Southampton FC Rumours

18 Sep 2023 12:39:36
I heard on the grapevine this morning that Ross Stewart probably won't be ready for first team action until December. Even if he comes in then and scores a shed load of goals I fear that it will be far too late to get us to the playoffs.

18 Sep 2023 14:07:18
Lots of rumours abounded about him failing his medical . and then the comments slating those rumours …
Interesting

19 Sep 2023 08:31:21
If he had failed the medical then he would not be insured and Sunderland would not have accepted a deal with future add on payment’s, Saints would have to make full payment there and then. As I understand the FA rules, all players must be insured to play professional football in England.

04 Sep 2023 20:49:07
small question
i heard that fonte was available a while ago. this team needs a captain with experience. he would very quickly get this team together.

might be a bit slow but the leadership abilities are unquestionable. that is what our team is missing without a solid leader we are doomed.

04 Sep 2023 22:13:04
I actually think that Martin would object. While there has been the removal of deadwood, he also wants rid of anyone that is experienced, obviously has opinions and ones that might not agree with him.
It reminds me of a job interview many years ago; it went something like this .
so would you mind working under someone less experienced
How would you deal with someone less experienced telling you what to do
Could you cope with working for someone with no where near your experience .

Get the idea!

So here we have Martin, Swansea fans glad to see the back of him, saying he had only one way of playing, we were welcome to him .

Ask what do we have, one truck pony Martin.
In life, work, sport or whatever it was, I was always keen to learn, never had a problem with admitting I was wrong, embracing suggestions, learning all the time .
What I’ve never done, is say, I’m right, my way is right and anybody that disagrees I’ll get rid off.

What is sad and disappointing, is that a manager who has never managed a top team or at a top level, has not opened his mind to changes in his methods, he’s not had a light bulb moment where he’s thought, wow . he’s brought in players from his past, got rid of someone like Perraud and is now moulding southampton into Swansea!

I actually don’t think he’ll survive .

Facts and stats say it all .
Highest % possession in the league, most goals conceded!
But let’s just keep preserving .
2408 you must be cringing with what’s going on!

08 Sep 2023 15:39:47
I would have brought in Fonte and made him captain. He may not have played every game but he could have steadied the ship in the last 20 minutes, marshalled the defence, mentored THB and Charles and given protection and confidence to Bazunu.

Maybe RM felt threatened and/or SR did not want to pay the wages or were not sure if they could have moved on CC and Salisu to make way. let's hope THB does the job.

31 Aug 2023 21:11:56
Seems like Sulemana is off to Everton on loan

31 Aug 2023 21:02:56
I was lead to believe that Sunderland were not going to sell us Patrick Roberts after my post on 27/08. That appears to have changes, he's a terrific player, so is Stewart.

30 Aug 2023 21:00:45
We only have two days before the Transfer Window slams shut (thank heavens).

Why? Because some of you are 'frightened of your own shadows' Why some of you can't see that the shape of the team, dictates a certain type of player, and the Russ 'Has a Plan' rather than Jones'y and Selles, that were clueless!

We are two or three payers short, the players that have left, were quite good players, but they were 'Not a Good Team'!

Stop predicting 'Doom and Despair' we are going the right way. Please also don't expect Automatic Promotion, it's unfair.!

Now Cheer Up, put away the 'Woe is Me ' banners and enjoy the journey!

31 Aug 2023 21:30:50
Peter .
And why can’t we be promoted … we HAD the strike force . we have a great midfield .
why can’t we feel fed up and disillusioned with what’s going on?
We are allowed!

01 Sep 2023 00:42:32
Peter, show some respect to the fans who post and share their concerns. What is happening at our club is ridiculous in the extreme.

What is the basis for your optimism - to suggest we are 2 or 3 players short is naive. We have loanees and youngsters - untried, untested and unlikely to succeed .
Why should we wait for 2 or 3 years to build a squad/team capable of playing at the highest level.

We will have a team which is bang average in the Championship. I find it disappointing that you are so willing to accept mediocrity in the name of ‘fairness’ - you should be demanding that the club takes all necessary means to ensure our return to the PL.

Before you respond to this - watch the documentary about Burnley’s mission to return to the PL. It epitomised a boardroom that backed the manager and a manager that backed the team.

We are more likely to turn into a team of hand wringers than winners. All we have achieved in this window is dismantle a squad who had a chance of getting promotion. Don’t ever do that ‘woe is me thing’ - it’s not clever and it’s disrespectful.

01 Sep 2023 17:27:24
Could be worse….we could be a feeder club like Man City ?

01 Sep 2023 17:42:11
Now that is funny!

01 Sep 2023 18:07:24
Millertime - Let me ask you a question -Why were we relegated if the team were so competent?

Some of these highly paid mercenaries like Sulisu just 'Down Tools' without a care for Southampton FC or the fans.

The appointment of Jones's and Selles, was awful, and the so called Team had no shape or structure.

Some of the players that we are assembling now, have 'Grit and Fight'.

Walcott, Elyounoussi, Dialo, Djenepo, McCarthy, Orsic, Caleta-Car, Lyanco were all sub 5/10. JWP tried his heart out, but his passing backwards and sideways was killing forward momentum.

All of the Moaning in the world, gets you nowhere. A positive attitude is what is required, we have some great additions, it will take a little time to make them a Team, but I have a good feeling about Russ Martin, yes he isn't a Koeman or Pochettino, but the financial disparity between the Big Six plus Saudi owns Newcastle are beyond us.

If Moaning helps you, then so be it, be i'd rather not suffer it, i'm a Saints fan through and through, always have been, always will be!

01 Sep 2023 20:46:35
Football revolves around opinion and I’m entitled to mine, as you are yours. It’s not moaning, it’s sharing and considering others’ views. When you resort to pathetic insults such as ‘frightened of your own shadows’ to describe Saints fans with views different to you then that is just plain ignorant.

We’re all Saints fans through and through - I travel round trips of 220 miles for every home game and go to most away games so you might want to check your patronising tone.

And because you asked, I’ve been critical of the attitude and application of the team over the last two years. I’ve never said, they were competent but I do think some of them are better equipped to perform in the Championship.

You seem to be doing a lot of moaning about the players you don’t rate - mercaneries you call them. Some of them probably are but you won’t find me lecturing you. So if you don’t want to suffer (as you put it) other people’s opinions you know what to do.

And I will share my opinion - this deadline transfer dau will be measured not by who we bring in but by who we manage to keep at the club eg Adams, Sulemana, KWP, ABK.

18 Aug 2023 12:30:34
Stick or twist .?

Sean Dyche is a canny operator and it looks like he is sniffing round Adams and Sulemana hoping to get them on the cheap now Saints have a healthy bank balance.

Personally, I hope we keep both. We know what Adams can do at this level and we have yet to find out how good Sulemana will be. I think he is a star in the making - not unlike Mane in his first season with us so can't wait to see him get a run of games.

So, unless we've got a gem lined up, let's stick with those two please.

21 Aug 2023 20:18:53
Imperative we keep Che. He scores in Championship! Get his contract sorted ASAP - we can afford the wages!

18 Aug 2023 12:14:00
If we let Che Adams go then we're showing no desire/ambition to return to the premier league. I get the majority of the other exits, big value players and fringe players. Che though isn't either. He's definitely class and that's why people are bidding for him obviously but he's a player the club SHOULD be able to keep hold of.

He's a proven goal scorer, even more so in this league and goals are part of the recipe you need for success. The valuation I'm hearing at 10M for him too is ridiculous. I don't rate Adam Armstrong (recent goals were penalties) .and any replacement for Che would be looking to cover the goals he would have certainly got us and there's no guarantee the replacement will .it's madness.

With all this outgoings as well we fans have to be aware that the club is a business. The new owners bought the club for whatever sum of money, the sell of players/assets covers their expenditure whilst netting them a tidy profit. As a business they've just made some nice money, so there's always the possibility that we're here to languish in the championship now whilst our former team is stripped for parts.

19 Aug 2023 20:55:38
The skill that Adams has is intelligence . he has the Danny Ings/lambert ability to hold and then move into space space at the last moment .
makes him impossible to play, IF our players anticipate his movement .
Three pure poachers goals in three games!
Tella has two great feet, knows where the goal is, bags of confidence!
Adam A . not an intelligent player, hasn’t progressed as a player . love to see Dom Ballard being given a chance over AA

15 Aug 2023 17:31:05
So Saints are trying to shift their highest earning players aka McCarthy Aribo Djenepo. I've been told that RM is very disappointed in the attitudes of Perraud and Onaucha and they have been made available for transfer. Lyancos father is trying to complete a loan deal back to Brazil but Saints want a loan fee with a buy option. Montpelier are trying to sign Mara on loan. Bologna have enquired about S Armstrong. 5 clubs have submitted a variety of offers for Adams but none have been accepted. 2 championship clubs have made 8 million offers for AA. Getafe has asked for Larios on loan. I have no info on incoming players apart from Downes.

15 Aug 2023 19:56:58
Superb intel @2408. That is great to know.

It is financially silly to be paying our biggest salaries to essentially our B team.

If we have 3 of Adams, Armstrong, Tella, Sulemana and Piroe at the end of the window, I would take that.

Trade Mccarthy and Lyanco for a new GK and CB and we have a playoff team, if we get our tactics right.

15 Aug 2023 21:30:39
I feel until we get a solid CDM and goal keeper in, it really doesn't matter who our center backs are. At the moment they have no protection in front of them and very little behind them.

16 Aug 2023 00:27:34
It’s enthralling stuff as the money keeps pouring in - well in excess of £100 M but all we hear about is players on the way out. Those we know about who are on the radar to join us are fair to middling players but hardly going to set the word alight.

The biggest priority is to bring in a GK - without one we can huff and puff all we like but we will not be serious contenders for promotion until we get an experienced keeper.

Next, we need a captain - a proper captain who can grab a game by the scruff of the neck and set the tempo.

Stephens is not even close to what we need.

The obsession (it seems) with Swansea players is becoming a joke - what have they achieved there which makes them such an attractive proposition for us.

One of the posters spoke about fans wanting instant gratification. I understand why he might think that but actually, the way I see it is that we do not want to continue gong down rabbit holes in the name of loyalty.

My main issue is that RM is out of his depth - Gillingham was more than just an error of judgement, it was cavalier and naive (clever dick stuff which didn’t pay off) .

The early signs are deeply disturbing and whilst I respect the mantra about giving him time, wait to Christmas etc - I believe the faith is being misplaced yet again. We can afford the salary of a manager with a proven track record rather than taking yet another punt.

I know that many will disagree with me, but we missed an opportunity in recruiting the right manager. That said, for those who like the thrills and spills of games like Norwich - buckle up and enjoy the ride. It will be fun, but it won’t get us back to the PL.

16 Aug 2023 09:09:54
Agreed we need a DM. We had too many attack minded midfielders against Norwich and were exposed. Charles and Downes can fill that role.

Given RM's recent comments it looks like Baz is here to stay. He is young and needs an experienced CB Leader to give him protection as Millertine says.

Piroe has been a top 5 top scorer in the Championship for the last two years. The others are mainly in the PL having gained promotion or with teams hoping for promotion, so they are unlikely to sell. Piroe knows how to score in RM's system so could hit the ground running, which has advantages. Perhaps others know of Brojoa or Lambert types we could get instead.

16 Aug 2023 10:58:24
So far the club has cut its weekly salary bill by approximately 600,000…. 30 million year with player sales and relegation clauses. They have received or will receive over length of contracts, including Lavia, 130 million BUT have many outgoings for players signed over the last 3 years plus 120,000 a week for 2 sacked managers. Money is still tight, I can’t see anymore than 25 million being reinvested in player purchases but I can see 3 loans coming in similar to the JWP / DOWNES deal. I think you’ll see Adams go and a loan player from the same club arrive and Sulemana go on the same sort of deal.

16 Aug 2023 19:40:04
Thank you for that great financial context @2408.

Given the circumstances, if most of Perraud, Aribo. Mara, Lyanco, Sulemana, Bree, Djenepo, Onuachu and ABK are sold/loaned and at least Downes, Holgate and Harwood-Bellis come in, then I would take that right now.

On paper, that is at least a playoffs squad and we balance the books to rebuild later.

16 Aug 2023 21:22:32
We do have the Parachute Payment, that will absorb the payments to RH who gave us good service with no financial support during his time.

Jones'y and his management team, was a mitigated disaster, and should be paid what he is worth, Big Fat Zero!

Sports Republic will still invest, but it needs to be prudent. Think the key will be our strong trading relationship with Man City and Chelsea, its working for both sides, so I expect to see 2 or 3 plays come in as per Lavia and Livramento once agin.

18 Aug 2023 08:03:31
Hi Pete, as I understand it we will receive approximately 50 million this year then 40 next and 20 the third year if we remain in championship. Our revenue will be 80 -100million a year less than being in the premier league. Year one parachute plus salary savings will balance the books but the money we have received from player sales has already been spent. Unless SR authorise fresh expenditure the club is in and will remain for the next 2 years financially viable and not plummeting into debt.

19 Aug 2023 19:35:05
Thank you for the explanation, as with any business, 'Cashflow is King' and re-investment or additional investment, could be sensible.

Say we asked SR to fund 3 purchases for a total of £50 million, to purchase quality youngsters such as McAtee from Man City (£15 million I believe) you have an appreciating asset. Look to sell in two years time at circa £30 million, deduct wages and interest (Internal on a say 6% Note) and it would work.

There is very little downside to factor in.

We also have some great youngsters;

Ballard
Diamond Edwards
Dibbling
Amo - Amaya
Doyle

So it would not be unrealistic, to expect at least 2/3 of these to make £10 - £15 million each within 2 years, although the 3rd year would me more beneficial, by which time, I believe we would/should get promotion back to the Premiership.

19 Aug 2023 20:06:56
The downside was proved last year. If we keep buying youngsters with no leadership the team will not flourish. As for the u21 players you mentioned, I went and watched the u21 Vs villa u21 last night and it was not a great advertisement for football at that level.

14 Aug 2023 15:26:17
Curious on who people think we should sell or keep out of Mara, Aribo, Lyanco, Bree, Perraud and Sulemana?

Hearing rumours that Onuachu may be off back to Genk with a swap deal for a right winger (think we are already strong here with Tella and Ameyaw).

Plus ABK going back to Germany. Then Holgate coming in on loan as a replacement (plus Downes for JWP). Maybe even Mccarthy to Everton.

50m spent on a quality GK, CB and Striker is what I think we all want now, with no more out the door. Then I think playoffs is achievable.

14 Aug 2023 18:24:01
I would keep sulemena if he is willing to fight and perraud is a good player and should be strong at this level. The others could go and I wouldn't be too upset although lyanco will give you passion, although I would play him as a dm not a cb

09 Aug 2023 10:00:11
Any new rumors eds?

It's clear we need players gone. But I think a new cb and striker if nothing else is essential.

{Ed002's Note - I am not aware of anything new right now, all efforts are related to possible departures.}

09 Aug 2023 14:44:32
Add to that a goalkeeper please

11 Aug 2023 16:33:50
@2408. Thank you for those great recommendations. Hopefully some sign for us.

@south_hants_rich I think we probably want a balance.

We need players with Championship experience like Manning, Armstrong, Smallbone, Downes and Tella (plus hopefully Piroe) to get us up.

Then to try and keep hold of KWP, ABK, Bednarek, Alcaraz and Che that have PL experience to help with a smooth transition once we are there. Plus 100m+ in the bank for new signings.

Also give promising youth like Ameyaw, Edozie and Charles a chance to learn their trade in the Championship and hopefully progress to PL level.

I loved our spine of Fonte, Lallana and Lambert in our last promotion push. I think Alacaraz has that creative potential like Lallana. Adams could be prolific in this league but I feel we need a target man like Lambert. Hope for a leader at CB too.

11 Aug 2023 17:51:44
And not forgetting a goalkeeper!
Otherwise - all good