SKD

** local media tell us how a host of other PL clubs were in for him.

In a funny way, RLC brings us exactly what we need (ability on the ball, strength & power and creativity), but everything we don’t need as he’s not a no6 imo, if he comes in, it’s to replace Boufal rather than PEH

Given that generally speaking we do alright against the top teams (who will play on the front foot and we counter) and struggle against those who sit deep and we can’t break down, I’d suggest we need a creative midfielder who can pick a pass.

Of the options I’ve seen, if we get RLC and that Diallo it would represent a fairly decent window. I quite like the thought of RLC and Armstrong playing in the 10 with Ings and adams playing ahead of them.

Leicester are a prime example of a sustainable model. they don’t invest a fortune, but just enough to shop in that mid-high market, proven players just below the top 6. (That 25-35m bracket, with the view of selling for 45£ - 50m) Sort of where we were when we signed Mane and VVD. The issue is we haven’t moved with the market, we’ve stuck with trying to shop in the 10-15m market and get lucky. The trouble is, £15m gets you a championship player these days. it only takes a couple of bad windows with this strategy to end up with a team full of shite, like we currently have. momey / investment doesn’t guarantee success, but uses wisely in football it’s a hell of a lesser risk than shopping in bargain basement and hoping you get lucky.

We’ve never been a well run club, since the passing of ML. Under NC, whilst performances on the pitch was very good, off it, it wasn’t sustainable without an owner who wanted to invest. under les/Wilson & Gao, we’ve played a ridiculously risky game of hoping every player we sign will be a Mane / VVD to the point where we are now. Terrible squad battling relegation with high earners Our model is based on spending what we make. if we/when we go down, finically we’ll be fucked without funds from the PL. How does that make you a well run club. crazy how someone like Gao hasn’t worked out that you’ve got to spend money to make money.

If we don’t sign anyone of note to come In and fill that glaring gap in CM (by anyone of note, I don’t mean some cheap loan), then I hope Ralph walks.

The telegraph will still tell us, we’ve tracked him for years and he’s exactly the player we need.

Would it? It’d be the same as where we’re at now. 3 senior (calling them senior at a push) CB’s. yes, 2 are disgustingly average and 1 is completely unproven but that’s the Southampton way. we’ll bring in a CM without a doubt and most likely a winger, I can’t see anything more than that unfortunately. what is the limit for amount of players on loan in a match day squad? If money is that tight and we’re looking at a 1 x loan 1 x buy, I’d rather us loan a CM as I think you’ll get a better player which usually we couldn’t afford to buy and buy, with potential, on the wing.

Sims, at 5’9 is taller than arguably the 2 best ever players with the ball at his feet Maradonna And messi. So I’ll take your judgement about his height being a issue with a pinch of salt.

Blackmore would have received his info from someone within the club, who won’t have any say or idea of who Gao is selling to. although, that being said, the name I’ve been told wasn’t DaGrosa. It was another American, one who owns a NFL team... but that’s was a few months back now, and like Blackmore, they aren’t close enough to Gao to know what’s going on.

Like for like replacement of Hojberg then.

No, read it again. I said we deserve relegation based on 3/4 years of under investment and piss poor recruitment. My opinion of this being the season we drop is based on my assessment of the current squad and assumption that Gao will continue to not invest and the 3 games, in which we’ve under performed. we’re essentially living in hope that a CB with 2 years professional experience and us buying a capable CM on a shoestring budget are going to save us. it was ludicrous to think that players who massively overachieved for 6 months (Stephens, bednerak, Romeu, KWP and even ings and JWP to a Lesser degree) would be able to maintain that form across a whole season.

We deserve relegation m. Complete lack of ambition and interest by the owner, terrible recruitment (Down to previous tenure) and a wafer thin squad has all lead to this. it’s clear, unless something happens regarding a take over very very soon, we will be stuck with what we’ve got. getting it out there early, I think this will be the season we drop.

This is exactly right. We’re 2 players short of being able to play this system. Salisu And a decent CM. Arguably it is Ralph’s fault for persisting until we’re ready to play, but we’ve known PEH was going for a while, it’s the lack of significant investment to improve the squad that is killing us.

Louis Saha, don’t you mean Wilfred Zaha? 😂 (sorry to go MLG)

Why did we only play 1? game? who’s fault is that? Was it a ralph decision? If it was a Ralph decision, why is he complaining about lack of fitness and match sharpness?

I don’t think we’ll sign that, I’m pointing out what we need.

2 CM’s, an attacking midfielder and a striker (arguably a CB depending on This new lad) if we want to be anywhere near top half. another season of battling relegation. Such a waste given we have a very good manager

There would be no better time to sell him. His stock is currently at its highest, there is no way he’ll replicate last season and with another year down on his contract, his value will also decrease. there is also potentially some value in the market with clubs struggling financially £50-£60m could go a long way to improving our overall squad. The trouble is, Tottenham won’t offer anything near to what it’ll take to get him.

I still think we are way to reliant on Ings getting goals. Long and obafemi aren’t good enough and the jury is out on Adams. Seen today that Origi is being chased by a number of the teams we’ll be competing with come the end of the season (villa, Newcastle, Fulham, Brighton). doubt he’d be cheap (within our budget) but would love us to make a move for him. I think him and ings would give us a real threat up top.

Assuming any deal for RLC would be a loan, but it’d be a very sensible bit of business for someone, if he can stay fit.

I’d take Ashley over Gao and this muppet every day of the week.

How much would we realistically get for Boufal? £5m + having to subsidise some of his salary? who could we get who’d be an improvement on what we have for £5m? he hasn’t set the world alight and has been pretty unlucky with injuries, but I think it’s clear, technically he’s one of our best players. Get the best out of him and he has something we’re massively lacking in the ability to change a game off the bench. thought this could be his breakthrough year as I thought playing in that left wing / 10 role would be perfect for him, but for whatever reason it wasn’t to be. personally, on balance, I’d keep him unless we find someone willing to take him on and cover all his salary and we can get a replacement for c. The amount we receive. Completely different situation to that of Hodet and lemina who are compete bellends... boufal is a pretty decent lad and a liked member of the squad.

I agree, especially Chelsea who seem to have way too many CM’s on the books. players like RLC, Barkley, Billy Gimour + a number of younger players would add some much needed quality to our midfield. Weather they’re a Ralph type player is another matter, but they have a lot of depth with the euros round the corner a lot of players will be getting itchy feet.