The Great L1-10 Player Review of 2024/25

Usually you don’t see appraisals of the squad and which players you think we should keep for next season, until all 38 games have been played but as we have been relegated since more or less October, we have all had a lot of time to think about it, even though as I write, there are still four games to go.  None of those games are relevant though because we are already down.

The main question you have to consider is do we want to build a team for next season, or do we want to build a team with a two-year plan in mind of getting promoted next season and surviving in the Premier League the year after that? We have a number of players in the squad who did well last year in the Championship and would probably do well again next year but they have absolutely sucked this year.  Is this a sort of player we want to persevere with next season knowing full well that we are going to have to move them on, should we achieve the aim of getting promoted again? So, here’s my review as it stands, with some thoughts on whether the player in question will stay and whether I want them to stay or not.  There's also some highlights and lowlights (is that a thing?) that were very much the first thing that popped into my head.  The review comes complete with some pictures of good players who we used to have not so long ago...

Goalkeepers

I would love AARON RAMSDALE to stay because he’s the best goalkeeper we’ve had for a number of years and considerably better than all of the other options in the squad. However, he is too good for the Championship, and he should be allowed to move on as long as we get a decent fee, with our blessing. There will be part of me that will be a little bit disappointed when he does move on, but I fully accept that it’s going to happen.  Even though the team has sucked this year, Aaron has kept his standards up and overall, has had a good season and his value as a goalkeeper won’t have gone down.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 0%
Bothered if he leaves?  Expecting it, so no.
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Starter – first choice for about half of the remaining Prem sides
2024/25 Season Highlight – Everton home game, ridiculous performance
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Broken fingers and decision to join in first place
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 8

With one year left on his contract, ALEX MCCARTHY should certainly be retained for next season, and I would anticipate in being first choice as you would expect us not to have a manager who wants to play suicide-ball from the back.  Ironically, he would have been fine to be first choice this season if Russell Martin had accepted that suicide-ball from the back wasn’t possible with these players.  Decent on crosses and reliable if given a run of games.
Do I want him to stay? Yes, I guess
Chances of him staying: 100%
Bothered if he leaves?  Not really.
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Bench
2024/25 Season Highlight – Getting a new contract
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Newcastle away in the first game, passing to Isak, setting the tone for Russell Martin’s time in charge.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 4

JOE LUMLEY is out of contract and should be allowed to move on as I see absolutely no point in having a third-choice goalkeeper who is as old as he is. You can always bring in an emergency loan should they be needed and one of your young goalkeepers is not up to it.  Good guy, probably gets his round in and organizes the golf days.  Would be a good laugh if you bumped into him in the pub.
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 50%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Just no
Prem Level? Not in this lifetime
2024/25 Season Highlight – Brighton away performance
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Playing another game after Brighton, namely Chelsea at home and passing straight to Cole Palmer.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 2

GAVIN BAZUNU proved himself not really good enough for the Championship last time around, being the worst performing goalkeeper when measuring the shots he should’ve saved against the ones he actually did. The trend of how good a goalkeeper is, being judged by how good he is with his feet is not as popular as it was even a year ago so all that old-fashioned shit like keeping the ball out of the net, is now more important. Second choice goalkeeper at best.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes. Still young so keep him.
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Not until he learns that stopping shots is important
2024/25 Season Highlight – Injury recovery, playing again
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Getting injured again out on loan.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

Full Backs

KYLE WALKER-PETERS has let contract run down and will be leaving. Thanks very much for your time spent at the club Kyle and good luck to you wherever you go – and it should be to a club at a decent level. It’s a shame that he is going but I accepted it a long time ago.  He gave us a season in the Championship last time around and that should be remembered when looking at his time with Saints.  Overall, has had a good season, be it on the right or the left.  Will be a solid acquisition for any Premier League club and running his contract down was definitely the right thing for him to do as a player.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 0%
Bothered if he leaves?  Out of contract so it’s a given.
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Starter
2024/25 Season Highlight – Consistency in all bar a couple of games
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Low point for everyone that he’s leaving
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 7

JAMES BREE wasn’t good enough for the Championship last time around and wasn’t good enough for the Premier League this season so therefore I’ll take a wild stab in the dark that he’s not good enough. A back up player for next season at best and if he goes elsewhere, I am not going to lose any sleep over it.  I did like the fact he was prepared to have a shot from outside the box this season, when no one seemed to.
Do I want him to stay? Not really
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Nowhere near
2024/25 Season Highlight – Goalscoring Carabao Cup GOAT
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Seeing his name on a Premier League teamsheet.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 4

RYAN MANNING is decent enough for Championship level but will never be a regular Premier League player, so it depends on our strategy.  He has actually outperformed what I expected from him this season and there’s not many that I can say that about.  Was our best player in a couple of games this season which is a worry because his ceiling is not that high. If he stays I would see him as a starter most of the time, but could well end up wherever Russell Martin rocks up.  Probably played more than expected in the Prem but always has a defensive rick in him when the pressure is on.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  In and out of team
Prem Level? No
2024/25 Season Highlight – Locking up Mo Salah
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Playing for Ireland at Wembley when THB scored.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 5

WELINGTON is the perfect player for next season because he will learn the English game in the Championship but has shown in flashes in the Premier League that he could step up given a bit more experience, which next season will give him.  I feel that he will relish the scrap in the Championship. Should have a shout of being first choice for next season I feel.  Ivan Juric seemed to not trust him but that should certainly not count against him.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  A bit as there is more to come
Championship Level?  Starter (probably)
Prem Level? Potentially
2024/25 Season Highlight – Debut versus Ipswich away
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Dumb penalty given away at Spurs
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 4

YUKI SUGAWARA has real contradicting traits. A player who seems like a really nice bloke and you really want him to do well and has the attacking side to his game.  This all jars up against the fact that he is one of the worst defensive full-backs that I’ve ever seen in 50 years of watching Saints. No composure, no consistency, panics at the slightest presence of an opponent and no awareness of anything that’s going on around him.  However decent you are going forward, you have to at least be able to defend a little bit.  Has been linked with clubs in Italy and that would probably be the best solution all round. Might get away with some of his defensive madness in the Championship, but I’d be tempted to cash in if we could get our money back.  Not bothered if he stays or goes.
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 50%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Starter, but will still be defensively dreadful against the good teams.
Prem Level? No. Bottom six teams can’t have defenders who cannot defend at all
2024/25 Season Highlight – Any interview he’s given
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Anything involving defending – take your pick.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 3

CHARLIE TAYLOR’s signing, even though it was on a free, has been nothing short of a disaster for whatever reason. To be an experienced Premier League player and not be able to get into a team as shit as this one was, takes some doing. Also, it’s three managers who haven’t picked him so clearly something is very badly amiss. Move him on.
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 30%
Bothered if he leaves?  Would anyone notice?
Championship Level?  No idea
Prem Level? No
2024/25 Season Highlight – Getting a contract in the Premier League
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Following Mbeumo about like a puppy
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 1

What’s the point of JUAN LARIOS? Always injured and very small and not exactly suitable for the physicality of the Championship. The best time for everyone to go their separate ways and I’m sure he can find a home at a Spanish club.
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 40%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  NHS
Prem Level? Bupa
2024/25 Season Highlight – Touching the crossbar
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Pick an injury
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a (not available)

Central Defenders

I would love TAYLOR HARWOOD-BELLIS to stay and originally, I thought that his inconsistent performances this season would not have got him a Premier League move for next year, but changing agent mid-season brought a lot of noise, and with him winning a full cap for England and being a regular in the under 21 squad, there are still plenty of clubs who would take him.  He will, however, probably have the situation where he’s going to start off a substitute wherever he goes.  I feel we need one of him or Bednarek to stay, but out of those two, I would say that THB is the least likely.  Played well at time this season but cracks have appeared in his attitude sometimes when appearing to be too ready to blame other people – maybe though that’s him being a leader and demanding higher standards.  Needs to sort his barnet out as that’s got progressively worse as the season went on.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 20%
Bothered if he leaves?  Accepting – though talking a good game on Instagram will piss me off after he moves on.
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Starter but need loads more consistency.
2024/25 Season Highlight – England debut and goal
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Initial struggles and blaming everyone else, barnet.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – 5 (at a push)

JAN BEDNAREK is one who will do a solid job next season but I do wonder if he will feel at age 28, that it’s time to move on and try something different. I hope he stays to be a senior player next season, but I am kind of indifferent.  If he goes, then it will be thanks for the years that you’ve been here and no hard feelings really.  This season, he has often been given the role of tightly marking whoever the main striker is and has competed well at all times and has finally developed into a defensive leader.  If he leaves, we will need another centre back to be there for the first contact.
Do I want him to stay? Yes – experienced partner for Ronnie Edwards
Chances of him staying: 70%
Bothered if he leaves?  Disappointed but not surprised
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Starter though gets caught for pace, if out wide at all.
2024/25 Season Highlight – Being made captain and being pretty consistent
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Any time he’s been tested for pace
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 6

ARMEL BELLA-KOTCHAP needs to move for everyone’s sake. I can’t see why he would want to play in the Championship this season when he didn’t want to two years ago and I think that there comes a point where you just have to cut the cord. There is a player in there but he’s not as good as he thinks he is and I’m done with players who only want to play in the Premier League and then refuse to play in the Championship when they’ve been largely shit in the Premier League.  Thinking you have some sort of entitlement when you do nothing to earn anything, is one of the things that really pisses me off.
Do I want him to stay? No – time to cut losses
Chances of him staying: 30% – only if no offers come in
Bothered if he leaves?  Not in the slightest, will soon be forgotten like Caleta-Car. Lyanco, Salisu etc
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Bench
2024/25 Season Highlight – Undeserved hero’s welcome at St Mary’s
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Being an unused sub 25 times
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 3

JACK STEPHENS will probably be here next season and is having a strong end to the season, relatively speaking. Assuming he is still around next season, he will have a job to do as a senior player, but I would hope we could have a central defensive partnership that was better than having Jack as part of it. Decent squad player at Championship level but that’s as far as it goes for me.  Wasn’t up to it in the Premier League this season (when the games mattered) and had a couple of high-profile instances to losing his shit, probably due to knowing he was struggling.  Always capable of the odd good game at Premier League level but never a prolonged spell of good form.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 90%
Bothered if he leaves?  A bit, but I’ll get over it.
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Bench at best
2024/25 Season Highlight – Calling the referee and assistants ‘c**ts’
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Not punching Cucurella’s in the face and making the red card worth it.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 4

NATHAN WOOD should definitely be pushing to be a starting central defender next season but is yet to display the consistency needed to be anything more than a backup player in any division. Was probably originally signed with next season in mind so the chance is there if he can step up to being a regular starter.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  I’ll cope – would be disappointing because potential is there
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Maybe one day but I don’t think so
2024/25 Season Highlight – Performance at Villa away
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Not kicking on after that Villa game, bombed out by Juric
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 4

RONNIE EDWARDS form on loan at QPR has been incredibly encouraging and to find himself in the England Under 21 squad, what was the definite reward for playing regularly. In my opinion should be ahead of Nathan Wood and Jack Stephens in the pecking order next season and can see him being a regular starter, paired with a more senior central defensive partner like Bednarek.  At QPR this season, he’s been partnered by Steve Cook who is well into his 30s.  The almost inevitable departure of THB should be cushioned by Ronnie’s return.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 90%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Potentially
2024/25 Season Highlight – Performances on loan at QPR
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Russell Martin not giving him a sniff
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

JOACHIM KAYI-SANDA is a 19-year-old Frenchman who is the big hope to make a mark next season. As he arrived from Valenciennes, another club in the Sport Republic multi-club model, it would certainly make that seem more like a good idea that it has done so far. Should certainly be in and around the squad next season.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 90%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? No way of knowing as yet
2024/25 Season Highlight – Potential benefit of multi-club model
2024/25 Having his transfer arranged by Rasmus Ankersen.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

Midfielders

FLYNN DOWNES of course has struggled at Premier League level, but he absolutely bossed the Championship last time around and we will need that. Seemed to get very unsettled towards the middle of the season and clearly didn’t get on with Ivan Juric, which shouldn’t count against him at all.  Some fences appear to have been mended and with a Premier League offer for him unlikely, based on this season’s performances, he certainly should be one of the main men next season.  If he gets his head around staying at the club for another crack at the Championship, he will be huge next year for us.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 70%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Can do it but needs consistency
2024/25 Season Highlight – Brighton away and Palace at home – what we expected.
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Forest away when it looked like he was trying to get sent off.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 5

SHEA CHARLES, like Ronnie Edwards, will return from a very beneficial loan spell, this time at Sheffield Wednesday and that could be more significant than we know right now given the rumours around the current Sheffield Wednesday manager Danny Rohl being the next man in the St Mary’s hot seat. Sheffield Wednesday’s Player of the Year should certainly be a regular starter next season and will be a hell of a lot better than the last time we were in the Championship where Russell Martin didn’t seem to trust him.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Potentially
2024/25 Season Highlight – Performances on loan at Sheffield Wednesday
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Having to play at Fratton Park.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

If I could keep one player who is likely to be linked with moves away, it would be MATTY FERNANDES.  The only diamond unearthed by the summer transfer window from hell.  A midfield three of Charles, Downes and Fernandes would absolutely boss the Championship and that’s what we should be aiming to set up next season. It is really hard to know what’s going to happen with Fernandes because there’s been no agent talk and he’s just got on with churning out decent performance with the shambles all around him.  I wonder if he is he the sort of player that one of the big clubs is going to drop £40 million on because I’m sure we would demand around that much as a fee? We really should be trying to get him to commit to next season and it will be very disappointing if he doesn’t, and he will be very expensive to replace.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 50%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes… but I am half expecting it.
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Starter
2024/25 Season Highlight – Proving he’s a good level Premier League player
2024/25 Season Lowlight – The shitshow all around him
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 8

WILL SMALLBONE has been exactly what I expected him to be in the Premier League. Too slow, not athletic enough and injured a fair amount. He will probably be here next season as a squad option, but he doesn’t get in the midfield if the three I’ve already mentioned are all here.  If we are ever promoted back to the Premier League then there’s no place for Will, so any decision on him staying or going for this season has to bear that in mind.  This year he’s been not good enough to start and doesn’t add enough energy to come on as a sub.  Not his fault he gets asked to play in a two-man midfield – you might as well put him in goal.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 70%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? No and never will be
2024/25 Season Highlight – Goal at Anfield
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Injuries, sprint speed.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 3

Same goes for JOE ARIBO really who I can see leaving with just the one year left on his contract. He’s been pretty regular in the team for the last three years and to be honest, that shows how we’ve fallen with regards to recruitment.  Has had a better Premier League campaign than last time but he’s still had too many games where he’s barely raised a jog and always arrives where the ball was two seconds ago.  He will be a decent option in the Championship if he stays, but I’m not bothered if he doesn’t.
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 30% – one year left on contract and you wouldn’t offer another.
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Bench at best
2024/25 Season Highlight – Three goals
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Playing centre back from the start of a game and general ambling about.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 4

ALBERT GRONBAEK arrived on-loan with no real plan of how to use him from Ivan Juric and looks like a more lightweight version of Fernandes. If Fernandes goes then we may revisit trying to sign Grønbæk but though not entirely his fault, he’s not done enough to make anyone really want to go and buy him and if you can’t get a game for a team that’s this bad, then it’s not exactly a ringing endorsement.  Will be the answer to a quiz question in the future – “Who did we sign in January 2025?”
Do I want him to stay? Not really
Chances of him staying: 10%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Squad player.
Prem Level? No
2024/25 Season Highlight – Half promising debut away at Ipswich
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Juric deciding that his one signing was never going to play
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

ADAM LALLANA should retire after a season that has seen him play 45 minutes a couple of times and then no more than 10 minutes for the vast majority of the time. Entirely predictable from the start of the season but you always hope that a player who seems to have been permanently injured to see was 23, would be able to stay fit but no. Great career but it’s over now.  Coach or nothing.
Do I want him to stay? Not as a player
Chances of him staying: 20%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  U21/First Team Coach
Prem Level? Not unless we rewind time
2024/25 Season Highlight – Getting a playing contract
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Getting injured getting off the bus at Eastleigh in pre-season
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – 3 (Decent when fit which wasn’t often)

LESLEY UGOCHUKWU has been decent this season in a number of games and certainly not drowned in the sea of shite that has been the first team this season, whenever he’s been called upon. Russell Martin clearly didn’t rate him but one of the few good things that Ivan Juric did was to give Lesley more game time. Good luck for whatever comes next as I’m sure it won’t be at Chelsea, given that they have about 700 players in his position. I’d happily take him in the Championship but as Chelsea paid over £30 million for him, that’s not going to happen.
Do I want him to stay? Yes, but it’s not happening
Chances of him staying: 0%
Bothered if he leaves?  No, loan player at end of the day
Championship Level?  You don’t get £30m players in the Championship
Prem Level? Would be good in a good team.
2024/25 Season Highlight – Late goal at West Ham.
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Getting frozen out by Russell Martin
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – 6 (Good second half to season)

KURYU MATSUKI is an interesting one to think about. Signed last season and immediately loaned to Goztepe in Turkey, where he has been a regular as they’ve had a decent season in the Super Lig. Could he be an example of the multi-club system actually working in our favour and him now being ready to make his mark for his parent club. I doubt it but you never know. The most likely scenario is that he spends another season on loan at Goztepe.  Has been linked with moves to German clubs and if that happens, you have to question the whole multi-club model as either Saints have signed him to play for Goztepe and then move him on, or we’ve signed a player who was nowhere near good enough, even for the Championship.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 70%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes – because it would make me question the whole multi-club model and it’s benefit to us as the main club.
Championship Level?  Probably bench
Prem Level? Impossible to tell
2024/25 Season Highlight – Goztepe general performances and contribution
2024/25 Season Lowlight – None
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

Attacking Midfielders / Wingers

SAM EDOZIE has spent the season out with Anderlecht in Belgium and has apparently done pretty well and should certainly return to play a prominent role in the Championship next season. Was a bit unlucky last time around when he got in the team, started playing well and was then the victim of a dreadful tackle from that arsehole from Norwich.  Sam certainly has something persevering with.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 80%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Bench
2024/25 Season Highlight – Escaping this shitshow for the season
2024/25 Season Lowlight – knowing he was better than what we signed / kept.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

RYAN FRASER was decent in the Championship and it was absolutely fucking stupid to sign him for the Premier League in a jobs-for-the-boys move by Russell Martin which just meant that we were spunking wages out for a year for absolutely no reason at all. He’s got one year left on his contract so he’s definitely going be here next year because that’s what he does – sees out his contracts.  If he gets himself fit and on the pitch however, than the Wee Man will definitely contribute.
Do I want him to stay? Yes, decent squad option next year
Chances of him staying: 100%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Not any more
2024/25 Season Highlight – Signing a two-year jobs-for-the-boys contract
2024/25 Season Lowlight –Leicester at home – red card and attempts to mark Fatawu.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – 1

KAMALDEEN SULEMANA has been the very definition of all fart no shit. At least he kept himself fit for a while and played a few games this season and has on occasions looked very very good until it’s time to pass the ball or cross it or shoot. He has put in enough eye-catching performances this season to mean that he will get attention from other clubs and I fully expect him to go, which is what he would’ve done last time we got relegated had any offers come in.  I feel that he would be unplayable for a lot of defenders in the Championship but his decision making would still be dreadful.  I just can’t see him still being here.
Do I want him to stay? No – want someone to give us £20m for him
Chances of him staying: 20%
Bothered if he leaves?  As long as money is half decent - no
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Impact sub
2024/25 Season Highlight – Man United away against Leny Yoro
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Any time he had to pass it or cross it or shoot
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – 5

TYLER DIBLING has had a remarkably good season for an 18-year-old playing in a shit team in his first season in men’s football in the Premier League. The hard of thinking have been given him a hard time in the second half of the season because his performances haven’t been as good as they were in the first half of the season.  Maybe it’s the tiredness, maybe it’s the pressure or maybe it’s the fact he’s only fucking 18.  If you think he’s the main contributing factor as to why the team is shit, then you’re really looking in the wrong place.  Much I would like him to stay, he will be sold and £100 million price tag that we’ve put on his head, whilst not realistic, at least stops time wasting clubs like Spurs bidding £25 million. As far as we are concerned, the good news is that Aston Villa, Manchester United, Chelsea have all been credited with being interested in Tyler so there’s no way that we are going to get lowballed by a Daniel Levy piss take offer.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 10%
Bothered if he leaves?  A bit though it’s inevitable, so no point. Hope he goes to a team where he will play.
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? Starter – but not every game
2024/25 Season Highlight – Giving Diogo Dalot and Andy Robertson twisted blood
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Being worn down by the shambles around him
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 7

The loan move of SAM AMO-AMEYAW to Strasbourg would’ve been fine if it was just a loan, but the fact that it’s an obligation to buy with a pretty small fee guaranteed in there, is one of them more shit decisions made at football level prior to the appointment of Johannes Spors, who I don’t think, would’ve sanctioned that move.  I wonder who did sanction it?  Sam of course still has a lot to prove about moving him on for about £5 million doesn’t on the face of it appear to make much sense. Rumour has it though that he was point-blank refusing to sign an extension of his contract and if that’s the case, good luck to him in the future.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 0%
Bothered if he leaves?  No – it’s done and dusted unless Spors can somehow undo it and he signs a new deal.
Championship Level?  Bench
Prem Level? Not for a few years at least
2024/25 Season Highlight – First goal in the Carabao and being loaned to Strasbourg
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Seeing Fraser, BBD and Cornet brought in to play his position.
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

Whereas Amo-Ameyaw hasn’t signed a new deal, JAY ROBINSON has, which is good news.  Has been decent at age group level this season and made a first team debut under Simon Rusk, which was good to see.  Should certainly be in the frame for some minutes in the Championship next season and there’s a big opportunity for him, given our inability to get the top end of the pitch sorted out.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 100%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes
Championship Level?  Minutes off the bench
Prem Level? Give it time
2024/25 Season Highlight – Debut against Villa
2024/25 Season Lowlight – None
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

Forwards

ADAM ARMSTRONG is of course a God at Championship level and scored the second most important goal in our history to get us promoted at Wembley last season. That said, he has had three seasons at Premier League level with us and been shite and now there can be no doubt for anyone that he cannot handle it at that level, so the question is, do you keep him for the Championship , knowing that you’re gonna have to move him on if you get promoted, or do you cut your losses now?  His loan move to West Brom has so far not really gone particularly well and I do wonder if he’ll want to spend another season in the Championship with Saints, bearing in mind that he will know that he’s not getting another go in the Premier League if we get promoted again. Decisions, decisions.
Do I want him to stay? Yes, I’d prefer Adam to some of our other strikers
Chances of him staying: 50%
Bothered if he leaves?  No, even though he would be guaranteed to score against us
Championship Level?  Starter
Prem Level? No chance
2024/25 Season Highlight – His crap penalty bouncing back to him against Liverpool
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Another failure to step up a level
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 3

BEN BRERETON DIAZ really looked like he’d never kicked a football before in his five months with us. No pace, no work rate, no ball control, no strength, no nothing. It’s fucking embarrassing that he was one of our main hopes at the start of the season to step up to the Premier League and give us something at the top end of the pitch.  He’s gone back to Sheffield United on loan and has done okay and as long as they cough up the £10 million option to buy, he will be gone and no one in Southampton will care.  I can’t see them buying him however so who knows?
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 10%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Starter, but I bet he’d still be shit
Prem Level? Not being able to control it or run is a bit of a drawback.
2024/25 Season Highlight – Diving to get Schar sent off
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Being shit
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 1

CAMERON ARCHER, like Adam Armstrong is a striker that can only do one thing, which is to play in the channels. If he has a defender in any proximity to him then he is absolutely fucking useless, horribly lightweight and just coughs up possession. Seems prone to sulking so I’m not sure he’s the kind of guy that you want around.  Considering the not insignificant outlay to bring him in, he’s been a shocking signing so far.  We probably need to keep one of him or Adam Armstrong (I’d prefer Armstrong), but I find it very difficult to believe that you could play both of them in the same team effectively. It would almost certainly come back to bite us if we moved him on but if we get offered a what we paid for him, then I think that’s what we’ll do.  If he goes to another Championship club, he will doubtless score against us.
Do I want him to stay? No
Chances of him staying: 40%
Bothered if he leaves?  No
Championship Level?  Starter, but not centrally
Prem Level? No, too limited
2024/25 Season Highlight – Goal versus Arsenal away
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Any time a defender went near him and penalty versus United
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 3

ROSS STEWART. Remember him?  You would be forgiven for wondering what’s the point.  His first start this season away at Arsenal lasted half an hour before getting injured and being out for another four months.  He comes back, plays a couple of games for the under 21s, injured again, but he’s recently resurfaced, like the Loch Ness Monster, possibly.  That’s nearly three seasons now that he’s hardly kicked a ball, so I think you have to accept that it’s not gonna happen. However, no one is gonna buy him, so we are stuck with him next year. There is a redemption arc in which he stays fit and scores a load of goals at Championship level because he certainly good enough to do that, but let’s face it, the chances of him staying fit are small.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 100% – no one buying with that injury record
Bothered if he leaves?  No – but you know he’d stay fit and score 20 if he did
Championship Level? Starter for 3 games and then NHS.
Prem Level? Bupa
2024/25 Season Highlight – Starting a Premier League game
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Only lasting 20 minutes
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a

Tall PAUL ONUACHU certainly had a redemption of sorts this season and will finish as our top goal scorer which is something you certainly would not have put money on at the start of the season. Like with Archer and Armstrong, very limited but with a different set of skills and if you play to his strengths then he will certainly score goals at Championship level. He’s even had a relatively decent scoring level in the Premier League this season but of course, you have to use him in the right way.  If he’d played all season and scored at the same rate as he has done since he got in the side, then he would have scored roughly the same number of goals as Liam Delap at Ipswich, and he’s been touted as a £40 million player.  It could be the case that a reasonable offer from one of the Turkish clubs who were trying to sign him, will be accepted this summer though I kind of hope that he’s still around because it always gives you a different option when he’s on the pitch.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 60%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes, a bit.
Championship Level?  Starter or Plan B sub
Prem Level? Useful if used properly.
2024/25 Season Highlight – Winner at Ipswich, header against Forest
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Not playing at start of season
2024/25 Season Out of 10 - 5

That leaves us with another signed and loaned to Goztepe player in the striker JUAN. I’ll be the first to admit that I know nothing about this guy aside from he has 15 career goals from 112 appearances in Brazil and Turkey, so as he was signed by Southampton, you would think that we would be the expected destination at some point? Will he be around next season and will it be a triumph for the multi club model? Yeah, whatever.
Do I want him to stay? Yes
Chances of him staying: 70%
Bothered if he leaves?  Yes – because the multi club model will need questioning
Championship Level?  Over to you Rasmus – it was your signing.
Prem Level? No way of knowing for sure but very unlikely
2024/25 Season Highlight – Nice trip to Turkey
2024/25 Season Lowlight – Being part of a Rasmus master plan
2024/25 Season Out of 10 – n/a


So there you have it.  As far as building a squad for next year is concerned - It’s guesswork of course and you can never tell who will want to leave and who we can’t get rid of.  The most telling thing for me is the number of players that I’m not bothered about if they leave or not.  Big summer ahead.

Up the Fucking Johannes Spors

Premier League Ready? - The Great League 1 Minus 10 Player Review of Season 23/24

GOALKEEPERS

Gavin Bazunu
The first thing that anyone ever says about Baz is that he is “good with his feet and you need that in a Russell Martin team”.  Whilst this statement is undoubtedly true, the question is whether the fact that he is good with his feet override the fact that he is not particularly good with his hands?  In days gone by, a professional footballer with Baz’s skillset would not even be a goalkeeper and even in this evolved version of the game that we have now, it’s still a bit of an issue if you have a goalkeeper who doesn’t save very much when it really matters. To have the worst expected goals against (letting in shots you should have saved) in the Premier League for a team that got relegated is perfectly understandable but to have it again a season later in the Championship, when the team is one of the best in the division, is not really acceptable. Nearly 12 more goals conceded than he should have... not good and no amount of good passing really makes up for that.  As I said at the end of last season, he is still so young for a goalkeeper and could certainly benefit from learning and improving without the pressure of being in the firing line every week.  All this is a moot point with regards to next season of course because of the achilles injury that he got which is basically going to rule him out for the entire season. Premier League ready? Not as a first choice, even if he was fit.

Alex McCarthy
Well here’s a story. Alex had basically been employed all season to take corners in the warm-up and that was it, bar one early season Carabao appearance against Gillingham, where no one tried.  He never played for any of the team is below the first team and he was never on the bench for the first team, just there, in the warm-ups, crossing balls in for Bazunu and Lumley to catch and clapping encouragement.  Such is the life of the third choice keeper.  I had severe question marks over his attitude seeing as he seemed perfectly happy to be picking up his money and not playing and then all of a sudden, he was playing.  It remains one of the great unexplained calls of the season by the manager but bloody hell, was it the right call.   Macca came back into the team after Baz got injured and has been pretty faultless as the goals-against dried up in the main (barring the Leicester debacle), and we surged through the playoffs and into the Premier League.  It was previously an absolute inevitability that he would leave at the end of the season regardless of where we ended up, but a combination of the Baz injury and us being promoted, means that it’s now not certain.  I am certain that he will be offered a new contract and it will just be a case of whether the money and the number of years on it stacks up for McCarthy.  At 34 years old, most goalkeepers will be looking for a two-year contract at least and he won’t be keen on a drop in money either. So, it will be interesting to see how that one plays out and should he be here next season, will he be able to cope with the demands of using his feet in the Premier League where everything is that much quicker. Premier League ready? Yes as a goalkeeper with his hands, not sure about with his feet.

Joe Lumley
Second choice all season until it was time for him to step into the team and then he remained second choice with McCarthy parachuted in ahead of him. I can honestly say that if I was Joe Lumley I would’ve gone absolutely fucking mental at that point and have been demanding a transfer in the summer.  It was especially weird given that he had just signed a new contract extension as well. Sadly for Joe, it was proven to be 100% correct decision to parachute McCarthy in ahead of him. Joe proved in a couple of cup games this season that he had something about him, despite letting in a laughable goal at Watford when he decided not to use his arms and tried to save a free-kick with his teeth. Premier League ready? As a starter – no, as a back-up that never plays other than cup games we don’t particularly care about, yes.

FULL-BACKS

Kyle Walker-Peters
When we look back on this season in the future, we will still find it amazing that KWP stayed with us after relegation from the Premier League. A full England international a few months previously who never at any point seemed to be angling for a move or throwing his toys out.  A season of great consistency of performance and the best right back in the division by some considerable distance.  His attacking threat was always there, whatever the tweaks in his role that Russell Martin applied, as he played as a conventional right back, left back, a right winger, a right wing back and inverted right back in central midfield at times, all handled impeccably. The attacking side of his game is always been seen as better than defensive side but when it really mattered, against the likes of Leeds, he was right on it and didn’t give the Championship Player of the Season Crysensio Summerville a kick. We certainly missed him the one game he didn’t play, away at Ipswich when all the goals came down the side he would’ve been playing. I think he’s only got one year left on his contract but having been promoted we have a much better chance of keeping him than we did before. Premier League ready? Of course he is.

Ryan Manning
A free transfer arrival at the start of the season and spend the whole season as our only natural left back. Clearly more suited to playing as a wing back than a full back but ironically, when we switched that formation at the end of the season, Ryan Fraser was preferred. Always seem to be the scapegoat if things went wrong earlier on in the season and some of his performances were a bit ropey but he was never as bad as he was made out to be. A regular criticism was the Manning Chasm which appeared usually when he was far too far infield.  It was clearly a tactic for the back four to defend narrow but there were times when Manning seem to take it to extremes and be stood next to the left sided centre back. When he is on it and concentrating on defending I think there’s a player in there but his lack of consistency is a worry going forward. Premier League ready? You’d have to say no on the evidence of this season but it will certainly help him if we play with a back three and he naturally will be stationed wider on the pitch. I can see him being the back-up left back behind a new signing

James Bree
Came into the team at left back when Ryan Manning was struggling and proved to be a bit of an improvement, certainly from a defensive aspect. Was also switched to the right with KWP on the left which allowed him to play on his best side and get up the pitch and get the occasional cross in. A hamstring injury, picked up when he tried to match a winger for pace, left him out of the side and he got back in the team for the odd game at the end of the season and had an absolute stinker away at Ipswich when he made mistakes leading to the first two goals and then got himself sent off by repeating one of his earlier mistakes. That game highlighted what a dreadfully passive defender he can be, terrified of pace so he stands off and he’s never close enough to the winger when you need him to be. We signed him when we were in the Premier League and he wasn’t good enough and now we’re back in the Premier League and he still isn’t good enough and he’s not going to be either. Seems like a nice lad and he always tries his best but it’s time to move on for all parties. Premier League ready? Just not good enough.

CENTRE BACKS

Jan Bednarek
Jan the redemption man. Having returned for the second half of last season with his tail between his legs having stunk the place out on a loan spell Aston Villa, he repaired quite a lot of the damage last season by putting in some decent performances despite the team going down the pan and getting relegated. The fact that a 40 cap Polish International is prepared to stick around for this season says a lot for the man and he basically has an excellent season. He is the most consistent of our central defenders and when he plays in the middle of a black three, his organisational skills stand out, as does his ability to spot problems and cover for the other defenders. One of the few good things that Nathan Jones did was to call him ‘Janny B’, which of course, fits in the song ‘Daddy Cool’, which is not sung enough.   A slight question mark over the fact he is entering the last year of his deal but I assume a new contract is in the works and he will undoubtedly be a starter in the Premier League next season.  Premier League ready?  Yes.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis
For the life of me I have no idea how we secured a loan deal for this guy because he should have been in the Premier League already. It’s unbelievable that Burnley didn’t make much of an effort to sign him for their Premier League campaign but their loss was our gain as the Jason Wilcox factor enabled us to get him in on loan from Manchester City and thus preventing Mason Holgate from having to play. After a shaky start coming to terms with playing Russell Martin ball, he absolutely excelled throughout the season with a range of long passing that offered a real option rather than just trying to pass our way through teams.  In addition to that of course, he is a properly committed defender and an absolute leader of men, hence he has been captain of the England under 21s. He will play for England one day and it’s absolutely wonderful news that we managed to get a deal which meant we had an obligation to buy in the event of the team being promoted.  I guess we can call that Jason Wilcox' farewell present. THB is absolutely ready to be a starter in the Premier League next season and the big offers will be coming in next summer.

Mason Holgate
I've only included him here for a laugh.  When we signed Holgate on loan, a mate who is an Everton fan sent me a text which read “he is an absolute liability and you will regret it“.  Good knowledge.  His debut was a 5-0 defeat at Sunderland where he was directly responsible for two of the goals and that kind of set the tone for his entire stay. With Jack Stephens injured he got in the team for one game against West Brom at home and played really well and was man of the match in many peoples eyes.  His next outing came at Preston where rather than doing his job, he decided to be the big man and try and start a fight with a Preston substitute which ultimately led to us conceding two goals and being very fortunate to escape with a point. His final game for us was in the FA Cup away at Watford where he look like a good player for half the game and an absolute fucking clown for the other half.  Basically, he could do it when he wanted to but there’s something wrong in his head.  It was a masterstroke to bin off his loan deal and Sheffield United had a shocker by taking it over.  It’ll be really interesting to see where he ends up next season. My money is on the lower half of the Championship or somewhere like Turkey.  Premier League ready?  Not our problem mate.

Jack Stephens
Named captain of the team just before he got injured and had to watch Jan Bednarek and THB form what was clearly going to be our best centre back pairing.  Awkward.  Upon his return, Russell Martin found any opportunity possible to shoehorn him into the team, often to the detriment of someone who is a natural left or right back and he became the Cornish Beckenbauer for a few games playing a hybrid left back/midfield role, which never really looked convincing. Jack was one of the players that Russell Martin 100% wanted in the team and it took to the last game of the regular season for him to set up with three central defenders, thus allowing three of our best players to all start in something approaching their natural positions. With us now playing three at the back, Jack excelled as the team got stronger and stronger throughout the playoff campaign. Jack will be back in the Premier League next season, probably as a starter and if that’s the case, he will be captain.  Premier League ready? Has the experience so it won’t be a surprise to him.  If we stay with a back three then I think he’ll be fine.

MIDFIELDERS

Flynn Downes
Most Saints fans will be keeping an eye on social media and mainstream media all summer to see what happens with regards to Flynn Downes and whether we sign him or not. He has been the single biggest reason why we’ve got promoted this season with some absolutely superb performances in midfield.  He makes the whole team work. When he is there we have been a match for anyone this season but when he’s not, the stats rather starkly tell you how much we relied on him. Teams need characters as well as good footballers. Teams also need chefs who cook food for the players as well and don’t let idiots like Flynn give themselves E.Coli poisoning. Never fall in love with a loan player they say? Too late for that.  If he stays at West Ham then I hope they use him and give him the run of games the player of his ability deserves. My hope is that at 25, he fancies starting every game in the Premier League instead of just a few. West Ham changing their manager has put a little bit of a different slant on it but with West Ham being the club they are and Lopetegui being the manager that he is, I would imagine that Flynn is not the sort of player that they will go for. Premier League ready? Abso-fucking-lutely.

Shea Charles
A season that started well for Shea has somewhat tailed off as Russell Martin seem to lose a bit of faith in him as the season went on. It looked like he was going to be the regular number six at the start of the season until Flynn Downes arrived and once he stopped shitting out raw liver.  Then it was assumed that Shea would be his back up with versatility meaning he got the odd chance at centre back, right back or at number eight. A couple of dodgy performances at centre back early in the season left him on the bench when players got fit but he was criminally underused when Downes was unavailable which in my opinion cost us a few points.  His passing can be a bit loose at times which I think is what counted against him but if anything, the change to 3 central defenders is probably going to help his game time next season because he’s an option in a back three as well as his usual defensive midfield position. Premier League ready? Not as a starter but will be a decent squad option.

Will Smallbone
Wasn’t involved in the relegation shitshow of course because he was out on-loan at Stoke and so was well prepared for the division that Saints found themselves in upon his return. Overall, it’s been a decent season for Will.  The question was always about his physical capability of playing week after week but he has largely answered those questions this season. He has had some average games but not always his fault because Russell Martin had it in his head for a while that Will could play is a number six when he absolutely cannot unless we are playing a team that has no pace or anyone who can tackle in midfield and who are going to just let us have the ball and knock it around for 90 minutes. His lack of pace is an issue if the midfield is strung out as he seems incapable of sprinting anywhere.  Concentrating on his strengths however - his best games have all come in the number 8 position where he keeps the ball moving and has developed this priceless knack of arriving at exactly the right moment to slot the ball into the net. His finishing has improved as the season has gone on as he’s realised that sometimes you do need to put your foot through it rather than just try and roll it into the corner. Premier League ready? If you’d asked me around Christmas I would’ve said absolutely not. I still think he has a lot to prove but he is a young player who is going to be better for the experience of the season so like with Joe Aribo, if he can adapt to the pace of the Premier League, then maybe.

Joe Aribo
You’ve got the power to know, you are indestructible, always believe in, Ari-BO. No one would’ve given a solitary shit if Joe had left last summer, but he stayed and was nowhere near the team for the first three months of the season apart from one appearance against Ipswich, where he was terrible. He got given another chance around November time when the team was playing well and he slotted in, looking fitter and stronger and he had a defined role as a number eight which seemed to suit him more than any of the other myriad of positions he has played in his career ranging from winger, centre forward and even left back on some occasions for Rangers. Just when things were going well, he went off to the AFCON to largely be a substitute for Nigeria in January and when he came back he seemed to have lost a bit of spark but regained it in plenty of time for the important end of the season when he became one of our most consistent and influential players, becoming especially important after Stuart Armstrong got injured. I will never forgive him though for making me, a confirmed punk rock fan, sing Spandau Ballet songs at the football. No mean feat. Premier League ready? I feel that he can definitely give it a much better go than he did in his first season.  The question is whether he can adapt to the pace and I think that will become apparent pretty quickly.

Stuart Armstrong
It was a sad sight when Stuart Armstrong limped out of the game against Cardiff, thus ending his season and his time at Saints.  As I write it has just been confirmed that he is leaving for destination unknown.  His last season in the Premier League was pretty average so it was good to see him put in a regular run of decent performances in the Championship, where his level of intelligence and ability stood out and he still has magnificent hair as we all know. There had been no real mention of a potential new contract being on the table so him leaving is not a surprise and I think that’s getting promoted to the Premier League probably made that more unlikely.  For me, bearing in mind his last Premier League season and his age, there was a big question mark over whether he would be capable of being much of a factor next season anyway and I’d be surprised if the link to Fulham comes to pass.  The other rumour has been Fiorentina and that makes much more sense to me – I can imagine Stu playing in Italy and thriving. As he leaves, I expect he’ll be remembered fondly by all Saints fans. I always like intelligent players with ability and that’s Stuart Armstrong.  He was certainly one of our better signings of that period post-2016 when the golden age of the black box was largely over.  £7 million for well over 200 appearances is a hell of a bargain.  Premier League ready? Not applicable (for us anyway)

Joe Rothwell
The first of the two players to arrive on loan from Bournemouth. Bournemouth fans were arsed about Brooks but Rothwell? Not so much.  He had a good reputation at Championship level through spells at Bournemouth and Blackburn but was not cutting it in the Premier League.  Initially, was very difficult to see what sort of midfielder he was and then he scored an absolutely ridiculous goal against Huddersfield which was part of a two-goal salvo that rescued that particular game. He then repeated the trick game against Sunderland with another two goals. Other than that though he was very underwhelming. The closer he got towards our own goal, the worse he was and he couldn’t deal with receiving the ball in tight areas with his back to play, at all. A horrific performance against Hull saw him solely being used as Stuart Armstrong‘s understudy thereafter, but when Armstrong picked up his season-ending injury, Rothwell was not used.  Overall, he’s provided an extra body in midfield in the squad but even if we hadn’t gone up, I don’t think we’d be looking at a permanent move.  Some players are never going to be suitable for Russell Martin’s style of play and maybe that was the case with Joe.  Premier League ready? It will be up to Bournemouth to answer that.

WINGERS

David Brooks
We were very fortunate to be able to sign a player of his ability in January, on loan from Bournemouth. The feeling about this from the start , was that Bournemouth were acting in the players, rather than their own interests by letting him come on loan to us. It’s quite funny to think that it would’ve boiled the piss of quite a few Bournemouth supporters, intent on stoking the fake rivalry. Bearing in mind the journey that Brooks has been on with cancer, the loan spell has been incredibly important for him to get his body used to playing regular football again. His performances have been a bit patchy with sometimes him looking ridiculously good and other times not quite being on it but given the journey he’s been on, I think that’s perfectly acceptable. He wouldn’t be the player you'd choose to win a tackle for your life and he never will be, but he works hard, is clearly very intelligent in the way he plays football and there’s always room for players with ability.  Overall, on balance, I hope that we sign him as he has a very high ceiling and will only get better as he builds up. Nothing has been mentioned as yet to whether we are going to try to sign him and the only reason I can think of is that Bournemouth have categorically decided that he’s not being sold. If that’s the case, one thing I do hope is that if he plays against us for Bournemouth next season, we give him a good reception and don’t give him a hard time like idiotic fans Stoke did with Will Smallbone for example. Premier League ready? On ability, definitely.

Sam Edozie
Sam has had a strange season. Got himself in the team early on and then found himself bumped down the pecking order with the arrival of Ryan Fraser. Also found himself behind Kamaldeen Sulemana because at that particular time, we hadn’t given up on him actually providing something for the money that we paid for him.  Sammy got back in the team around December time and started rattling in goals at a decent rate but his season was interrupted by a dreadful tackle by Norwich’s Jack Stacey, who hitched a ride with his full weight on Sam‘s ankle. I think overall this season he has been very unlucky but there is definite promise there and the manager clearly likes him. It was good to see him have a bit of an impact at the end of the season and play a significant amount of time in the Playoff Final at Wembley.  One to watch for next season. Premier League ready? Bench option I feel but a lot of scope to keep improving.

Ryan Fraser
Wee Man has been an absolute revelation. There were many people who were not enthusiastic about the prospect of him joining the club back in the summer, due to the questions that had been asked over is attitude in the way he left Bournemouth. His career had gone down the pan a little bit when he got his move to Newcastle at a time when Newcastle were soon to be taken over by a sovereign state and suddenly go stratospheric with the type of players they were buying. Not only that, the manager he’d walked out on at Bournemouth, ended up as Newcastle manager as the Karma Gods had a bit of a laugh with Wee Man.  Russell Martin told us to trust his judgement on his old Scotland team mate and he came on-loan to us and made an immediate impression with late goals at Hull and Millwall to turn two points into six. As the season went on, the goals dried up a bit but by the end Russell Martin was using him as a wingback to really good effect, so much so that he started the play-off final against Leeds and did a brilliant job. It should be an easy deal to do with Newcastle to get him here next season and he is a player who hundred percent really wants to be here. Wee man - Premier League ready? Valuable squad player.

Kamaldeen Sulemana
£25 million quid and after a season and a half - fuck all. For context, Sekou Mara has done more and he cost half as much. Has not looked like he has wanted to be here since the moment he arrived and is one of those players who would’ve been off in a heartbeat at the end of last season if anyone had come in with the money, which no one was ever going to do because he hasn’t done anything.  A classic Catch 22. Probably didn’t want to stay and play in the Championship because he thought he was too good for it but when he played, it turned out that he wasn’t good enough for it. Towards the end of the season Russell Martin said he wasn’t going to play any players who didn’t really want to be here and since then, Kamaldeen has barely played a minute, which I think, tells you everything you need to know.  We’re going to take a massive loss of his transfer fee and wages paid out, but it will be worth it to get him out the door. Premier League ready? He probably thinks he is but no one else does.

STRIKERS

Adam Armstrong
Ultimately, he has scored the goals that have fired us back to the Premier League, including of course, the winner at Wembley against Leeds. I find myself in the ridiculous position of still being frustrated with a player who has scored 24 goals for us this season because of the amount of chances he misses, the first touches that go astray and the lack of strength when within close proximity to a defender.  However, that's just focusing on the negatives and without him this season, we would not have got promoted, so whatever happens at Premier League level, he has totally paid back the transfer fee that we spent on him three years ago. He is unquestionably better in the wide positions, away from most of the traffic, where he can concentrate on finding spaces between full-backs and centre backs. He has 100% earned the right to have another crack at the Premier League and if he starts well and gets confident at that level, then he can answer all of the “can he cut it in the Premier League?” style questions. To be honest, we need him to. His two seasons in the Premier League were distinctly underwhelming but the extenuating circumstances are that Ralph Hasenhüttl apparently never rated him and didn’t want to sign him in the first place, which put paid to his first season after he got dropped round about Christmas time.  The second season was the Ralph/Nathan/Ruben shitshow in which everyone was dreadful and we didn’t use any player to their strengths.  Let’s hope that playing to his strengths, the style of play and playing for a manager who actually rates him, will mean he has a better go at it this time. Premier League ready? Jury is out on that one but it would be brilliant if he could bang in the goals at a higher level.  Needs a good start.

Che Adams
In the words of The Clash - Should I Stay or Should I Go? On the one hand, here is a player who has had a contract offer on the table all season and has decided not to sign it and waited to be a free agent. He has contributed enough this season for him to leave with our best wishes, should he decide to do so. On the other hand, you could never fault his effort even though his contract was running down and he stepped up to the plate when it mattered in the second half of the season when we needed him to. Che is now of an age where he should have some consistency in his performances but even within the same game sometimes, he can look like a Premier League ready forward and five minutes later, look like someone who has never kicked a ball before. If he could play at his best level for 80% of the time, instead of the 40% that he currently manages, he would never have been in the Championship last year in the first place and everybody would have been looking to sign him for the relatively paltry £15 million that we were asking for him last summer. We are undoubtedly a better team with him in it and if he leaves, we have to try and replace him with someone better. If he stays however, he has to do better than he has in his previous three Premier League seasons. I feel that I will accept what happens either way, should he stay or should he go.  Premier League ready? I can’t imagine he’ll be any better than he was in previous seasons there.  He’ll be ok, no more no less.

Ross Stewart
Well what can you say about Ross Stewart? Not a lot really as he has barely kicked a ball this season. Brought in to score the goals to fire us out of the Championship but we are now in a position of hoping that a good half a season in the Championship for Sunderland, will see him step up to the Premier League. It’s a bit of a stretch to expect him to do that but you never know, he might. He is so incredibly highly rated by anyone who has seen him play with any regularity that it just may turn out as a player who we signed for the season just gone, turns out to be the godsend that we needed at a higher level. He looks like a player – with physicality and pace and a decent shot on him – but a) can he stay fit and b) can he step up.  We can but hope.  Premier League ready? Wouldn’t it be fantastic if he was but there is absolutely no way of knowing.

Sekou Mara
Two seasons in for Sekou and all he has really proven that he is a player to bring on when you are 3-0 up against a team who have given up, when the game is dead. Quite simply, he didn’t prove that he was even Championship level during the season and our promotion to the Premier League will mean that he has to go, either back to France permanently or out on loan to someone. Seems to have no idea about what it takes from the physical sacrifice point of view, to be a serviceable footballer in England. Despite being quite a big lad he’s not prepared to put himself in harms way and there’s just nothing there.  More hairstyles than decent performances.  Premier League ready? Not in this lifetime.

OUT ON LOAN

Mateusz Lis
So far, he was signed by us to loan out and there has never been any indication that he was ever considered to be a first team keeper for Saints.  So, did we sign him just to bring in loan fees every year or are we watching his development with a view to bring him back?  Still only 27 and on loan at Goztepe last season and winning promotion with them and very highly regarded.  There is absolutely no way of knowing what the plan is for Lis.

Romain Perraud
In a season where loads of players didn’t give a shit, that allegation could never have been levelled at Romain. Apparently though, he didn’t get on with Russell Martin for the moment he walked in the door so the exit was always on the cards. Has not been a massive success back in France but even with our lack of Premier League level options at left back, I can’t see it being him who comes to the rescue. Premier League ready? I don’t think so.

Lyanco
Spent the season playing in Qatar for a club I’ve never heard of. Apparently, there was a deal in place for him to join them permanently, but he doesn’t want to do that, so he will be coming back, to be shipped out again no doubt, hopefully permanently. He’s a good lad who provided some light relief in the relegation season but there is a feeling that all his heart and passion is an attempt at hiding the fact that he just isn’t very good. Premier League ready? Nowhere near.

Duje Caleta-Car
Left because he didn’t want to play in the Championship and in his case, as an experienced international player, that’s enough for me to say that he can go.  If you think that playing badly in relegated side is reason enough to declare that you’re too good for the division below, then I think your attitude needs to be questioned and we don’t need any bad attitudes in what is going to be a very tough season. A slight caveat on his one season with us is that it was the Ralph/Nathan/Ruben shitshow but no. Premier League ready? On ability he probably is but on attitude definitely not and I’m not sure he’d have the ability to play the way Russell Martin wants his centre backs to play.

Armel Bella-Kotchap
There is obviously a good player in there and Russell Martin said at the start of the season that he would like Armel to stay but like Caleta-Car, Armel didn’t want to stay and so went off to PSV in the oh-so-challenging Dutch league. Armel is built like Tarzan and fights like Jane and is clearly made of biscuits because even a move to the less physical Dutch league, saw him pop his shoulder out and miss about seven months of the season. Premier League ready? I think that if he wants to come back and is prepared to get his head down and work then he could be re-integrated into the squad as he plays a position where we are going to need bodies next season and there’s a player in there if he gets his head and body right.  At his age he’s not beyond redemption and it would be cheaper to keep him than to buy a replacement.  I feel that he will go if we get a half decent offer and if that’s the case, I can’t see myself crying myself to sleep about it.

Charly Alcaraz
Stayed after the relegation and signed a new contract and was then loaned out a few months later when Juventus took an interest in signing him.  He went with an option to buy that Juventus were never going to pay and like ABK, he got injured and didn’t do much at all. A lot of noise has been made in the media from Italy about Juve wanting to sign him again but I am firmly of the opinion that we should tell them to get serious or fuck off.  Put some money on the table and then we’ll talk. The implication was that he didn’t have the learning capacity to take in what was wanted in our team and I doubt his comprehension of English has improved whilst on loan in Italy. Premier League ready? Has the ability but I think we will be looking to cash in and spend the money elsewhere.

Paul Onuachu
Has undoubtedly been the most successful of the players that we loaned out, banging in goals all over the place for Trabzonspor, who like Juventus are really taking the piss with the noises they are making about wanting to sign a player that we paid £20 million for, for nothing. What’s “fuck off” in Turkish?. There is a parallel universe where Tall Paul comes back and bangs in the goals in the Premier League but we don’t live in that universe. We live in the universe where there is a player who is not suited to Russell Martin style of play. I would love him to be a success for us as I believe he was badly treated but I don’t think it’s going to happen in this lifetime. Premier League ready? Even if Che Adams leaves, I really can’t see it.  He'll go to raise funds if a proper offer comes in.

PREMIER LEAGUE READY?

Lots of work on the squad to do.  Here's my wish list... assumptions are that no one unexpected leaves (KWP, Bednarek, Arma, Stephens in their last year etc) and that Che goes.  Another assumption is that this is about survival and not about qualifying for Europe etc.

A first choice goalkeeper is a priority.  Maybe someone on loan with McCarthy and Lumley as the backups for the season. Highly unlikely that Baz is going to play for the first team at all next season or that Mateusz Lis is an option.

Full backs... I make it we have KWP for the team and Manning for the bench meaning that we need a left back who is a starter first and foremost. We'll also need another right back to cover KWP as Bree is simply not good enough.  Perraud to be moved on.

Bednarek, Stephens, THB are fine but we need another central defender which could be ABK or it could be someone else. No way back for Caleta-Car and Lyanco.

Le God willing we'll have Flynn Downes in midfield but Aribo and Smallbone will need proper competition and we'll have to replace Stuart Armstrong and Rothwell.  So, two midfield players.  Alcaraz to be moved on to raise funds.

We need a winger to replace Sulemana with someone who might actually contribute.  Maybe try and  turn Brooks loan into a permanent deal.  If we want to play with three up at any point, we will probably need two wide players to be signed.

Assuming Che leaves or even if he doesn't, a striker is priority as Arma in the Premier League is a question mark, as is Ross Stewart being able to stand up for long enough. Tall Paul to be moved on to raise some cash.  Sekou Mara to be moved on because it's never happening. 

So much to do and so much money and so little time.  Bring it on.