The Preseason Thread - 2025/26

Both Spanish friendlies are available to watch on the official website, £5 each.
The Español game on Saturday is only licensed to be shown in the UK, but tomorrow’s game is available anywhere, according to the website.

 

I have no idea what formation that would mean we are playing

 

I'm finding it really difficult not to get my hopes up about Fernandes. Yes, I know JWP played against Sheffield Wednesday before we sold him but it will take a lot more than what West Ham paid for him for us to sell Matty.

 

3-4-2-1 or something along those lines I think with Fraser and Welington as WB's.

 

Fraser has played LWB for us before a few times, but never on the right? Would have though Sugawara would play one half and Bree the other. Bit weird.

 

It’s a 4-2-3-1 with Edwards playing RB according to club staff

 

Has Edwards ever played RB before? Still seems a bit weird to me but presumably Sugawara or Bree have a knock or something and the other isn't ready to do a full 90. Is Fraser the middle of the 3 with BBD left, Armstrong right and Archer up top?

 

To be honest I’d prefer it if you said he is definitely gone

 

I don’t think Edwards will play more than 45 max tbf

 

Could just be that he wants Edwards to get some minutes as he has only recently returned.

 

He should get more of a runaround at RB than CB, that’s for sure

 

We have so many CBs, it will useful to see if any of them can play in other positions.

 

Yeah, I guess if he is still trying to get everyone minutes, that's toughest to do with the CBs since we have a lot of them. And LBs.

 

Same. The club tweet about him being in the plane the other day seemed telling but that’s probably just my hope overthinking it.

 

That's a fairly strong 11 out of the players available. It suggests to me Still likes the look of BBD and Fraser, at least more so than Edozie.

 

Will entirely be down to who comes in for him. If someone comes in and offers £30m (which by the sounds of it we wouldn’t entertain) he might feel differently and kick off and we know how that usually ends.

A lot will come down to how pro active his agent is being. If clubs know that he will try and force a move that should encourage them to make any size bid really. If he is not wanting to do that then it’s whether anyone wants to pay want Saints want. The Eze (though it has gone quiet on that front, now Simons is available I’d imagine he would be top target for the big clubs) and MGW moves will dictate it, and how far Fernandes is up their respective lists. No big team is buying Fernandes this summer imo