Transfer Rumours Transfer Rumours - Summer 2018

Yeah I am interested to see the sort of deal McCarthy gets because I imagine he will be getting one this summer. If we give him a 5 year 60k a week deal or something similar then we really haven't changed strategy at all and have learnt nothing.

 

Alex is number one, we'd be lucky if he signed that!
Just because we have made mistakes with squad players, doesn't mean we can cheap out on first teamers.

 

He has been number one for just over half a season, and has been a career backup at PL level really. Yes he has done very well but if we hand him a long contract on (probably) a better wage than he would get anywhere else it would be very similar to what we have done in the past with Long/Davis who are more rotational/backup options and means we have less in the wage budget to try and tempt the "elite" players to either stay or sign for us. Especially now where 100k a week isn't that unusual for teams outside the top 6

I appreciate it is hard to make a call on McCarthy, it could be that at 28 he is realising his potential and is becoming/has become a good PL level goal keeper. Or it could be that he had a purple patch type half season and will revert back to the form that had him as 3rd choice at Palace and backup here. Personally I would be looking to off load Forster this summer and bring in someone with the view for them to be the number 1 and let them and McCarthy battle it out for the number 1 spot, but again with keepers that is much easier said than done.

 

[QUOTE="Saintmagic, post: 11767647, member: 1008084"
I appreciate it is hard to make a call on McCarthy, it could be that at 28 he is realising his potential and is becoming/has become a good PL level goal keeper. Or it could be that he had a purple patch type half season and will revert back to the form that had him as 3rd choice at Palace and backup here. Personally I would be looking to off load Forster this summer and bring in someone with the view for them to be the number 1 and let them and McCarthy battle it out for the number 1 spot, but again with keepers that is much easier said than done.[/QUOTE]

I can't decide whether he was better of just different. Both of them got 4 clean sheets, conceded 1.5 goals per game, claimed about the same number of balls. Forster made more saves per game and more saves per goal conceded, mcCarthy punched more. Would suggest its more about confidence and the defence in front of them than the players themselves. Don't get me wrong, FF was a liability and needed to be dropped but McCarthy didn't transform us into a clean sheet machine either, just looked far more composed. We shouldn't be offering him stupid money unless he can step up to another level again.

 

I don't mind McCarthy getting money in that range, while loaning/selling Forster. And loaning/selling Carrillo, and Davis, and Stephens, and possibly Long. And Clasie, if he still exists.

 

What ever happens on the manager front, I just don't see us doing what we want in the transfer market. FF won't be going anywhere, so that will be left as it is. I think we'll go for another CB if Yoshi leaves, but that will be another gamble like Hoedt or Bedders. We need another striker, but if players don't leave, then I can see us getting very frustrated with the options avalible. Perhaps this summer is the one to try and get a 12 month loan deal from one of the big boys. Offer Rashford maximum game time or something. This summer is going to be tough IMO.

 

All this shows just how tricky it can be running s football club.

 

No...it's apparently very easy. Any fan can do it. You throw money at all and every player in the transfer window, then complain later at the length of their contract and how high their wages are.

 

Sack anyone straight away who pisses you off.

That would be the best bit.

 

It appears Maya is staying.........good news.

 

I thought Maya would stay...he is happy here and Saints should value his experience and contribution to team spirit. He wants to play of course, but causes no trouble when he doesn't. All valuable attributes.

 

I though Yoshida was a bit older than 29. I'd keep him, but we still need a starting CB.

 

It was a bit weird that an rumour that started where an ex footballer said an announcement would come in days took a month.

Happy he's staying as I really like him.

Still, that leaves the question of who we are replacing to bring In another CB unless one of the current crop are happy being 5th choice...

 

Hughes (if him) will have views about priorities. There will be a certain amount of money for purchases...we all want new players throughout...but he may decide the money is better spent in one area than another based on what style he intends to play. On top of that, players may be available that Saints have been monitoring for some time. It is possible (not suggesting it is a given) that we may go forward with the CBs we have. If not, perhaps it may be Stephens who goes out on a loan (hope we don't lose him).

 

Our current crop of 4 central defenders all did very well toward the end of the season. Stephens a real threat on set pieces too. Hoedt is immense apart from the Lovrenesque errors and Bednarek is a decent no nonsense defender. All they need is a strong leader in the VVD role who I see is now bringing the best out in Lovren.

 

It is possible that we may go forward with the CBs we have.

_________________________

That's my feeling. And, I'm not too worried. They are learning & will improve. They are spending more time together & after getting a season under their belts, that will help their understanding and confidence. Not to mention, they have people to coach them now.* What would worry me more is, shipping out a couple in panic, then going off to the Finnish** league to pull out the next best thing, who turns out to be the next Vegard Forren***. Keeping the full backs and getting the best from a talented Midfield is far more important. Now is not the time for big change, we need things to be calm and settled as we navigate away from fighting relegation to establishing ourselves as a mid-table safe number once again. First things first, get Mark in then we can start the process.

*Well, soon, GET IT DONE
**any football wilderness
***any football failure

 

Love Maya!

 

Vegard Forren nearly rivalled Ali Dia as one of the weirdest signings. Adkins knew nothing about it....first sign he was on the way out. Had the idea that he was one of Cortese's more mad ideas rather than Les Reed's.

 

Always a given.

 

Agree with all of that. If Maya is staying, that strikes me as a MH agreement, so all's well. Fingers crossed.