I honestly don't see why people get pissed because they have told us why we don't. Seems a waste of energy to me. I agree there can be a strong correlation between position and spending, however that is part of why I admire and am proud of what we are wanting to do. We want to buck the trend. Over the last 5 seasons we have been successful at it. I've also said for 5 years there will be a bump and the fans will lose their ****. Last year was hardly a big bump and fans lost their ****. One of my good mates is a Newcastle fan. He always reminds they got relegated spending a lot on good signings that Saints fans look at enviously that season. As for any excess money, well that's their prerogative. Kat's club. Kat's choice.
I understand what you're saying fats, but a GD that was +21 in 2014/15 then +18 in 2015/16 dropping to -7 in one year is a big bump. If we have another 'bump' that's -25 GD per season (2/3's of a goal a game) then that's relegation spots. I don't think we will (be relegated), but IF we sold Van Dijk and Bertrand late in the window with no additional signings coming into the starting XI then we wouldn't be too far above that. We certainly don't have a team of goal-scorers, so any downgrades at the back make it a dangerous experiment.
It's all "ifs" though isn't it? It's the same as each of the last few summers. Same speculation. Same possibility of players going. Same fan reaction. We should just wait and see what happens.
I agree fats. My expectations are tempered though by various Les Reed's statements about signings along with the reasonable likelihood that our two best defenders, VVD & Bertrand, are off. We're certainly light up front as it presently stands, but the club are representing as if we're strong there too.
Saintsweb talking about an ITK on Sotonians - predicted Fraser contract yesterday - has today said we will sign a defender from a Dutch club beginning with A. Riedewald?
Comes down to personal outlook. You are prepared to believe Les on signings but not on players not going? You may be right, but let's see. No point worrying over it until it happens.
Ajax, AZ Alkmaar, ADO Den Haag. Not too many options... I'll go Joel Veltman, Ajax (c) and RB. Dutch International, aged 25, with one year left on his contract. Cedric needs competition.
I agree mate. I just think we have a little bit less control over the players going part. We will indeed see, and I'd love to be wrong.
Previous manager's pick. One year left. Needs to prove himself at PL level following a long injury absence. Cuco would've been 3rd choice exactly the same last year had Pied not got injured when he did.
Cuco probably would have left had he not got injured tbf. I take your point on Pied, forgot he only signed for 2 years.
Are you thinking it's a CB, TLL? If so, where do you think they'll sit in the pecking order? Currently VVD, Yoshi/Stephens, Stephens/Yoshi, Bednarek, Alfie Jones imo.
If it's Davinson Sanchez, I'd worry that a) Virgil's off, and b) we're gonna be pretty young in defence. Can't see how we'd keep everyone happy. Unless Yoshi left? None of these thoughts bear thinking about.
