Holmes_and_Watson

Aribo has played up front, when required.

Secrets

Sun

Channel

Control

PM plans to introduce law to make the convicted attend, including by reasonable force. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66660136

Oh, that one's me. 🍿 And before you ask, the universe folds back on itself, so it's me again watching me. 🙂

I think there's enough drama already this window, thank you very much. 🙂

I caught some of a Barcelona game a couple of weeks back. I was about to switch over, when I saw Oriel and stayed to cheer every touch he got, until he got subbed. A happy 20mins 🙂

It's only when a boat has truly failed, and sunk to the bottom, that it can consider rising back up to the surface as a success. Or be written off by insurance, as Rasmus' sequel will be telling us soon. 🙂

Some sign by night Some loaned by day May striker replacements Be a step up from Che As Al Jarreau would sing to Bruce Willis, who clung stubbornly to his signed Arsenal shirt, despite tales of Lawrie's great team.

It's like when SR consolidated departments across clubs, they accidentally got Leeds scouting department. Or more likely, the hacks have just been consolidated more.

Cousin

Fraser came on and immediately turned the game. I thought that was pretty decent.

Yup. We set our stall out to be a club that develops and sells rising stars. We can't then turn round to Tino or Lavia and tell them they aren't moving, when our valuations are met. JWP has been with us a long time and don't begrudge him his move. Tella was just back from a successful loan. We've got a deal for him that was decent. Others were released at the end of their contract, or we're desperate to get away, and who won't be missed that much. A number of reasons this season, from relegation, us actually having talent to sell as per SR's plan, contract expiries, punting unwanted players on loan and simply deals that suit all parties. We still have a few unwanted players and contracts close to the end to go. So, there could be more change.

I'm not sure there will be anyone. It might be that KWP switches over with Bree/Holgate at right back. Then there's Meghoma, Djenepo or Larios depending on his injury, at left back.

I recall thinking he'd have been good for us when he joined Leicester. Then... very little from him it seemed.

Oh, I was getting that from your post. I wasn't knocking your opinion there. I went through the squad just to give it a once over myself. And I came to a similar conclusion. Lots of change, but needed. And yeah, we could be left with a group that looks like a team again. And from my sweep of the squad, I'd add that so far, we've done as well as can be expected in replacing the ones we actually needed to. As well as recouping a good amount of funds along the way. There were a few posts that said nearly anyone could go, depending on the circumstances. The next few days could see us going into the upper end of what was realistically expected, comparing us to other clubs who have gone down. We can only hope, and this is SR in a transfer window, that the club have learned and we come out of it strengthened and not depleted. I was thinking during the QPR cgems, that this should be the weakest we'd look until January. With everything settled, and properly replaced, things would get better. And we've done just fine up until then as well.

Absolutely. It's not a comment to dismiss other clubs. If we're not focused and playing to our abilities then there area number of teams who could do well. If we're not careful, we'll be out of the top two and hoping we can get through a tough, high pressure playoff. Or worse. The clubs with still some parachute payments left, should be towards the top of that pack. Norwich have certainly started well, and look to have more effective firepower than when it was relying on Pukki. But our club should be clear that this is by far our best opportunity. Minds should be focused on that, and not some work in progress rebuild that could take years. Anything less would be a failure. Despite how it ended, we've got talent in our squad that nearly all the other sides can only dream of. If we utilise it, then we should be confident of the outcome.

Pronoun

Despite the number of outgoings, I can't say I'm overly worried about the impact their departure had, especially after the last couple of seasons. GK - Willy was back up, and was never really preferred to Baz, even when the latter was having plenty of off days. We've brought in Lumley, probably also as a push to McCarthy. FB - Perraud replaced by Manning; Tino was talented but we didn't see much of him due to injury. We still have KWP. Bree is a worry. Terrible move for him, and he's not in the plans at the moment. Holgate can supposedly play there, but I've no idea if he actually can or it's a AMN "he can play there". DC - Salisu was talented, but downed tools; DCC had moments but also mistakes; Lyanco has heart, but also errors. We had a surplus of CBs (for a change) and still couldn't get a decent partnership going. Stephens return, Holgate and 1 other incoming should be fine alongside Bednarek and ABK. MC - This was understrength before, and has been gutted. Lavia was a talent and JWP one of our best players. Diallo is no loss, having never pinned down a role. We've brought in Charles and Downes, with Smallbone returning. We're still one short here, more so with Smallbone's injury. It's early days, but Charles and Downes have looked fine so far. AMC - Alcaraz, Stu and possibly Aribo here and we can probably cover it from elsewhere too. So, don;t see anyone coming in unless we have departures. AM/ Wide - Mo's job never really worked out, Orsic never started. Theo, through injury and contract issues, only popped up towards the end. He did fine, and would have been okay this season. But the club were never going to keep him. The returning Tella looks to be the big miss here, even though we've not had him when he's been at his current level. We've already got plenty here with Fraser, Sulemana, Edozie, SAA and AA dropping back. The Club have said they are are still looking to bring someone else in. SC - Still as understrength as it was when SR had their first window. That's less of an issue in this division. Che and AA have started well. Big Paul clearly isn't in anyone's plans now that Nathan is long gone. I agree there have been a lot of changes. But of the departures, Lavia and JWP are misses. Tino and Tella were players we hoped we'd see the best of, rather than players who had been central to our team. We're told a replacement is coming in for Tella. But we've got options, even if this doesn't happen. Particularly with Fraser in. We've brought in 2 players to cover Lavia and JWP (more games, will determine how successful they are). KWP was always better on the right for me, and we have Manning now on the left. Based on admitedly few games the replacements have all performed decently. 4 of the 6 are in the first team already, Lumley is the back up goalkeeper and Holgate hasn't had a chance to start yet. No duds yet, making it probably already better than last January. SR may have some special deals lined up. I'd definitely like a central midfielder and a striker. But iwe've still plenty of strength in the squad, and certainly more than nearly any other team in the division. It should still be us against Leicester and Leeds for 2 of the 3 top spots, with our resources, as long as we can keep this strength beyond the window closing.

Raid

Cue flashbacks of looking to Luton's experience, with the bestest manager in Europe to implement it.

Even after the sales we’ve made, our squad could lose a few more players to free up resources (and for the benefit of all concerned). That said, some players would need to be directly replaced. The likes of McCarthy, Bree, Perraud (nearly gone), Lyanco, Djenepo and Ounachu aren’t likely to feature. Aribo isn’t likely to get too many starts either. The only one we’d have to replace is Ounachu, or rather his departure would free up wages to bring someone else in. Of the players who have left/about to go, Salisu (downed tools), Perraud (vocal in wanting away), Lavia, Ward Prowse and Elyounoussi were the only ones who started more than 20 league games for us last season. Of those, only Lavia and Ward Prowse are particular misses. We’ve already brought replacements in for these positions. As per earlier in the window, pretty much anyone could go. Not all of them would need a direct replacement. Not all will go, so we should end up not looking light in any area. - KWP and Adams would need first team replacements, and would be the biggest misses. - AA and Stu (in his last year) would also need replaced. They are really versatile and add a lot to our squad/ first team. - ABK and Sulemana would need replaced. While talented, they have been injured, and we’d need the numbers in those positions. - There was a hint that Fraser wasn’t a Tella replacement, so there may be someone else coming in there. - We’ve bid twice for Wood, even though Lyanco and ABK are still here, and Holgate has come in. - Central midfield looks light again, following Smallbone’s injury. He was the more attacking part of it, so our formation means we can possibly fill in from elsewhere. But would be really good to have someone in. - In an ideal world, I’d like us to bring in a striker, even if we keep Adams. AA is proving really effective elsewhere and would also be an option, while it allows us to have competition for Adams, or play both if needed. It means Ounachu would be left in no doubt about a move, and hopefully even a loan could be arranged.

The link makes it look better than the Football Escape Room I had in my mind. Trapped for 90mins in a room of Liverpool/ Newcastle fans... 🙂