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SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s Profile
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SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s rumours posts with other poster's replies to SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s rumours posts
30 Jan 2026 15:45:25
Any credible transfer rumours?
1.) 31 Jan 2026 13:37:18
Only on players leaving, nothing on incoming. I think they’re trimming the wage bill ( by up to 250k plus NI a week) and planning for next season already.
2.) 31 Jan 2026 16:31:12
I make you right @2408
3.) 31 Jan 2026 19:20:36
In truth, if they can cut their wage bill by 17 million a year plus complete the sales of Ramsdale Sugawara BBD ABK and Bazunu they’ll be financially fine for season 2 in championship. They’ll also have about 35 million for purchases. It’s crucial they secure Bree and Stewart on new contracts because to replace them like for like would cost 8-10 million plus they both have a point to prove.
I haven’t mentioned TBH AA Archer Edozie Aribo because there is so much uncertainty atm.
4.) 31 Jan 2026 19:48:04
Aribo off, potentially Archer or Armstrong, maybe THB, that’ll clear three of our highest earners and potentially get £25m in. Would allow us half a season to take stock and attack the window early which we never seem prepared for. All for it if that’s the plan and not splunking £20m on some rubbish from Ligue 2.
5.) 31 Jan 2026 19:53:35
No way will Ross Stewart get another contract. Unless he stays injury free till the end of the season but that would be like winning the lottery. Not going to happen
6.) 31 Jan 2026 20:12:51
Effectively he’d be a free transfer if offered a new contract, I think that would make total sense. Give him a 3 year appearance and performance based contract, he is a quality player whom fit and on the market would fetch 7 million plus, a contract wouldn’t cost the same.
How much has Downs Archer Adams AA Boufal Sulemana Carrillo etc etc cost the club over recent years?
7.) 31 Jan 2026 20:46:55
He is almost 30. His injury’s will only increase.
As of the most recent available statistics, Ross Stewart (signed by Southampton FC on 1 September 2023) has made approximately:
• 27 senior appearances for Southampton FC across all competitions (league plus cup) from his debut in November 2023 through part of the 2025-26 season.
This includes:
• 3 Championship appearances in 2023-24 after joining (all as substitute) .
• 12 Premier League appearances in 2024-25 (including 4 starts) .
• 12 Championship appearances in 2025-26 so far.
8.) 31 Jan 2026 22:08:24
All we can hope is that he is over the terrible run of injuries he’s had to endure. He is a top quality performer at championship level, he would also be a useful bench player in the premier league.
9.) 02 Feb 2026 11:32:13
Don't get me wrong, I like the guy, I also think he is a good player but it hasn't exactly worked out for him. I would say if he can stay fit and get us some goals in the remaining games it might get him a move to another club as his contract will be up in June.
03 Nov 2025 19:23:06
Rumours are Romeu is coming home!
Would welcome that leadership and grit.
1.) 05 nov 2025 09:29:02
quick and no nonsense answer is steve cooper, still out of work. did brilliantly for forest to take them up. probably not quite premier class yet. should be able to at least stabilise us. shippie
2.) 06 Nov 2025 03:27:53
Pretty good call shippie. KOM.
22 Jul 2025 07:05:15
Downes, THB, Bednarek, Matsuki and Dibling are all out for 'injuries'.
Any intel on who is about to leave and who might stay?
1.) 22 Jul 2025 20:33:57
Matsuki is apparently going out on loan. Would not surprise me if the other four all go. THB thinks he’s better than he is, Downes isn’t great unless he’s playing for Martin, Bednarek is another year older, Dibling probably isn’t interested in playing championship. The fun is only just beginning!
2.) 24 Jul 2025 06:55:41
Shame about Matsuki, could do with another CAM.
We are overloaded with CBs, so need to move some on or even try Wood or Jack as a 6, if Downes goes.
18 May 2025 10:38:21
The Independent is quoting Will Still as favourite. He has just left Lens.
What are people's thoughts?
Seems to have done well in France.
Young guy, new league, partner with medical issues and a club in crisis. It's a lot on his shoulders.
1.) 18 May 2025 19:39:02
This would just be another punt - and the others didn’t work out well.
We need someone who can rebuild a totally broken spirit - our team are damaged beyond repair. As I have said previously, it will be a good 3 years before we are able to compete for PL status. Once our squad has been asset stripped we will be on the same level as Norwich, Blackburn, Millwall and QPR.
04 May 2025 12:11:36
I combined the squad evaluation from Glen De La Cour and intel from 2408 and recent rumours into our potential squad next year. What do you think?
Patterson*
van Ewik Jack** Edwards Wellington
Downes. Charles
Armstrong. Fernandes*** Archer****
Onuachu*****
*McCarthy or Patterson (rumour)
**Bednarek, Jack, THB (unlikely), Wood
***Fernandes (hopeful) or Rudoni
****Archer or Sainz or Diaz
*****Onuachu (doubt), Sargent/Conway or Stewart (if fit)
SUBS/SQUAD
McCarthy
Bree
Wood/Stephens
Sanda
Manning (or start)
Smallbone
Matsuki or AM loan
O'Brien Whitmarsh
Sulemana or Edozie (start or sub)
Fraser
Robinson
Stewart
New Striker (15m - push to start)
SELL 150m+
Ramsdale. 20
Bazunu. 10
THB. 20
ABK. 8 (keep if attitude changes)
Bednarek 6 (rumoured clause)
Sugawara. 7
KWP. 0
Taylor 0
Dibling 40
Aribo. 5
Diaz. 10
Amo. 8 (should have kept)
Larios 5
Edozie or Sulemana 10-15
Onuachu (8m.- if sold)
1.) 05 May 2025 22:59:24
With that bunch of underachievers we’re all going to Hell in a handcart. Seriously, where are the winners amongst that lot?
We are also making assumptions that clubs will want to pay serious money for players who have proved they cannot compete.
Guys, please get real - we are where we are for many reasons and not least because they are simply not good enough
2.) 06 May 2025 07:07:18
Hi @Millertime,
I am going on what I think will happen, not what I want to and I share your deep disappointment.
I think two or more seasons in the Championship might actually be good for us. Bring through promising youth, gel a new generation together and ease off the pressure.
I think the above could snatch us 6th with a good manager.
3.) 06 May 2025 21:57:58
A root and branch culling is certainly required. We need a cultural reset - we are devoid of ambition in the Board Room and that translates into low expectation through the club and onto the pitch.
A couple of seasons in the Championship may well be the answer - I don’t know?
4.) 07 May 2025 06:47:06
In an ideal world, we would keep KWP THB, Dibling and Fernandes, sell a lot of struggling players for 100m and bring in some quality players on loan to buy deals.
Remember the Cortese, Fonte, Lallana and Lambert days?
SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s banter posts with other poster's replies to SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s banter posts
13 Mar 2026 09:27:45
Arsenal in Apr 4th and Wrexham on Apr 6th. That's some cruel timing.
16 Feb 2026 07:09:29
Could we have up to 50m to play with this summer?
ABK and Edwards sales covered a year 2 parachute payment loss. Arma left for 7m, if Baz, Archer, Smallbone, Diaz, Sugawara and Downs go for similar that lands 50m (+ Larios), without selling the family jewels like Rambo, THB, Scienza and Charles.
25m to boost attack, 25m for defence, 2 smart loans and we could mount a good push next year, whatever happens now.
1.) 17 Feb 2026 21:44:53
I think the following is realistic, freeing up both fees and wages
McCarthy (free)
Ramsdale will want another PL gig. Maybe whoever goes up will buy him for £18m
One of Downes (£12m) and THB (£15m) I could see going to Coventry. Just feels like a good fit
Archer (£5m)
Edozie? Depends how he finishes the season, maybe £4m
Aribo (free but frees up wages)
Larios (£2m)
Smallbone (£7m)
Sugawara (£5m)
Brereton (£10m if he stays in form)
Taylor (free)
Bazunu (£7m)
Downs (£6m)
That’s wildly optimistic and totals about £75m, but sees two of our top players going. It also sees almost all of the aforementioned going for a net loss over the course of their contract which shows the mess we’ve been put in.
It would also leave about 9 spots in the squad for incomings - assuming we buy players on less extortionate wages maybe we can put a good chunk of that £75m back into the club.
In terms of incomings;
Resign Bree, Stewart, sign Peretz and Larin permanently (£5m and £8m? No idea if we have obligation fees or what they are)
That leaves five further spaces with a good £40m as a conservative estimate.
I think one has to look objectively and say how could £15-18m be better spent, on keeping Harwood-Bellis, or selling him and buying three players. I think it’s the latter, and the same applies to Ramsdale. There’s also the risk of Jander going, which would be at a significant markup that we could reinvest.
So we’d need a back up keeper, a CB, a midfielder and an attacker. That doesn’t feel too ridiculous an ask. Again, it relies on sensible sales and recruitment which simply won’t happen.
But I think it would put us in a good place with a best XI of Peretz, Bree, new CB, Wood/Quarshie, Welington/Manning, Charles, new mid/Jander, Azaz, Scienza, Fellows/new attacker, Stewart/Larin. Plus a decent bench with good competition.
Having said all of that. We’ll instead go and buy a Ligue 2 17 year old for £20m bc it helps out our sister club and end next season in 14th.
2.) 18 Feb 2026 13:45:53
Smallbone is out of contract at the end of the season so Saints unfortunately get no fee.
I think Downs BBD Larios and Archer will go for lower fees but all have sell on clauses in their contracts. The rest all pretty much makes sense.
Bree and Stewart must be retained and Edozie reintroduced permanently to the squad.
I have heard that Mallorca are desperate to get Larins 4 million euro salary off their books so don’t be surprised if he was a free or very small fee.
Not sure Saints will sign Peretz, that one will be interesting.
The remainder of this and next seasons are very important to Robinson and Digiba, both could become top quality players. Bragg and Williams could also come into the long term picture.
3.) 18 Feb 2026 23:05:17
Shame about Smallbone but made up for by that info on Larin.
Hoping we do properly get an academy line into the squad again, Robinson started the season well but hasn’t been seen as much recently, but that FA cup win showed there’s promise there.
I honestly don’t know what to expect from our keepers. We could well have none at one point in July but Perera has been solid without being a disaster or a world beater and if he’s cheap then that’ll be fine by me. Absolutely amazed we never went in for Patterson. Maybe we could go Johnstone once Wolves are down?
4.) 20 Feb 2026 13:53:25
The most important figure is the 30 million shaved off salaries compared to last season and allowing that all our loan players return to the club and Larin/ Elart return to their clubs.
If all our loan players are sold then the wage savings jumps to 70 million including national insurance, then the transfer fees received can all be spent on new playing staff.
5.) 24 Feb 2026 06:22:04
Thanks for the info.
With the emergence of Bragg, I can see Jander, Charles or Downes going and THB or Rambo will probably go, so there could be quite a treasure chest. Hope we can keep Fellows, Scienza and Charles for next year.
08 Feb 2026 16:18:09
What should be our ambition?
Playoffs would be a big psychological boost though I do not believe we deserve to go up or we are ready.
If we can keep our best young players and add a quality CB, ST and AM cover then we can have a real crack next season in a 4 2 3 1
01 Feb 2026 12:49:54
It only took us 30 games but I think we have a formation and starting 11 that has more promise.
19 Jan 2026 21:58:52
I have been away for a while. Somehow we went from top table form playing fast, attacking football to rugby passes and Sheff Wed form.
What happened? Told to change style? Players got complacent, opposition figured us out?
Or all of above!
1.) 20 Jan 2026 21:36:36
Whatever happened between Still getting sacked and Eckert getting appointed full time is long gone. Which is so bizarre given nothing has changed in theory. Think we were one point off the play-offs. Now we’re five above the bottom three!
2.) 21 Jan 2026 13:12:25
I've said it before, I'll say it now and I'm sure I'll say it again.
Managerial bounce.
?〰️
3.) 21 Jan 2026 16:26:22
EVERYONE FROM SAINTS BOARD hasn't GOT A CLUE OF WHAT THEY ARE DOING. CHEAP AND USELESS IS NOT THE ANSWER. WE NEED A MANAGER THAT KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING. JUST LOOK AT THE LAST LOT OF APPOINTMENTS, THEY ARE ALREADY WELL GONE. GOOD NEWS FOR US, BUT FOR GODS SAKE PUT SOMEONE WHO WILL SORT THINGS OUT. WITH OUR PLAYERS WE SHOULD BE RIGHT UP THERE.
4.) 22 Jan 2026 13:42:12
No need to shout!
5.) 23 Jan 2026 06:22:55
I am genuinely confused what caused the huge decline.
Of course some players motivation will drop after a new manager is in and teams will set up better against us but why stop the fast attacking football that was working?
Did somebody at the top say we want possession Football back?
It's old school but can we just try 4 4 2 with Wellington, Bree, Charles, Leo, Fellows, Azaz, Archer/Arma and Stewart.
Panic defences knowing Leo or Tom can cut in and shoot, thread a through ball to the top striker in the div or cross to big Ross.
Some speed and unpredictability. At least lose in style!
6.) 23 Jan 2026 12:15:55
“At least lose in style” - quote of the New Year and a measure of how low our expectations have dropped.
Whatever shape/formation it cannot include Downes or Stephens. Downes has become more and more regressive with each passing week. And Stephens needs to be put out to pasture.
If the unthinkable happens and we get thumped by the mob down the road on Sunday, then I think that will be Tonda’s hopping pot.
For me, that makes Sunday a win win scenario.
7.) 24 Jan 2026 16:22:36
It is where we are!
With our large squad we should have gained places over winter not lose them.
Nervous for tomorrow. In a weird way 0-0 is the worst result. If lose Tonda might go. If win maybe it will give a needed boost.
SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s rumour replies
31 Jan 2026 16:31:12
I make you right @2408
05 Oct 2025 16:02:19
I am usually a voice of optimism but I agree with your assessment @Millertime.
At 1-0 up and 9th in the league I was hopeful but now with our only target man out and another drab draw, we are a few levels off.
29 Aug 2025 17:04:39
(Profit including the prior sales of Sulemana out, Quarshie in etc.)
29 Aug 2025 08:25:25
Read the following:
OUTS
Fernandes to West Ham for 38m + 4m add ons
Smallbone deciding on Wrexham for 7.5m
Edozie wants Club Brugge
Apparently interest for Diaz
QPR have bid rejected for Edwards
Sugawara, Sanda and ABK on loan
INS
Azaz for 12m +3m add ons
Fellows for 7m +3m add ons
Jander for 10.5m
Scienza potentially for 5m to 7m
If those happen, I believe we are at 70m+ profit to balance the books.
30 Jul 2025 04:52:44
Completely agree @Millertime
A lot will depend on 5 things
1. If our strikers can replicate previous Championship successes
2. If players that excelled at mid table sides like Edwards, Charles and Wood can perform at top 5 level
3. How fast an almost new 11 vs last season, plus young manager can gel
4. How well Birmingham, Leicester, Coventry and Wrexham perform
5. Who comes in and who goes in the summer and Jan.
10 sides have a shot at promotion. I am hedging my bets and predicting 5th/6th behind Ipswich, Leicester, Sheffield Utd and Birmingham, plus maybe Coventry/Wrexham.
SaintThatAKickInTheHead!'s banter replies
08 Mar 2026 19:02:52
What a great run!
Excited for the Wrexham battle for 6th and a Hollywood heart break!
Let's be the form team into the playoffs then anything can happen!
COYR!
26 Feb 2026 06:57:51
It's a great question @St Michael
I think we should go for it. Though I see the benefit of another season in the champ (if we keep key players), we also have big sides like West Ham and Wolves coming down and big money at Birmingham and Wrexham. This may be our best shot.
We have a settled side and formation, better togetherness after the Jan window and we could enter playoffs as the top form team over the second half of the season.
We would need a transfer window like Sunderland though to stay up. 10 quality players in and 10 avg. out.
24 Feb 2026 06:22:04
Thanks for the info.
With the emergence of Bragg, I can see Jander, Charles or Downes going and THB or Rambo will probably go, so there could be quite a treasure chest. Hope we can keep Fellows, Scienza and Charles for next year.
11 Feb 2026 15:47:51
100%. I suspect Arma, Fraser, ABK, and Aribo were dragging the dressing room down. Great to see some fight!
11 Feb 2026 05:28:17
I put my son to bed and we were 3-0 down. He woke up in the night to get water. I thought let's see where we fell to in the table now and couldn't believe it!
3 winnable games coming next too!