qwertyell

Larios actually out on the pitch. Wonder if he'll stay fit enough for us to find out if he's any good. Abu also part of the first team training.

People are massively underrating the championship if they think a guy who cannot even do the basics of defending will be "fine" for this level.

In defence of the forwards yesterday, what chances were created for them? Mara winning a (dubious) penalty was all his own work. As a team we aren't even providing scraps. It might be fair to lump the strikers into the mix as part of the overall problem - maybe they're not making the right runs or finding enough space in the box - but the service has been and continues to be nonexistent. Doesn't matter who is up front if we can't get the ball to them.

Yeah, he's not a winger. Just filling in there, I presume, because Djenepo is ill, Edozie is possibly injured, and Sulemana isn't match ready. Doesn't have the speed to play out wide. And he's bulked up a lot in the last year. If anything, he looks a bit too heavy. Always thought he was a 10. Might even go well as an 8 now he's built like a tank.

That wasn't championship quality goalkeeping. That was basic shit.

Dragan stopping by to see what the fuck all his money has been spent on.

Dibling started the Benfica friendly.

We'd probably have to match the £700k a week, tax free, the Saudis are allegedly offering. So, no.

Latibeaudiere is out of contract, so we wouldn't have to deal with Swansea. I think the Swansea fan who posted here said he was Martin's pet, and pretty crap - a defender picked for the "philosophy" rather than his actual defensive ability. Short for a CB.

Nicely done, relatively quick and under the radar (although it was obvious we were after him). The Swansea fan on here giving us the lowdown about Martin and the squad seemed to think Manning was a bit suspect defensively, but as he's only become a left back recently and seemingly excelled from the off, let's hope he continues to be a fast learner. Assuming Perraud is off - although, if he stayed we'd have some strong options down the left - I wonder who'll be back up at LB. Trust Larios to get and stay fit? Promote Meghoma from the 18s (he's been training with the first team all pre season - not like we haven't given a 17 year old LB a go with success in the past)? Or will the enigmatic Thierry Small step up and show that he can be the player he is in his head?

No chance - Villa's midfield is absolutely stacked. Kamara, Dendoncker, Douglas Luiz in the 6; McGinn, Ramsey, and Tielemans in the 8. (Not counting Nakamba and Sanson, who may or may not be moving on.) Then they've got further options in the 10 with Coutinho and Buendia. Where's Prowse going to play, right back?

https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/15-youngsters-sign-academy-scholarships Abdulhalim Okonola-Matthews Aston Daley Barnaby Williams Ben Sheaf Henry Upstell James Martin Jay Robinson Moses Sesay Jayden Moore Josh Pitts Max Fry Nicholas Oyekunle Sufianu Sillah Dibaga Tevin Myers Tommy Dobson-Ventura What ever happened to that Spanish-sounding attacker who was about 15 but looked 35 and was a goal machine in the youths and England u15/16?

Maybe mustard has a different meaning among the developmentally bereft.

Finnigan and Bragg (both midfielders) joining the other youth Ballard, Dibling, Doyle, Meghoma and Amo-Ameyaw. Good to see the manager getting them involved. Think Finnigan was well regarded by the Crewe supporters during his loan last season.

Wouldn't mind Doyle or Jacob Greaves (23, Hull) as young left sided CBs to pair with young right sided CBs Wood (21, Swansea) or Edwards (20, Peterborough). Keep Stephens and perhaps Bednarek for their experience, and Simeu as a 5th option/utility type (think he can fill in at RB). That being said, we don't know if Martin is going to push three at the back - which has generally been his way - or play a back four like he did with a lot of success in the second half of last season.

There was talk of Tyler Morton a couple of weeks back. Decent player, to be fair. Ball playing 6. Could see him fitting into Martin's supposed style. Part-exchanges never happen though.

They do rate Delap. But he's had injury problems throughout his development, and last season's loan spells seemed to suggest he'd lost a bit of "something" after his latest lay off. Whether he can get it back will dictate his future at the club, I'd imagine.

Looks like Ballard, Doyle, Dibling, Amo-Ameyaw, and Meghoma are taking a full part in the first team pre season. So far.

I think he's a better technical player than you give him credit for. Certainly true that he doesn't shy away from a tackle, and there have been a few ugly ones along the way. But he's a good age, recent experience in this division, PL and European experience, an England u21 international. He's got decent calibre - and brings attributes that our squad of polite nice boys lack.

He was. I guess barely getting a game for Exeter last season probably did for him.

Galleries are up on the main site. Not a lot of note - although Walker-Peters has made some poor decisions in respect to his hair. Everyone's turned up, more or less. Didn't see Perraud. Can't remember what his injury was at the end of last season. Maybe a bad one? The B team returned to training as well - and it looked like Diamond Edwards was taking a full part, which is a boost for the lad after he did his ACL not long after making his first team debut last season. Olaigbe was there too - I thought he'd joined someone else. I guess not. Yet.

Losing our sellable assets, and bringing in underwhelming shite that no-one else wants is our future now. Ryan Fraser. Fucking hell. I'm beginning to think getting relegated wasn't such a good idea after all.

Think there were work permit problems then - shouldn't be an issue now.

Yes and yes. Although I'd also throw in Callum Doyle as a left sided CB option (loan, loan to buy, or the City usual: buy with a sell back clause). Pair them with a right sided CB like Nathan Wood (1 year on his contract) or Ronnie Edwards, who we've been linked to, and that's the young CB unit covered for the foreseeable future - use a couple of old lags like Stephens to bring a bit of experience to the party. Spezia just got relegated, so Dragowski shouldn't break the bank, and we've been linked with him for a couple of years now.

Reading have a registration embargo. They can only sign loans or free agents up the point that they have 23 players of "professional standing" (whatever that means). They cannot pay loan fees, and loans can only be for half a season. They're in breach of profit and sustainability rules; non-payment of loan wages; non-payment of PAYE to HMRC. In short: an absolute shit show.