We need a fresh start with GKs so would have preferred shifting both of our current GKs. However can understand bringing in two GKs in one window could be a bit of a challenge. The new one we look to bring in next summer needs to be an upgrade and first choice GK though and hopefully McCarthys wages in his new contract reflect that.
I don’t mind that. Given the current situation it was clear one would stay and one would go. Alex is presumably on lower wages than FF. my hope would be that certainly beyond 2022 he’s the number 2 abs the new GK coming in is #1
Yeah I'm not against this. I was always under the impression that it was more likely that Alex would sign a new deal. Fraser will finally be off the books next summer which will free up more money and then we'll sign a new keeper.
I'm also intrigued at the position of Harry Lewis. At 23, a decision will have to be made in the next year or so whether or not he has a future at Saints. He hasn't had a first team appearance since 2017.
Would prefer forster as number one tbh . Having said that! Whoever wears the shirt will get my support
I don’t mind as long as we are targeting a new number 1 in the next couple of windows, he is capable enough to be back up in the longer term. Personally I still prefer him to Forster, despite his decline over the last year he remains the better overall keeper for me, I just cant stand how rooted Forster is to his line which makes us so vulnerable to aerial attack.
I assume “top priority” indicates a new first choice. Those aren’t the words you use to describe the search for a new backup goalkeeper And directly linked to that - if we had let both go next summer I would be pretty confident suggesting the new second choice who would have to join knowing they are second choice would be inferior to Alex. Potentially significantly so. With no chance of regular games to improve Whenever we have had two goalies who can feasibly start at premier league level it has always been through buying a new one and the others moving down the order . Example Niemi and Jones (who I am sure were here at the same time)
Yes, Niemi was here for Jones’ last 2 seasons with us. Jones came on for him in the 2003 Cup Final when Antti was injured.
Wonder what other new deals are on the table? Only other 2022 expiry that we are likely to want to keep is Stephens Others are Obafemi and Long Then into 2023 there Tella, Romeu, Walcott, Redmond, Djenepo, Valery Valery and Walcott won’t be getting extensions. I expect Tella and Romeu will. Djenepo only if it is on similar wages as he hasn’t earned an improved deal. Redmond is someone we surely want to upgrade on but will cost big money and we also won’t want to lose him for free (is there a specific space for contract renewal discussions?)
Still haven't seen any Official announcement from the Club? Too busy dealing with the Lyanco deal I guess?
Do you enjoy trying to find the absolute worst in every possible story even if it results in absurd statements like this one ?
I don’t see it as absurd. Our previous top two highest earners before the JWP deal were Forster and Walcott. Weren’t you the one saying that McCarthy wanted 100k a week yesterday?
I said it is what he was holding out for (from another club). As in - the reason the contract from Saints has been sitting on the table for something like 6 months unsigned He clearly realised he wasn’t going to get it. The Athletic story even says he was attracting interest from other clubs but was “settled”. Code for - agent asked around and he wasn’t going to secure a bumper increase anywhere else
He’s a good back up I guess, does that mean Frazer will be limited to early cup appearances? Or do we rotate every week until Frazer goes?
The rotation in the league seems over now. It seemed like if Fraser has both shown enough to be first choice AND agreed a deal on reduced wages it might have been him we kept But that didn’t happen. So the claim is McCarthy is the one Ralph has picked at first choice. It might even be true for all we know
It would be a shame to see Obafemi leave on a free. I don't think he is good enough for to make it with us but seems the sort of player we could have got a few £m for.
It's an odd problem we have at the back really; McCarthy and Forster are both competent keepers, but no more than that. And we could really do with a great keeper. For example Caspar Schmeichel's contribution to Leicester's success is often overlooked. But how many points has he earned them over the years? He's been as important as Vardy imo.
