May as well get going with this since with Sullivan at the helm, season ticket renewals slow, and the football vacuum to commence, this will soon be all the "news" there is.
Can Potter and MacCauley pull multiple rabbits out of the hat, or will Sullivan 'try really hard' with all of them before grabbing a few aging bargains from Big Willie Salthouse?
Window this close season comes in two parts:
Part 1: 1st June to 10th June
Part 2: 16th June to 1st September
RBshorty wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 22:59
Calling it here folks. We're being prepped for the drop. A lot of names will be thrown about by the ITK's. And Brownhill will be the only body through the door. Razzle, Dazzle. Bait and Switch. Or plain old Bullshit. It's just noise. This time in twelve months we will be in the Championship. And someone different in the big chair.
COYI.
To suggest Sully is doing a Brewster's Millions with the club is a bit mental, it's pure ineptitude for sure. I think we'll get two midfielders but one of them might be Brownhill, who I actually welcome on a free for a role off the bench. He'll be alright. Fernandez and Mukau would be the ideal for me. Not much chance of that though.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 22:59
by RBshorty
Calling it here folks. We're being prepped for the drop. A lot of names will be thrown about by the ITK's. And Brownhill will be the only body through the door. Razzle, Dazzle. Bait and Switch. Or plain old Bullshit. It's just noise. This time in twelve months we will be in the Championship. And someone different in the big chair.
The “Sullivan Effect” is in overdrive right now. He will not get the signings Potter and the squad needs is where Im leaning as we have seen many times before. Steidten may have not been perfect but could get a deal over the line
I think, in our current setup, Steidten would be perfect. Potter talks to Macaulay, they identify what they need, suggest some names, Steidten either gets them or unearths a better alternative. If Sullivan had kept him on and stayed out of it from here, this is a system that could really work. As an old school manager, Potter is useless but as a Head Coach who can talk to his pal about identifying areas for improvement, his pal doing the ground work on the data side and then The Pearl Diver making the deals, you might see Potter's expertise in player development and tactical team building turn into a winning team.
I think there's a good team leader inside Potter somewhere deep down, but he's going to look a complete mug at West Ham bringing a tactical philosophy we're not ready for and with no club infrastructure to build a team in his vision. And when it fails due to not having the missing piece of the jigsaw that Steidten would have been and putting Sullivan at the top of the player identification and purchasing tree, they have their scapegoat lined up because he has Macaulay.
What a mess.
“Potter's expertise in player development and tactical team building?”
Genuine question: where does this come from?
He’s 50 years old and has one top-ten finish in the Premier League to his name: 9th with Brighton, who finished with 51 points that season - a total that often sees you finish outside the top ten.
His average finishing position in the Premier League is 14th, even with that outlier year included.
He managed Chelsea, with their unfathomable riches, to 12th place and was sacked within 7 months.
He does not have the track record that he, and many others, think he has.
He is the epitome of the emporer’s new clothes. His best position/finish is below Glenn Roeder’s.
I just don’t get why people think he has a record to speak of. Nobody else was in for him. Almost nobody at West Ham wanted him. He’s Mr Below Average.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 22:24
by Gank
The “Sullivan Effect” is in overdrive right now. He will not get the signings Potter and the squad needs is where Im leaning as we have seen many times before. Steidten may have not been perfect but could get a deal over the line
I think, in our current setup, Steidten would be perfect. Potter talks to Macaulay, they identify what they need, suggest some names, Steidten either gets them or unearths a better alternative. If Sullivan had kept him on and stayed out of it from here, this is a system that could really work. As an old school manager, Potter is useless but as a Head Coach who can talk to his pal about identifying areas for improvement, his pal doing the ground work on the data side and then The Pearl Diver making the deals, you might see Potter's expertise in player development and tactical team building turn into a winning team.
I think there's a good team leader inside Potter somewhere deep down, but he's going to look a complete mug at West Ham bringing a tactical philosophy we're not ready for and with no club infrastructure to build a team in his vision. And when it fails due to not having the missing piece of the jigsaw that Steidten would have been and putting Sullivan at the top of the player identification and purchasing tree, they have their scapegoat lined up because he has Macaulay.
What a mess.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 22:01
by Barty888
Fauxstralian wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 21:54
We aren’t doing jackshit so news from elsewhere
Was reading that Eze to Tottenham is close … but that Arsenal have come back in late & he’d prefer to join them
That’s got to hurt
Of course we could have bought Eze for £20m when he was at QPR but went for Benrahma on loan & subsequent purchase
Usual cock up
And we could have signed Ekiteke from PSG for 15 million ca but Moyes did not want him
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 21:56
by eusebiovic
goose wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 17:40
Even as a fan you have to laugh at the total ineptitude of the situation.
I know Kretinsky & Smith aren’t football people but they are serious business people. They must just sit back & think ‘WTF is going on here’??
I would say they know exactly what they are doing.
Neither will be subsidising his crass stupidity any further so it's simply a waiting game. How long can the he hold on for now that they have withdrawn their advice and support which he has just taken for granted and pissed up the wall?
I suspect they must be seething about it... it's the straw I'm grasping at this late stage...there is some logic to it
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 21:54
by Fauxstralian
We aren’t doing jackshit so news from elsewhere
Was reading that Eze to Tottenham is close … but that Arsenal have come back in late & he’d prefer to join them
That’s got to hurt
Of course we could have bought Eze for £20m when he was at QPR but went for Benrahma on loan & subsequent purchase
Usual cock up
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 21:46
by Vexed
I wonder what Sully's record is for consecutive wrong decisions is? He must have smashed his PB this window. Everything you could possibly do wrong to do with transfers this cսnt has done it. Yeah I think this two million will make all the difference! Meanwhile, time, patience and alternatives drift away. When we get beat by a hatful on Friday they'll be everywhere saying there going to step up their efforts - aka showing everyone how desperate they are now. Helicopter fireball please baby Jesus son.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 20:53
by El Scorchio
Tomshardware wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 20:47
Carlos Bacca
Don't joke. He's 38 and still playing....
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 20:47
by Tomshardware
Carlos Bacca
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 19:55
by El Scorchio
Whichever is the cheapest player from the most desperate club will end up signing for us. Regardless of what number on Potter's list they are- if indeed they are on his list at all.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 19:44
by Barty888
ExWHUemployee says we are bidding for these two...
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 19:18
by dealcanvey
Looking at the saints forum it seems they majority would rather them sell Dibling and keep Fernandes.
were having a good old laugh at the latest offer.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 19:07
by Massive Attack
If I had to choose out of all of them? Casado please! Schooled in La Masia and had a decent season last year for Barcelona in his first full season earning 2 Spanish caps as well.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 18:56
by Barty888
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 18:54
by RBshorty
goose wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 17:40
Even as a fan you have to laugh at the total ineptitude of the situation.
I know Kretinsky & Smith aren’t football people but they are serious business people. They must just sit back & think ‘WTF is going on here’??
As a pair of business men who have made their fortune from Distressed-Assets. I would guess they know full well what's going on. And like us.Waiting for our Glorious Leader to perform Seppuku.!
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:56
by stubbo
Trouble is Sullivan assumes all the other clubs are like him. Basically that they WANT to do a deal for players. He probably assumes they're in the same boat with Fernandes that he was with Kudus...that they want to sell and he can 'tease' them into it.
Reality...Southampton don't need the money and are happy to keep the player.
So it's all rather pointless.
He's just bad at this game. He's always been bad at it. And he'll always be bad at it.
Everything that can be said about him, has already been said about him. A frustrating, hopeless, omnishambolic mess of his own making.
As an owner he deserves for us to get relegated. We don't deserve it as fans. He deserves huge pelters this season and I hope he gets it at every single home game. Abhorrent, nasty chants aimed squarely in his direction over and over.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:40
by goose
Even as a fan you have to laugh at the total ineptitude of the situation.
I know Kretinsky & Smith aren’t football people but they are serious business people. They must just sit back & think ‘WTF is going on here’??
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:26
by Massive Attack
claypole wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 17:23
It seems Sullivan has gone fucking senile
It probably shouldn't be ruled out at this stage in his life..
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:24
by Lee Trundle
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 17:12
They are looking for £35 maybe even £40 million.
Everything I've read is that they're looking for £50m.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:23
by claypole
It seems Sullivan has gone fucking senile
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:23
by El Scorchio
Sir Alf" wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 17:12
Sullivan bidding has gone up £2m. I said it would probably go from £30-32 million but I was having a laugh never believing it would only go up a couple of million. They are looking for £35 maybe even £40 million. I dont know if he’s worth anything like that but its classic Sullivan and Southampton hold almost all of the cards as they dont have to sell. We have 11 days is it and are they know we are desperate for central midfielders and Sullivan and Brady told everyone we’re skint with their “we must sell before we buy” before the window started.
Sullivan rates himself as a deal maker. He’s clueless, an amateur, a Del Boy trying to operate in the high end, luxury goods market. We wont get him for less than £40. If we ( Potter ) dont think he’s worth it then quickly get to the next target. Only thing on our sude is supposedly Fernandes wants the move. That might help get him for £40 with only £35 mill up front.
Tie up the Makau deal asap now imo. But watch Sullivan put in a derisory bid or one well short of their £20 mill valuation Lille would supposedly look for. Sullivan has left it to the last minute to further reduce his negotiating hand.
With him doing negotiations he is again ultimately the “gatekeeper” on all transfers in and out but tells everyone its Potter and Macaulay.
The “Sullivan Effect” is in overdrive right now. He will not get the signings Potter and the squad needs is where Im leaning as we have seen many times before. Steidten may have not been perfect but could get a deal over the line
Oh yeah, and there will be the attempt to put all the blame on Potter and Macauley too. 'The manager didn't want to buy anyone' is the standard line which actually means 'We didn't seriously go after any players he actually wanted, and then he refused the cheaper second rate players we did say we'd get him'
I still remember Bilic in his final days or maybe after he'd gone exposing that after Sullivan said Bilic refused Renato Sanches and a Polish player on loan as a way to make Bilic sound bad, that in fact what the deal was 'Do you want X player, OR Sanches and the other one on loan?' They are always twisting things to suit their narrative.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:12
by Sir Alf
Sullivan bidding has gone up £2m. I said it would probably go from £30-32 million but I was having a laugh never believing it would only go up a couple of million. They are looking for £35 maybe even £40 million. I dont know if he’s worth anything like that but its classic Sullivan and Southampton hold almost all of the cards as they dont have to sell. We have 11 days is it and are they know we are desperate for central midfielders and Sullivan and Brady told everyone we’re skint with their “we must sell before we buy” before the window started.
Sullivan rates himself as a deal maker. He’s clueless, an amateur, a Del Boy trying to operate in the high end, luxury goods market. We wont get him for less than £40. If we ( Potter ) dont think he’s worth it then quickly get to the next target. Only thing on our sude is supposedly Fernandes wants the move. That might help get him for £40 with only £35 mill up front.
Tie up the Makau deal asap now imo. But watch Sullivan put in a derisory bid or one well short of their £20 mill valuation Lille would supposedly look for. Sullivan has left it to the last minute to further reduce his negotiating hand.
With him doing negotiations he is again ultimately the “gatekeeper” on all transfers in and out but tells everyone its Potter and Macaulay.
The “Sullivan Effect” is in overdrive right now. He will not get the signings Potter and the squad needs is where Im leaning as we have seen many times before. Steidten may have not been perfect but could get a deal over the line
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 17:00
by El Scorchio
Rossal wrote: ↑20 Aug 2025, 16:23
It takes us bidding for 10 different players to get one, rather than identifying one person and getting a deal done like other clubs
Takes weeks to buy, took him 2/3 days to sort the Kudus sale.
Only because he pulled his pants right down in front of Levy, turned and bent over, and let himself get dry fucked by him over it while the player watched and laughed because he'd got what he wanted so easily.
It was an utter humiliation for someone who prides themselves on being such a winner in business. Got absolutely shafted in letting our most sellable asset by far go on the cheap because of how poorly he's run this club into the ground. No wonder Brady made that ludicrous claim on the radio that it was our decision to move on from him because he was crap.
Plus now any selling club like Southampton know how desperate he is, they can also absolutely fuck us and rob us blind when we kneel before them with pitiful offers for players.
Re: Summer Transfer Window 2025 | Official Thread
Posted: 20 Aug 2025, 16:48
by Lee Trundle
I hope we do have no intention of signing Fernandes for what Southampton want for him.