January Transfer Window

[die Mannyschaft]

After the Oxford shambles it confirms we cant compete v bottom 3 once subs start. Any 5 will do as long as they are championship quality and can play for at least 60 mins without making 200 passes back and side and have experience in moving forward. Preferably able to dribble , not backwards. 

[saintant]

There is a lot to do that's for sure. I hope Spors knows this cos if not he's some kind of fool.

[LoyalSaintSO50]

Yet again Spors, shit loads to do to sort this squad out.. 

Keeper situation: shambles X 3 

Centre backs: can’t trust 2 out of 5, to play in a back 4

Full backs: (not that we play them) / Wing backs (not that we have any) Best out on loan at Charlton and no doubt won’t be back. Wellington, roerslev, jelert not worked. Manning defensive disaster 

Midfield: downes still getting booked every game, looks leggy, Charles played all season at Wednesday, still manages to injure him, and now the recovery gone quiet. German lad technical and some potential but finishing is abysmal. Lightweight combination 

Azaz, one of the most frustrating players I’ve ever seen. Decent at times, horrific when not. We’ve been fleeced 

miscellaneous: Fellows. Armstrong. Playing out of position and sussed since Charlton game. Love leo but off by the time I’ve finished my half time drinks 

Forwards: haven’t got any 

Subs: Aribo, Fraser, oriel… struggling to run. Archer, just struggling. Robinson, it never comes off but at least direct 

In addition: character, confidence, pace, power, plan b and some fkin bollox would be a bonus before we turn up at the at that cess pit down the road. Get on with it sharpish 

 

 

[die Mannyschaft]

Can we get players in on loan outside of Jan window up to end season? I don't think we will get any players in Jan. Just more take best players off as need them next game and hope we don't let goals in last 20 mins. I can't see us getting many points in next 2 months just enough to avoid relegation and that's going to be good enough for club. Unless it back fires then its loan players.

[LoyalSaintSO50]

4 minutes ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Can we get players in on loan outside of Jan window up to end season? I don't think we will get any players in Jan. Just more take best players off as need them next game and hope we don't let goals in last 20 mins. I can't see us getting many points in next 2 months just enough to avoid relegation and that's going to be good enough for club. Unless it back fires then its loan players.

Can’t remember us using the loan market well for a long time. Spors too clever for loans 

[saintant]

8 hours ago, die Mannyschaft said:

Can we get players in on loan outside of Jan window up to end season? I don't think we will get any players in Jan. Just more take best players off as need them next game and hope we don't let goals in last 20 mins. I can't see us getting many points in next 2 months just enough to avoid relegation and that's going to be good enough for club. Unless it back fires then its loan players.

We keep hearing that promotion is a serious target for SR. If so they'd better be very busy in the January window.

[S-Clarke]

11 hours ago, saintant said:

There is a lot to do that's for sure. I hope Spors knows this cos if not he's some kind of fool.

'The club are happy with the squad, and will only act if a really strong opportunity arises. The club are not planning any major changes'

Prepare for this.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

'The club are happy with the squad, and will only act if a really strong opportunity arises. The club are not planning any major changes'

Prepare for this.

Then it's more madness from the idiots presiding over our club. Opponents know there are two easy ways to beat us. You play a low block as Oxford did to shut down the space near their goal and then rely on how inept our defence and goalkeeper are and wait for your chances - that worked beautifully for them yesterday and went exactly to plan. Make no mistake Oxford are a very poor side. Or you press us high and aggressively and force mistakes and long clearances to a small centre forward as we dither around trying to play out from the back. Our passing is generally pretty appalling and we continually give the ball away under little or no pressure. We need major surgery in the January window when we must add some much needed physicality to the squad.

[S-Clarke]

5 minutes ago, saintant said:

Then it's more madness from the idiots presiding over our club. Opponents know there are two easy ways to beat us. You play a low block as Oxford did to shut down the space near their goal and then rely on how inept our defence and goalkeeper are and wait for your chances - that worked beautifully for them yesterday and went exactly to plan. Make no mistake Oxford are a very poor side. Or you press us high and aggressively and force mistakes and long clearances to a small centre forward as we dither around trying to play out from the back. Our passing is generally pretty appalling and we continually give the ball away under little or no pressure. We need major surgery in the January window when we must add some much needed physicality to the squad.

The club have already fed the media mouth pieces that we won't be doing much/if anything in January.

We need a new GK, LB, CB and ST - just to be competitive, but the club won't see that. They're still putting their eggs in the Stewart basket, expect media driven puff pieces around him in the coming weeks.

[Miltonaggro]

Canary in the coalmine is having a new goalkeeper starting against Boro on January 4th. Loan or permanent. The overpaid cretins have had months to see and sort this. 

[saintant]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

The club have already fed the media mouth pieces that we won't be doing much/if anything in January.

We need a new GK, LB, CB and ST - just to be competitive, but the club won't see that. They're still putting their eggs in the Stewart basket, expect media driven puff pieces around him in the coming weeks.

Is this you reading between the lines or do you have a contact with inside information?

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Is this you reading between the lines or do you have a contact with inside information?

This is just me saying, nothing I know about. But it's fairly obvious in my eyes that they'll be doing this.

Jan 10th - 'Stewart back is amazing news, it's like a new signing!!''    - Feb 10th - ''Stewart out for the season''

[saintant]

Just now, S-Clarke said:

This is just me saying, nothing I know about. But it's fairly obvious in my eyes that they'll be doing this.

Jan 10th - 'Stewart back is amazing news, it's like a new signing!!''    - Feb 10th - ''Stewart out for the season''

We'll see and you may well turn out to be right.

[Pamplemousse]

To be fair it would be beyond idiotic to state we intend to sign a load of new players publicly, as the selling club would just hike up the price.

Personally I feel like the only value in January is with loan players. Brooks and Rothwell coming in two seasons ago really helped, just to bring in a bit of additional energy. Let's not mention Gronbaek last season... There must be a GK somewhere out there sitting on the bench unhappy who can come in immediately. Hopefully those conversations have already happened, if we haven't got someone in by mid-January then we've fucked up again.

 

I'm OK waiting until next season to mount a promotion push as the defence needs an overhaul and that won't happen overnight sadly. But we need a GK now because we can't go to Fratton with Bazunu.

Edited yesterday at 10:48 by Pamplemousse

[Challenger]

If the owners aren't going to bring in any half decent recruits then at least bin off some of the shite chancers we've already got.

[ant]

While I understand the club doesn't want to loan in Premier League players (with the view that you have to spend to stand still), I increasingly feel frustrated by that logic. 

By my count we only have Jelert and Long on loan - neither of which making the matchday squad. 

That essentially leaves 5 loan slots we could make use of to improve the starting XI and/or bench. 

Perhaps we ought to make strides towards securing promotion before worrying about us not owning the players that spur us there?

Also, we don't have to be sentimental about any loan players that do us a service.

Like with Ryan Fraser after Martin got us promoted - thank him very much, send him a case of champagne and move on...

Edited yesterday at 15:19 by ant

[trousers]

5 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

This is just me saying, nothing I know about. But it's fairly obvious in my eyes that they'll be doing this.

Jan 10th - 'Stewart back is amazing news, it's like a new signing!!''    - Feb 10th - ''Stewart out for the season''

This is precisely what will occur.... More obvious than an obvious thing from obviousville, but you can bet your life savings on it coming as a complete shock to the geniuses at Sport Republic when it happens....

[Baz Fl]

Good #1’s and #9’s will get you results in every league from top to bottom and yet somehow the powers to be are oblivious to this basic football fact! 99.9% of Saints fans have seen it for the last few years but either the club are blind, stubborn or cheap or a combination of all 3 🤬🤬

[Challenger]

It's nearly clutch at straws,can we salvage our season time of year.

[Appy]

5 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

This is just me saying, nothing I know about. But it's fairly obvious in my eyes that they'll be doing this.

Jan 10th - 'Stewart back is amazing news, it's like a new signing!!''    - Feb 10th - ''Stewart out for the season''

Yep, loads of it. 
 

Bazunu will make a save in the next week and there will be an Echo opinion piece about how he’s turned the corner. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Appy said:

Yep, loads of it. 
 

Bazunu will make a save in the next week and there will be an Echo opinion piece about how he’s turned the corner. 

Yep, there are plenty of helpful idiots that will go along with it - eg Alfie House - and sections of the fanbase, although those sections are shrinking by the week. 

[Gloucester Saint]

7 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

The club have already fed the media mouth pieces that we won't be doing much/if anything in January.

We need a new GK, LB, CB and ST - just to be competitive, but the club won't see that. They're still putting their eggs in the Stewart basket, expect media driven puff pieces around him in the coming weeks.

There’s more doubling down than the WDC at the Ally Pally. I’ve never seen in business people so desperate not to admit mistakes - formation, team selection, Stewart and Bazunu stand out - let alone put them right. Has to be Ankerson driving it and no coincidence as soon as Still sacked and Eckert interim that Gavin dislodged McCarthy. 

[SW5 SAINT]

6 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

To be fair it would be beyond idiotic to state we intend to sign a load of new players publicly, as the selling club would just hike up the price.

Personally I feel like the only value in January is with loan players. Brooks and Rothwell coming in two seasons ago really helped, just to bring in a bit of additional energy. Let's not mention Gronbaek last season... There must be a GK somewhere out there sitting on the bench unhappy who can come in immediately. Hopefully those conversations have already happened, if we haven't got someone in by mid-January then we've fucked up again.

 

I'm OK waiting until next season to mount a promotion push as the defence needs an overhaul and that won't happen overnight sadly. But we need a GK now because we can't go to Fratton with Bazunu.

There’s a goalkeeper at Newcastle just sat on the bench……!

[Dark Munster]

19 hours ago, saintant said:

There is a lot to do that's for sure. I hope Spors knows this cos if not he's some kind of fool.

Spoiler alert: he is.

[Dark Munster]

8 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

The club have already fed the media mouth pieces that we won't be doing much/if anything in January.

We need a new GK, LB, CB and ST - just to be competitive, but the club won't see that. They're still putting their eggs in the Stewart basket, expect media driven puff pieces around him in the coming weeks.

[Saint Pete]

8 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

This is just me saying, nothing I know about. But it's fairly obvious in my eyes that they'll be doing this.

Jan 10th - 'Stewart back is amazing news, it's like a new signing!!''    - Feb 10th - ''Stewart out for the season''

Sadly, I think this quite likely. They have already made public he is back in training. Would expect the "like a new signing" rhetoric to ramp up from here on. What I would hope to happen is that we loan out Downs and preferably Stewart as well and get in a loans for a striker who can do a job at this level and not made of glass, and if poss another wide attacking option. But let's be honest, what should happen often doesn't with our club. 

[Ekelund]

1 hour ago, SW5 SAINT said:

There’s a goalkeeper at Newcastle just sat on the bench……!

Pope?

[Toussaint]

29 minutes ago, Ekelund said:

Pope?

He’ll do

[BARCELONASAINT]

32 minutes ago, Ekelund said:

Pope?

You would expect him to be good at crosses!

[Oh no Mick Mills]

2 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Yep, there are plenty of helpful idiots that will go along with it - eg Alfie House - and sections of the fanbase, although those sections are shrinking by the week. 

Nope, Alfie House made it very clear on Total Saints Podcast that he doesn't rate Bazunu and he felt McCarthy was the best of the current crop. 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 hour ago, Oh no Mick Mills said:

Nope, Alfie House made it very clear on Total Saints Podcast that he doesn't rate Bazunu and he felt McCarthy was the best of the current crop. 

At least Mr RAF moustache got something right, although I’d prefer it if he did his job and actually reflected this in his output, instead of stressing about receiving a text message from Denmark.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

3 hours ago, Dark Munster said:

In just 2 weeks, those eggs will be back in their shells, all together in an upright basket.

- There are eggs in a basket, then there are SR eggs in a basket.

[Oldandtired]

6 hours ago, Appy said:

 

Bazunu will make a save in the next week and there will be an Echo opinion piece about how he’s turned the corner. 

Not if it's to his left he won't.

[Roger]

Joel piroe on loan would be decent Leeds happy to let him go. 

[bangkoksaint]

What’s the betting that if we do any business it’ll be on the last day………..and obviously for an unknown in a position we don’t need 

[Sir Ralph]

Sell or loan: MCarthy, D Downs, Archer, Fraser, Aribo

Need: GK, another winger, a big 9

The board need to have a big 9 lined up fast as we need to have an alternative option to play

[IFHP]

9 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

Sell or loan: MCarthy, D Downs, Archer, Fraser, Aribo

Need: GK, another winger, a big 9

The board need to have a big 9 lined up fast as we need to have an alternative option to play

It’s all very well saying sell or loan so and so, the thing is Aribo had all summer to find a club and no fucker wanted him the same with Edozie. 

[Gloucester Saint]

15 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

Sell or loan: MCarthy, D Downs, Archer, Fraser, Aribo

Need: GK, another winger, a big 9

The board need to have a big 9 lined up fast as we need to have an alternative option to play

Yes, about those players..

McCarthy - contract up summer 2026 anyway and fine as #2 to end of this season anyway. Bazunu needs paying up and off. Too costly for a #3 and he’s not a #2 or a natural goalkeeper whatsoever. Yes, that costs money but he can’t keep goal and he’s very expensive as a toilet cleaner. George Long loan - an incredibly stupid decision at the time and was widely called out. Dragan can take some more losses on those.

Downs - does have German interest but will need a settlement to go on the wages, so it’s whether the accountants prefer that or a lower fee to offset.

Archer - might get a buyer at this level to play off a target man, but I agree he’s been terrible. Making an argument to dislodge Guido Carrillo from the worst ever Saints XI albeit Carrillo still has the top flight version sewn up.

Fraser - contract up in the summer and nobody will pay him what we are even on loan. Another Russell Martin special.

Aribo - his lack of fitness is appalling and he and his agent should be ashamed. If he wasn’t fit and available to play then the club should have docked his pay when Quelle surprise Saudi top flight clubs didn’t want him. 

Theirs is also Samuel Edozie and your guess is as good as mine on that.

Agree on keeper, winger and striker - but the first and last will be on loan (that’s ok if they are an improvement - hard not to be but SR are capable of finding even worse - see George Long) and middle contingent on Edozie finally going and Aribo leaving the Christmas and New Years buffet alone.

Edited 4 hours ago by Gloucester Saint

[Sir Ralph]

15 minutes ago, IFHP said:

It’s all very well saying sell or loan so and so, the thing is Aribo had all summer to find a club and no fucker wanted him the same with Edozie. 

Obviously an ideal world. If someone paid £10 a week of his wages I would let him go on loan

[Sir Ralph]

13 minutes ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Yes, about those players..

McCarthy - contract up summer 2026 anyway and fine as #2 to end of this season anyway. Bazunu needs paying up and off. Too costly for a #3 and he’s not a #2 or a natural goalkeeper whatsoever. Yes, that costs money but he can’t keep goal and he’s very expensive as a toilet cleaner. George Long loan - an incredibly stupid decision at the time and was widely called out. Dragan can take some more losses on those.

Downs - does have German interest but will need a settlement to go on the wages, so it’s whether the accountants prefer that or a lower fee to offset.

Archer - might get a buyer at this level to play off a target man, but I agree he’s been terrible. Making an argument to dislodge Guido Carrillo from the worst ever Saints XI albeit Carrillo still has the top flight version sewn up.

Fraser - contract up in the summer and nobody will pay him what we are even on loan. Another Russell Martin special.

Aribo - his lack of fitness is appalling and he and his agent should be ashamed. If he wasn’t fit and available to play then the club should have docked his pay when Quelle surprise Saudi top flight clubs didn’t want him. 

Theirs is also Samuel Edozie and your guess is as good as mine on that.

Agree on keeper, winger and striker - but the first and last will be on loan (that’s ok if they are an improvement - hard not to be but SR are capable of finding even worse - see George Long) and middle contingent on Edozie finally going and Aribo leaving the Christmas and New Years buffet alone.

I think with all of these it’s getting what we can to help offset wages for incoming. As they say every little helps.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

I think with all of these it’s getting what we can to help offset wages for incoming. As they say every little helps.

It’s probably more about FFP headroom at this stage. Downs after wages compromise settlement probably helps. Archer we might get 50% of the fee paid but like Downs his wages will be beyond most non-parachute clubs.

Aribo I think we are landed with until the summer as he’s not fit enough for selection so won’t be usable to anyone else. It’s like he didn’t have a pre-season. Astonishing state of affairs. Edozie has disappeared, could get a small loan fee for him if vaguely fit for someone else to use. Less likely than Joe to pile on the pounds. Bazunu is a write off - it’s whether the club does it now or in the summer. 

[Challenger]

17 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

In just 2 weeks, those eggs will be back in their shells, all together in an upright basket.

- There are eggs in a basket, then there are SR eggs in a basket.

SR don't do baskets and eggs, just crocks and shit.

[Starksj1995]

On 27/12/2025 at 00:38, LoyalSaintSO50 said:

Yet again Spors, shit loads to do to sort this squad out.. 

Keeper situation: shambles X 3 

Centre backs: can’t trust 2 out of 5, to play in a back 4

Full backs: (not that we play them) / Wing backs (not that we have any) Best out on loan at Charlton and no doubt won’t be back. Wellington, roerslev, jelert not worked. Manning defensive disaster 

Midfield: downes still getting booked every game, looks leggy, Charles played all season at Wednesday, still manages to injure him, and now the recovery gone quiet. German lad technical and some potential but finishing is abysmal. Lightweight combination 

Azaz, one of the most frustrating players I’ve ever seen. Decent at times, horrific when not. We’ve been fleeced 

miscellaneous: Fellows. Armstrong. Playing out of position and sussed since Charlton game. Love leo but off by the time I’ve finished my half time drinks 

Forwards: haven’t got any 

Subs: Aribo, Fraser, oriel… struggling to run. Archer, just struggling. Robinson, it never comes off but at least direct 

In addition: character, confidence, pace, power, plan b and some fkin bollox would be a bonus before we turn up at the at that cess pit down the road. Get on with it sharpish 

 

 

Bree is back next month