S-Clarke

Sky Sports broadcast every single playoff game from all leagues, even the non-league. There will be streams for them if people can't make it.

I'll tell you what, let's be extra generous and give them Mara as well. Just package them up as a phenomenal young talent bundle delivered in a box with a ribbon on, and then we can take Downes and JWP - no receipts or returns though.

Yep, noticed the same - I liked that podcast too, but I don't like it with Deeney involved. That's what I meant how he's being trotted out more and more. He was an enormous fail as a manager, so he's going all in on his punditry now. Too many of these former players being made pundits when they have zero to add.

It's a shame really, not sure what the point of an academy is anymore for clubs like us. We used to get maybe 6 months or a year out of a top, top academy talent - but it's getting to the stage now where they're nicked before we even see them play and that's really sad. We shouldn't be forced to break the bank to keep a 15 year old, it's just nonsense. (That guy who went to Chelsea was another one)

I think he had an ankle injury and then on his comeback from that, tore his hamstring? (or the other way round). I think he's had two bad injuries back to back which has prolonged his recovery. Hopefully he's not injury prone, but his build is so slight that it looks like he could be snapped in half by a burly Champ CM!

Larios is back in full training as far as I know, I notice him on the training galleries from time to time. Martin said they won't rush him back this season, but he'll come back in pre-season and be able to start on a level footing with the rest of the squad. Not sure we'll see Ballard this side of the summer, probably one for the autumn? it was a pretty bad ACL.

I've noticed Sky have been trotting out Troy Deeney more and more in a punditry role, he's awful. Made the stupid prediction for the final championship games that he fancied Hull to sneak into the playoffs, at the expense of Norwich, totally forgetting the required 18 goal swing for that to happen. The presenter pointed it out and he still stood firm on his view that it was 'possible'. They were also comparing our achievement in 2012 (back to back promotions) with Ipswich, and according to Deeney we had Chamberlain and Wanyama in the side - so it was easier for us. Just let these guys sink into the background please, they have nothing to offer.

Speak for yourself, but I'll always remember JWP as a proper Southampton stalwart. He'll always be fondly remembered by me and I hope to see him return one day to see his career out. He was on 100k a week, there was probably a relegation clause to reduce that slightly, but there's no way we could have sustained JWP in the Championship from a financial pov wage cut or no wage cut, and he deserved an opportunity to get back competing in Europe which WHU were going to give him. I've got nothing against him and fully understood the move from a club and player pov.

Not sure what you're getting at here gio. If we're not practicing penalties then it's negligent, arrogant or whatever you want to call it. We are effectively now in a cup knock out competition of which penalties can decide the outcome between £0 and £180m - we better be bloody well practicing!

He scored in the away game, scrappy over the line job. But was injured in our home game. Yeah the Aberdeen striker is another interesting option, our head scout (Mowbray) will know all about him as he scouted him for Aberdeen. I can't see him costing as much as £10m, probably more in the 5-6m range. Definitely could be an option.

I'm not sure where your 'broke' angle is coming from, I've noticed you saying this on multiple threads. Are you ITK about something? Sure, we won't be as flush, but if we're still in this league next year we will still be competitive financially. We made more last summer than any Championship club has ever made, which helped us offset our horrible window the previous year. If we fail this summer we'll still be looking to potentially recoup £60m+, with the sales of AA, KWP, Bednarek to name a few (there will probably be a surprise in there as well). Let's not forget the huge wages on McCarthy, Stu Armstrong and Adams being saved. IF we fail next year (if we're still down here) then I'd start to buy into the financial struggle bits, but we won't be skint next year. We'll still be able to compete (if our recruitment is right)

He was injured for the home game. He does seem a little injury prone, but he is a good player. £10m is about right, I have no idea what on earth went through our heads a few years ago when we were talking £34m for him though (it was £22m, up to 34m with add ons). That was before Wilcox as well, I think it was Shields trying to push us on that one. The more you look at it the more fishy these deals with Man City look. If i'm honest I'd rather put that £10m down on Jay Stansfield from Fulham.

He's saving himself for when we bring him back on loan as a PL team, then he'll resume his target to break the record with us. He's just paused it for the time being!

If you have a look at what are effectively his players - Garnacho (came through under him) Hojlund - £75m striker Antony - £85m of nothing. Mainoo (came through under him) Onana - £35m pick for GK by him. Martinez - £40m pick by him for CB Malacia - £40m pick for LB (although he's been injured) Amrabat - Loan signing, his pick Christian Ericksen - Free transfer, his pick. Casemiro - £70m, his pick. The players he inherited were the likes of Shaw, Varane, Rashford, Martial, Fernandes, Wan Bissaka, McTominay. So in my eyes he's already reinvited that squad, added loads for lots and lots of money - and they look worse for it. They need new CM's, new strikers, new GK to start with - and that would be replacing his big signings. It's quite funny watching them struggle so I don't care that much, but I think it's wrong to say he needs time to mould his own team and that he's still got players that aren't his, the majority are his picks or players who have come through under him.

I always thought Rosenior had flopped a bit given the players he had at his disposal, I think I can somewhat understand why their owners expected a bit more with players like Delap, Morton, Seri, Greaves, Carvahlo, Zahorey, Phillogene, Tufan etc available to him. They had much more quality than WBA in my opinion, I'd have been more worried had we ended up facing Hull! I was always a little confused by his Manager of the season nomination.