Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[goodymatt]

3 minutes ago, Saint_lambden said:

Genuinely never heard of the bloke. 

He was a €15m signing for Bournemouth from Lyon. Was quite an exciting talent at that time, I recall thinking how did they get him but they loaned him out immediately to their French club Lorient. Has only made 5 league apps for Bournemouth.

[Midfield_General]

28 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.

Yep. 

It has to be said that as a club we do seem to be quite good at recognising when a player isn't quite going to have what it takes for the top level, and releasing them at the right time, particularly with attackers. 

Josh Sims, Jake Hesketh, Sam Gallagher, Dan Nlundulu and Michael Obafemi all had decent first team game time for us but were ultimately let go, and judging from their career trajectories since it has looked like the right decision. Bit harsh on Gallagher maybe as he's had injury problems and Robins was talking recently about wanting to get him back into contention at Stoke. 

Ballard will be the next one. Scored what felt like hundreds at youth level but never quite been able to break through and now been moved on to Leyton Orient. Will be interesting to see how he gets on, but you can't help feeling he's probably another one who came close but won't quite make it at the very top level. 

[Charlie Wayman]

3 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Demolition of the Skates incoming? 👀

Polite reminder - at the moment we are the fourth best club out of four on the south coast. 

[Nobody counts Plymouth, Exeter or Torquay as south coast, they're in the West Country]

Edited 4 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[saintant]

3 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Polite reminder - at the moment we are the fourth best club out of four on the south coast. 

We're better than Plymouth and Exeter 🙂

[trousers]

2 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Demolition of the Skates incoming? 👀

 

9 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Polite reminder - at the moment we are the fourth best club out of four on the south coast. 

 

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

We're better than Plymouth and Exeter 🙂

We're also 10 leagues above Swanage Town & Herston FC, although they're doing quite well this season so they could close the gap if we don't get promoted...

 

[Whitey Grandad]

40 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

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.

I suggest you watch again that free kick at Watford, this time objectively. 

[tisspahars]

So many reactions to enjoy on here that I genuinely don't know which are my favourites - is it those who told us Spors would sit on his hands before making a late, underwhelming panic loan and then when proved utterly wrong still rate it a 5/10 window.....or is it those who think we are underdogs against the Skates (when the prices come out there will be an overwhelming underdog but it won't be us)?

       The new signings need to gel, Still has to make a team from the parts he has been given and I, too, would prefer it if Ramsdale was still our keeper....but if you can't see that the squad we have now should absolutely be going up automatically then you either have an agenda or football maybe just isn't for you.

[skintsaint]

Just now, Whitey Grandad said:

I suggest you watch again that free kick at Watford, this time objectively. 

Yep - sometimes a freekick is just too good, look at Liverpools at the weekend, even Arsenals keeper moved to the middle quickly before it was struck and still didn't get there.

[Sheaf Saint]

15 minutes ago, saintant said:

We're better than Plymouth and Exeter 🙂

Exeter isn't on the coast. But swap them for Torquay and your point still stands.

[CamSaint]

29 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Josh Sims, Jake Hesketh, Sam Gallagher, Dan Nlundulu and Michael Obafemi all had decent first team game time for us but were ultimately let go, and judging from their career trajectories since it has looked like the right decision.

Not quite in the same category but I see that Nico Lawrence was let go yesterday (https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/academy-confirm-transfer-deadline-day-movements). I seem to remember that he was very highly rated a couple of years ago but hasn't been able to kick on despite having several loans.

[Patches O Houlihan]

12 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Exeter isn't on the coast. But swap them for Torquay and your point still stands.

Strictly speaking Southampton isn't on the coast either

Edited 4 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan
It's up an estuary (Southampton Water & Solent)

[Charlie Wayman]

39 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

Yep. 

It has to be said that as a club we do seem to be quite good at recognising when a player isn't quite going to have what it takes for the top level, and releasing them at the right time, particularly with attackers. 

Josh Sims, Jake Hesketh, Sam Gallagher, Dan Nlundulu and Michael Obafemi all had decent first team game time for us but were ultimately let go, and judging from their career trajectories since it has looked like the right decision. Bit harsh on Gallagher maybe as he's had injury problems and Robins was talking recently about wanting to get him back into contention at Stoke. 

Ballard will be the next one. Scored what felt like hundreds at youth level but never quite been able to break through and now been moved on to Leyton Orient. Will be interesting to see how he gets on, but you can't help feeling he's probably another one who came close but won't quite make it at the very top level. 

This needs to be set in its proper context.

The big clubs in the top leagues of Europe (for example) compete in a global market for the most promising young talent on the planet, they have academies that are staffed by probably the best youth coaches available to develop that talent and probably have the best facities to match.

We have to be realistic about the limitations of Staplewood in terms of its budget, its facilities, who it can attract and its ability to develop that talent. Why would we be surpirsed that in the large part we can only attract kids of limited potential (left overs?) who are destined to end up in lesser leagues. Occasionally it may unearth a future star but the academies of the big clubs seemingly churn out endless conveyor belts full of future stars.

For context, four or five of Man City's academy graduates are playing for us in the Championship when their expectation woud have been to play for City in the Premier League. Only the odd one or two ever make it to the first team up there as well.

 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Charlie Wayman

[Nolan]

4 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Strictly speaking Southampton isn't on the coast either

Huh. ?

Strictly speaking Southampton is very much on the coast. It's how we manage to have a port.

Edited 4 hours ago by Nolan

[Patches O Houlihan]

2 minutes ago, Nolan said:

Huh. ?

Strictly speaking Southampton is very much on the coast. It's how we manage to have a port.

It's up an estuary (Southampton Water & the Solent) - just like Exeter is. That's why you have to drive a distance to have a nice walk on a proper beach or cliff

Edited 4 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan

[Verbal]

6 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Strictly speaking Southampton isn't on the coast either

This is the debate I've long been waiting for on here - where IS southampton?

[Patches O Houlihan]

I have a degree in Geography from the University of Southampton, and have worked as a professional seafarer for more than 20 years. You'd best bring your 'A' game to this discussion!

Edited 4 hours ago by Patches O Houlihan

[skintsaint]

2 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

That's why you have to drive a distance to have a nice walk on a proper beach or cliff

Wouldn't have advised during last season....

[Sheaf Saint]

2 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

It's up an estuary (Southampton Water & the Solent) - just like Exeter is. That's why you have to drive a distance to have a nice walk on a proper beach or cliff

Are you suggesting that Weston Shore isn't a proper beach? 😉

[Gloucester Saint]

8 minutes ago, CamSaint said:

Not quite in the same category but I see that Nico Lawrence was let go yesterday (https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/academy-confirm-transfer-deadline-day-movements). I seem to remember that he was very highly rated a couple of years ago but hasn't been able to kick on despite having several loans.

Had a horrible injury though on loan, at Colchester, may have been an ACL, which curbed his development. Hopefully Nico can bounce back. 

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 minute ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Are you suggesting that Weston Shore isn't a proper beach? 😉

Not 'proper' Southampton either is it! 

(on dangerous ground here!)

[Wade Garrett]

36 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

I suggest you watch again that free kick at Watford, this time objectively. 

I have Whitey and I’m being objective.  He got nowhere near the corner of the goal, slow feet and not athletic enough.

[Lighthouse]

9 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

I have Whitey and I’m being objective.  He got nowhere near the corner of the goal, slow feet and not athletic enough.

I am going to suggest that you're in for a thoroughly miserable season if you've been upset by anything Bazunu has done so far. 

[Midfield_General]

2 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I am going to suggest that you're in for a thoroughly miserable season if you've been upset by anything Bazunu has done so far. 

Or if you think that Whitey is ever going to change his stance on him 😉

[Midfield_General]

35 minutes ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Are you suggesting that Weston Shore isn't a proper beach? 😉

The Beach Guide says it is - and a three star beach no less.

https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/south-west-england/hampshire/weston-hard-woolston.htm

Edited 3 hours ago by Midfield_General

[Patches O Houlihan]

6 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

The Beach Guide says it is - and a three star beach no less.

https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/south-west-england/hampshire/weston-hard-woolston.htm

"Small pebbly beach located at the mouth of the River Itchen." [not English Channel 😜]

[Fitzhugh Fella]

2 hours 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) 

Doyle loan to Reading

[Toussaint]

23 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

The Beach Guide says it is - and a three star beach no less.

https://www.thebeachguide.co.uk/south-west-england/hampshire/weston-hard-woolston.htm

Three stars? What is the scale 1-50 stars? 

[Oldandtired]

29 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

I am going to suggest that you're in for a thoroughly miserable season if you've been upset by anything Bazunu has done so far. 

It's never about what he does it's about what he doesn't do.
 

Claim crosses, command the 6 yard area, be good at goalkeeping basics etc.

Edited 3 hours ago by Oldandtired

[trousers]

 

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

Exeter isn't on the coast. 

{MLG Mode on}

An estuary is classed as 'coastal', ergo the south-eastern part of Exeter is technically on the coast, given the River Exe estuary extends as far as Countess Wear.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Countess_Wear

{MLG Mode off)

Edited 3 hours ago by trousers

[AlexLaw76]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

An estuary is classed as 'coastal', ergo 

{MLG Mode on}

An estuary is classed as 'coastal', ergo the south-eastern part of Exeter is technically on the coast, given the River Exe estuary extends as far as Countess Wear.

{MLG Mode off)

 

[Midfield_General]

45 minutes ago, Toussaint said:

Three stars? What is the scale 1-50 stars? 

It's a broad scale. 

5 stars: Maldivian atoll

3 stars: Weston Shore

1 star: Surface of Venus

[Saint Keef]

P&O Cruises have just removed their shirt sponsorship. They thought Southampton was on a coastal town.

Meanwhile one of their ships has just docked.....in Leicester.

[Wade Garrett]

1 hour ago, Lighthouse said:

I am going to suggest that you're in for a thoroughly miserable season if you've been upset by anything Bazunu has done so far. 

Hopefully not if our forwards are firing on all cylinders.

[OldNick]

Uncle Albert thinks Southampton is a coastal town, he just parked his boat in the High Street.

[VectisSaint]

2 hours ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

I have a degree in Geography from the University of Southampton, and have worked as a professional seafarer for more than 20 years. You'd best bring your 'A' game to this discussion!

Definition "An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water where river water mixes with seawater." [Britannica.com] If it's a coastal body of water then by definition it must be "part of the coast". But I tend to agree with you that Southampton is not on what most reasonable people would consider "the coast".

If Southampton is not on the coast then there is an argument that neither is Skatesville (Portsmouth Harbour), unless you count Southsea.

[Mustang Saint]

27 minutes ago, Midfield_General said:

It's a broad scale. 

5 stars: Maldivian atoll

3 stars: Weston Shore

1 star: Surface of Venus

I'd go as far as to suggest Weston-super-Mare's beach is below the level of Surface of Venus, yes I live here and yes it's in an estuary.

[SW11_Saint]

Should we change the thread title to ‘Coastal discussion’? 

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

Should we change the thread title to ‘Coastal discussion’? 

I can sea some logic in that....

[OneMrsWallace]

2 hours ago, tisspahars said:

So many reactions to enjoy on here that I genuinely don't know which are my favourites - is it those who told us Spors would sit on his hands before making a late, underwhelming panic loan and then when proved utterly wrong still rate it a 5/10 window.....or is it those who think we are underdogs against the Skates (when the prices come out there will be an overwhelming underdog but it won't be us)?

       The new signings need to gel, Still has to make a team from the parts he has been given and I, too, would prefer it if Ramsdale was still our keeper....but if you can't see that the squad we have now should absolutely be going up automatically then you either have an agenda or football maybe just isn't for you.

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. 

Edited 1 hour ago by OneMrsWallace

[spyinthesky]

1 hour ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

Doyle loan to Reading

Meantime Sam Hoskins, one of our ex youngsters continues to be a hero at Northampton.

[hypochondriac]

1 minute 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 you 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. 

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

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, Wade Garrett said:

I have Whitey and I’m being objective.  He got nowhere near the corner of the goal, slow feet and not athletic enough.

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. 

[OneMrsWallace]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

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

I think that's right but our CFs seem to be lacking in confidence given the lack of conversion -  so I guess what I mean is it feels like we need to produce even more chances or more quality chances more often, for them to actually hit the net. Hopefully that will change as they score more and gain confidence in their own game.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Midfield_General said:

Or if you think that Whitey is ever going to change his stance on him 😉

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.

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

"Small pebbly beach located at the mouth of the River Itchen." [not English Channel 😜]

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

[hypochondriac]

3 minutes ago, OneMrsWallace said:

I think that's right but our CFs seem to be lacking in confidence given the lack of conversion -  so I guess what I mean is it feels like we need to produce even more chances or more quality chances more often, for them to actually hit the net. Hopefully that will change as they score more and gain confidence in their own game.

Yes that's the risk we now have to take, that our new setup can improve the type of chances we create to the degree that our strikers can actually score.

[Patches O Houlihan]

31 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Definition "An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water where river water mixes with seawater." [Britannica.com] If it's a coastal body of water then by definition it must be "part of the coast". But I tend to agree with you that Southampton is not on what most reasonable people would consider "the coast".

If Southampton is not on the coast then there is an argument that neither is Skatesville (Portsmouth Harbour), unless you count Southsea.

Is London on the coast?

Most people would say no - and yet the Thames in central London is definitely influenced by the tides - that's why Teddington Lock was built, which marks the change between the tidal river and the freshwater upper sections. 

In fact by that Britannica definition the Oxford & Cambridge boat race would be a coastal event...

I think we're both in agreement!

Edited 1 hour ago by Patches O Houlihan
bloody autocorrect

[Toussaint]

21 minutes ago, SW11_Saint said:

Should we change the thread title to ‘Coastal discussion’? 

I think it’s due to the current wave of optimism, it’s nice to sea the tide turning in that direction. 

[Saint Neil]

Quick someone get the January Transfer Window 2025/26 thread started.

[Whitey Grandad]

30 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Definition "An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water where river water mixes with seawater." [Britannica.com] If it's a coastal body of water then by definition it must be "part of the coast". But I tend to agree with you that Southampton is not on what most reasonable people would consider "the coast".

If Southampton is not on the coast then there is an argument that neither is Skatesville (Portsmouth Harbour), unless you count Southsea.

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?