So I assume we still have Edozie, Diaz, Smallbone and Aribo going out the door. Not sure if any others at this stage. I wonder if one of the central defenders is not also due to go. And then whether there is space in the squad for any more incomings. Or if there will be no more incomings unless there are more outgoings For example - if the PSV interest in Archer materialises we would probably be short at central striker. But the club might not think so as they’d say we have 3 in Armstrong, Stewart and Downs
Really hope they don’t let him go unless they are 100% replacing him. I’m not sure Arma can be depended upon for the foreseeable unless his back problem is not as bad as it seems.
You could possibly look at another midfielder if Smallbone and Aribo both leave but I think we may be okay having Charles, Downes and Jander competing to start with Sesay as an option and Edwards (or Stephens?) able to fill in if absolutely necessary. EDIT: I forgot Matsuki. He can play there too or possibly further forward. Striker is the tough one for me. I wouldn't want to rely on Stewart staying fit all season, Downs doesn't look the finished article yet and if the plan is to get the ball wide and put in crosses I'm not sure that will suit Archer (or Armstrong, even though Still keeps picking him up there) so if there's interest I might be tempted to let Archer leave and bring in another target man type to start, with Armstrong moving out wide. Having said that, I couldn't name a signing I'd want and Archer offers something different to the others, especially if teams decide to play a high defensive line against us. So yeah, tough one.
So we've turned Dibling and Fernandes into Azaz, Fellows, Jander and Scienza. I deem that acceptable.
Seems like we were waiting to see what happened with Dibling and Fernandes before going for others, makes sense. Hopefully they are good, very easy to get sucked into hype with new signings when reality says not all of them work out
The good thing is the players left after last year who haven't already jumped ship, or been pushed off the plank are going to really up their game!
People talk of this need for a squad of 25 as being the right number to work with ... If the four touted today arrive then we're left with 31 (see below). I'd expect those in red to move on in some form and leave us with 26 - at least 2 in every position plus the extra GK and 3 additional. GK - Bazunu, McCarthy, Long RB - Roerslev, Bree LB - Manning, Welington, Taylor CB - Stephens, Harwood-Bellis, Edwards, Wood, Quarshie CM - Downes, Charles, Jander, Smallbone, Matsuki, Azaz, Aribo, Sesay LW - Robinson, Scienza, Brereton Diaz, Edozie RW - Armstrong, Fraser, Fellows ST - Stewart, Archer, Downs If the above happens - I call that a successful window (at least on paper!)
Have to hand it to the club, they've handled the comms side of today very well. If there are medicals happening today I wonder if they held back on leaking some of that news so they could bury the bad news of the Fernandes departure under a pile of incoming players.
I’ve been out all day since the MF news. I’ve seen the various new Saint X! threads. Catch me up, is the reversal mood still MELTDOWN? The words pathetic and caved were being used a lot this morning. Or are we now all proSR and back on board the we’re-going-to-win-the-league train?
Every window i come here to read "have we signed anyone yet!" Is this a record for the most Saint (insert name) on the top page?
