January Transfer Window

[hypochondriac]

15 minutes ago, egg said:

Yep, that's massive. 

We have AA mourners who have been calling for a clear out of the players who've been here before and been part of the failure. I'm not sure how you can want a clean sweep of those players, want a big man up front, and be devastated that AA is leaving. 

 

Who is that then? 

[notnowcato]

47 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

Also worth remembering that this big striker should be the Damion Downs replacement.

You know the player who we let go on January 6th, more than three weeks ago.

Despite what the swooning saps might say, there's been no specific reason to wait until deadline day to sign a big striker because there's been a gap in the squad for weeks.

 

And as above - if it's so difficult to sign a striker in January why have we made it so piss easy for Wolves to do just that?

 

A gap in the squad 🤪

That gap has been there since Pelle left. 
You need to chill your beans. 

[Mboto Gorge]

21 minutes ago, egg said:

Yep, that's massive. 

We have AA mourners who have been calling for a clear out of the players who've been here before and been part of the failure. I'm not sure how you can want a clean sweep of those players, want a big man up front, and be devastated that AA is leaving. 

 

Who’s devastated that he’s leaving? Stop trying to re write the actual situation. The issue is who he’s being replaced by, and the fact that we are clearly short up front IF it’s just Larin and Stewart up front. But by all means spin it to your own narrative to back up how naive you’re being

[Mboto Gorge]

7 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

Who is that then? 

I wouldn’t bother. The guy is clueless

[pingpong]

Seems like good moves to me, get rid of some mediocre players, bring one mediocre player in, technically makes us less mediocre.

Give the new guy a chance, and if he's rubbish, and Wrexham go up we can dream of getting Moore in for next season.

 

[Mboto Gorge]

33 minutes ago, egg said:

I'm not sure you get the point that he wants to play 4231 with a big man up front, and the wide men plus Azaz in behind. AA is not that big man. I think it's nuts to sell AA, but I get why they'd cash in and bring in a Stewart alternative to bully CB's and hold the ball up - AA is not that player.

You can't moan about AA going without recognising how he won't fit into how we want to play - the Stoke game made the point loud and clear. 

So you think it’s nuts to sell AA at this time, as do I, without a decent replacement anyway, but you’re disagreeing with me because of it aswell. Ok mate, crack on. Bizarre. 

[Saint86]

No thread on Larin yet - which says it all. Archer and AA out, and this joke in as the only replacement, SR really are fishing for flack form the fans.

Shocking bit of business.

Edited 3 hours ago by Saint86

[BARCELONASAINT]

woke up this morning thinking "fuck me that was one horrible nightmare" and then i realised it had not been a horrible dream!

[Mboto Gorge]

2 minutes ago, Saint86 said:

No thread on Larin yet - which says it all. Archer and AA out, and this joke in as the only replacement, SR really are fishing for flack form the fans.

Shocking bit of business.

Clearly thinking that after 7 points from 9, the fans will be softened up enough for them Getting away with this. There’s a pattern often with the shit they pull. They know we are now safe from relegation so time to cash in 

[egg]

27 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Who’s devastated that he’s leaving? Stop trying to re write the actual situation. The issue is who he’s being replaced by, and the fact that we are clearly short up front IF it’s just Larin and Stewart up front. But by all means spin it to your own narrative to back up how naive you’re being

We're "short" in the physical sense up front if we play AA. The starting point is whether AA should be our man up top. We all seem to agree it shouldn't be, and that it should be a big man. Yes? AA doesn't suddenly become that big man if he stays. What's needed is someone else to do the Stewart job - bullying, holding up, etc - if there's no Stewart. 

Your focus is a naive focus on AA or a replacement for him, not Stewart cover.  We're playing a new way and need to be able to continue that when Stewart comes off/is crocked. AA coming in to replace Stewart changes how we play. Another big man doesn't. 

It's not difficult, if you stop flapping and think about what they're trying to do. 

Edited 3 hours ago by egg

[Chez]

I'm always happy to give players I've never seen a chance, but my mate who lives in Mallorca and watches them from time to time just texted me: "Larin. He is a donkey. Even Mallorca realise that and have been desperately loaning him out to anyone who'll take him." 

 

[Baird of the land]

If armstrong goes does that mean edozie gets rehabilitated as we'd rather short of wide players beyond the starters.

[egg]

10 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

If armstrong goes does that mean edozie gets rehabilitated as we'd rather short of wide players beyond the starters.

I think he's the wing option in place of AA. 

[manji]

11 hours ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Sad to see so little entusiasm on here for Larin's arrival. I mean, the guy hasn't set foot in the place yet let alone kicked a football. Judgement without a trial.

Come on lads give him a chance. Arthur Scargill would have been an upgrade on our current crop of strikers.

People just gotta moan. Sadio Mane "crazy money on unknown from some place in Africa” booing him first couple of games. Mick Channon getting vicious abuse in a Man City shirt. Benali booed everytime his name was mentioned in team line up. Different decades but just easier now under the anonymity of social media. 

[coalman]

Just now, egg said:

I think he's the wing option in place of AA. 

I'd rather have Edozie on the wing than AA. AA doesn't win balls, doesn't beat his man and the team's pattern of play suffers when he is in the team. You want your wingers to stretch play. Yes Armstrong has 11 goals but, other than Charlton, he hasn't dictated play once this season (and then only for a half because they stood off him).

Whereas Edozie is tricky enough that the other team might put two people on him as they know he is likely to have the first defender on toast. Same with Fellows and Scienza. Both of them stretch play and make space for others to play in. 

Armstrong will be around in the box for when the ball drops but he's dependent on other people getting the ball there for him to have a lash at it.

[Give it to Ron]

13 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

If armstrong goes does that mean edozie gets rehabilitated as we'd rather short of wide players beyond the starters.

That’s what seems to be the case 

🚨 There is nothing currently in the offing for Sam Edozie on deadline day, & should he stay at Southampton beyond this evening, he could be reintegrated into first-team plans #saintsfc @AlfieHouseEcho

[Lee On Solent Saint]

1 minute ago, Give it to Ron said:

That’s what seems to be the case 

🚨 There is nothing currently in the offing for Sam Edozie on deadline day, & should he stay at Southampton beyond this evening, he could be reintegrated into first-team plans #saintsfc @AlfieHouseEcho

It's going to take him the rest of the season to get match fit!

[Give it to Ron]

Just now, Lee On Solent Saint said:

It's going to take him the rest of the season to get match fit!

I think 20 minutes on for Leo would be good for a while as when he goes we don’t have that pace and get us up the pitch enough 

[pimpin4rizeal]

24 minutes ago, egg said:

We're "short" in the physical sense up front if we okay AA. The starting point is whether AA should be our man up top. We all seem to agree it shouldn't be, and that it should be a big man. Yes? AA doesn't suddenly become that big man if he stays. What's needed is someone else to do the Stewart job - bullying, holding up, etc - if there's no Stewart. 

Your focus is a naive focus on AA or a replacement for him, not Stewart cover.  We're playing a new way and need to be able to continue that when Stewart comes off/is crocked. AA coming in the replace Stewart changes how we play. Another big man doesn't. 

It's not difficult if you stop flapping and think about what they're trying to do. 

We have only been playing this formation for 3 games even though most fans wanted it. Plus it absolutely does not have to be a big striker up front for it to work Azaz game is built on playing through balls into pacy players to run onto  which is exactly what Arma does, also he gives a alternative option to fellows if you want a more direct goal threat from wide right .

What makes this even more shocking it’s now down to 7-9 million for Arma this is actually disgusting for a player that’s contributed so many goals and assists for us in the championship it’s not wolves that are being stupid here they are gonna have a 20 goal plus championship striker for next season 

as for Larin he looks absolutely shit even Canada fans think he’s washed and he wasn’t good in the first place . This is probably one of the most angry I’ve felt about our transfer business in a long time absolutely pointless to take 7 million for Arma and replace him with shit 

Edited 2 hours ago by pimpin4rizeal

[Daft Kerplunk]

10 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

Anyone know what happened to the famous black box? Did we sell that off too?

The black box was a glorified excel spreadsheet, and relied on the data input of Paul Mitchell.  There was a little bit of time after he left where the data set was decent but without that input, it went kaput.  

[Lee On Solent Saint]

2 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

I think 20 minutes on for Leo would be good for a while as when he goes we don’t have that pace and get us up the pitch enough 

Just another odd one where we've had a player and not used him all season. He's not a world beater, but am sure would have done a job when called upon.

[UpweySaint]

26 minutes ago, Mboto Gorge said:

Clearly thinking that after 7 points from 9, the fans will be softened up enough for them Getting away with this. There’s a pattern often with the shit they pull. They know we are now safe from relegation so time to cash in 

What do you think there motivation is? Do you think they’re incompetent or trying to make money via a fire sale? Or something else?

[Give it to Ron]

5 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

What do you think there motivation is? Do you think they’re incompetent or trying to make money via a fire sale? Or something else?

Incompetent they just seem to have a mental block when it comes to forwards

Edited 2 hours ago by Give it to Ron

[Wade Garrett]

14 minutes ago, manji said:

People just gotta moan. Sadio Mane "crazy money on unknown from some place in Africa” booing him first couple of games. Mick Channon getting vicious abuse in a Man City shirt. Benali booed everytime his name was mentioned in team line up. Different decades but just easier now under the anonymity of social media. 

Best time ever to be a Saints fan 😂.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, UpweySaint said:

What do you think there motivation is? Do you think they’re incompetent or trying to make money via a fire sale? Or something else?

If I'm honest I think we massively fucked up by bringing in Downs in the summer and given we haven't resold him we don't have the resources available to bring in another striker that suits our profile so we have to go for a loan. Both Armstrong and Archer want out because the club has been toxic for ages and it can't be a very nice place to play.The major issue was Downs imo this is just the fallout from that.

[Pilchards]

4 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

If I'm honest I think we massively fucked up by bringing in Downs in the summer and given we haven't resold him we don't have the resources available to bring in another striker that suits our profile so we have to go for a loan. Both Armstrong and Archer want out because the club has been toxic for ages and it can't be a very nice place to play.The major issue was Downs imo this is just the fallout from that.

Yes it has been toxic and those leaving have been the main contributors.

Fraser, Archer, Armstrong & Aribo to name a few.

Believe it or not I found out that Flynn Downes is not one, he’s actually been good in the camp.

[DellBlockH]

This is what I don't  understand (among many things I don't understand). SR presumably want a successful football club either for its own sake or because it's worth more the more successful it is. If they want to sell, they will want the highest possible return and this will depend largely on which league the club is in and the assets it has in terms of playing staff. Other assets, like the ground and training ground, won't vary in value according to league. If they want to hang on to the club it (and they) will make more money if it's back in the EPL.

So I'm not clear why people seem to think that SR are deliberately sabotaging the club or making wilfully wrong decisions. Yes, you or I may think they are wrong decisions but they must have a reason for making them. They've brought in good players and a few poor ones. I think we can see this happens to most clubs. Some things work, some don't (except West Ham who only seem to bring in poor players). 

I know nothing about this Larin bloke. The consensus on here is that he is not going to improve our team. The consensus could be right. But why would SR and our scouts want to bring in someone who will make us worse?  

Does AA want out or do the management team feel, on balance, that the team will survive (or the team mentality will improve) without him? Is it just chasing a few million quid while we have the chance? (Isn't it easy to discard a few million when it's not your money?)

I see the argument that SR has a purely player-trading model. But, to keep that going, you need to develop young players to sell on. Larin doesn’t fit that model and I'm not sure our transfer trading balance shows that is happening anyway.

[egg]

20 minutes ago, pimpin4rizeal said:

We have only been playing this formation for 3 games even though most fans wanted it. Plus it absolutely does not have to be a big striker up front for it to work Azaz game is built on playing through balls into pacy players to run onto  which is exactly what Arma does, also he gives a alternative option to fellows if you want a more direct goal threat from wide right .

What makes this even more shocking it’s now down to 7-9 million for Arma this is actually disgusting for a player that’s contributed so many goals and assists for us in the championship it’s not wolves that are being stupid here they are gonna have a 20 goal plus championship striker for next season 

as for Larin he looks absolutely shit even Canada fans think he’s washed and he wasn’t good in the first place . This is probably one of the most angry I’ve felt about our transfer business in a long time absolutely pointless to take 7 million for Arma and replace him with shit 

I think the plan was always to play this way, but DD was so dire, and Stewart crocked, so we couldn't. 

Playing AA up top and trying to play as if he were a big man has been tried countless times this season, and failed. Understandably so. 

Playing with a little man up top, coming short for the ball, laying it off, running channels, etc, is a million miles away from playing a big man who can hold it up, and give an outlet 

The simple point is that if we're playing 4231 with a big man up top, AA just doesn't fit. Who the alternative to Stewart should be is a separate issue - people are conflating those 2 points. 

[Mattio]

If the £7m rumour is true for AA it's pure insanity bearing in mind that's what we paid for Downs.

[Daft Kerplunk]

19 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

Incompetent they just seem to have a mental block when it comes to forwards

It's because a forward loses posession when he shoots.  Devastating for stats.  Best to not sign them at all.  

[benali-shorts]

Archer, Aribo, Armstrong, Bazunu, Downs, Edwards, Fraser. Is he working through the squad departures alphabetically this window? It's as good a system as any when they're all really expendable, I suppose. Must save £5m in wages over 6 months, I wonder what sort of a cut of that saving Johannes gets.

I fully expect the Canadian to be rubbish, but at least it should mean we play 2 wingers and Azaz at AM. Small mercies. 

[Mboto Gorge]

50 minutes ago, egg said:

We're "short" in the physical sense up front if we play AA. The starting point is whether AA should be our man up top. We all seem to agree it shouldn't be, and that it should be a big man. Yes? AA doesn't suddenly become that big man if he stays. What's needed is someone else to do the Stewart job - bullying, holding up, etc - if there's no Stewart. 

Your focus is a naive focus on AA or a replacement for him, not Stewart cover.  We're playing a new way and need to be able to continue that when Stewart comes off/is crocked. AA coming in to replace Stewart changes how we play. Another big man doesn't. 

It's not difficult, if you stop flapping and think about what they're trying to do. 

So now I’m “flapping” because we are replacing a goalscorer at this level with someone who doesn’t score any goals and who is widely regarded by fans of his formers sides as a total donkey? 
“Think about what they’re trying to do?” 🤣🤣🤣🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ - have you actually watched the last 4 years of “what they’re trying to do” at all?  Why should we have any faith in anything these charlatans are trying to do when all the evidence points towards this being a shocking piece of business from owners who have already overseen a huge decline at this club since they’ve taken charge? I’m all ears 

[coalman]

9 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Yes it has been toxic and those leaving have been the main contributors.

Fraser, Archer, Armstrong & Aribo to name a few.

Believe it or not I found out that Flynn Downes is not one, he’s actually been good in the camp.

Interesting to know.

If that's the case then getting £7m is a good bit of business to remove him from the squad dynamic. If he's been harmful to the team culture I'd rather not have him there at all even if it means we're light on strikers.

[Baird of the land]

34 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

It's going to take him the rest of the season to get match fit!

Surely a professional outfit like Saints would have had him getting minutes in the u23, ohh wait

[hypochondriac]

18 minutes ago, Pilchards said:

Yes it has been toxic and those leaving have been the main contributors.

Fraser, Archer, Armstrong & Aribo to name a few.

Believe it or not I found out that Flynn Downes is not one, he’s actually been good in the camp.

Interesting to hear Fraser. I always thought he gave 100% despite being a bit limited. Probably missed Martin.

[saintwbu]

People talking about the price of Armstrong have to appreciate that the whole world knows that this league is his ceiling. I am trying to see this new guy as a signing by the people who brought us Scienza, Azaz, Fellows, Jander, Peretz - as opposed to the ones who brought us Downs and Roerslev…

[leesaint88]

1 hour ago, Chez said:

I'm always happy to give players I've never seen a chance, but my mate who lives in Mallorca and watches them from time to time just texted me: "Larin. He is a donkey. Even Mallorca realise that and have been desperately loaning him out to anyone who'll take him." 

 

Had similar from my friend in Holland. Reckons Feyenoord have been trying to terminate the loan early and they are buzzing that we've taken him.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

1 hour ago, Saint86 said:

No thread on Larin yet - which says it all. Archer and AA out, and this joke in as the only replacement, SR really are fishing for flack form the fans.

Shocking bit of business.

Yes we are all frustrated and yes the standard of players willing to come here is diminishing, but calling a bloke a joke before actually seeing him play is premature. Spors made some errors last summer, signing Downs and letting Ballard go was just one, and its not surprising confidence in him is low. But I was at Stoke on Saturday and for the first time this season we had round pegs in round holes and boy did it show. Immediately Azaz looked a better player than some on here were giving him credit for, and in Harwood Bellis and Stephens we also had two maligned players suddenly looking like strong central defenders. Good managers and tactics can improve players, I'm going to give this guy the benefit of the doubt although I do agree SR and Spors are dining in the last chance saloon. There is no more room for errors.

Edited 2 hours ago by Fitzhugh Fella

[Saint Matty 76]

46 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

That’s what seems to be the case 

🚨 There is nothing currently in the offing for Sam Edozie on deadline day, & should he stay at Southampton beyond this evening, he could be reintegrated into first-team plans #saintsfc @AlfieHouseEcho

This should have happened months ago. Really strange treatment of Edozie who has never been a world beater, but would still be my first choice to bring on when Scienza gets tired.

[Lighthouse]

3 minutes ago, saintwbu said:

People talking about the price of Armstrong have to appreciate that the whole world knows that this league is his ceiling. I am trying to see this new guy as a signing by the people who brought us Scienza, Azaz, Fellows, Jander, Peretz - as opposed to the ones who brought us Downs and Roerslev…

What’s wrong with Roerslev? He’s a proven Championship RB, who’s been out since the start of November with an injury. Not really his fault.

[UpweySaint]

27 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

If I'm honest I think we massively fucked up by bringing in Downs in the summer and given we haven't resold him we don't have the resources available to bring in another striker that suits our profile so we have to go for a loan. Both Armstrong and Archer want out because the club has been toxic for ages and it can't be a very nice place to play.The major issue was Downs imo this is just the fallout from that.

That’s a fair point re Downs. He’s definitely down as a miss at the moment and we don’t have the PSR wiggle to sustain too many big misses.

He didn’t have to he a world beater but if he could build experience this season and be a bench option while putting a few away we probably could have shrugged it off as a young player needing to develop and settle. As is he contributed nothing.

I have zero issue with Archer leaving no matter who comes or goes. I don’t think it’s ever going to work for him here. I wish it was a permanent deal but a loan may help us secure a fee in the summer. Happy to see academy talent given his sort of cameos to bring on their development. Oyekunle has smashed them in for the age group sides so hopefully we can develop him into a squad player or better.

Arma the fee is disappointing but I don’t think many would have been sad to see him go in the summer - with the right replacements.

Larin is underwhelming but at least has the physical profile we need. 

 

 

[Chez]

3 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Surely a professional outfit like Saints would have had him getting minutes in the u23, ohh wait

There must be a reason why he has been totally left out in the cold. A big argument perhaps about what the club wanted for him in terms of fee/wage percentage etc. Maybe the goalposts were moved at the 11th hour leaving him stranded. Maybe he said things before his imminent departure that burned bridges.

It's strange that Tonda hasn't integrated him. Normally a new head coach will reach out and brining discarded players back into the fold. Why has that not happened?

[Saint Matty 76]

Looks like Archer is staying and the Rangers move has fallen through.

Stewart/Larin/Archer for the remainder of this year. Revisit in the Summer with only Stewart remaining. 

[Football Special]

55 minutes ago, Give it to Ron said:

That’s what seems to be the case 

🚨 There is nothing currently in the offing for Sam Edozie on deadline day, & should he stay at Southampton beyond this evening, he could be reintegrated into first-team plans #saintsfc @AlfieHouseEcho

There's got to be more to the story than meets the eye with Edozie, clearly has wanted to leave but his lack of matches even at u21 level means he must be way off match fitness, what have our army of analysts been doing? I have no doubt if he does stay his "reintegration" will take so long there will hardly be any impact for the first team

 Very strange situation with him and Aribo 

Edited 2 hours ago by Football Special

[Ted Bates Statue]

54 minutes ago, manji said:

People just gotta moan. Sadio Mane "crazy money on unknown from some place in Africa” booing him first couple of games. Mick Channon getting vicious abuse in a Man City shirt. Benali booed everytime his name was mentioned in team line up. Different decades but just easier now under the anonymity of social media. 

If you could have cited a more recent example within the last ten years, that would have been encouraging. For me, I was personally opposed to Danny Ings considering he was injured for most of his first season although he was very good once we signed him up permanently.

But as others have said, we've been short in this area for a long time and hopes are understandably not high. When was the last time fans of other teams were this glad to be shot of a player? Feels like this guy is going to be more Guido Carrillo than Sadio Mane. A lot of posters on here were very hopeful over Damion Downs, by the way.

Happy to be proved wrong, of course!

[tdmickey3]

13 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

Had similar from my friend in Holland. Reckons Feyenoord have been trying to terminate the loan early and they are buzzing that we've taken him.

Edited 2 hours ago by tdmickey3

[OldNick]

11 hours ago, sadoldgit said:

Anyone know what happened to the famous black box? Did we sell that off too?

got a new one from Temu a few years back

[OldNick]

11 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

, 1 goal in 10 or some horrendous stats, FFS

wow we are getting Haarland then

[Saint NL]

19 minutes ago, leesaint88 said:

Had similar from my friend in Holland. Reckons Feyenoord have been trying to terminate the loan early and they are buzzing that we've taken him.

So it's a reverse Aribo situation with Leicester.

We dump a player on a team and laugh that we got rid of him, only to take on Feyenoords version of Aribo 🤦

[James G]

1 hour ago, ant said:

Even if you take this on face value, rather the nonsense it clearly is...

EA FC (and FIFA before it) tend to have a soft cap on a player's overall rating, based upon the division they play in. 

I.e. whilst there's exceptions, most Championship players won't exceed 74 overall. Creating a false equivalency.

Source: in my 20s I was a data editor for the series (most active around the Adkins/Pochettino era).

Yeah, I have no idea. I've never heard of Larin and was checking the Internet. 

It pointed out two main things. It said that although Armstrong had scored more goals, if we had scored all the goals we should have scored, we'd be third in the Championship.

And although Larin has not scored alot, he's not been given alot of minutes, and not alot of good chances to score, and he's often on the pitch when his team are defending a lead.

It further pointed out Larins physique and height would be more suited to the Championship than Armstrong, and that the tallest teams are the ones at the top of the Championship 

I would have liked someone younger probably coming in, but when we look at Armstrong should the focus be on the goals he had scored, or the ones he has missed.