Taylor Harwood-Bellis

[Patrick Bateman]

55 minutes ago, FootballMartin said:

 

 

I’ve really enjoyed watching Taylor develop this season. I thought he got better and better as the campaign went on especially in the big games. What impressed me most was seeing him grow not just only as a player, but as a leader too.

There was a real level of consistency to his performances too and that’s something you don’t see from every player. For me, he was my Player of the Season.

I didn’t like the way Sky and others clipped up his celebrations. Was it silly? Yes. But footballers are emotional, and when you care that much about winning, sometimes emotions take over.

I’d love to see him stay. He clearly loves being here, and I think it would take a lot for him to want to move on.

Same. I think the players have loved 2026 with Tonda - he's been a big part of them all raising their game and looking like they want to play for each other and put a huge shift in. I can't remember the last time I moaned about lack of effort - probably that Hull match (the home truths one). I'm pretty sure most of the current team want to do it again, THB especially. 

[beatlesaint]

14 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Same. I think the players have loved 2026 with Tonda - he's been a big part of them all raising their game and looking like they want to play for each other and put a huge shift in. I can't remember the last time I moaned about lack of effort - probably that Hull match (the home truths one). I'm pretty sure most of the current team want to do it again, THB especially. 

THB won’t be here next season, most obvious and likely departure in the whole squad.

[Saint86]

1 hour ago, bpsaint said:

I really hope that’s true, although I can’t help thinking married life and the prospect of a bigger family will take him back up North if a club comes in for him.

The club should dangle the carrot of captaincy to him IMO.

If (thats a big if) he's here next season, i think its very likely he'd be captain.

[hypochondriac]

2 hours ago, bpsaint said:

I really hope that’s true, although I can’t help thinking married life and the prospect of a bigger family will take him back up North if a club comes in for him.

The club should dangle the carrot of captaincy to him IMO.

The thing is though if he does stay the we will need to go ake money from elsewhere. I suppose it depends who will weaken us the most out of THB, Jander, Scienza and Charles. You'd think at least two of them will have to go to balance the books. Maybe three.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 hours ago, beatlesaint said:

THB won’t be here next season, most obvious and likely departure in the whole squad.

He's improved this season, and could make the step up. But the destination is important. Is the odd pay increase worth it, if it's for bouncing around relegation contenders every season. Would that still give him the chance to move further up, and break that cycle.

[CB Fry]

THB will go, we should be able to get decent money and replace him relatively economically. Nathan Wood will hope to be a more regular starter. Maybe Quashie steps up (maybe) or failing that Spors finds a ball playing CB gem for a couple of million somewhere.

But THB is off, hopefully out of the Championship and to the lower end of the Prem.

[warsash saint]

10 minutes ago, CB Fry said:

THB will go, we should be able to get decent money and replace him relatively economically. Nathan Wood will hope to be a more regular starter. Maybe Quashie steps up (maybe) or failing that Spors finds a ball playing CB gem for a couple of million somewhere.

But THB is off, hopefully out of the Championship and to the lower end of the Prem.

Top half of the Prem i reckon ... could see him at a Villa or Brighton

[LaptopSaint]

My guess would be THB Jander and Charles all go. But who knows. The price has to be right and big Dragan looks in the mood to fight. 

[SuperSAINT]

7 minutes ago, LaptopSaint said:

My guess would be THB Jander and Charles all go. But who knows. The price has to be right and big Dragan looks in the mood to fight. 

Think Leo will stay?

[skintsaint]

26 minutes ago, warsash saint said:

Top half of the Prem i reckon ... could see him at a Villa or Brighton

Leeds I reckon.

[Willo of Whiteley]

I think Jander and Charles are more likely to go than THB

[Patrick Bateman]

14 minutes ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think Jander and Charles are more likely to go than THB

Same ... those are the two I keep thinking about as well, both able to step up easily. Jander especially is far too good for the Championship already.

[St. Ciervo]

8 hours ago, skintsaint said:

Leeds I reckon.

Then we will leap frog him next year. Too short-sighted for a player that has experienced relegation, imo. Or maybe that is just wishful thinking. 

[benjii]

7 hours ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Same ... those are the two I keep thinking about as well, both able to step up easily. Jander especially is far too good for the Championship already.

Jander has 3 years left on his contract so we should be demanding a BIG fee, otherwise he can give us another year.

[Charlie Wayman]

Unless we need the money there will be pressure from the club for players to honour their existing contracts even at the expense of future losses in transfer fees. If we then get promoted the balance sheet will sort itself out.

We would know by Christmas of the likelihood of promotion so players more likely to be allowed to leave in the January window than now.

[IFHP]

8 minutes ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Unless we need the money there will be pressure from the club for players to honour their existing contracts even at the expense of future losses in transfer fees. If we then get promoted the balance sheet will sort itself out.

We would know by Christmas of the likelihood of promotion so players more likely to be allowed to leave in the January window than now.

If we used that logic last season then half the squad would have been sold in January. 
 

Also yoi only have to finish 8th now to be in the play offs . 3/4 of the division will think they’ll still have a chance a Christmas. 

[Saint86]

9 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

I think Jander and Charles are more likely to go than THB

It will be THB and Charles for certain. And we'll take any offer north of £20-25M for Scienza. Those 3 sales should bring in circa £60M.

Jander has a long time left on his contract, is young, and looks to have a very high ceiling. We should be digging our heels in with him and pushing for £30M+ for any sale imho.

We need to make up a £15M drop in parachute payments. Larin and Peretz (if we sign them both) will be £10M. So we're looking at replacing THB and Charles with a pot of circa £20-30M, plus a bit of profit. If Jander goes then we'll be Spendy McSpendy.

[jrobsbigshorts]

What a season THBs had from being dropped  by Still to being the best CB in the league , goals , Hollywood passes , the binoculars, the bottle post 

Love him to stay but I can't see it tbh , I was gutted when we sold Ronnie Edwards for relatively cheap , always thought he seemed the natural replacement, I think there's a player there with quarshie but he's a bit raw and I see him paired with a ball playing CB , not sure that Quarshie/Stephens or Wood/Stephens is up to it ? 

Spors needs to find someone else I guess

[Whitey Grandad]

1 hour ago, Charlie Wayman said:

Unless we need the money there will be pressure from the club for players to honour their existing contracts even at the expense of future losses in transfer fees. If we then get promoted the balance sheet will sort itself out.

We would know by Christmas of the likelihood of promotion so players more likely to be allowed to leave in the January window than now.

Where were we at Christmas last year?

[Charlie Wayman]

1 hour ago, IFHP said:

If we used that logic last season then half the squad would have been sold in January. 

That doesn't follow ar all. We didn't know then what we know now. Very few if any of our players had broken through on their potential in the way that they did under Eckert later in the season. None of our players would have attracted much interest last Christmas even if they had been put up for sale.

[gio1saints]

There is also the thought that player reputations have been tarnished by the spygate issue. WHEREVER they go that will follow them like unwanted baggage. It may affect valuations it may affect wages offered and it may affect supporters propensity to bringing a “ cheat”into there club. We know the players themselves did not cheat but on the terraces that doesn’t matter. And owners may not want a controversial with supporters signing like that if there’s easier alternatives. 

One way to exorcise that ghost is to stay at Saints with essentially the same squad as last year and SHOW the world 20 odd games unbeaten was not down to spying but to there skills there effort sweat blood & guts. Get promoted then leave having got the monkey off their backs. Just a thought. 
 

Another angle has already been mentioned - this squad stays largely intact with manager we have got to be play offs at least. That means lots of wins. Alternatively they may go to relegation fighting EPL team and get beaten every week. More money - for a short while - but not such a smooth upward trajectory. 
 

Id like to think the whole team including the Manager will feel they have a point to prove and stay and play with extra vim accordingly. 

Edited 10 hours ago by gio1saints

[Doctoroncall]

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Edited 10 hours ago by Doctoroncall
Repeat

[Polaroid Saint]

Appears to me that it would make sense, career wise, for THB to stay.

There's no panic about making the England set up next year. Show consistency and maturity (which THB needs to developed). Be the best in your division in the Championship, lead your team to promotion and then establish yourself in the Premier League. THAT way you might just end up in the conversation for a place in an England team for the following Euros.