Summer Transfer Window 2025/26

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

If we had moved Armstrong on last summer there would have been uproar. Especially considering our recruitment last summer was piss poor anyway, I don’t think there’s any evidence we’d have replaced him effectively. We’d seen him not perform in the PL but we were playing a completely different way and he’d spearheaded the team to promotion. Trying to move on the striker who got you promoted would have pissed off the squad, manager and fans. It wasn’t worth the risk. We definitely could have done better in not relying on him but moving him on would have been madness. 

Wouldn't have pissed me on in the slightest. He's shit at PL level. For whatever reason we were far too loyal to that squad. What was the sense in signing Fraser? 

[Verbal]

3 hours ago, gio1saints said:

We should get anybody whose first name is Josh. FOUR out of the top ten goals and assist machines in the Championship last year were called Josh. 
Three points if you can name them all without google. 😁

Reg Binns

[Chez]

3 hours ago, gio1saints said:

We should get anybody whose first name is Josh. FOUR out of the top ten goals and assist machines in the Championship last year were called Josh. 
Three points if you can name them all without google. 😁

I was going to suggest Maja as a possible Che Adams replacement.  I thought he looked good in the Sunderland documentary a few years back. He's been around the houses a little since, but did OK last year at WBA. One year left of his contract. Not convinced he would be signing good enough for the PL.

[Chez]

1 hour ago, Pamplemousse said:

Either of those are decent Championship options. Sugawara needs to massively improve because if not, that's a priority area if we get promoted.

The championship will provide the extra time and space his crap first touch needs, so he might be effective at that level. It will be some turnaround/improvement for him to be a PL player should we get there.

[Saint Fan CaM]

21 minutes ago, Chez said:

The championship will provide the extra time and space his crap first touch needs, so he might be effective at that level. It will be some turnaround/improvement for him to be a PL player should we get there.

I think Sugawara is better than some make out. There were some dubious decisions given against him thanks to VAR bollox and he could do well in a ‘forward looking’ system.

[Sheaf Saint]

6 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I think Sugawara is better than some make out. There were some dubious decisions given against him thanks to VAR bollox and he could do well in a ‘forward looking’ system.

If you're referring to the multiple handball incidents then I'm sorry but I have to disagree. They weren't dubious, they were absolutely brainless from the player.

The good news though is that there's no VAR this season, so he might actually get away with some of those.

[Toussaint]

4 hours ago, gio1saints said:

We should get anybody whose first name is Josh. FOUR out of the top ten goals and assist machines in the Championship last year were called Josh. 
Three points if you can name them all without google. 😁

Too easy, they were all called Josh. What do I win? 

[AlexLaw76]

Sugawara was f-ing shite last season.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Sugawara was f-ing shite last season.

To be fair, the whole squad was shite, bar KWP, Ramsdale and Fernandes.

[AlexLaw76]

8 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

To be fair, the whole squad was shite, bar KWP, Ramsdale and Fernandes.

I am being fair on Sugawara - he was f-ing shite

[SWLondon Saint]

Sugawara was unquestionably bad as an individual defensively, though I do have some time for the argument the defence in general was a mess and they were pretty much all crap, which is a bad situation to have to come into. Having said that, he did also look like the only wide player who would look to cross and could actually deliver a decent ball into the box, so Still might like that.

Is he a PL level full back? No. Could he be a PL wingback with a 'proper' FB behind him in a 3? Maybe. Pretty sure we'll be stuck with him anyway so might as well be optimistic.

[Dusic]

Another tenuous link to Sturm Graz Scottish RB Max Johnston via Football Insider but this interview with him today indicates he prefers to stay in Europe:

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/napoli-interested-max-johnston-on-sturm-graz-future-champions-league-test-amp-scotland/view/news/455924

 

[Chez]

If Downs is possibly the striker, who is the attacking midfielder? Can anyone remind me who we have been linked with in that position?

[hypochondriac]

I know we are going with a slightly different strategy but it's a real shame if we don't look at established championship performers to sign. Downes and THB were proven last time along with Armstrong and arguably Stewart although he didn't work out obviously. Getting all our signings from abroad is a bit of a risk. I'd like to see us linked with a few of the top players from the league already. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

1 minute ago, hypochondriac said:

I know we are going with a slightly different strategy but it's a real shame if we don't look at established championship performers to sign. Downes and THB were proven last time along with Armstrong and arguably Stewart although he didn't work out obviously. Getting all our signings from abroad is a bit of a risk. I'd like to see us linked with a few of the top players from the league already. 

Edwards and Charles coming back, after good seasons in the Championship could arguably count towards that.

With THB and Downes still here, as is a hopefully fit Stewart, that's 5 of a starting team.

But point taken. Regardless of all the backroom changes, has it altered our player trading model enough to build a team capable of PL survival (should we get there)

[Rowan Gorilla 5]

17 minutes ago, Chez said:

If Downs is possibly the striker, who is the attacking midfielder? Can anyone remind me who we have been linked with in that position?

Lucas Cepeda, Tyler Goodrham, Adriano Bertaccini, Olakunle Olusegun, Besfort Zeneli and Jack Rudoni. William Bøving at a stretch as he can play on the wing. Wingers and midfielders I can think of off the top of my head in recent weeks. No idea how tenuous the links are.

[Roo1976]

3 hours ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

To be fair, the whole squad was shite, bar KWP, Ramsdale and Fernandes.

a bit random but did i speak to you a few weeks back playing bowls against Priory?....btw we won

[Roo1976]

3 minutes ago, Rowan Gorilla 5 said:

Lucas Cepeda, Tyler Goodrham, Adriano Bertaccini, Olakunle Olusegun, Besfort Zeneli and Jack Rudoni. William Bøving at a stretch as he can play on the wing. Wingers and midfielders I can think of off the top of my head in recent weeks. No idea how tenuous the links are.

bloody  hell the players you've just mentioned ,they sound like words from another language................!

[Willo of Whiteley]

If Downs is the striker we’ve been linked with then that is seriously underwhelming. He strikers me as Sekou Mara MKII, lots of pressure to put on a kid to get you back to the Premier League.

[hypochondriac]

23 minutes ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Edwards and Charles coming back, after good seasons in the Championship could arguably count towards that.

With THB and Downes still here, as is a hopefully fit Stewart, that's 5 of a starting team.

But point taken. Regardless of all the backroom changes, has it altered our player trading model enough to build a team capable of PL survival (should we get there)

True. I just really hope our transfer strategy is half decent. I'll be honest I have never heard of any of the players we have signed or are linked with. Hopefully it's a rabbit or two out of the bag. 

[Chez]

29 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

I know we are going with a slightly different strategy but it's a real shame if we don't look at established championship performers to sign. Downes and THB were proven last time along with Armstrong and arguably Stewart although he didn't work out obviously. Getting all our signings from abroad is a bit of a risk. I'd like to see us linked with a few of the top players from the league already. 

the top players in the league are looking for moves to the prem. We will get the leftovers - championship players that the PL don't think are good enough. Is that who we want?

[Lee On Solent Saint]

40 minutes ago, Roo1976 said:

a bit random but did i speak to you a few weeks back playing bowls against Priory?....btw we won

Nope, not me.

[hypochondriac]

21 minutes ago, Chez said:

the top players in the league are looking for moves to the prem. We will get the leftovers - championship players that the PL don't think are good enough. Is that who we want?

I personally think on a better team THB and Downes would have been alright in the prem. This season I'd like a mix of players good enough for the prem and then decent championship players that we will discard immediately if we go up.