HankMarvin Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 3 hours ago, honeybradger said: Finn Azaz is not better than Bilal. There are loads of players who have done well at championship level similar to Finn Azaz and couldnt translate it to the PL in recent memory such as Jack Clarke, Philogene, Summerville etc. Look at what Ispwich fans think of Clarke and Philogene for example after getting 20 g+a at championship level, theyre looked upon as competition winners over there. Bilal by having a half decent season at PL level is already significantly ahead of a 20 g+a championship player who is unproven at that level. So Philogene 2 goals in 10 is an example of someone that couldn’t cut it in the PL. Yet Bilal had a half decent season with 3 goals and 2 assist in 32 1
honeybradger Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 2 minutes ago, HankMarvin said: So Philogene 2 goals in 10 is an example of someone that couldn’t cut it in the PL. Yet Bilal had a half decent season with 3 goals and 2 assist in 32 Most Leicester fans would say Bilal was one of our few bright sparks last season, Ipswich fans consider Philogene and Clarke to be a joke. Perception amongst the fans that watch them week in week out is important in telling if a player is good or not, it's not all about stats.
FrankieADZ Posted 27 August 2025 Author Posted 27 August 2025 10 minutes ago, honeybradger said: My question is whether our scouting department are actually unaware of these players, which is unlikely, or if the reason we dont go for them is because the higher ups veto any player that doesnt meet their requirements in terms of experience. By all accounts we regularly have scouts attend matches in the Scandinavian leagues. thing is, if they are they wouldnt have missed out on the likes of Hugo Larsson etc i suspect said players have been poo poo'd by the managers more than anything
The Bear Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 Chelsea apparently about to spend £40m on Garnacho. What? They already have Neto, Estevao, Palmer and Gittens in the wide areas. Why do they want another winger, especially since they got rid of Madueke who is arguably better than Garnacho?
Brizzle Fox Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 58 minutes ago, Ric Flair said: We have no recruitment and scouting strategy, i'd go as far as saying we are behind almost every club in this league. Imagine employing a manager with extensive experience of the three main Scandinavian leagues and then seeing bargain after bargain join our rivals. Pathetic This window is so depressing. Hardly linked with anyone and any crumbs we get are just so uninspiring. Just sooooo dull.
kingfox Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 48 minutes ago, honeybradger said: Considering we spent £25mil on Skipp, £20mil on Soumare, £8mil on Winks, Norwich signing Mattsson for £2.7mil who is arguably better than those 3 really hammers it home how poorly we are run and how much we consistently overpay for players. “Arguably better than those 3” is a bit OTT at this moment in time but fee wise is what frustrates me the most too. Mattsson fits the right profile of the type of midfielder we need right now, he can dictate play, but he also has better defensive ability than the midfielders we have now. It’s no surprise to see @Ric Flair get annoyed when stuff like this happens, I always go back to Tanaka to Leeds as an example, we bang £25 million on Oli Skipp, while Leeds picked up Tanaka for £3 million. I’ve banged the Scandinavian drum on here for what feels like an eternity now, so much hidden potential in Denmark, Sweden and Norway that you just know we could pick up for under £10 million, we did it with Hermansen. Let’s see what the next few days bring, but as Ric said, failing to tap into the Scandinavian market when we have a manager who has worked in the three countries above is a bit stupid. 2
pmcla26 Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 (edited) 4 minutes ago, The Bear said: Chelsea apparently about to spend £40m on Garnacho. What? They already have Neto, Estevao, Palmer and Gittens in the wide areas. Why do they want another winger, especially since they got rid of Madueke who is arguably better than Garnacho? Estevao and Neto on the right, Gittens and Garnacho on the left. Palmer 10. Edited 27 August 2025 by pmcla26
honeybradger Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 (edited) 15 minutes ago, kingfox said: “Arguably better than those 3” is a bit OTT at this moment in time but fee wise is what frustrates me the most too. Mattsson fits the right profile of the type of midfielder we need right now, he can dictate play, but he also has better defensive ability than the midfielders we have now. It’s no surprise to see @Ric Flair get annoyed when stuff like this happens, I always go back to Tanaka to Leeds as an example, we bang £25 million on Oli Skipp, while Leeds picked up Tanaka for £3 million. I’ve banged the Scandinavian drum on here for what feels like an eternity now, so much hidden potential in Denmark, Sweden and Norway that you just know we could pick up for under £10 million, we did it with Hermansen. Let’s see what the next few days bring, but as Ric said, failing to tap into the Scandinavian market when we have a manager who has worked in the three countries above is a bit stupid. I dont think it's over the top to say that he's arguably better than what we have now. Just having a midfielder who is willing to regularly make a tackle is an improvement, then you factor in Mattsson's ball playing ability on top of it and he looks like the complete package whereas our midfielders certainly do not. You have to consider that our midfield has been woeful this season against what should be weak opposition in Wednesday, Huddersfield, Preston and Charlton. It's not like they are performing at such a high level where you cant compare them to players who are actually performing well in weaker leagues, I would bet most teams in those leagues would look more comfortable against those opposition than we have. Edited 27 August 2025 by honeybradger
kingfox Posted 27 August 2025 Posted 27 August 2025 6 minutes ago, honeybradger said: I dont think it's over the top to say that he's arguably better than what we have now. Just having a midfielder who is willing to regularly make a tackle is an improvement, then you factor in Mattsson's ball playing ability on top of it and he looks like the complete package whereas our midfielders certainly do not. You have to consider that our midfield has been woeful this season against what should be weak opposition in Wednesday, Huddersfield, Preston and Charlton. It's not like they are performing at such a high level where you cant compare them to players who are actually performing well in weaker leagues, I would bet most teams in those leagues would look more comfortable against those opposition than we have. Better than what we have now in specific traits, yes. But better as an overall footballer, that will be a game of wait and see. I’ve said numerous times that our midfield lacks a ball winner, as I posted the other day with his stats, as you’ve said yourself, he can do both sides of the game. We have midfielders with ball playing ability, but not really with any defensive ability, Mattsson was a very viable option for the ‘6’ role. Let’s hope we get gifted a midfielder with some defensive ability in the next few days, if not, then I seriously worry about contending for promotion. Silas Andersen please Mr Glover
Dan Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Even if we finally get some players in we're going to do well to get anyone good - someone like Azaz would've been very good and we're missing out to clubs like Southampton. Another utter disgrace of a summer from Aiyawatt & Rudkin. How much further do we have to fall? 1
Dan Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 5 hours ago, Ric Flair said: We have no recruitment and scouting strategy, i'd go as far as saying we are behind almost every club in this league. Imagine employing a manager with extensive experience of the three main Scandinavian leagues and then seeing bargain after bargain join our rivals. Pathetic We're second to Sheffield Wednesday for sure. It will become apparent in the next couple of years. 1
TheGoldenGod Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Saints replacing Fernandes with not one, not two but THREE players with all medicals booked. How about that for prompt reactions?
Ric Flair Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 The money Southampton have brought in this summer is eye watering. 1
Noahfence Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Ipswich seem to be just stockpiling average championship players this summer
TheGoldenGod Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Saints want Tom Fellows apparently too. Been strongly linked with about 4 players this morning...
UniFox21 Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 This headline made me laugh, "politely informed"
Super_horns Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 38 minutes ago, TheGoldenGod said: Saints want Tom Fellows apparently too. Been strongly linked with about 4 players this morning... We play them at the weekend . Might look like a very different team to last week !
Sunbury Fox Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 1 hour ago, Ric Flair said: The money Southampton have brought in this summer is eye watering. Same as last time they were relegated.
TheGoldenGod Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 30 minutes ago, Super_horns said: We play them at the weekend . Might look like a very different team to last week ! £10m for him apparently. That's a mad deal! Fair play Saints...
Lambert09 Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Southampton dishing out dollar now. Going to be very strong in this league
Pliskin Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Watford Signed Papy Mendy? Thats a signing and a half at this level.
LVFox Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 Just now, Pliskin said: Watford Signed Papy Mendy? Thats a signing and a half at this level. I’d have massively taken him for the season. Streets ahead of Bouba and Skipp. West Brom paying £1.5m for Mepham is an absolute steal. 1
Pliskin Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 20 hours ago, Ric Flair said: And even if we have a heinously inactive recruitment department, we've a manager with serious experience from there. He brought through Erabi for example. So frustrating. I absolutely detest the way we are ran. It makes you sick. Considering our achievements we’ve not managed to establish a proper backroom? A proper scouting network a proper model, evidence of a plan? It’s pathetic, absolutely pathetic…… and no doubt it will be all celebrations and bum slaps in the shower in the board room when they’ve managed to sell all of our key assets and not manage to bring anyone in…….
Pliskin Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 6 minutes ago, LVFox said: I’d have massively taken him for the season. Streets ahead of Bouba and Skipp. West Brom paying £1.5m for Mepham is an absolute steal. What are we ****ing playing at?
Lambert09 Posted 28 August 2025 Posted 28 August 2025 This summer has been full of bargains and we’ve even brought in more Eminem for our players than they are worth…. Yet we’ve not made a signing. Typical
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