Lewis Dobbin - Official: Signs 4 Year Contract

[Badger]

28 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

 

Much more likely, IMO, at that price is he’s a starter replacement for Leo or Tom and layer potentially useful as back up to Finn. We shall see!😃

Hope you’re wrong in that as Scienza and Fellows (in my book and I know not universally accepted) are two of our most creative players. Give Fellows a good No 9 for the season is my main ask. 

This has nothing to do with dubbin, embrocation or old football boots that has now hijacked the thread btw

[Fabrice29]

On 13/07/2026 at 13:45, hypochondriac said:

We may do that but I would be deeply uneasy at the prospect of our last big hope for promotion next season being reliant on Downs or a youth team player for any significant period of time. I'd be far happier if Dobbins and Azaz shared attacking midfielder duties and he could possibly fill in for Scienza if he is still here. Oyekunle can then have the strikers role vacated by Archer Larin can play alongside Dobbin if necessary and we get a Stewart replacement to share the burden for Larin too. Downs can go out on loan again to hopefully restore some confidence. 

Not convinced that sending people out on loan is the best way to restore confidence in someone but given the striker links today it does seem we’re probably cutting Downs loose which is fair enough. 

 

On 13/07/2026 at 14:32, Lighthouse said:

Archer is a senior pro, who has scored at Championship level and contributed six goals in all competitions. Nothing special but I’d like to see a similar replacement if he leaves, rather than a player who’s yet to do anything above age group football.

We didn’t ’fob off’ Ballard, he was doing nothing here or on any of his loans and couldn’t get in the team over players like Sekou Mara. The pathway is there, Ballard needed a fresh start at a lower level.

I’m all over this board saying we were right to let Ballard go so no issues with that. The point being that if in 2 years time we don’t want to be concluding youngsters as ‘doing nothing here’ …they do require a decent run…we actually have to show the faith/pathway at some stage and not just say it. No reason at all we need a their experience pro to play Archers role last year post January, and actually finding someone to do that would raise other questions. Hence why Archer presumably doesn’t want to do it anymore.

8 hours ago, SouthWalesSaints said:

Do you want us to be successful? 

Yes. Odd question but glad I clarified that for you.

[Willo of Whiteley]

10am then?

[Saint_clark]

Been completely out of the loop with the world cup on, is this happening? Is he even any good?

[Willo of Whiteley]

Reading a few write ups he’s said to have had a good season at Preston, with their fans saying he’d go on to better things.

[CSA96]

20 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Been completely out of the loop with the world cup on, is this happening? Is he even any good?

Deal agreed over the weekend, was travelling for the medical on Monday so presumably announced today 

[goodymatt]

 

[Saint Fan CaM]

20 hours ago, gio1saints said:

I remember the owner saying that and yes it’s very possibly. So you’d have him pinned down as a replacement / understudy to Finnazaz?
 

Interesting and very encouraging the notion we’d spend £8M-£10M this season on essentially a Substitute if thats right. 
 

Much more likely, IMO, at that price is he’s a starter replacement for Leo or Tom and layer potentially useful as back up to Finn. We shall see!😃

I believe you’re wrong with this. Eckhert is highly tactical and has team roles to fulfil game plans, so it’s natural to want such an important role as the one Azaz fulfils to be contested. There’s no ‘substitute’ about this - he’s there to press Azaz for his place in the starting line-up and provide an option in the case of injury. It’s looks to me to be a really astute signing given his past success at PNE and because of his anbility to move I actually think he might out-perform Azaz…just a gut feeling.

[Suhari]

Actually know nothing about this guy - but the comments from Preston seem encouraging.

PLUS: if the rumour that he was wanted by 'Boro are true - I FUCKING LOVE IT!!

[CSA96]

 

[CSA96]

Official:

 

[CSA96]

[RedArmy]

Welcome onboard HMS piss the league. 

[Osvaldorama]

Decent 

[Nolan]

Sweepstake for the next club announcement where they're comfortable enough to say "We've been watching X for a while"?

[CSA96]

Dobbin says he sees himself as a No. 10 and playing against Saints on the final day swayed his decision. Said that Tonda was the first manager that he spoke with this summer while deciding his future and he was sold on playing for him

-

"I think it’s only going to improve my game massively. It’s amazing to call this place home,” he said.

“I played well in both games, which always helps. It was really weird. The first time we played at St Mary’s was weird – we knew it obviously wasn’t going great at the time and we could play on that, in a sense; try and get the crowd turned early, and I think we managed to do that in the end.

“But then you see the team we played on the last day of the season and the contrast was scary. It was the same team, almost, but completely different in the way they played, and that’s credit to the manager and shows how good he is. It was amazing to see the transition, and I’m really looking forward to being a part of it.

“The team was really good against us in the way they got after the ball, the way they pressed us and put us under pressure. That definitely swayed my decision because I could see myself playing in a team like that. I think it suits all the qualities I have, so hopefully it works out. I’m really excited.”

“I just like to be as positive as possible,” he explained. “I can play anywhere in the front line and I think that will help me if I want to get into the team. Being able to play and be dangerous in as many positions as possible, I think that’s a massive factor of mine.

“As soon as I get the ball I want to look forward, I want to drive forward. I want to create goals, I want to score goals. That’s what I’m all about – I think I showed that last season and it’s just about building on that and keep improving.

“My preferred position is probably no. 10, but when I play wide it’s always about drifting in and trying to be as close to the goal and the box as possible, trying to link up with my teammates.

“You can see there’s so many players in this squad that I’ll be able to link with. They’ll bring the best out of me and hopefully I’ll bring the best out of them, and hopefully we can have a really good season.”

[SNSUN]

Welcome Lewis. Please be consistently decent. 

[AlexLaw76]

Welcome. Don’t be shite 

 

[Gloucester Saint]

New shirt doesn’t look too bad in the photos either.

Good addition and seems like a good lad.

[sockeye]

Welcome

[Toadhall Saint]

Welcome aboard 

[saintant]

Very happy with this signing. He speaks glowingly of his interview with Tonda and cites that as one of the main reasons he chose to join us - one in the eye to Boro and Gibbo 🙂 

Dobbin looks to have the potential to become a very good player and clearly believes Tonda can help him on his journey.

Welcome to the squad Lewis.

[skintsaint]

Spoke to the only Preston fan i know...ringing endorsement. 😅



Might be the usual 'yeah he is shite anyway' type comment when a player leaves your club.

[Willo of Whiteley]

4 hours ago, Willo of Whiteley said:

10am then?

Only 45 minutes out 😉

[davefizzy14]

Welcome onboard Lewis, looking forward to seeing you play 😊 got good pedigree.

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Official:

 

Love the "Villain to Saint" quote. I'm sure that's annoyed a few of our new friends up north, especially as they were in for him 😆

Edited 10 hours ago by Saint86

[Chez]

3 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I believe you’re wrong with this. Eckhert is highly tactical and has team roles to fulfil game plans, so it’s natural to want such an important role as the one Azaz fulfils to be contested. There’s no ‘substitute’ about this - he’s there to press Azaz for his place in the starting line-up and provide an option in the case of injury. It’s looks to me to be a really astute signing given his past success at PNE and because of his anbility to move I actually think he might out-perform Azaz…just a gut feeling.

Having two starting calibre players in that position - as we had in CM - is what we need if we are to win the league. Azaz played a lot of football, but when he ran out steam there wasn't really anyone to come in and do a similar 'creative' job.

[gio1saints]

3 hours ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

I believe you’re wrong with this. Eckhert is highly tactical and has team roles to fulfil game plans, so it’s natural to want such an important role as the one Azaz fulfils to be contested. There’s no ‘substitute’ about this - he’s there to press Azaz for his place in the starting line-up and provide an option in the case of injury. It’s looks to me to be a really astute signing given his past success at PNE and because of his anbility to move I actually think he might out-perform Azaz…just a gut feeling.

I get it - and maybe Tonda aims for him to compete with Finn - but I still have the feeling it’s a precursor to another attacking player or players leaving. And just hope its not Leo because that’s not strengthening that weakening. 

IF it means Matsuki I’d also be disappointed. He is one of those drive forward with the ball energetic types saints always love - and he scores. Tom ditto if proving a slow starter - he needs get his skates in early doors…
 

There’s a case to be made it’s Cameron Archer who should feel uneasy but same could be said for Jay and Sam. All those three need start delivering more when they get the chance preseason or it’s loans again. And I forgot BBD ! I think he will go full transfer anyways and maybe Dobbins is the replacement in which case 🥳

Edited 10 hours ago by gio1saints

[Secret Site Agent]

2 hours ago, CSA96 said:

Thank christ for that, I was worried we had signed him:

 

 

[revolution saint]

14 minutes ago, gio1saints said:

I get it - and maybe Tonda aims for him to compete with Finn - but I still have the feeling it’s a precursor to another attacking player or players leaving. And just hope its not Leo because that’s not strengthening that weakening. 

IF it means Matsuki I’d also be disappointed. He is one of those drive forward with the ball energetic types saints always love - and he scores. Tom ditto if proving a slow starter - he needs get his skates in early doors…
 

There’s a case to be made it’s Cameron Archer who should feel uneasy but same could be said for Jay and Sam. All those three need start delivering more when they get the chance preseason or it’s loans again. And I forgot BBD ! I think he will go full transfer anyways and maybe Dobbins is the replacement in which case 🥳

I'm with you.  Dobbin sounds like he could be decent and if the only forward options that leave are players like Archer, BBD, Downs and Edozie then I'm quite happy with that.  If it means we're losing any of the others (and Scienza would be the most obvious) then it's a bit concerning.  

If we ended the window losing Scienza and Stewart with the replacements being Dobbin and Azon then it would be hard to argue we are stronger than last season (with the usual caveat that none of us will really know until we've seen them play for a bit and I guess we could bring in others).

[Zorba]

On 13/07/2026 at 15:37, Toadhall Saint said:

Aye we were “watching” him for a long time.

Furlong time?

[Chez]

1 hour ago, gio1saints said:

And just hope its not Leo because that’s not strengthening that weakening. 

Losing your best player is pretty standard for championship clubs. You know the score by now. We will be weakened, but others will be too. For example, Boro are losing Hackney and probably Dael Fry. If you lose two or three then it can be a problem. As a squad, you have small windows of opportunity. You have to go up during that window or you can go backwards fast. Hopefully ours hasn't closed. 

[SaintSpank]

On 13/07/2026 at 10:28, Patrick Bateman said:

I expect, based on Solak's comments about allowing certain players who have been here a number of years to move on, that Archer and Edozie are abolutely leaving. Oh yeah and Ben BD - completely forgot he was back. 

I completely forgot he existed and that we had signed him. 

That's the impact the man has had on the club. 

[CSA96]

 

[Saint Keef]

"We've been watching him for a long time" said spokesman for Southampton, Will Salt.

[Gloucester Saint]

4 hours ago, Secret Site Agent said:

Thank christ for that, I was worried we had signed him:

 

 

Carrillo has returned then.

[BarberSaint]

Just now, Gloucester Saint said:

Carrillo has returned then.

Looks like he's gained a couple of yards of pace, too.

[Gloucester Saint]

3 hours ago, Chez said:

Losing your best player is pretty standard for championship clubs. You know the score by now. We will be weakened, but others will be too. For example, Boro are losing Hackney and probably Dael Fry. If you lose two or three then it can be a problem. As a squad, you have small windows of opportunity. You have to go up during that window or you can go backwards fast. Hopefully ours hasn't closed. 

Fry already left and out of contract IIRC, gone to Brum.

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, Saint86 said:

Love the "Villain to Saint" quote. I'm sure that's annoyed a few of our new friends up north, especially as they were in for him 😆

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

27 minutes ago, Football Special said:

They really are fucking weird up there.

That's a journalist. An actual journalist, presumably with qualifications, who's written that. I actually feel sorry for them.

[bugenhagen]

3 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

They really are fucking weird up there.

That's a journalist. An actual journalist, presumably with qualifications, who's written that. I actually feel sorry for them.

I don’t think actual journalists exist anymore. Extinct, and like the dinosaurs, did not coexist at the same time as the things we have today posing as journalists. 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, Stripey McStripe Shirt said:

They really are fucking weird up there.

That's a journalist. An actual journalist, presumably with qualifications, who's written that. I actually feel sorry for them.

They're not journalists.... Calling them that demeans a once noble (ish) trade...

Alas, we're now in the the world of unprofessional halfwits masquerading as journalists. 

Granted, those in the North East do seem particularly blighted with an absence of intellectual thought...

[bugenhagen]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

They're not journalists.... Calling them that demeans a once noble (ish) trade...

Alas, we're now in the the world of unprofessional halfwits masquerading as journalists. 

Granted, those in the North East do seem particularly blighted with an absence of intellectual thought...

They are nothing more than influencers. No integrity, just about clicks and views. 

[Gloucester Saint]

47 minutes ago, trousers said:

They're not journalists.... Calling them that demeans a once noble (ish) trade...

Alas, we're now in the the world of unprofessional halfwits masquerading as journalists. 

Granted, those in the North East do seem particularly blighted with an absence of intellectual thought...

It’s worse than Factless down the M27.

People criticise Adam Blackmore but he’s x100 more professional than the Boro dickheads.

[Saint86]

3 hours ago, Gloucester Saint said:

It’s worse than Factless down the M27.

People criticise Adam Blackmore but he’s x100 more professional than the Boro dickheads.

Yes, i agree there. I criticise blackmore on some stuff, but i still respect what he does. The boro lot are only really worthy of contempt/jokes.

[Baird of the land]

I assume he's the archer replacement.(for whenever we manage to get archer out the door)