January Transfer Window

[revolution saint]

Didn't someone (Alfie House?) say that we'd only contemplate getting Downs out the door if we had a replacement lined up?  If that's the case then hopefully we'll start hearing about a new striker soon.

[Daft Kerplunk]

Just now, revolution saint said:

Didn't someone (Alfie House?) say that we'd only contemplate getting Downs out the door if we had a replacement lined up?  If that's the case then hopefully we'll start hearing about a new striker soon.

There's air at the training ground and on matchdays so that's an ample replacement for what we'd be missing

[Saints4Prem]

25 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Guys its world cup in the summer its time to start looking at who isnt playing but needs to for then.

I expect a couple of good loans maybe above the quality we have, hopefully striker is 1.

 😇😀 Well, that will not catch on it is too sensible!! We haven't needed a new striker for 3 years of course. It looks to me that the priority at the moment is to bring in another poor sucker, oops meant goalkeeper to be the fall guy behind our crap defence. As for the so-called defence I am not sure Donnarumma would do much better as we tippy tappy our way mid table mediocrity. The owners do not seem to have the same priorities as most of the sensible fans on here and having been attending games for 65 years, only loyalty and hope (misguided at present) will keep me renewing my season ticket. As fans we deserve better and while on my rant it seems like player power has taken over. The players liked RM as he was all lovey dovey with them and they could play the tippy tappy stuff. I appreciate it may work with good players but ours are not Man City quality. I despair that RM was allowed to play the same way to relegation disaster after SR must have seen how it had not worked for Burnley the season before. When Will Still came in at the beginning of the season it was obvious that the players did not to change to his system and they got him out. Eckhart comes in, the players start trying and going forward. (the cheer around the ground at the first goalkick that went long showed what the fans think). Well that lasted until SR gave Eckhart the permanent job (I wonder if they had wished they waited until the New Year) then back to tippy tappy and trying, but mainly failing, to play out from the back. We need a strong manager in charge as I believe there is quality in the squad so come on Sports Republic sort out the mediocracy please.

[tdmickey3]

1 minute ago, Saints4Prem said:

 😇😀 Well, that will not catch on it is too sensible!! We haven't needed a new striker for 3 years of course. It looks to me that the priority at the moment is to bring in another poor sucker, oops meant goalkeeper to be the fall guy behind our crap defence. As for the so-called defence I am not sure Donnarumma would do much better as we tippy tappy our way mid table mediocrity. The owners do not seem to have the same priorities as most of the sensible fans on here and having been attending games for 65 years, only loyalty and hope (misguided at present) will keep me renewing my season ticket. As fans we deserve better and while on my rant it seems like player power has taken over. The players liked RM as he was all lovey dovey with them and they could play the tippy tappy stuff. I appreciate it may work with good players but ours are not Man City quality. I despair that RM was allowed to play the same way to relegation disaster after SR must have seen how it had not worked for Burnley the season before. When Will Still came in at the beginning of the season it was obvious that the players did not to change to his system and they got him out. Eckhart comes in, the players start trying and going forward. (the cheer around the ground at the first goalkick that went long showed what the fans think). Well that lasted until SR gave Eckhart the permanent job (I wonder if they had wished they waited until the New Year) then back to tippy tappy and trying, but mainly failing, to play out from the back. We need a strong manager in charge as I believe there is quality in the squad so come on Sports Republic sort out the mediocracy please.

Gibson will be our saviour.   😉

[Saint NL]

Free agent on a pay as you play deal?

[Ted Bates Statue]

Callum Wilson has just been released by West Ham. He probably CDAJFU but we won't be able to afford his wages.

Analysis of West Ham's recruitment of strikers in the Sullivan/Gold era:

 

[Sheaf Saint]

38 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

Didn't someone (Alfie House?) say that we'd only contemplate getting Downs out the door if we had a replacement lined up?  If that's the case then hopefully we'll start hearing about a new striker soon.

We have got a replacement. Stewart has returned from injury. 

That counts, right?

[tdmickey3]

17 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Free agent on a pay as you play deal?

When he is fit, he is good but he is injured nearly as much as Stewart

[saintant]

20 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

Free agent on a pay as you play deal?

Too old and too short for us.

[revolution saint]

1 minute ago, Sheaf Saint said:

We have got a replacement. Stewart has returned from injury. 

That counts, right?

Wouldn't have thought so given we signed Downs when Stewart was fit.

I do know what you're getting at though.

[VectisSaint]

2 hours ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

Callum Wilson has just been released by West Ham. He probably CDAJFU but we won't be able to afford his wages

 

 

He isn't on any wages if he's been released. He would have to take what he can get. Don't have a problem with Wilson but he's not what we need, and presumably he's been released because he's been shit.

[Osvaldorama]

2 hours ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

Callum Wilson has just been released by West Ham. He probably CDAJFU but we won't be able to afford his wages.

Analysis of West Ham's recruitment of strikers in the Sullivan/Gold era:

 

Still miles better than sport republic’s record 

[Matthew Le God]

Could potentially make a profit on him...

 

 

[Saint NL]

In theory the Downs deal sounds good. But no doubt Hamburg won't take up the option and he'll come back and be demotivated and sit here for a few years earning a nice salary.

Let's all hope the loan is a success

[davefizzy14]

Hopefully the loan for Downs goes well.

[Whitey Grandad]

8 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

In theory the Downs deal sounds good. But no doubt Hamburg won't take up the option and he'll come back and be demotivated and sit here for a few years earning a nice salary.

Let's all hope the loan is a success

 

2 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Hopefully the loan for Downs goes well.

Indeed so. It hasn't worked out here for him but we gave it a go. 

[Patrick Bateman]

Callum Wilson is still better than what we have up front (bar Armstong on a good day). Contract until the end of the season to replace his West Ham one (so if he's paid off in full by West Ham, he shouldn't want stupid wages anyway).

I'd be on board with that.

[ErwinK1961]

So our academy director might be leaving to go to Leicester.

[goodymatt]

2 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

So our academy director might be leaving to go to Leicester.

Looks like he’s in talks and is the preferred candidate. No smoke without fire so very likely he goes. Would be a promotion for him as he’d be their Spors. Big shame as his work with the academy has been impressive.

[Gloucester Saint]

34 minutes ago, Matthew Le God said:

Could potentially make a profit on him...

 

 

🤞 but he will need to score some goals and show more (or even some) enthusiasm and work rate. Let’s hope for all parties that he does so. Surely he cannot be as bad a player as we witnessed?

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, ErwinK1961 said:

So our academy director might be leaving to go to Leicester.

His type is clearly distressed mid-size clubs but good luck to him and a promotion in role.

[CSA96]

4 hours ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

Callum Wilson has just been released by West Ham. He probably CDAJFU but we won't be able to afford his wages.

Analysis of West Ham's recruitment of strikers in the Sullivan/Gold era:

 

I know our recruitment has had more than its share of shit in recent years, but just take a moment to read that full list... that is fucking honking 

[Gloucester Saint]

Only arguably Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen were sustained successes from that huge list.

[stknowle]

9 hours ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

It’s interesting that Downs is still obviously thought highly off in Germany. I just wonder if the blame lies with our coaches/tactics/managers all of which have combined to make him look like a fish out of water (which he has). Something is not adding up

He MUST have something about him to have played at a decent level in Germany and then be wanted by a Bundesliga team,but, whatever it is and for whatever reason we ain’t seen it. I will also add that he looked utterly shit in his YouTube highlights reel so whatever it is he has about him wasn’t on there either.

[West Dean FC Legend]

Has anyone read the article by Alfie House that was referenced on the UI? I only went on that place because a link on Facebook took me there. Anyway it appears he seemed to hint at certain players being in a group who liked Russ Ball, the training methods and they have influenced everything, and like taking things nice and easy. Apparently the 'article' has been taken down now.

But how many people on here and other forums have been saying this....

[Baird of the land]

2 hours ago, Matthew Le God said:

Could potentially make a profit on him...

 

 

In a make believe world where they exercise the option

It says something about our recruitment team that we’re getting rid of our big summer striker signing, one window on.

[Miltonaggro]

1 hour ago, stknowle said:

He MUST have something about him to have played at a decent level in Germany and then be wanted by a Bundesliga team,but, whatever it is and for whatever reason we ain’t seen it. I will also add that he looked utterly shit in his YouTube highlights reel so whatever it is he has about him wasn’t on there either.

He’s clearly missed the regular weiner schneitzel, which has put him off his stroke! 

[Starksj1995]

7 hours ago, revolution saint said:

Didn't someone (Alfie House?) say that we'd only contemplate getting Downs out the door if we had a replacement lined up?  If that's the case then hopefully we'll start hearing about a new striker soon.

Yh athletics says saints would only let Damion Downs go if we had a replacement

[JxgrSaint2]

1 hour ago, Starksj1995 said:

Yh athletics says saints would only let Damion Downs go if we had a replacement

I’m available and definitely cheaper and I also won’t score goals or look like I know how to play football - sign me up Saints!

[Saints4Prem]

21 minutes ago, JxgrSaint2 said:

I’m available and definitely cheaper and I also won’t score goals or look like I know how to play football - sign me up Saints!

But are you injury prone ?? 😀😇

[Holmes_and_Watson]

10 hours ago, revolution saint said:

Didn't someone (Alfie House?) say that we'd only contemplate getting Downs out the door if we had a replacement lined up?  If that's the case then hopefully we'll start hearing about a new striker soon.

It's a direct replacement. Our new striker is a cardboard cutout of Downs, who is expected to grab a few more goals.

[coalman]

6 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

It's a direct replacement. Our new striker is a cardboard cutout of Downs, who is expected to grab a few more goals.

It's gone straight into the US squad for this summer's world cup.

[Rebel]

14 hours ago, West Dean FC Legend said:

Has anyone read the article by Alfie House that was referenced on the UI? I only went on that place because a link on Facebook took me there. Anyway it appears he seemed to hint at certain players being in a group who liked Russ Ball, the training methods and they have influenced everything, and like taking things nice and easy. Apparently the 'article' has been taken down now.

But how many people on here and other forums have been saying this....

It was a tweet not an article - and then a series of replies to his tweet.  The original tweet basically said he'd get rid of most of the players and rebuild the team around Jander, Scienza, Azaz, Fellow and Robinson I think.  And then in the replies it was suggested THB, Stephens, Armstrong, Manning and Downes were a clique causing problems.  More by other people than Alfie House but their omission from his list of players he'd keep said a lot. There a piece on the Ugly about it.

Edited 12 hours ago by Rebel

[Rebel]

here's the tweet from Alfie:

"In an ideal summer 2026, I'd enthusiastically keep Charles, Jander, Fellows, Azaz, Scienza, Robinson and Armstrong. I'd hang on to Quarshie, Edwards and Wood. Roerslev if fit. I think I'd replace everyone else. Complete culture reset. Probably impossible though."

[macca155]

Downs being sent on loan, is just SR trying to avoid issues with an increasingly hostile fan base. He was finished here anyway. I bet he doesn't play much and they'll send him on another loan in the summer.

Flim flam pieces starting to appear in social media, from players, about needing to stick together. That's PR trying to negate Alfie's tweet.

They'll be more, but moving players on from decent salaries isn't easy.

They'll only see the negativity from fans drop a bit, if they make key signings in crucial positions, and change the ridiculous system. 

Watching with breath not baited

 

[Fabrice29]

40 minutes ago, Rebel said:

It was a tweet not an article - and then a series of replies to his tweet.  The original tweet basically said he'd get rid of most of the players and rebuild the team around Jander, Scienza, Azaz, Fellow and Robinson I think.  And then in the replies it was suggested THB, Stephens, Armstrong, Manning and Downes were a clique causing problems.  More by other people than Alfie House but their omission from his list of players he'd keep said a lot. There a piece on the Ugly about it.

As far as I can see there’s no suggestion of a clique in his replies from House. He even says in his replies he likes Manning. The clique stuff is nonsense.

Edited 12 hours ago by Fabrice29

[Fitzhugh Fella]

1 minute ago, Fabrice29 said:

As far as I can see there’s no suggestion of a clique in his replies from House. He even says in his replies he likes Manning but just thinks he’s been here too long. The clique stuff is nonsense.

100% correct, by coincidence I was meeting AH yesterday afternoon on an unrelated matter and the clique thing is not an issue as far as he is concerned.

[OldNick]

20 hours ago, Ted Bates Statue said:

Callum Wilson has just been released by West Ham. He probably CDAJFU but we won't be able to afford his wages.

Analysis of West Ham's recruitment of strikers in the Sullivan/Gold era:

 

Ironic that one of the latest ones was offside and so cancelled WHU 2nd goal last night

[OldNick]

I saw on X the other day a decent shout IMO about getting Lascelles from the Magpies on loan. He has steel and a decent defender IMo

[Wade Garrett]

23 minutes ago, Fitzhugh Fella said:

100% correct, by coincidence I was meeting AH yesterday afternoon on an unrelated matter and the clique thing is not an issue as far as he is concerned.

That’s good to hear but doesn’t change the fact that what I’ve seen on the pitch is any different.

Looks like a good few of them are going though the motions and not breaking a sweat.

[saintant]

2 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

That’s good to hear but doesn’t change the fact that what I’ve seen on the pitch is any different.

Looks like a good few of them are going though the motions and not breaking a sweat.

Agree, I prefer to judge what I see with my own eyes which is a disjointed, disinterested bunch of players too willing to coast through training and matches because they are lazy shits who prefer an easy life. There's no sign of pride or passion when this lot take the field - they're all meek and mild with no backbone and crumble at the first sign of adversity. It's been like this for too long and I suspect there is a clique of players mainly from the Russball days who are unsettling the group rather than knuckling down and leading by example. Just my general observations and could be way off the mark but it's the sense I get. Whatever the problem there is certainly something far from right with this group of players - maybe it's just that they are shit.

[Rebel]

I not sure clique is the right word - but I do think there is something wrong with the player culture at St Mary's.  We seem to have developed a loser culture and that needs to be changed.

By coincidence I would have happily seen Stephens, Manning, Archer, Downes, Stewart, Armstrong, Fraser  and THB moved on last summer and replaced by more physical and hungrier players.

I think the individual players needed a reset somewhere else as much as the club did. 

The team needed a complete revamp or rebuild - whatever you want to call it.

 

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Fabrice29 said:

As far as I can see there’s no suggestion of a clique in his replies from House. He even says in his replies he likes Manning. The clique stuff is nonsense.

Apart from the use of the word 'clique' in one of his tweets...? 

 

 

And he clearly highlights Manning as being part of that clique 'culture'...

 

Edited 10 hours ago by trousers

[Fabrice29]

42 minutes ago, trousers said:

Apart from the use of the word 'clique' in one of his tweets...? 

 

 

And he clearly highlights Manning as being part of that clique 'culture'...

 

Yup, didn’t see that first tweet. Good find. 

[Dman]

2 hours ago, OldNick said:

I saw on X the other day a decent shout IMO about getting Lascelles from the Magpies on loan. He has steel and a decent defender IMo

would be a great addition imo. A real leader as well. He and THB would be a fantastic partnership at this level. 

[Saint86]

19 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

Only arguably Michail Antonio and Jarrod Bowen were sustained successes from that huge list.

Its not a complete list in fairness to the spammers. Don't get me wrong, they've had a terrible record in recent years especially (the likes of Scamacca and Haller), but for example, that list is missing out on Payet, who scored 15goals for them (12 in 42 in the prem) from the wings/attacking midfield and was being talked up as player of the season (at one point) the year we finished 6th under Koeman (we somewhat stole west ham's thunder if i recall correctly). A lot of (understandable) negativity at west ham at the moment. I watched the Forest game last night and it reminded me very much of watching Saints - they were terrible at times, and even when they were winning you just knew something cruel would happen to give forest the win in the end. They are in deep deep trouble - and that stadium has the potential to be a millstone around the team's necks for many a year, they badly need a stadium move.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Apart from the use of the word 'clique' in one of his tweets...? 

 

 

And he clearly highlights Manning as being part of that clique 'culture'...

 

Pretty much agree with alfie tbh.

[Baz Fl]

Downs was a part of a long list of failed strikers and until our transfer list of #9’s isn’t compiled by Baldrick and Stevie Wonder it won’t get better 

[DT]

Damian Downs was one of the worst players I've ever seen in a Saints shirt. But worse than that, he put zero effort in. Waste of skin.

Hamburg must be blind.

[Forester]

Given the increasingly likely scenario that we will be in championship next season, but with reduced parachute payments, and also that the Downs loan is with an option, not obligation, to buy, I would be surprised if we don’t get a loan deal striker in.  
 

Club will want to be confident they are getting money back on Downs before paying a big sum I suspect, unless there are other sales being lined up that can generate good sums (which neither Aribo or Edozie I believe would).