qwertyell

Swap deals never happen, but he's actually a decent young player. Not like for like with Lavia, but has what I consider the "modern" midfielder requires, which is to be comfortable taking the ball under pressure and move it progressively. He can twist and carry the ball well. I can see him appealing to Martin's supposed ethos. I'd like someone with a bit more physicality alongside him, though. Not that any of this is happening.

Sent off after 31 mins tonight. Second red card in half a season with St Mirren, when he hasn't even been a regular starter. I guess he's developing: he's gone from being a defensive liability to a disciplinary liability. Who also can't defend.

I think he'll probably carve out a good career for himself in time. Seems a very decent chap. But this wasn't the club, the situation, or the stakes to be learning on the job. That's on the board for giving him a hospital pass. No experience, not able to bring in any players or even any support staff - what were they expecting him to achieve with a squad that two experienced managers (a Bundesliga runner up, and, with respect, one of the best managers in Europe) couldn't squeeze a fucking thing out of? It didn't work. Obviously. It was never likely to. Good luck to him.

He turned down Ajax a few months ago. Linked with PSG recently - who he played for. Seems to be waiting around for the right job, not just any old offer. I suspect a Championship basket case run by a spreadsheet wanker is probably not the one.

Bella-Kotchap out, another 20 year old unit in. Why not? Wood's got a bit of a Chris Smalling vibe about him, I think. Not sure about Piroe or Grimes, but beggars can't be choosers - who knows what dregs we'll be left with after our summer fire sale?

Imagine how much higher they'd be if they just hoofed the ball away like a live hand grenade. Arteta's young. He'll learn.

The modern midfielder has to be press resistant, and Ward-Prowse just isn't. He doesn't have any pace and can't dribble, so when receiving the ball under any amount of pressure all he can really do is play the way he's facing - which is usually backwards, as he's never on the half turn. Any attempt to turn and wriggle away from challenges usually results in him losing the ball. He's not alone: former partner in crime Hojbjerg has been driving Spurs fans nuts with his backwards and sideways passing, as he's another that just can't move the ball progressively under stress. These are a still good players, but probably too limited for sides that aspire to be among the best. I'd be very surprised if Prowse moved to a top 6-8 side. Even more so if he's successful there. But good luck to him regardless. He's done his absolute best for us, and you can't ask for much more than that.

Aribo had worse numbers in Scotland than Elyounoussi. Let that sink in.

Ended the season playing a back 4 for the last 10 or so games - Swansea's best run of form of the campaign. So he seems flexible. Which is probably a bonus.

It'd be a very Sainstsy thing to do to sign 4 wingers in the last year (Edozie, Sulemana, Orsic, Amo-Ameyaw) - perhaps 5, as Aribo seems to think RW is his best position - and give new contracts to wingers Djenepo and Diamond Edwards, and then go and hire a manager who doesn't like playing with wingers. Although it does seem like Martin isn't totally wedded to his back three - Swansea finished the season with a back four for the last 10 games.

To repeat myself from earlier in the thread, Jones has played 2 games in 3 years due to knee problems, and reportedly hasn't even managed a single training session this season. Tuanzebe is talented and younger, but has also been ruined by injuries. Managed 5 games on loan at Stoke this season due to a back injury that also plagued him last season. 14 starts in 2 years isn't great.

Sunderland reportedly trying to get Matthias Jaissle from Salzburg to replace Tony Mowbray. If they can pull that off - persuading a current Champions League manager to slum it in the Championship - maybe we should be setting our sights higher than lower mid table Championship fodder.

Strip him for parts? He's played two games in three years due to chronic knee problems, and hasn't even trained this season. 32 year old perma crock. More likely to retire than lead us to championship glory/ignominy.

I'm familiar with how to search on the internet. Transfermarkt says he's played predominantly at left back this season. But for Tanzania he seems to play in the centre of midfield.

Love a mystery player. Never heard of him; can't even find out what position he plays. He's either a left back, centre back, central midfielder, or some kind of attacker. Exciting times.

No, don't make him return to the scene of the crime for his first game back. That pitch has got a taste for his blood.

The Morten Hjulmand ship might well have sailed now (we were supposedly very keen to sign him in January), but he's a defensive midfielder (which we'll need), who is also Lecce's skipper. 2 points above the relegation zone in Serie A. We probably need them to go down if a move here is to look attractive.

Alcaraz has scored a few from set pieces in his time, I believe. If he stays. Longer term, Kami Doyle is a gun set piece taker - with either left or right foot. If he stays.

Pathetic defending. No pressure on the cross, and Walker-Peters marking Mitrovic with all the fight and strength of a sickly kitten. Bloke has phoned it in all season, but has flown under the radar with so much flak flying around for the other shirkers and shit munchers. Welp, three and out. Relegation finally confirmed. Bye.

And that's why Lyanco has to celebrate every mildly competent thing he does: it's only a matter of time before he fucks up something basic.

Lovely day for a stroll in the sun. Even better if you're getting paid for it.

He might still play better than ours with a broken ankle, but I doubt he'll be risked.

Someone on here said he wasn't refusing to play; it was the club's decision not to play him, and contract related. He's on 68 appearances. Could he be due a bonus or pay bump at 70 or 75 perhaps, and the club have decided to save a few pennies as he's off in the summer anyway. Just idle speculation. Good luck to him. Might not have been all we hoped he was going to be, but at his best his commitment to blocking shots with any available body part was a thing of masochistic beauty.

This is my favourite piece of dysfunctional man management amongst a season jam packed with idiocy. Mara finally got his first league goal against Man City, and Selles decided to take advantage of the potential boost to his confidence, and the possibility that he might go a bit of a run, by not giving him a single minute of action since. Not a single minute. Even Adam Armstrong has been playing, and he hasn't scored since before the Queen died.

Harry Winks, with free kicks. Prowse's skillset from open play is ten-a-penny. We'll miss his set pieces, but there's nothing remotely remarkable about the rest of his game that couldn't be found in a hundred midfielders around Europe.