Summer transfer window 2024

[blueheaven]

A few updates to make to this ...

 

Goalkeepers 

Josh Rae - 2026

Ross Sinclair - 2026

Craig Hepburn - 2027

 

Defenders/wing backs

Oludare Olufunwa - 2025

David Keltjens - 2025

Sam McClelland - 2025

Liam Parker - 2025

Kyle Cameron - 2025 - on loan from Notts County

Jack Sanders - 2026

Aaron Essel - 2027

 

Midfielders/wingers

Connor Smith - 2025

Max Kucheriavyi - 2025

Matt Smith - 2025

Alex Ferguson - 2025

Fran Franczak - 2025(?)

Cammy MacPherson - 2025

Sven Sprangler - 2025

Graham Carey - 2025

Drey Wright - 2025

Josh McPake - 2026

 

Forwards

Stevie May - 2025

Nicky Clark - 2025

Benjamin Kimpioka - 2025

Adama Sidibeh - 2026

Uche Ikpeazu - 2026

Taylor Steven - 2026

 

Departures

Dave Richards - end of loan, returns to Crewe, signed for Dundee Utd

Luke Robinson - end of loan, returns to Wigan Athletic

Diallang Jaiyesimi - end of loan, returns to Charlton Athletic, signed for Leyton Orient

Chris Kane - end of contract, signed for Dunfermline Athletic

Jack Wills - end of contract, signed for Queen's Park

James Brown - end of contract

Andy Considine - end of contract, retired from playing

Callum Booth - end of contract, signed for Spartans

Tony Gallacher - end of contract

Ali Crawford - end of contract

Cammy Ballantyne - end of contract, signed for Linfield

Dimitar Mitov - sold to Aberdeen for undisclosed fee

Liam Gordon - end of contract, signed for Motherwell

Ryan McGowan - end of contract, signed for Livingston

Daniel Phillips - end of contract, signed for Stevenage

[Saintdunc]

16 hours ago, bankfoot saint said:

Aaron Essel confirmed 3 year deal

Hopefully better than Ali Dia!

Welcome.

[R.B.B:- Adz]

Certainly looking like a more physical side - which I don’t mind.

When we were in a bit of a rut in the past, we had a couple of physical sides that got us competitive again and grew the reputation of not wanting to play St Johnstone and knowing they would give you a game.

Think Darren Sheridan, Simon Mensing, Martin Hardie, Jim Weir, Jason Scotland side of mid 2000s. Adding the likes of Alan McManus and Derek McInnes the year after. 

[Oldmuirton]

Looking at our present squad and our new additions I am actually feeling a bit optimistic about the coming year.

I actually think Levine has done a fairly good job of rebuilding.

Some people never learn!

[blueheaven]

2 hours ago, R.B.B:- Adz said:

Think Darren Sheridan, Simon Mensing, Martin Hardie, Jim Weir, Jason Scotland side of mid 2000s. Adding the likes of Alan McManus and Derek McInnes the year after. 

Definitely think that's the type of player we'll still lacking. I haven't seen Cameron yet but hoping he could be that type.

To me we still look very lightweight and lacking in physicality and leadership in central midfield and probably still need bare minimum of another three outfield players good enough to go straight into the first team without development.

 

[Cagey]

10 minutes ago, blueheaven said:

Definitely think that's the type of player we'll still lacking. I haven't seen Cameron yet but hoping he could be that type.

To me we still look very lightweight and lacking in physicality and leadership in central midfield and probably still need bare minimum of another three outfield players good enough to go straight into the first team without development.

 

I think Max , Ferguson and C Smith are the opposite of the above.

I think they will have to be loaned out as I can't see a place for them in the squad.

I thought Max was going to be a good player but he seems to have regressed.

I thought when I saw Ferguson come on as a sub a few seasons ago he was going to be a player but he too seems to have regressed. I saw him in a couple of TV games for QoS and as a QoS supporter said he was a waste of a jersey.

C Smith has not had much game time but not impressed by what I have seen.

There must be a reason these young guys have gone backwards.

Trouble is after you reach 18 unless you are exceptional the only way to get game time is on loan and not many have successful loan. May be the disappointment of not getting a chance for Saints or the enthusiasm for the game has waned.

The problem with a big squad is you have a lot of players sitting in the stand each week. I don't know why we don't have a reserve team. It would keep squad players match fit , give players returning from injury game time and allow some over 18s game time.

 

[R.B.B:- Adz]

Yup, get those three out on loan to Championship/League one and off the wage bill and throw their money plus a few quid at a Martin Hardie type

[Two Cups 2021]

There's only one Martin Hardie, one Martin Hardie.

[Indicator]

58 minutes ago, Cagey said:

I think Max , Ferguson and C Smith are the opposite of the above.

I think they will have to be loaned out as I can't see a place for them in the squad.

I thought Max was going to be a good player but he seems to have regressed.

I thought when I saw Ferguson come on as a sub a few seasons ago he was going to be a player but he too seems to have regressed. I saw him in a couple of TV games for QoS and as a QoS supporter said he was a waste of a jersey.

C Smith has not had much game time but not impressed by what I have seen.

There must be a reason these young guys have gone backwards.

Trouble is after you reach 18 unless you are exceptional the only way to get game time is on loan and not many have successful loan. May be the disappointment of not getting a chance for Saints or the enthusiasm for the game has waned.

The problem with a big squad is you have a lot of players sitting in the stand each week. I don't know why we don't have a reserve team. It would keep squad players match fit , give players returning from injury game time and allow some over 18s game time.

 

Two very interesting points.

I'm sure the players themselves will have ideas on just why they have failed to progress but hasn't there been questions surrounding the coaching, or apparent lack of, over the past 3 seasons. I seem to remember various posters raising concerns on the subject. 

Worst thing they ever did, getting rid of the reserve league IMHO. Always took in those Saturday games at Muirton when I was home on short weekend leave and unable to make the 1st team game. Was good to get to see what we had in the way of backup and of course you got to see first hand any new acquisitions and young players coming through. 

Edited July 9, 2024 by Indicator

[tucker]

Swansea just tried to low ball saints for adama

[templeofsaints]

8 minutes ago, tucker said:

Swansea just tried to low ball saints for adama

Kicked back by Saints. Get the feeling this is only the beginning of a long couple of months. 

Adama due back training tomorrow - be interesting to see if his attitude or professionalism is impacted - remember what happened with Sylla?

[Linky]

I wonder what our valuation is?

[tucker]

30 minutes ago, templeofsaints said:

Kicked back by Saints. Get the feeling this is only the beginning of a long couple of months. 

Adama due back training tomorrow - be interesting to see if his attitude or professionalism is impacted - remember what happened with Sylla?

He was up at Arbroath Saturday doing shutter runs before the start I'm sure

[tucker]

29 minutes ago, Linky said:

I wonder what our valuation is?

What did Davidson go for 

[Linky]

2 minutes ago, tucker said:

What did Davidson go for 

Some are suggesting a £500k release clause. Disappointing if he goes for that, but we'll have made almost £1mil in fees this summer. Other players would start to see us as a good club to come to as a stepping stone

Edited July 9, 2024 by Linky

[Muirton Saint]

If we were to loan out C Smith, Max and Ferguson it would leave us with:

M Smith

Franczak

MacPherson 

Sprangler

Carey

Essol(?) 

If we don't include Franczak and Essol, then we definitely need one more who can start over Smith and MacPherson. I reckon Levein will be able to find the player, it just depends on who leaves whether we get him.

Tell all three going on loan that they have to impress if they want a future here. 

Edited July 9, 2024 by Muirton Saint

[PSJ.84]

21 minutes ago, tucker said:

He was up at Arbroath Saturday doing shutter runs before the start I'm sure

I could be wrong, and probably am, but that didn’t look like Sidibeh to me. 

[tucker]

9 minutes ago, PSJ.84 said:

I could be wrong, and probably am, but that didn’t look like Sidibeh to me. 

Possibly I wasn't 100 percent sure 

[RandomGuy]

Courier says Sidibeh isn't training etc., until Wednesday, he got a week off.

Initial reports said that Saints have asked for £500k, rather than it being a release clause.

I guess with Sidibeh it's all potential. He's shown ability to be better than that, but he's also shown to struggle with full time football and hasn't proven himself at this level over any length of time.

His contract length probably gives us wiggle room to reject it and take a gamble it'll be a better offer in 6/12 months.

You half wonder if £500k+ a percentage of his sale, giving someone else the gamble risk of him not being able to deal with full time football, and spending a chunk of that on Callum Hendry (reportedly available, linked with Dundee/Motherwell), would make a lot of sense?

[Saintdunc]

2 hours ago, tucker said:

Swansea just tried to low ball saints for adama

Before the new owner was confirmed we might have naiavely, and readily, accepted that.

[Saintdunc]

37 minutes ago, RandomGuy said:

Courier says Sidibeh isn't training etc., until Wednesday, he got a week off.

Initial reports said that Saints have asked for £500k, rather than it being a release clause.

I guess with Sidibeh it's all potential. He's shown ability to be better than that, but he's also shown to struggle with full time football and hasn't proven himself at this level over any length of time.

His contract length probably gives us wiggle room to reject it and take a gamble it'll be a better offer in 6/12 months.

You half wonder if £500k+ a percentage of his sale, giving someone else the gamble risk of him not being able to deal with full time football, and spending a chunk of that on Callum Hendry (reportedly available, linked with Dundee/Motherwell), would make a lot of sense?

Hendry signed a one year extension at Salford in April.

Not sure if we ever made the best use of him at Perth either.

Edited July 9, 2024 by Saintdunc

[Two Cups 2021]

Like to see more goal scorers signed, now that defence and midfield appear to be covered.

[The Real Saints]

Don't think we'll even be considering goalscorers unless Sidibeh leaves. Five contracted strikers is enough. Since joining the club, Adama has scored an average of 1 goal per 188 mins. Kimpioka has scored an average of 1 goal per 249 mins. Not bad at all. Nicky Clark (when fit) is also capable of scoring his fair share at this level. Stevie May was hitting double figures the season before last. They are able deputies. And hopefully Ikpeazu can open up more space and opportunities for them when he has recovered from his injury. Our main issue is (and has been) creating enough chances for our strikers.

In addition to this, the midfield and defence absolutely aren't covered yet. We've got rid of six defenders and only brought in three so far. We don't have a left back currently. In midfield, we've lost Phillips, Crawford and Ballantyne, only bringing in McPake at this point.

Edited July 9, 2024 by The Real Saints

[garydavidson]

7 hours ago, The Real Saints said:

In addition to this, the midfield and defence absolutely aren't covered yet. We've got rid of six defenders and only brought in three so far. We don't have a left back currently. In midfield, we've lost Phillips, Crawford and Ballantyne, only bringing in McPake at this point.

The midfield remains a concern for me too - a lot of numbers in there but not much quality.

[blueheaven]

7 hours ago, The Real Saints said:

Don't think we'll even be considering goalscorers unless Sidibeh leaves. Five contracted strikers is enough. Since joining the club, Adama has scored an average of 1 goal per 188 mins. Kimpioka has scored an average of 1 goal per 249 mins. Not bad at all. Nicky Clark (when fit) is also capable of scoring his fair share at this level. Stevie May was hitting double figures the season before last. They are able deputies. And hopefully Ikpeazu can open up more space and opportunities for them when he has recovered from his injury. Our main issue is (and has been) creating enough chances for our strikers.

In addition to this, the midfield and defence absolutely aren't covered yet. We've got rid of six defenders and only brought in three so far. We don't have a left back currently. In midfield, we've lost Phillips, Crawford and Ballantyne, only bringing in McPake at this point.

100% this. It's not more strikers we need. What we need is to address the way we play so that those strikers get service, and other than the fairly underwhelming signing of McPake I can see nothing to suggest we've done that. Our midfield is currently looking weaker than last season which is a major worry. We desperately need a player in there who can take a game by the scruff of the neck and drive us up the pitch.

Last season we looked like we had no plan at all for how to actually get the ball forward and create chances, other than occasionally playing through balls to Sidibeh or Kimpioka. If there's no sign during our League Cup games that that's been fixed, I'm going to be very worried.