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Thread | Saints Calendar 2026
at 15:57 10 Jun 2026
As football news is quiet at the moment I thought I would reflect on pace of change in the squad.
The 2026 Saints calendar for second half of year is:
June - Ryan Fraser ( in Australia)
July - Ronnie Edward’s (QPR)
Aug - Ryan Manning
Sep - Shea Charles
Oct - Cameron Archer
Nov - Adam Armstrong (Wolves)
Dec - Gavin Bazunu
So that hasn’t dated well - and come September I wonder if several more will have moved on? |
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Thread | Well done Hull
at 17:47 23 May 2026
Love seeing Boro players crying on the pitch - a pitch they had not deserved to set foot on. Let’s hope when Championship fixtures come out that first match is Saints v Boro!! Boro fans smash up Hull coach - doubt EFL will issue any sanction as Gibson and his EFL board members will not allow it. This result does make me feel a little better. Interestingly I engaged with some Boro fans at Stevenage train station yesterday - these guys did recognise how lucky they were to be going to Wembley - they were also very critical of Gibson for not buying a striker in January. |
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Thread | Crisis Management- what next?
at 22:24 20 May 2026
So the verdict is in - and the job of rebuilding trust starts. And some job that is going to be!
I don’t hold SR to blame here, the owner has been failed by a lower level management decision.
The FA will likely ban Tonda and whoever else personally agreed the breach of EFL rules, however we need to get out in front of this and fire them for breach of contract in bringing the club into disrepute - with no compensation.
Phil Parsons as CEO should fall on his sword - he needs to carry the can for the reputational damage and likely loss of main sponsors who will not want their brands associated with cheats.
We are into last season of parachute payments - will SR wish to stay the course or sell up? If the latter then expect our best playing assets to be sold, for say £100m, but that money then extracted by DS and not reinvested in the club!
Appoint a new manager - who will come - especially if SR wish to sell.
The fans - how can the club get us back on board? Maybe significant discount on ST price for 2026/7. The atmosphere at all away games will be toxic and Saints fans can expect dogs abuse - due to no fault of their own.
Spors - he may not have known the cheating was going on - if so up to him to bring in new management team and work some magic in transfer market. Hull have shown what can be done with a transfer ban.
The players - will they take legal action against the club - not sure how that works as unknown whether we would have beaten Hull. In reality I think they will just want away if their agents can find new clubs at a price acceptable to Saints.
The unintended consequences of observing other clubs training in breach of rules - absolute carnage.
A very dark time for Saints fans.
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Reply | It was a Cost Cutting Exercise
at 17:55 3 Feb 2026
I feel this is all about addressing balance sheet/profit & loss account issues ahead of end 2025/36 financial year at end March. Revenue is much reduced in Championship as TV revenue much lower. Whilst we made a profit in 2024/5 year this was due to £100m of player sales - the underlying p&l was a £90m ish loss. To avoid FFP issues in championship losses need to be under £40m ish.
The Bella - Kotchap sale, bringing in £5m now rather than £6.5m in July points to Saints needing the cash in this financial year. |
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Reply | Who Is The Worst Signing Saints Have Ever Made
at 18:32 16 Jan 2026
Are we forgetting the utter embarrassment of signing Ali Dia in 1996. Bought by Souness after watching a video, believing him to be George Weah cousin. Dia couldn’t even kick a football. It was a free signing however.
In more recent times then has to be Carillo. |
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Reply | Who Is The Worst Signing Saints Have Ever Made
at 18:00 16 Jan 2026
Are we forgetting the utter embarrassment of signing Ali Dia in 1996. Bought by Souness after watching a video, believing him to be George Weah cousin. Dia couldn’t even kick a football. It was a free signing however.
In more recent times then has to be Carillo. |
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Reply | Charlton v Chelsea
at 20:23 10 Jan 2026
My understanding is FA changed rules this year and players can appear for more than one club. |
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Thread | Top strikers in League1
at 12:02 24 Dec 2025
In our quest for additional firepower I was looking at top scorers in League 1. Top performer is 11 goals, in equal second with 10 is a certain Dom Ballard. Maybe we should have kept hold of him? Probably not the big strong old fashioned No 9 we need to bully centre backs, but could be more affective and passionate to succeed than Archer. |
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Thread | Most iconic player you have seen play against Saints
at 14:02 25 Nov 2025
Butty’s post about players leaving Saints got me reminiscing about the days of old at The Dell.
As a youngster I saw George Best play for Fulham - I was able to get close enough to almost touch him. This would have been around 74/5 and Best was no longer the player he had been at Utd, but still a superstar. Watching him dribble down the wing that day is a still a memory that resonates.
I think the best player I saw was Dennis Bergkamp - his vision, and the time he had on the ball were exceptional - he totally dominated a game at The Dell with Arsenal winning 1-3 I seem to recall. |
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Thread | Sack the Manager Month
at 15:29 11 Nov 2025
When Saints sacked Will Still we were the only Championship team looking for a new manager. Now a narrow pool of available managers are being chased by 4 Championship teams - Saints/Norwich/Middlesborough and today Swansea sacked their manager.
I feel that Still was rightly exited but I’m not convinced a Plan B existed for a suitable replacement - unless that was ONeil and then Spors/SR were surprised when the fanbase were anti ONeil due to his Pompey background/ connection. Which goes to show SR/Spors have no feel for the history of Southampton FC.
Eckart looks a prospect - but so did Selles - so it could be too soon in his career?
Spors stated he was looking to Germany for new manager - maybe he is waiting for Leeds to fire Farke? Rodgers could be a good fit for Leeds! |
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Thread | Are Saints still paying Martin?
at 12:03 3 Nov 2025
I see odds are narrowing on return for Russell Martin.
Is anyone aware whether we paid him in full on terminating contract or continue to pay monthly until contract term expires.
If latter then a return for RM feels likely as will not cost any more money - but would the fans want him back? Personally I think teams have worked out how to play against Russball - and therefore any return is likely to end in tears very quickly. |
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Thread | Who next for the hot seat?
at 17:30 25 Oct 2025
With a manager who appears well out of their depth, then the clamour is for Will Still to be fired.
So who might be next?
Looking at managers currently out of work then few have Championship experience. We are at risk of being relegated to L1 so not attractive for a ‘name’ like Gerrard.
Would the natives be happy with Ralph back, or a Gary O’Neil?
Who do you think would turn round our season? |
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Reply | Dom Ballard
at 12:02 12 Oct 2025
Did SR put a buy back option in the sale contract? |
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Reply | One last gig
at 15:58 8 Oct 2025
I agree with Nick as regards Slade. Saw them at The Gaumont in early 80’s - the circle and upper circle were bouncing. Loud, great entertainment, and real boot stomping rock. They brought the house down!!
Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott were excellent live.
For the rockers out there, then I would watch Airbourne - amazing energy live - full throttle Aussie rock, not subtle - as their frontman says “no f@#k..g ballads here!!”. |
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Reply | Gavin Bazunu - some praise
at 12:55 22 Sep 2025
For those calling for McCarthy then I predict McCarthy will get vilified for letting in shots at his near post - a weakness that should be known to every Championship striker! We probably needed a new keeper in the window - but suspect keepers rarely offer opportunity to double the ownerships investment in a 12/18 month timeframe so investment made on outfield players as they chase the buy low/sell high model. |
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Thread | Thoughts on a summer of change?
at 11:09 24 May 2025
Squad Outs:
KWP free
Lumley free
Sugawara sold £5m
Bednarek sold £5m
ABK loan
Manning sold to Russell Martins next team £2m
Charlie Taylor free
Aribo sold £5m
Dibling sold c£45m and maybe loaned back
Downes - not sure whether he wants to stay
Tall Paul - sold £5m
Sulemana - sold £8m
BBD - sold £4m
Archer - sold £12m
Fernandes - sold £25m
Ramsdale - sold £25m
THB - sold £20m
Total £161m
In:
Buy a goal keeper and right back
Loan in right winger and attacking midfielder.
Retain:
Bazuma
McCarthy
Wellington
Larios
Bree
Wood
Edwards
Stephens
Lawrence
Sanda
Charles
Smallbone
Downes ?
Fraser
Matsuri
Juan
Armstrong
Stewart
Edozie
Takaoka
Not sure of quality of Juan/ Matsuri or Takaoka? Anyone have any insights on them?
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