January Transfer Window

[Göztepe]

8 hours ago, disconnect said:

It's a shame we've had both Roerslev and Jelert (who looked especially promising, but definitely underutilised by Still) injured at the same time. I think get one of those back, get Fellows starting further forward and possibly move to a back 4 and we'll be looking much better. Agree that Bree has been solid, but in a couple of weeks could have 2 good right backs at this level already without the need for Bree to return.

Playing with a four-man defense is a mistake when the center-backs and full-backs are short. Fellows can carry the ball from defense to attack all by himself, playing the role of two players on the right side.

[Convict Colony]

6 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Playing with a four-man defense is a mistake when the center-backs and full-backs are short. Fellows can carry the ball from defense to attack all by himself, playing the role of two players on the right side.

I wouldnt call our CBs short, crap but not short.

And anyway if we had 2 cbs in a 4 formation i would risk it being THB and Quarshie pairing and he's massive.

Edited yesterday at 08:52 by Convict Colony

[Osvaldorama]

6 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Playing with a four-man defense is a mistake when the center-backs and full-backs are short. Fellows can carry the ball from defense to attack all by himself, playing the role of two players on the right side.

It’s rubbish Tonda 

[benali-shorts]

7 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Playing with a four-man defense is a mistake when the center-backs and full-backs are short. Fellows can carry the ball from defense to attack all by himself, playing the role of two players on the right side.

I think it's less about height and more about physical and mental strength. This lot are feeble in both regards. Wood & Bazanu are silent; Harwood-Bellis too quick to moan at others whilst repeating the same mistakes himself. That Stephens is considered worth playing due to his leadership skills says it all about the others' deficiencies. 

We were promised the requisite physicality for our new signings - I see technical improvements in Leo, Fellows and Jander, but no physical nor mental improvements. This lot are only going to get worse and worse, as they have done for each of the last 4 years. A dire second half of the season awaits I fear. 

[John B]

I think the recruitment has been ok recently but getting the elusive decent Centre Forward which we have been trying to recruit for so long would no doubt make us a far better team

The full back situation needs to be improved although injuries have not helped there

 

 

[John B]

1 hour ago, benali-shorts said:

I think it's less about height and more about physical and mental strength. This lot are feeble in both regards. Wood & Bazanu are silent; Harwood-Bellis too quick to moan at others whilst repeating the same mistakes himself. That Stephens is considered worth playing due to his leadership skills says it all about the others' deficiencies. 

We were promised the requisite physicality for our new signings - I see technical improvements in Leo, Fellows and Jander, but no physical nor mental improvements. This lot are only going to get worse and worse, as they have done for each of the last 4 years. A dire second half of the season awaits I fear. 

Get in three new starters and I think you will be proved wrong as our bench looks particularly week

[S-Clarke]

9 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Playing with a four-man defense is a mistake when the center-backs and full-backs are short. Fellows can carry the ball from defense to attack all by himself, playing the role of two players on the right side.

But our CB's aren't short. They're within the normal ranges of heights expected from CB's. I don't know what you're getting at here. 

Proclaiming that we have to play 5 at the back because our CB's are short/poor is just so flawed. Formations aren't there to cover gaps in quality or individual limitations in players, they're there to bring the best out of the players you have. The fix for individual limitations/gaps in quality is to improve them with recruitment.

[Göztepe]

20 minutes ago, S-Clarke said:

Ama bizim stoperlerimiz kısa değil. Stoperlerden beklenen normal boy aralıklarındalar. Burada ne demek istediğinizi anlamıyorum. 

Stoperlerimizin yetersiz/kötü olması nedeniyle 5'li savunma oynamamız gerektiğini söylemek son derece hatalı bir yaklaşım. Dizilişler, oyuncuların kalitesindeki eksiklikleri veya bireysel sınırlamalarını kapatmak için değil, sahip olduğunuz oyunculardan en iyi performansı almak için vardır. Bireysel sınırlamaların/kalite eksikliklerinin çözümü ise transferlerle onları geliştirmektir.

Stephens and Edwards are too short for a 1.85m center back. Anyone under 1.88m is too short for a center back. Manning and Jelert are too short for a four-man full-back, especially since Jelert gets overwhelmed in a four-man defense.

https://x.com/SoletLang/status/1962239171130466787?s=20

[jemanson]

10 minutes ago, Göztepe said:

Stephens and Edwards are too short for a 1.85m center back. Anyone under 1.88m is too short for a center back. Manning and Jelert are too short for a four-man full-back, especially since Jelert gets overwhelmed in a four-man defense.

https://x.com/SoletLang/status/1962239171130466787?s=20

But we could play two of Quarshie, Wood and Harwood-Bellis (apparently 1.96m, 1.88m and 1.88m respectively) and be okay height-wise? I'd guess most fans would rather have an extra midfielder in the team, providing additional cover for the defence and/or more creativity going forward. I'd rather have Bragg looking to play through balls than any of the CBs, for example.

[S-Clarke]

35 minutes ago, Göztepe said:

Stephens and Edwards are too short for a 1.85m center back. Anyone under 1.88m is too short for a center back. 

https://x.com/SoletLang/status/1962239171130466787?s=20

Someone better tell Fabio Cannavaro, Thiago Silva, Baresi and Puyol then.

[danjosaint]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

Someone better tell Fabio Cannavaro, Thiago Silva, Baresi and Puyol then.

Nesta, Costacurta, Terry, Hierro and Kohler all no good as they were an inch off 

[Göztepe]

1 hour ago, S-Clarke said:

O zaman birisi bunu Fabio Cannavaro, Thiago Silva, Baresi ve Puyol'a söylese iyi olur.

These footballers are rare examples and from a bygone era. How many teams today play a 1.75m tall center-back and a 1.75m lone striker? A three-man defense is a formation that compensates for the shortness of defenders, while formations like 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-2 with a central midfield compensate for the shortness of midfielders. Teams playing with a two-man central midfield should use two number 8s, with an average height of 1.85m, to cover the area effectively. In a 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-2, it could be one tall number 6 and two shorter number 8s, or one short number 6 and two tall number 8s.

[John B]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Someone better tell Fabio Cannavaro, Thiago Silva, Baresi and Puyol then.

I realise that any on here never saw Bobby Moore our 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) play in the 1966 World Cup Final

[rooney]

2 hours ago, John B said:

I realise that any on here never saw Bobby Moore our 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) play in the 1966 World Cup Final

I saw him😊

[Turkish]

2 hours ago, Göztepe said:

These footballers are rare examples and from a bygone era. How many teams today play a 1.75m tall center-back and a 1.75m lone striker? A three-man defense is a formation that compensates for the shortness of defenders, while formations like 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-2 with a central midfield compensate for the shortness of midfielders. Teams playing with a two-man central midfield should use two number 8s, with an average height of 1.85m, to cover the area effectively. In a 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-2, it could be one tall number 6 and two shorter number 8s, or one short number 6 and two tall number 8s.

Thiago Silva, a bygone era? He was still playing in the Premier league just over a year ago 😂

[Holmes_and_Watson]

5 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

Someone better tell Fabio Cannavaro, Thiago Silva, Baresi and Puyol then.

 

3 hours ago, danjosaint said:

Nesta, Costacurta, Terry, Hierro and Kohler all no good as they were an inch off 

 

2 hours ago, John B said:

I realise that any on here never saw Bobby Moore our 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) play in the 1966 World Cup Final

None of them getting picked now. Must be their height. 🙂

[Ken Tone]

Are there any actual transfer rumours,  as opposed to fans' wish lists? 

[Tommy Mulgrew]

16 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Playing with a four-man defense is a mistake when the center-backs and full-backs are short. Fellows can carry the ball from defense to attack all by himself, playing the role of two players on the right side.

 

6 hours ago, Göztepe said:

Stephens and Edwards are too short for a 1.85m center back. Anyone under 1.88m is too short for a center back. Manning and Jelert are too short for a four-man full-back, especially since Jelert gets overwhelmed in a four-man defense.

https://x.com/SoletLang/status/1962239171130466787?s=20

 

4 hours ago, Göztepe said:

These footballers are rare examples and from a bygone era. How many teams today play a 1.75m tall center-back and a 1.75m lone striker? A three-man defense is a formation that compensates for the shortness of defenders, while formations like 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-2 with a central midfield compensate for the shortness of midfielders. Teams playing with a two-man central midfield should use two number 8s, with an average height of 1.85m, to cover the area effectively. In a 3-1-4-2 or 3-5-2, it could be one tall number 6 and two shorter number 8s, or one short number 6 and two tall number 8s.

Verrry Inteeerrresting!   But stupid (to rely only on a 3CB formation).

Now we know that Goztepe, the premier club in the SR franchise, dictates the way that the SR feeder clubs play and so support the premier club’s achievement of Champions League participation.  All hail Goztepe and SR.  So sorry that almost all the posters on here are apparently wrong.   ☹️

[SuperSAINT]

 

[Turkish]

3 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

A goalkeeper who saves shots!!

🧠 Summary of Daniel Peretz’s Strengths

Strength	Description
Shot-stopping reflexes	Quick reactions to close and long-range shots
Penalty prowess	Excellent at saving penalties and decisive moments
Aerial command	Confident in crosses and set-piece situations
Modern distribution	Good with feet, helps build from back
Composure and leadership	Calm under pressure, directs defence

[coalman]

6 minutes ago, Turkish said:

A goalkeeper who saves shots!!

🧠 Summary of Daniel Peretz’s Strengths

Strength	Description
Shot-stopping reflexes	Quick reactions to close and long-range shots
Penalty prowess	Excellent at saving penalties and decisive moments
Aerial command	Confident in crosses and set-piece situations
Modern distribution	Good with feet, helps build from back
Composure and leadership	Calm under pressure, directs defence

That's got the potential of there being a lot of noise before we fail to pay the asking price then sign George Long on a permanent and extend Baz / McCarthy.

[Turkish]

32 minutes ago, coalman said:

That's got the potential of there being a lot of noise before we fail to pay the asking price then sign George Long on a permanent and extend Baz / McCarthy.

Just been reading up on him. Hes only played 5 games in 2 years after moving to Germany from Israel. Appears to have a lot of potential but very much unproven. I suspect he might be coming in as back up or competition to Baz rather than immediate replace. 

[Pamplemousse]

Personally I'd prefer Patterson. Proven at this level, and whilst Spors's recruitment has been more hit than miss, the last thing we need is the GK equivalent of Damion Downs.

Edited 10 hours ago by Pamplemousse

[for_heaven's_Saint]

14 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Just been reading up on him. Hes only played 5 games in 2 years after moving to Germany from Israel. Appears to have a lot of potential but very much unproven. I suspect he might be coming in as back up or competition to Baz rather than immediate replace. 

Doesn't sound like he'd be too happy with that: 

 

"In an interview with Israeli television, Bayern Munich keeper Daniel Peretz has expressed the desire to terminate his loan deal with Hamburg early. Bayern loaned the Israeli international out to the newly promoted Bundesliga outfit on a season-long arrangement this past July. Peretz remains the Israeli national team No. 1, but has yet to log a single minute for loan club Hamburger SV. 

Peretz’s comments when speaking to Israeli channel Sport 5 are actually rather curious as it was clearly stated that Peretz was meant to compete with regular HSV starter Daniel Heuer Fernandes. Peretz delivered an especially poor training camp with HSV and, as a result, was not tapped to even earn a start in Hamburg’s opening round cup fixture. 

 

“It’s obvious that I’m disappointed that I’m not playing in Hamburg,” Peretz told the Israeli broadcaster. “I didn’t expect not to be playing. It was actually clear that I would be playing. But the things that are happening right now are no longer under my control. I am responsible for my own behavior and conduct. Maybe there will be a change in January, because I really want to play.”

[coalman]

16 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Just been reading up on him. Hes only played 5 games in 2 years after moving to Germany from Israel. Appears to have a lot of potential but very much unproven. I suspect he might be coming in as back up or competition to Baz rather than immediate replace. 

Another backup keeper that can't get in his loan side? Sign him up. That's a proper SR find.

[DT]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Just been reading up on him. Hes only played 5 games in 2 years after moving to Germany from Israel. Appears to have a lot of potential but very much unproven. I suspect he might be coming in as back up or competition to Baz rather than immediate replace. 

That would be classic Saints. ie completely incompetent.

[bugenhagen]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Just been reading up on him. Hes only played 5 games in 2 years after moving to Germany from Israel. Appears to have a lot of potential but very much unproven. I suspect he might be coming in as back up or competition to Baz rather than immediate replace. 

[Mboto Gorge]

2 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

Personally I'd prefer Patterson. Proven at this level, and whilst Spors's recruitment has been more hit than miss, the last thing we need is the GK equivalent of Damion Downs.

We’ve already got enough of those at the club 

[SaintsRoyalty]

2 hours ago, coalman said:

Another backup keeper that can't get in his loan side? Sign him up. That's a proper SR find.

Exactly this. Not many clubs buy back up keepers to be their number 1s. Hamburg have just got promoted and for him to not even be deemed good enough to play for them speaks volumes. Patterson is a better shout but still now a number 2.

We should be buying a number 1 from a decent club in Europe. Dutch keepers tend to be good and we can probably pay more than any of the number 1s are getting in the Dutch league.

When was the last time we bought a keeper that was a number 1 (outside Ramsdale that doesn’t count as he said as hardly here)? And no playing for Pompey in league 1 doesn’t count either. 

Edited 7 hours ago by SaintsRoyalty

[Mboto Gorge]

8 minutes ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Exactly this. Not many clubs buy back up keepers to be their number 1s. Hamburg have just got promoted and for him to not even be deemed good enough to play for them speaks volumes. Patterson is a better shout but still now a number 2.

We should be buying a number 1 from a decent club in Europe. Dutch keepers tend to be good and we can probably pay more than any of the number 1s are getting in the Dutch league.

When was the last time we bought a keeper that was a number 1 (outside Ramsdale that doesn’t count as he said as hardly here)? And no playing for Pompey in league 1 doesn’t count either. 

Not sure about number 1’s, but to be fair, our current goalkeepers can all be very comparable to a great big steaming number 2

Edited 7 hours ago by Mboto Gorge

[the saint in winchester]

As it stands, come the end of the season, Ramsdale will be back as our player. Unless he gets another offer then.

So I would have thought we would only be looking for a keeper on loan until that Ramsdale situation is resolved. 

Maybe we negotiate with Newcastle now to get him returned to us, tell Ramsdale there's good news in that he will be our #1, but bad news in that his wage is modest with us.

I can't see SR being able to fork out huge sums for any quality GK with Ramsdale out on loan, and I can't see any keeper coming in for 6 months.

Conclusion : we have to set our expectation that Bazunu and Macca will see the season out.

[qwertyell]

18 minutes ago, the saint in winchester said:

As it stands, come the end of the season, Ramsdale will be back as our player. Unless he gets another offer then.

So I would have thought we would only be looking for a keeper on loan until that Ramsdale situation is resolved. 

Maybe we negotiate with Newcastle now to get him returned to us, tell Ramsdale there's good news in that he will be our #1, but bad news in that his wage is modest with us.

I can't see SR being able to fork out huge sums for any quality GK with Ramsdale out on loan, and I can't see any keeper coming in for 6 months.

Conclusion : we have to set our expectation that Bazunu and Macca will see the season out.

It's a stupid situation. We can't "permanently" address the goalkeeping issue, seemingly, because our best keeper is out on loan as no-one wanted to buy him, and he doesn't want to play in the Championship. So we're just going to, seemingly, tread water until the end of the season, when he'll return as our best keeper - who'll immediately want to leave again because we're still going to be a Championship club. And if, again, no-one wants to buy him, he'll be loaned out again. And the cycle restarts. 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

4 hours ago, Pamplemousse said:

Personally I'd prefer Patterson. Proven at this level, and whilst Spors's recruitment has been more hit than miss, the last thing we need is the GK equivalent of Damion Downs.

I think you've solved it. Baz has looked much better up front than Downs. Downs is tall enough to have more easily tipped that Birmingham effort over the bar. 🙂

[SuperSAINT]

 

[Holmes_and_Watson]

Meet Daniel Peretz

https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/meet-daniel-peretz-the-bayern-munich-goalkeeper-and-half-of-israels-posh-and-becks-super-couple-ljfookzq

[SaintNewForest]

Probably mcCarthy or Long replacement more than a Bazunu replacement, knowing SR.

[The Wyvern]

11 minutes ago, SuperSAINT said:

 

Really hard to know what sort of quality to expect looking at his career history, but it won’t take much to be better than our current incumbents, so this is a positive move. 

[The Wyvern]

1 minute ago, SaintNewForest said:

Probably mcCarthy or Long replacement more than a Bazunu replacement, knowing SR.

Why would he come to us if not to play? He can sit on the bench in Germany.

[Badger]

6 hours ago, Turkish said:

Just been reading up on him. Hes only played 5 games in 2 years after moving to Germany from Israel. Appears to have a lot of potential but very much unproven. I suspect he might be coming in as back up or competition to Baz rather than immediate replace. 

Very Sports Republic.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

With his 5 games in 2 years and not starting for his loan club, we've now got real competition for man of the match Baz. Exciting early window business.

[AlexLaw76]

I doubt we will be getting a keeper with Ramsdale still on the books…. Apparently 

[HarvSFC]

It's an interesting one. The lack of game time obviously a red flag. But, if Hamburg have a secure number one then it's hard for a goalkeeper to work their way in, as Ramsdale is discovering at Newcastle. 

His previous performances also attracted Bayern Munich to him, obviously as the backup to Neuer, but he has shown he has something about him to make an elite club sign him. Our signings of the elite clubs squad players has served us well previously, before we went hunting in their youth teams.

Just have to hope the club's knowledge of German football is bringing in another Scienza/Jander, rather than a Downs. And if the club have identified someone worse than Bazunu and McCarthy, like Long, then that will be impressive in itself. 

 

[Appy]

https://www.bundesliga.com/en/bundesliga/news/who-is-daniel-peretz-bayern-munich-israel-goalkeeper-hamburg-24423

 

This says he plays “a bit like” Iker Casillas. 
 

Reckon “a bit” is doing some heavy lifting. 

[Gloucester Saint]

My expectations are rock bottom but the fact that at least Eckert and Spors can see how appalling Bazunu and McCarthy are that Hamburg’s reserve can replace them is something at least. Four keepers now, unless Long can be returned to Norwich or Bazunu gets loaned out again….nah, that can’t happen can it?

[Ted Bates Statue]

On 30/12/2025 at 18:04, Ken Tone said:

Are there any actual transfer rumours,  as opposed to fans' wish lists? 

No, but if we had the foresight to clone Jose Fonte around the time he joined us, his mini-me would be on the verge of breaking through to the first team right about now. 

[Harry_SFC]

4 hours ago, SaintsRoyalty said:

Exactly this. Not many clubs buy back up keepers to be their number 1s. Hamburg have just got promoted and for him to not even be deemed good enough to play for them speaks volumes. Patterson is a better shout but still now a number 2.

We should be buying a number 1 from a decent club in Europe. Dutch keepers tend to be good and we can probably pay more than any of the number 1s are getting in the Dutch league.

When was the last time we bought a keeper that was a number 1 (outside Ramsdale that doesn’t count as he said as hardly here)? And no playing for Pompey in league 1 doesn’t count either. 

Tbh we were never going to buy a new keeper in January with the Ramsdale situation up in the air. 

Loan this guy until the end of the season. If he plays well we may be able to sign him permanently. 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

Tbh we were never going to buy a new keeper in January with the Ramsdale situation up in the air. 

Loan this guy until the end of the season. If he plays well we may be able to sign him permanently. 

 

Tend to agree, nothing to lose in terms of league position. If he looks like he won’t adapt quickly then McCarthy it is Fratton.

[West Dean FC Legend]

Our goalkeeping judgement seems failry poor at the moment, so a chap who has only wedged his way into 5 games since being at his current club doesn't fill me with confidence, I mean Downs was supposedly a player to watch and look forward to......

I have no belief or trust with Sport Republic's Southampton FC at the moment.

They are the only ones who can change that....

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Tend to agree, nothing to lose in terms of league position. If he looks like he won’t adapt quickly then McCarthy it is Fratton.

Yep and despite not knowing anything about him what so ever I'm sure he can't possibly be worse than Bazunu has been this season. 

He can't be too bad if Bayern signed him, I know he was only ever back up but they obviously saw something in him. 

At least it seems like the club have addressed the issue, temporarily at least. Now go and get a striker. 

[coalman]

1 hour ago, SuperSAINT said:

He's got all the ingredients of a classic Sport Republic signing. Hasn't been able to get in any team recently. Possible attitude problems and a loan player we can bench for the season after social media fanfare in the grand tradition of Gronbaek. And, while we're all hoping he's the real deal let's not forget we brought in George Long as 3rd keeper. Someone who at no point in their career who would be able to pressure Baz or McCarthy for the starting spot.