Chez

As someone else pointed out, its'not surprising nearly all of those brought did not work out as they were not suited to a possession-based game, however the fact that Juric doesnt seem to fancy them either points to them simply not being up to it.

I seem to have attended many of the the games no one else fancied. This is another that sticks in my mind as I took my Dad, who lived up Norf, didnt really like watching football but came anyway to make me happy. I travelled up from the South Coast to all the Northern games back then and took advantage of his hospitality. He spent the whole game telling me to (and pulling my jacket to make me) sit down and stop swearing at Uriah Rennie. I think even he smiled when Bridger scored. I loved Bridger (I think his brother was a friend of a friend, so he was seen as one of us) and to see him score a late winner (I actually thought we won that game) and do a Micky Channon type celebration (I might be wrong there too) was bloody fantastic - I'm smiling now just thinking about it. Might have been his first goal? Felt like it. I reckon there might have been about 300 there in that upper tier. I enjoyed it, but the Reebock and games in the 2000s weren't a patch on the Burnden Park FA Cup experience.

I went to that game. I think we have discussed this before that Saints fans really used to travel on mass for the FA Cup games. They were seen as somethng a little special. I can't really remember how may we took. It was a pretty big away end in the corner of the ground with a bloody big floodlight pylon right in the middle. I have a feeling it was on a Sunday, but not sure why - was it live on TV? We were in total control and then, we weren't. I hadn't been to too many away games prior to it and hadn't really experienced a noise like it when they got their tails up in the second half. I miss going to games like that. Genuine excitement of the cup. A big following, and of course the terraces...

I guess sometimes moves just don't work out, so moving quickly makes sense for all parties. Considering our current plight, I think this is a pretty decent signing for us. Doesn't mean it will work out, but better than no one, which is what I expected this window.

Equally, they could pass up the option, but come back to us with an offer of £4m...and we then make a loss of £3m. The £10m option counts for shit really unless there is a number of other suitors willing to spend more. Obviously we could turn down the £4m offer, but we would then get a player back we don't want.

Looking forward to seeing him play. Looked great for Glint. Let's see if he can do it in the Prem. Rennes tend to balance their books. But, maybe you are right, they are getting rid of him so they can get someone better in or he simply forced the move despite them only bringing him 6 months ago. Either of your explanations doesn't paint him in a great light though does it? My explanation is that he hasn't really worked out, hence Rennes are happy to get their money back, like they did with Sulemana, while on our side we are bringing him in based on what he did at Glint, not over the last 6 months. Again, similar to Sulemana - judging him on earlier promise and not his more recent performances at Rennes.

Worst for me was Villa on a Monday night, live on Sky, I think in 2002. There certainly were no where near 300 saints fans there. That game only lives in my memory as it absolutely hammered it down on the way home and with eyes closing due to tireness I found myself overtaking a articulated lorry on the A34 and literally could not see a thing through the windscreen due to incredible rain and spray for what seemed like an eternity. Sacred the shit out of me. Those midweek evening games are tough. I do wonder how many fans from the south coast actually travel to them.

Looks a decent footballer. Interesting that he plays both on the wing and in central midfield, with an nice combination of attributes like athleticism, dribbling, shooting and tackling. You can see from his youtube video why Rennes paid €12m for him. There are a lot of goals scoed for Glint. Questions do have to be asked why Rennes are giving up on him after only half a season. Have they made their mind up already that we can't `do it' at their level? That seems strange. If they are right, then he won't be much use at our level either.

I wonder what price this forum settles on as being acceptable? Lavia went for €62m (according to transfermarkt). Not sure anyone had any complaints about that figure. Some were less happy about the final JWP price

We could have insisted, but we obviously blinked first.

West Ham have failed with several striker signings, but they keep trying, keep spending to get it right. Fair play to them. How on earth can they afford £57m though?

How is it that Man City can make us buy THB on promotion but we can't make Sheffield United do the same here? They clearly like him and want him. Why not ask them to put their money where their mouth is? We save some money on wages, sure, but in essence, we are doing them a favour by loaning him to them.

As much as I like KWP, especially when he is playing well, he looks short of a yard of pace. Not sure if it's down to tiredness, he has lost half a yard or never had it. There was a flat out race between him and Williams down the right in the second half and he was well beaten. He couldn't keep up with Ahmed the other night too. He's been a brilliant servant for us and was fantastic last season in the championship, but he is not beyond any criticism.

No you are not, it most certainly was Bree, but the situation Bree and then Bednarek found themselves in was created by Downes. All three should take some blame for that goal.

OK, but loaning him out and agreeing an option doesn't suggest we really want him to be part of the (hopefully) promotion winning side. The player is not going to feel very loved by the current manager.

Could happen, but the decision will be ours again, which is important. Last time we got a significant transfer fee that helped fill the gap in income and allowed us to bring in players like Brooks and Fraser that help get us promoted.

Bit of a shame we couldn't have an obligation to buy on promotion included in the deal. If the manager doesn't want to keep him, it would be good to move him on a quickly as possible. United currently need him to get promoted. Their options are limited in the January window. We hold a decent card there. Next summer, if they are promoted, their options increase and we may end up stuck with him. Perhaps that turns out to be a blessing, but at this moment in time a clean break for all parties seems a good outcome.

So, basically, he's Sulemana mark II. A young talent that was on our radar, but it was Rennes that made the investment only for the player to not really work out immediately. He plays but is only really getting minutes off the bench. We step in with an offer that will get their money back. Looks great playing for Glint (at that level). Lots of nice highlights and goals. Very one footed. Look forward to seeing him.

I feel your pain about losing talent. With Shields in place we paid massive sums, when he departed that chaged. However, we haven't let Dibling go. So not "every single talent has gone". SAA is also still here. And Ballard. Wish we still had Rodriguez. We didn't let JJM go for peanuts by the way. It's worth saying that the "going rate" that Chelsea pay far exceeds what almost everyone else pays. Thats why we couldn't keep him. Not to mention the fact they have the best youth system and players, so another draw for ambitious players.

Les hasn't played loads I guess, but I think Juric has just made a mistake not starting him. Whether it makes a difference I am not sure. He will start in the next game that's for sure.

cheers. They are doing all these after every game?

I think that is fair. It's Downes natural game and he needs to adjust. I hope he can. Aribo, Fernandes and Les seem to be more aligned with what Juric is after.

when we are passing it to central midfielders that then pass straight back to CBs or are passing between CBs, opponents go all in with the press and we are in trouble. We haven't done it a lot recently, with Les, Aribo and Fernandes always looking to be on the half turn, but whenever we do, we look terrible.

Sulemena looked very tired at end of united game, so I can live with that decision, but Les wasn't out on his feet and hasn't had injuries, so what about him? How does a sports science actually evaluate the health of player. I hear lots of mentions of red line or red flags or whatever, but how do you actually test (what is the test) to get a red flag that suggests they might pull a muscle if they are played again?

Not sure that's true. We deserved a point or more on Thursday, but by and large we were poor today. A late rally helped by a load injuries to their better players was good to see, but we got what we deserved overall.