I get what he's saying, and tend to agree. We may yo-yo for a bit, but we'll incrementally get closer to what we need (if we can keep the good players. If we can't, we then can reinvest).
Some of our prior windows are the reasons we are in this situation. Notably the January one of the relegation year. I can see why the plan is to avoid it at all costs. I posted the other day musing that even with an extra 100m outlay on top of what we have already spent we still wouldn’t be guaranteed staying up. Sure we’d be making more of a go at it but if it didn’t work then we’d be in a lot of trouble Just like how there are a few other premier league clubs that if they slipped and went down instead of one of the premier league clubs they could well be in significant trouble. Notably Everton. But I expect Forest and Bournemouth wouldn’t be looking too pretty either.
Russell Martin on the decision to sanction the sale of Charly Alcaraz... I think if it happens, it helps us financially. Carlos is a really talented player but probably his attributes suit a different style. Charly's a great guy. I've enjoyed working with him. If he stays, it's not a problem. I think he's at a stage in his career where he wants to play every week. We'll have to wait and see on that one but I think if he goes, it's a good deal for us and it's a good deal for Carlos. He goes with nothing but positive things hopefully to say about the club and us to say about him. He came here and played in a system that really suited him and his attributes, and did well in a team that really struggled. Last season, he had a couple of really good moments but couldn't quite get into the team in front of other people. He wanted to go and play elsewhere in January and he did. Obviously, he didn't play as many minutes as he would have liked. Now he's at a point in his career where I think if it works for him and it works for us, then he moves on and goes and plays somewhere that suits him. If it happens, it'll be a good deal for him. It'll be a good deal for us and it means we can probably have players that can really help us in the next few days.
Russell Martin on whether Saints need to add just one or add two new players in the final third... I think I need to help the lads. We need to help the lads a bit more as well. Last summer Nathan Tella left and he went and had a great season, achieved brilliant things, and then we ended up playing Adam Armstrong out there. He did brilliantly but he's a guy that wants to play as a number nine really, and he did all last season - although he scored 25 goals or whatever. We just need people that are a bit different to what we have right now just so we have various options. I'm really happy with the options we have. But we have a lot of similar options if that makes sense. We just need probably one or two points of difference at some point. I think Mateus Fernandes can help us with that. Tyler Dibling and Sam Amo-Ameyaw are brilliant young players. We'll wait and see where we end up. It depends on who leaves the building as well, whether it's one or two players or whatever, it will depend on maybe who goes out. It's probably frustrating for people but it also may be exciting for some to see what happens. I'm pretty sure whatever business we do, it will be good for us.
Yeah, I am kind of hoping the fact he is hinting at two players means he is still interested in a bigger, more physical profile up top to lead the line and give us the option of playing the bigger man as a lone striker or in a pair with someone like Archer or Arma. I don't want to see Arma lone striker again, really
Yep, but sensible enough to not come out and say it, New season by the way you are a **** number 9.....
Because it’s another forward or because of the fee? Foster has looked a handful in the limited amount I’ve watched him, would’ve taken him here for sure
Because it's an obligation to pay a club record fee for a player whose two (soon to be three) seasons in England are Championship: 15 games, 1 goal Premier League: 26 games, 5 goals Championship: 3 games, 0 goals Not to mention his well-publicised home sickness issues
So how many clubs are going to fall foul of PSR? Ipswich for instance are spending money like it's going out of business. We are completely ****ed when clubs like that are paying £25M plus for championship gambles. It only pushes up the prices for us, that we are not prepared to compete for. Now we have apparently bid on Fellows, other teams will come in (Ipswich for one) and steamroll over us.
Interesting about the home sickness issues. Can’t say I’ve followed him But this deal is more of a hint to everyone as to why we have had so many struggles signing a striker for anything like a sensible fee. Bonkers. If the obligation isn’t contingent on survival then Ipswich could well be in big trouble if they go down. I’d say it puts the rumours from earlier about this Brazilian striker into a bit more perspective. You’ve been framed style clips and all
Yeah the goal scoring isn’t great, interesting to see how he gets on. Armstrong has 4 in 70 at PL level and he currently looks like one of our main goal threats, so Foster would be a significant upgrade on paper
He’s a more obvious reserve for Ipswich as they spent a club record on a right winger. This move being a loan means they might be nearing the end of their budget. Ipswich need to survive and then hope some of their players generate a profit either next year or the year after. There are some questions over how many of these new signings will do that. I’d only be absolutely confident over Greaves. But they have lots of scope this year I think due to low wages and no previous years in the premier league for the calculation
Rishworth is seemingly close to another Championship loan, Surely that rules our Steele moving anywhere this window.
Not really but I assume you are joking. Wouldn’t even necessarily be a standard upgrade on paper let alone a significant one. Which is why we are struggling to recruit in this position
