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stu0x

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  1. That's interesting... I have a just-turned 7 year old who is tall for his age, and had a YXS last year that just fits (but would get one size up for this year, so was planning on a YS). I also have a just-about-to-turn 5 year old who is small for his age, he still comfortably fits into the 'toddler kit' and his brother's YXS from last year is too big for him. Been waiting for any news of the new toddler kit coming out (which is also much better value as you get the shorts and socks) but there doesn't seem to be any sign. It sounds like, if the shirts this year are smaller, I might be better off with a YMD and YXS - although the size guide on the website suggests both would be too big? Annoyingly not local to Southampton otherwise I'd just take them into the shop. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
  2. In the same way that Atletico couldn't wiggle out of their obligation to sell Alderweireld to us? If we just refused to buy Ings, I'm not sure there is any sanction available. The league certainly can't impose one. It's potentially a breach of contract - so let Liverpool initiate a civil action. There's zero chance of that. Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
  3. Salah has been there one year. Mane has been there two years. Not sure they kept him out of the team a great deal before they were at the club. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  4. Yeah that is how it works from an accountancy perspective, including on a football club's balance sheet. The value of the player is amortized over the duration of their contract. It makes perfect sense if you think about it, as they can leave for free (so their asset value is nothing) at the end of their contract. If more decisions were made using sound business principles, rather than for 'footballing' reasons that are unsupported by either logic or empirical facts, we would be far less prone to the sort of knee-jerk idiocy that results in signings like Carillo. £12mill for Boufal is in unbelievable business. His actual worth to us is in freefall, and is arguably lower than his amortized value, which is just shy of 10mill. To recoup that, therefore, would be good going. To recoup more than that is a no brainer. The illogical 'football' decision would be to reject the bid on the basis that because we paid more than that for him he should magically be worth more. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  5. True. Just like Boufal he is mercurial, capable of the unexpected, and can hit screamers from 30+ yards. Unlike Boufal, he does it more often. However also unlike Boufal, he is an absolute passenger defensively. I'm not sure why everyone is getting so excited about him to be honest. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  6. Exactly. And yet there does not appear to be any board level accountability for it. Over 10% of annual turnover blown in one hit. In any other corporate that gets you sacked. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  7. If true then that is simply appalling. Five? Five players in each position? Your average, well-read/well-listened football fan who is capable of a modicum of structured, rational and critical thinking could come up with a list of five names for each position within a single 8 hour day's worth of effort. There is *so much* information available now about football internationally, you almost have to make an intentional effort not to pick up on it. We should have suitably knowledgeable and competent individuals embedded in every country/region globally, whose entire role is to identify players. Not only 'scouting' in the old fashioned sense, but holistically - by being part of the local footballing culture and absorbing the background noise, and using well established analytical techniques that are employed in any other major business sector. Those people should feed in to regional coordinators, who have oversight and autonomy, act as a second pair of eyes, and who then make the necessary recommendations to the centre. The centre's responsibility should be assessing the 'cultural fit' of the player (by this point, their footballing ability should not be a variable). Crucially, assessment should be a continuous, ongoing process - the impact of ephemera either positively or negatively can be huge. Managed in this way, I would expect a 'living list' of at least 50 potential candidates for each position, with 10 or so being 'signed off' for approach and negotiation at any one time. The cost of implementing a worldwide, systematic network would obviously be significant - but when you consider the costs of getting it wrong (eg Carillo, who all told is likely to cost the club in the region of £40million over 3.5 years, and will likely have an amortized value of almost nothing), it's peanuts. It continues to amaze me how, for businesses who turnover in excess of £150million a year, Premier League clubs are so incompetent at actually being businesses. Their commercial acumen has stood still from the days when they were making less than a tenth of that. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  8. Bas Dost was making kissy faces at us in Summer 2016. The same summer we sold pretty much our entire goal threat in Pelle and Mane, and then failed to replace our centre forward because instead we built a time machine and went back six months to sign Austin again, or something mental. It's okay though, because we haven't struggled for goals since then, and he's not really done anything since... Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  9. Agreed. It's almost as if the quality of the coaching makes a difference... Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  10. Pretty much sums it up. Sadly experience has told us that Hughes has no time for the more 'mercurial' type so if he stays, we might as well look to move Boufal (and Gabbiadini). Shades of Arnautovic et al. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  11. If you read the article you'll know. Their player costs (wages and loans) are out of control. Nothing to do with the owner. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  12. Meanwhile Bas Dost is up to 57 goals in 54 games for Sporting... he takes a good penalty as well... Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  13. stu0x

    Bertrand back

    I agree to a certain extent. However, I can't be the only person who has noticed that there seems to be a bit of 'beef' between Bertrand and Redmond. It's gotten worse as the season has gone on. Bertrand has looked far more effective linking up with either Boufal or Tadic, and he looked a lot livelier and happier against Wigan until Redmond came on. Then the scowl immediately reappeared. It's no secret that Redmond is a proper moaner on the pitch, he berates anyone and everyone when something goes wrong and very rarely takes any responsibility for a misplaced pass or a broken down run himself. Bertrand, by virtue of his position, will have been exposed to that more often than most. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  14. It's weird isn't it... our squad is pretty much perfectly suited to a 3-5-2, more by luck than judgement it seems. Boufal for example is tailor made to be a 'proper' 10. Stephens and Hoedt are just not good enough as a back 2, and Hoedt (surprisingly) does seem to want to bring the ball out of defence quite often. Hojbjerg and Lemina aren't defensive enough as a midfield 2 in front of a back 2, but with the extra insurance of a 3rd centre back it gives us more dynamism centrally than if we sacrifice one for Romeu. It's even arguably the best formation to get the most out of Carillo, if we are going to. My only concern is at the full back positions... Cedric and Bertrand are both capable enough, but it's an exhausting position. Pied would be ideal backup at right back being a converted winger but can't stay fit, and McQueen seems to have totally fallen out of favour. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
  15. Calum Davenport? I'd guess someone who played under Koeman, particularly if (through accident or design) they missed a big chunk of one or both of his 'fallow periods' ie the tail of his first season, or November/December of his second season. Under Koeman, when the team was 'on' the win rate was unreal. Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
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