We may need to offload someone from the wage bill, but it can't always be done, especially in January. We may have to settle for subsidised transfers. Personally, I think we pushed the boat out for Ramirez and won't be throwing money around. What we could risk on players in order to stay up, would have to be balanced with the dangers of overstretching should we go down.
NC promised we wouldn't get relegated! So he better get his wallet out this Christmas! Hopefully he will watch A Christmas Carol and be generous with his money No bah humbugs NC
The players that aren't being used like Hammond, Sharp, Barnard are already on loan and seemingly know where things stands (even if not overly happy about it). I assume the clubs they are loaned to are already paying some if not all of their wages, and none of those players would be averse to a transfer. I think Hammond and Barnard have already stated they'd like to stay. I think people are being overly pessimistic about January. The bright side of having a defense this bad is that it doesn't take that much to improve it! Saints don't have to start turning in clean sheets, just hold the opposition to 1 or 2 goals a game instead of 3 or 4. We only need to finish 17th, not 10th. And defenders are cheaper than offensive players. Optimally you want to go into January not needing anyone, of course. But if you do have to strengthen in January, I'd rather look to be picking up a defender than try to land a goal scorer, which is what Saints had to do last year. There have been and will be managerial changes that result in big changes to lineups and other teams making acquisitions in January that result in them no longer needing other players, and players who for some reason just get pushed out of the lineup and can't get back in. You can get some good players in January, you just have to be smart. I don't know how much money Saints have, but let's say it is 7-10 million pounds. There are certainly two defenders available for that price somewhere in the world who are good enough to keep Saints up. I have absolutely no doubt of that. The issue is that Saints have no margin for error if they sign the wrong player. So it will be up to Cortese and the scouting department to find the right players and get them signed. I'm not saying that is easy, but it's certainly possible. The greater challenge to me will be staying close enough for January to make a difference. If Saints can head into January within touching distance of 15th, I'm actually fairly optimistic about their chances.
It is all very well talking about transfer budgets, who we will buy and sell. Of those who may be "sold" most would probably only go out on loan with SFC possibly paying half the wages. As for incoming players the availability will be somewhat limited. What about a Scandinavian defender as they won't be playing until the spring again? We haven't done too badly in the past with our Nordic links and I am sure they wouldn't command towering transfer fees or bulky wages. 2-0 Leeds! In a word it is abysmal and not good enough!!