I love you Lincs, but you are relentlessly negative! I’d far rather spend sensibly this summer (when we have the core of a squad good enough to come back up already), than spunk £100m on a bunch of players that won’t be good enough when we do come up. That seems like sensible stewardship to me.
I don't think this core of a squad is anywhere close to being good enough mate. We'll likely lose Downes, THB, Fernandes, Ramsdale,Dibling at minimum. Possibly Arma too. We'll be left with the Man City youth buys that no one else wanted and being told Ross Stewart is 2 weeks away. Now if Dragan is happy with us spending the next 5-6 years in the Championship then the season ticket prices need to reflect that, and I think fans have a right to be very pissed off about the state of affairs
I would have thought any big sales will make cash available. So £100 million of incoming cash would mean a hefty spending budget to replace those players. But we don’t need to spend big when you can get 5 top tier loan players!
Dibling and Ramsdale will fetch around 70-80mill combined. Which puts us in an exceptionally strong position regarding players like Fernandes, Downes and THB who have long contracts. I can't see anyone paying our asking price for Downes and THB and we'll set a huge asking price for Fernandes as well.
If we do lose all those players, then I would totally understand your position. But we might not lose them all - so I really wouldn't worry about if, buts and maybes at this stage. As I've said for ages now, I can easily see a scenario where Downes, THB, Armstrong and Fernandes are all still with us next season. When you factor in the players currently out on loan, our squad is enormous. We could lose, say, seven of them and not sign anyone, and potentially still be left with a sizeable squad. I only have Ramsdale, Dibling and KWP on my "absolutely won't be here next season" list - albeit I strongly suspect that the two loanees will also depart, and that Lallana will either retire or not have his contract renewed. Everyone else I have as a "wait and see".
Just been on WhatsApp chatting to the Boro lads from my football group. They reckon they need to get rid of Carrick because the team can’t defend, don’t score enough goals and pass it around at the back too much. Sound like any team we know? They want Cooper in to take them up. Have they got £300 million down the back of the sofa?
Premier league experience in the Championship is an asset to have and we should have that in abundance. Edwards sounds like a massive plus if we can integrate him back into the team. The Championship is a tough old league but get the manager right with sensible additions, we will have a good season. Sports Republic - Over to you.
Leeds are the only side above Boro to have scored more goals. So scoring goals doesn't seem to be a problem for them (but selling Latte might be a problem). But I can understand having issues about their defence! Ultimately there is a ceiling for Boro regardless of who is managing them. Competing with parachute payment teams will always be difficult. They're still right in the mix for a top six place if they can quickly get over their current poor form. Carrick and Cooper are both on my shortlist for us.
I cannot see SR sticking around long term. Just feel someone will make a bid to take us off the hands of SR . Plenty of potential new owners will envisage they can do better.
Sorry Ian but they clearly are here long term. That was the whole point of them buying Saints - a long term multi-club project.
We will be in a lot better financial position compared to when we were last relegated. Think our net spend was around £70 million this season, and the club have got the wages under much better control compared to 22/23 season. Ramsdale only player on £100k then Bednarek around £70k, and I think both these players will go in the summer. I agree that Ramsdale and Dibling will go this summer but no where near £80 million, as we’ll get our money back for Ramsdale and I reckon around £40 million for Dibling with add on’s, but time will tell. Aribo will go along with KWP, think Tall Paul will go and possibly Sulemana and BBD if Sheff Utd get promoted. Then we’ll have the players pushing for moves with the longer contracts, especially if Juric remains in charge with the like of Armstrong, Downes, Archer and THB. Previously said that I don’t care who leaves this summer but believe that if we have ambitions to come straight back up and be competitive in the premier league, we should start by building the team around Fernandes. We will also have the madness of the 2022/23 season figures coming of PSR after next season, which will help if we are to get promoted next season. One thing is for sure, it will be another crazy summer.
The summer is the best bit about being a Saints fan. Rumours to get excited by, new players coming in, players leaving and no actual football being played. Has been the best time of the year for close to a decade now As others have said it’s very much wait and see about next season for me. The only definite outgoings I think will be KWP, Dibling and Ramsdale. I think Fernandes, Sulemana and Onuachu are very likely to leave as well but not 100% Everyone else I’m not sure about. If we lose the 6 mentioned and keep everyone else then we still have a team good enough for the playoffs minimum, add in a few loanees and that should get us into a very strong position. Spending big in the Championship is utterly stupid if you have a squad like ours. It’s hard enough attracting and getting PL players when you are in the PL, virtually impossible in the Championship, whoever we buy in the summer is very likely to need to be replaced should we come straight back
