Dusic

Personally felt it was a sensible, reasoned discussion where it was acknowledged that we have made too many errors leading to goals and need to improve fast by cutting out the mistakes and changing the setup to provide more passing options and have players in a role they know and are used to. The panel are there to provide their own views so I just assumed what they said was what they thought, and it seemed reasonable to me.

Isn't the whole thing this season that actually he did subtly change his tactics for the playoffs due to poor form leading in them and the specific nature of them and then actually his failing this season is not changing back to what worked well last season and what he really believes in? Meaning we have no real attacking rhythm, fewer passing options for from the back third (leading to them overplaying) and generally a team setup to go into its shell rather than be confident and expansive. Many of those saying he is too stubborn, never changes etc are the same asking (rightly IMO) for a return to his 'old' 4-3-3 setup which he changed from despite never changing! Also as an aside last season (at least up til March) we had the 2nd most goal involvements from subs out of all four divisions. * I get a section don't like the bloke which is fair enough but some of the stuff written on here is just incorrect. * https://theanalyst.com/2024/03/substitutes-breaking-records-english-football-league

This doesn't make the point that you think it makes. Have a look at the list of top touches in the league this season and for the last few seasons and the top 10 is nearly always made up of centre backs and if there are others its full backs or holding midfielders. With almost any manager our players with the most touches would be centre backs - as it is for pretty much every other team.

The issue is the legal meaning of the rules as they are written, so effectively a cock up by the PL's legal team for not considering this specific situation when drafting the PSR. Imagine the loophole will be closed veey soon if it hasn't been already. Its nothing to do with the City case as the PL wanted to enforce the rules against Leicester but those rules were, in this case, not legally binding.

Leicester off their points deduction on a technicality in the PSR wording meaning their charges being brought when an EFL team are not binding. Bit of a blow for the sides near the bottom as it was expected they would receive a decent deduction.

Not too much chat about this as it happened relatively late bit in theory Cornet will be a big asset and his main issue is not lack of ability but lack of minutes through injury and then WH having some very good players in his position. One thing is has that we lack is the ability to get in the box from wide and score goals - for this reason surely he will become a starting XI player? Along with Lallana and Fraser probs the only guys to have scored double figures of PL goals in their career (which sums up our lack of proven attacking quality). Did note the Echo said he joined with a minor knock so will be interesting to see if he is the training pics next time there are any. From what I can see he hasnt featured for Ivory Coast for a while too which helps us I think.

It was perhaps slightly toned down in the playoffs but certainly not abandoned. WBA were happy to sit off and Leeds forwards, especially Gnonto and Summerville are pathetic from a pressing perpsective - certainly different levels from the teams we face at this level. Despite what people want (understandably) he will never move away from that side of it so we have to hope they will a.) make better decisions on the ball and b.) be structurally better setup so they have more forward options. I think with a few changes to personnel, setup and decision making we can be much better and safer at doing it and Ramsdale will help too. Like with the goal at Newcastle the mistake gets rightly highlighted but the cause of the situation is usually from a few actions ago e.g decision to turn back in midfield or lack of options for defenders to pick out. As showed when Dibling came on and started combining with Sugawara, we are a far better team in a 4-3-3 and everyone is more comfortable in possession. But does he have the balls to drop a CB?

IMO the issue is actually that after winning promotion he hasn't gone back to what we did last season and he has actually carried on with the playoff tactics. 3 CBs and 3 CMs gave us some solidity in the very specific situation of playoff games at the expense of our attacking threat (until the Smallbone goal we hadn't done much over 150mins vs WBA) and he has stuck with it. His style cleaely works best with a 4-3-3 but he hasnt been brave enough to setup like that, likely for fear of a few thrashings - certainoy away vs Newcastle had the potential for that. Playing out from the back is easier when everyone knows their role and when defenders have players in front of them to pick out. Made harder when players occupy the same space or have no obvious options. We spent 95% of last season in a 4-3-3 where roles were clear and now in some positions we have better players. Teams at PL level (aside from us) won't gift goals and you have to have some kind of attacking threat to keep them honest. The way we have setup just hasnt given that. We very likely will go down, as have one of the worst 3 squads anyway before a ball is kicked...but our best chance under RM will be to play his style and system fully rather than the wimpy hybrid that we have used so far.

Anyone know how many loans Goztepe are allowed from us at any one time? Currently two, perhaps that is a limit? The Echo suggested Wellington is seen as a Saints player when he joins, I guess we will be looking to loan out Larios and Manning in Jan as over stocked with full backs.

Archer is a finisher. If you give him chances he will score. He got two nice ones in his only start of the season and after that he should have started today. Arma has missed sitters vs Newcastle and again today - two tap ins that if he scores all of a sudden he has 2 in 3 and everyone says he is on fire. If Archer does little else but score those type of chances more reliably then he will get 10 PL goals. IMO he deserves a run of starts in that central position with hopefully a more cohesive and creative midfield - certainly before he is written off.

Bump

The frustrating thing is that for all the chat about bravery he hasn't stayed true to himself this season. Negative setup - who plays with 3 CBs and 3 CMs? Not brave enough to decide which of the 3 CBs to leave out. Post game today he said he would have started with some of the players who were good on Wednesday but they played too many mins and the others had built up credit - not very brave either. Judging by post match comments at least he knows...I think he will go back to his preferred 4-3-3 and accept the risk we will be a bit more open and I think he will show his ruthless side and drop a few that were good last season but poor this. One thing for sure though - he won't change the style because he has been clear about that many, many times. He clearly deserves more time but his own performance this season so far has been pretty poor and he needs to learn fast. Already its probably 3 from about 5 teams who have a real chance of relegation and we are obviously more likely to go down than stay up anyway so we might as well play to the strengths we have rather than what we have seen so far.

We have definitely improved our 'asset base' so whatever happens this season we have a decent pool of young players with clear markets as they develop - noticeably British core which is easier to sell on as required. With PSR being good at selling is massive and as Brighton have shown, it helps you spend bigger. All of a sudden we have four or five players who are potentially worth big cash if they have a good season and that can only be a good thing.

I would suggest this sale and the fact SAA will get a good amount of minutes this season shows that the perhaps previous strategy of breaking our academy wage structure to attract top young talents clearly worked. We may have paid JM and SAA more than others but the reason why is they were better agee 16 than most players in the country and shock: they still are now. To have invested that cash seems pretty shrewd now with one sold for up to £10m and the other potentially worth more. If we have moved away from this mindset for fear of upsetting players (and their parents) of lesser ability then perhaps it needs a rethink - football is a competitive industry and the academy should be looking to have the best players it can attract.

Seem to recall Cornet often played just off Chris Wood for Burnley as well as on the left so pretty versatile option and different to what we have. Do we think that will be the end of our 1st team incomings assuming he does join? Definitely some decent additions overall if perhaps lacking in attacking difference makers.

Two really nice finishes last night, powerful and off both feet. Thought his movement was good all game - like that he doesn't seem overly bothered about dropping deeper, he knows where to be to get chances. Very promising and definitely something to work with - feel like people had been a bit down on his signing, maybe because Sheff Utd were so poor last season? He looks to have good attributes.

He lives in Bmth area and presumably has been training up there - have been a few pics of him taking the same flight this summer so nothing out of the ordinary.

All gone quiet on Yuri Alberto - guessing with the logistics etc that will not happen now...and I guess our budget is significantly different than it was when we though Bijlow was coming in. The winger from Toulouse seems to be the most likely attacking addition.

Wow..great deal if that gets over the line. Guess it will impact what we can do elsewhere but would be huge.

On Ramsdale, surely zero chance it happens if there is an obligation attached, even if we were to stay up. Why would Ramsdale himself agree to that? Its quite a drop from Arsenal and after a good season out on loan surely he would have more options? Only way I see it happening is a straight loan which suits all parties - Arsenal will have more takers at £30m next summer and we get an elite keeper for a crucial season and can re-assess next summer. He gets regular shop window minutes.

Bet we will end up with Dubravka or that Greek GK Newcastlye PSR'd from Forest. Neither would be good but don't see us paying whats needed for Ramsdale unless Arsenal massively change stance. All feels very scattergun/desperate unfortunately, recruiting for major positions at this late stage rather than taking advantage of something too good to turn down.

Ramsdale - personally don't see us being willing to fork out what is needed for him unless its a straight loan. Arsenal are not stupid and know we are likely going back down so an option or obligation if we stay up are both unlikely to happen so they are asking a lot for what is effectively a one season loan - something close to £8m with wages included. Also from his perspective - surely he wants a loan without an obligation as even if we did stay up the next summer there would likely be better options for him. Steele I think is a possible now Verbruggen is back. If they don't loan out Rushworth that will be a big signal and IMO this is the most likely. Other factor is whether we were confident we would get Bijlow so went after domestic loans in other areas - which would now be dead. Fellows - good prospect but we need a guarenteed starter and he isn't that. Also whilst his assist record is decent his goal output is poor - we have that already with Edozie. Clarke's numbers for G&A are different level to Fellows - he was the one.

Don't see the need of some get quite personal about a guy who gave many one of their very best days as a Saints fan. Did he get the setup wrong vs Forest? Yes, and I am sure he realises that and will adapt. Afterall, he adapted at the end of last season to very good effect. Its going to be tough this season, because the PL is hard, ruthless and probably this is one of the strongest years - we have not got the cash others do so rightly started as favourites to go back down. We will lose lots of games so overly hysterical and personal reactions to one result are pretty pointless.

Good, logical responses from Russell on the transfer market with specific reference to the Onuachu/Kamaldeen window - he genuinely seems happy with what has been done ans what we will still do. Interesting he wouldn't be drawn on Bijlow and that Sulemana still possible to leave. KWP staying, would be great if he signed an extension even if just for a year but doubt he will.

Carillo vibes. All of a sudden Delap looks very much like the one rhat got away. Wonder how many there have been in between those two on our 'list'? Personally I think the bigger need is someone to actually create chances.