

[Turkish]

1 hour ago, Oisin said:

All very true, I remember Barca playing Mascherano at 1.74 at centre back, with Xavi (1.7) and Iniesta (1.71) in midfield and Messi (1.7) up front. Dreadful side.

Best centre back this millennium? Cannavaro - tiny.

Best full backs? Lahm and Roberto Carlos. Midgets

Otherwise the argument stacks up well.

They are the exception though aren't they. Cannavaro wasn't brilliant because he was small, he was brilliant despite being small, same for the others you mention, You're talking about some of the best players of all time on your list not the sort of players Saints will be in the market for so you've beaten your own point. If you could list whos who of very good, short championship level centre backs then you might be onto something,

You dont want players too tall as they usually cant move, see Vestergaard - but centre backs in the English league these days are usually over 6 foot tall, there is a reason for that and it isn't because we're missing out on a market of short players who are all world class. 

[gio1saints]

12 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Quite a grim assessment on how far SR, and their recruitment genius, haven't taken us.

Nice spot and well described. 

My recollection is that in 2021/22 we - and many in the football biz - were still somewhat in awe of the mysterious “black room “ from whence undervalued players from all around the world came to improve us, and themselves, - then get sold at a profit. 
 

Today the “ black room” myth has been dispelled and it’s called data analysts and every club is doing it and doing it professionally. 
 

My current theory is we just maybe we were slightly ahead of the data learning curve before they all caught up-and started doing it themselves, and better. That relatively no competition exercise turned into the usual market dominated by the cleverest and the wealthiest. That’s not us ATM, btw 😁
 

[gio1saints]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

If this is a joke, well done.  If it’s serious, you’re an onion.

It’s no joke and Spors is widely known to favour such an approach. We should not be surprised to see the average height of the saints squad rise over the next twelve-eighteen months. 
Im tempted to work it out as of now and bookmark it to look again in 12-18mths. I’d bet  it goes up. 
NB reason 12-18mths is because there will be a time lag between unloading shorter players and recruiting taller ones which may not be immediately evident - plus the possibility of promotion where it’s been widely seen that saints have lacked physicality v many/most other EPL teams and that’s been an influential factor. Height helps with that. So expect further string athletes recruitment if we get promoted as well. 
It’s NOT about being able to play football that’s the first thing we need to sort out at Saints. If we cannot compete physically, and EARN the right to play our football, we will get beat each week or struggle against allegedly inferior teams. I’m not saying I like it- but that’s what path I see saints going.

Edited 17 hours ago by gio1saints

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

It’s no joke and Spors is widely known to favour such an approach. We should not be surprised to see the average height of the saints squad rise over the next twelve-eighteen months. 
Im tempted to work it out as of now and bookmark it to look again in 12-18mths. I’d bet  it goes up. 

That'll be an exciting period of your life. 

[gio1saints]

12 minutes ago, Turkish said:

That'll be an exciting period of your life. 

It might be if I can find a way to monetise that assessment. Otherwise, yes, it’s simply self congratulating - a concept, perhaps, you may be familiar with? 

[Turkish]

2 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

It might be if I can find a way to monetise that assessment. Otherwise, yes, it’s simply self congratulating - a concept, perhaps, you may be familiar with? 

I expect people will be crawling over themselves to hand you some cash to tell them what the average height of their team is now compared to 18 months time, seems like a decent earner that. Have you put it to Rasmus? Sort of thing he'll love👍

[gio1saints]

3 minutes ago, Turkish said:

I expect people will be crawling over themselves to hand you some cash to tell them what the average height of their team is now compared to 18 months time, seems like a decent earner that. Have you put it to Rasmus? Sort of thing he'll love👍

Already did that a while back. 😎. It’s a bit closing the door after horse has bolted though. Timing and the decisive use of exclusive insight is critical. I think maybe the comms chains got too long. 
 

It’s entirely possible that by the time SMS becomes Land of the Giants that there’s a newer approach that renders that old hat. 
 

We need to be on the right (UP!) side of the cycle. It’s clear we have been on the wrong ( DOWN) side in last three years. 

[Appy]

Forest targeting Fernandes this summer according to John Percy in The Telegraph. 

[leesaint88]

1 minute ago, Appy said:

Forest targeting Fernandes this summer according to John Percy in The Telegraph. 

Makes sense, can't see them breaking the bank for top talent so will look for some deals. 

[Fabrice29]

1 hour ago, Dman said:

I'm sure Forest are absolutely gutted they decided to take this approach. 

Well Forest didn’t get a 10 point deduction and if they had done so they would have been relegated and would have regretted it. 

Because, and I’m amazed that this needs to be explained to anyone, it isn’t a set 10 point punishment and then next stop is success. The punishment is judged according to the circumstances and to have success you’ll still need to recruit, coach and perform well. If teams continue to deliberately break the rules to get success then no doubt punishments will get bigger, as will barriers and rules to avoid it happening it again and to avoid little old Southampton over taking anyone of note.

But hey, Forest will get a couple of obscure European trips to watch a depleted squad next season whilst struggling in the league again so maybe I’m wrong.

[skintsaint]

6 minutes ago, Appy said:

Forest targeting Fernandes this summer according to John Percy in The Telegraph. 

Be a number of clubs after him so a nice bidding war will be good if he does leave.

[Turkish]

31 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

Already did that a while back. 😎. It’s a bit closing the door after horse has bolted though. Timing and the decisive use of exclusive insight is critical. I think maybe the comms chains got too long. 
 

It’s entirely possible that by the time SMS becomes Land of the Giants that there’s a newer approach that renders that old hat. 
 

We need to be on the right (UP!) side of the cycle. It’s clear we have been on the wrong ( DOWN) side in last three years. 

Congratulations on this. Im sure a club have some geek in a black box or similar capable of working out players heights but if you can make a few quid out of it good on you, great story too bro.

[coalman]

In fairness to the height discussion. There are well known managers who like to pack their sides with big physical players - Mourinho for example. And this season it felt like men against boys at times as our players failed to handle the physical demands of the league. Admittedly, dogmatically choosing to play a high risk no reward brand of walking football may also have been a contributing factor to that. Followed by a 5 at the back no central midfield or sometimes attackers or whatever the fuck that was when Juric took over.

Perhaps another way of looking at might be to recruit the best players we can and have a manager pragmatic enough to get the best out of them. That would be a step forward from scatter gun recruitment and dogmatic insistence on a rigid system no matter what. And like many things all roads seem to lead back to the omnishambles that is Sport Republic's recruitment strategy.

A pretty good barometer for how shit our recruitment has been is how many of the players we bought over the last few years are even getting game time. Not to mention the manager churn. Fix our recruitment and we still have the problem that our supposed great training midweek doesn't translate into playing football at weekends. 

Focusing on a single thing is exactly the kind of weak thinking and looking for simple answers to complex problems that's led us into this mess. Other than our social media team's willingness to troll it feels like no part of the football club is functioning effectively.

Edited 16 hours ago by coalman

[LeBizzier69]

29 minutes ago, Appy said:

Forest targeting Fernandes this summer according to John Percy in The Telegraph. 

Will be gutting. Love the player. Love singing his song. Bollocks.

[Dman]

13 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Well Forest didn’t get a 10 point deduction and if they had done so they would have been relegated and would have regretted it. 

Because, and I’m amazed that this needs to be explained to anyone, it isn’t a set 10 point punishment and then next stop is success. The punishment is judged according to the circumstances and to have success you’ll still need to recruit, coach and perform well. If teams continue to deliberately break the rules to get success then no doubt punishments will get bigger, as will barriers and rules to avoid it happening it again and to avoid little old Southampton over taking anyone of note.

But hey, Forest will get a couple of obscure European trips to watch a depleted squad next season whilst struggling in the league again so maybe I’m wrong.

It doesn't - but continue to sit on that high horse pretending you’re the beacon of all knowledge. 

The point still stands - If, by signing a striker who scores us the goals to keep us in the leauge, we break PSR rules. Its worth it. 

A decent number 9, could easily gain you 4-6 points (the current precedent set)

Of course it doesn't guarentee sucess, but signing better players (which cost more ££) often gives you a better chance. 

[Fabrice29]

10 minutes ago, Dman said:

It doesn't - but continue to sit on that high horse pretending you’re the beacon of all knowledge. 

The point still stands - If, by signing a striker who scores us the goals to keep us in the leauge, we break PSR rules. Its worth it. 

A decent number 9, could easily gain you 4-6 points (the current precedent set)

Of course it doesn't guarentee sucess, but signing better players (which cost more ££) often gives you a better chance. 

Except, it clearly does need explaining because the question was asked about 10 points and the example given was a club that didn't get 10 points and if they had done so they would have been relegated. 

That's even before the example given signed Chris Wood for less than we did for Onuachu and so the idea that more money = better players once again doesn't stand up without some fundamental recruitment standards that we could implement without costing us any points, let alone an imaginary made up 10 point figure that will likely be even more if we're found to be planning to break the rules 2 years in advance.

[gio1saints]

I think the above discussion shows how easily subject to manipulation the current FFP rules are. That’s not a great secret. 

FFP has locked-in the gains for the wealthy and locked out the rest, when what it should have done is create a more transparently fair playing field. 
 

Literally, if the EPL was boxing what happens is that Tyson Fury gets to fight Frank Bruno or Henry Cooper most weeks. Ie heavyweights in name and history only and no longer competitive. 

[Dman]

12 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Except, it clearly does need explaining because the question was asked about 10 points and the example given was a club that didn't get 10 points and if they had done so they would have been relegated. 

That's even before the example given signed Chris Wood for less than we did for Onuachu and so the idea that more money = better players once again doesn't stand up without some fundamental recruitment standards that we could implement without costing us any points, let alone an imaginary made up 10 point figure that will likely be even more if we're found to be planning to break the rules 2 years in advance.

are you a MLG regen? 

[Doctoroncall]

19 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I think the above discussion shows how easily subject to manipulation the current FFP rules are. That’s not a great secret. 

FFP has locked-in the gains for the wealthy and locked out the rest, when what it should have done is create a more transparently fair playing field. 
 

Literally, if the EPL was boxing what happens is that Tyson Fury gets to fight Frank Bruno or Henry Cooper most weeks. Ie heavyweights in name and history only and no longer competitive. 

I think we’d be more like Barry McGuigan! 

[skintsaint]

12 minutes ago, Doctoroncall said:

I think we’d be more like Barry McGuigan! 

More like Jimmy Smith
 

 

[Wade Garrett]

3 hours ago, gio1saints said:

It’s no joke and Spors is widely known to favour such an approach. We should not be surprised to see the average height of the saints squad rise over the next twelve-eighteen months. 
Im tempted to work it out as of now and bookmark it to look again in 12-18mths. I’d bet  it goes up. 
NB reason 12-18mths is because there will be a time lag between unloading shorter players and recruiting taller ones which may not be immediately evident - plus the possibility of promotion where it’s been widely seen that saints have lacked physicality v many/most other EPL teams and that’s been an influential factor. Height helps with that. So expect further string athletes recruitment if we get promoted as well. 
It’s NOT about being able to play football that’s the first thing we need to sort out at Saints. If we cannot compete physically, and EARN the right to play our football, we will get beat each week or struggle against allegedly inferior teams. I’m not saying I like it- but that’s what path I see saints going.

I sincerely hope you’re wrong.  

[Farmer Saint]

TBF, small people on average tend to be under-developed and under-evolved anyway, so there is some truth to what Goztepe is saying.

[Turkish]

18 minutes ago, Farmer Saint said:

TBF, small people on average tend to be under-developed and under-evolved anyway, so there is some truth to what Goztepe is saying.

Dwarfs or midgets?

[ally_uk]

One thing I’ve noticed over the last couple of seasons, we’ve been lacking a bit of physical presence and height in the team. When you look at sides like Newcastle, they’ve got some big lads with real physicality. Meanwhile, we’ve been rocking a team of hobbits. 

I agree, we should be targeting stronger players with a bit of grit and solid mental attributes. Let’s face it, too many times we’ve folded like deckchairs on the Titanic the moment the opposition scores. Physicality is one thing, but mental toughness is just as important if we want to compete back in the Premier league. 

Get some bollocks and grit in the Spine. 

First player I'd bring in would be a Romeu type destroyer, But with the height and build. 

 

 

 

[east-stand-nic]

Charlie Elham. Top scorer in league one. Ok.... Likely low ball but you never know he could be the next Ricky Lambert. 

[Appy]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Dwarfs or midgets?

What’s a Goblin then?

[Farmer Saint]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Dwarfs or midgets?

What's the difference? Is one magic and one not?

[Chez]

1 hour ago, ally_uk said:

One thing I’ve noticed over the last couple of seasons, we’ve been lacking a bit of physical presence and height in the team. When you look at sides like Newcastle, they’ve got some big lads with real physicality. Meanwhile, we’ve been rocking a team of hobbits. 

I agree, we should be targeting stronger players with a bit of grit and solid mental attributes. Let’s face it, too many times we’ve folded like deckchairs on the Titanic the moment the opposition scores. Physicality is one thing, but mental toughness is just as important if we want to compete back in the Premier league. 

Get some bollocks and grit in the Spine. 

First player I'd bring in would be a Romeu type destroyer, But with the height and build. 

 

 

 

Some bollocks and grit in central midfield for sure. Yates from Forest type that is only too happy to kick someone and spoil opposing attacks. 

We could do with a couple of players that actually win headers in all three parts of the pitch.

[Turkish]

Just now, Farmer Saint said:

What's the difference? Is one magic and one not?

 

[Göztepe]

8 saat önce, Oisin dedi ki:

Hepsi çok doğru, Barselona'nın Mascherano'yu 1.74'lük forvet pozisyonunda, Xavi'yi (1.7) ve Iniesta'yı (1.71) orta sahada, Messi'yi (1.7) ise forvette oynatıyor. Korkunç bir kadro.

Bu milenyumun en iyi durağı? Cannavaro - minik.

En iyi oyuncuları mı arıyorsunuz? Lahm ve Roberto Carlos. Cüceler

Aksi takdirde çoğalma iyi bir şekilde destekleniyor .

Football started to change slowly after 2015, before 2015 in addition to Cannavaro there were also stoppers under 1.75 like Cordoba, there were also many center forwards under 1.85. How many elite stoppers are there under 1.80 today? The only one who paid a high transfer fee is Lisandro Martinez, we see how weak he is. Good right and left defenders like Dumfries, Theo Hernandez, Davies are players over 1.80 or even 1.85, the best defensive midfielders are over 1.85 like Rodri, Tchouaméni, center midfielders are players over 1.80 like Valvarde, Declan Rice, Mctominay, players under 1.80 and above, a single center forward player under 1.85 is very rare in the world. You need to build an expensive squad to play the passing game, you can build a cheaper squad to play the physical game, you need tall players for this, teams can easily find positions in the air and in set pieces with tall players. The richest club in the world, Newcastle, plays with an average height of 185.6, while Atalanta, which does well with a small budget and breaks records in player sales, plays with an average height of 186.2. Göztepe's average height is 1.85, Göztepe transferred 25 foreign players in 6 transfer periods, only 2 of them are under 1.80 and they are wingers. You can see their average heights here. https://football-observatory.com/Tool-Demography

Edited 10 hours ago by Göztepe

[Wade Garrett]

8 minutes ago, Göztepe said:

Football started to change slowly after 2015, before 2015 in addition to Cannavaro there were also stoppers under 1.75 like Cordoba, there were also many center forwards under 1.85. How many elite stoppers are there under 1.80 today? The only one who paid a high transfer fee is Lisandro Martinez, we see how weak he is. Good right and left defenders like Dumfries, Theo Hernandez, Davies are players over 1.80 or even 1.85, the best defensive midfielders are over 1.85 like Rodri, Tchouaméni, center midfielders are players over 1.80 like Valvarde, Declan Rice, Mctominay, players under 1.80 and above, a single center forward player under 1.85 is very rare in the world. You need to build an expensive squad to play the passing game, you can build a cheaper squad to play the physical game, you need tall players for this, teams can easily find positions in the air and in set pieces with tall players. The richest club in the world, Newcastle, plays with an average height of 185.6, while Atalanta, which does well with a small budget and breaks records in player sales, plays with an average height of 186.2. Göztepe's average height is 1.85, Göztepe transferred 25 foreign players in 6 transfer periods, only 2 of them are under 1.80 and they are wingers. You can see their average heights here. https://football-observatory.com/Tool-Demography

Goztepe are fucking shit.  💩 couldn’t give a toss how tall they are.

[hypochondriac]

What a bizarre thing to be fixated on. I think we could do with a few taller players but you can obviously be successful with players of different heights. 

[Göztepe]

5 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Ne kadar da tuhaf bir şeye takılıp kalmak. Bence birkaç uzun oyuncuya ihtiyacımız var ama farklı boylardaki oyuncularla da başarılı olabilirsiniz. 

Now, physics and technique have surpassed football. We cannot beat our opponents' technical players with cheap copies, we have to beat them with physics. The chance of losing from tall players is also low, tall players are preferred more now, be careful, teams now prefer old stoppers in their full-backs.

[benali-shorts]

Have Goztepe gone full Jackie Charlton Ireland 1990 lump-it-up-to-the-big-fella? Odd that SR sanction that and our possession-based nonsense in the same season. Almost like they don't have a plan at all......

[Convict Colony]

1 hour ago, Wade Garrett said:

Goztepe are fucking shit.  💩 couldn’t give a toss how tall they are.

I would suggest you are not a following the league tables correctly

[SuperSAINT]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

I would suggest you are not a following the league tables correctly

CC is spot on.  I’ve followed them a little bit this season & think they would’ve been higher if they didn’t lose some forwards to injury recently.

Pretty impressive since they only just got promoted.

[Midfield_General]

Tallest players to play in the PL: 

Costel Pantilimon: 6 foot 8 - shit

Lacina Traore: 6 foot 8 - shit

Stefan Maierhofer: 6 foot 8 - shit

Nikola Zigic: 6 foot 8 - shit

Paul Onuachu: 6 foot 7 - shit

Peter Crouch: 6 foot 7 - good feet for a big man, and quite likeable, but, utlimately, pretty shit

Thus the theory is disproved

 

 

 

 

[Farmer Saint]

21 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Tallest players to play in the PL: 

Costel Pantilimon: 6 foot 8 - shit

Lacina Traore: 6 foot 8 - shit

Stefan Maierhofer: 6 foot 8 - shit

Nikola Zigic: 6 foot 8 - shit

Paul Onuachu: 6 foot 7 - shit

Peter Crouch: 6 foot 7 - good feet for a big man, and quite likeable, but, utlimately, pretty shit

Thus the theory is disproved

 

 

 

 

Is that not the theory that really tall players are shit? Not that players above average height are shit?

[skintsaint]

26 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Peter Crouch: 6 foot 7 - good feet for a big man, and quite likeable, but, utlimately, pretty shit

Bit harsh.

[Matthew Le God]

35 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Peter Crouch: 6 foot 7 - good feet for a big man, and quite likeable, but, utlimately, pretty shit

 

9 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Bit harsh.

22 goals in 42 England games is better than 'pretty shit'.

[Disco Stu]

Peter Crouch was a top player to be fair but he was a bit of an enigma.