Holmes_and_Watson

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... 🙂

Now, the guy's just in the door. So, bearing that in mind it could make a difference if we wanted to make it permanent. One of SR's goals was to reduce that wage bill, to optimise profit and allow more room to get players in (job done in 40% reduction through relegation, SR 🙂). Fraser's wages would be a real stumbling block to that.

The club got caught last summer smugly sure of getting deals over the line, and their approach, only for it to end in disaster when the players wanted better moves. Hopefully they would have learned from that. Whatever their sights were set on in January, clearly had malfunctions. That was a disaster, that made no difference to us staying up, has burdened us with players and has resulted in us selling to get some of the money back. Lessons are don't let anyone involved in January near a decision now. Also, you can set your sights high. But if you do, you have to get it over the line in case you need plan B or C, if it goes wrong.

Holmes is best. 🙂 Too early to say on Manning. There's been a mix so far, some of which due to the system we play and inexperience ahead of him/ the team still getting to develop. I did like Perraud from the outset. But some of that is based entirely on attitude, as much as talent.

So, next PM then? 🙂

And that would have Totton as the big club in the SR structure. 🙂

I quite liked him. He worked hard, got forward and, despite managers moaning about delivery, got a couple of goals. However, reading between the lines, he wanted away and was part of a vocal enough group, that we had Manning in for a while waiting for him to go. Despite his strengths, it's been clear he wasn't going to get a look in. Playing him at centre half in a losing team was my last memory of him. We have a replacement, youngsters waiting in the wings to step up, and cover. Perraud is one where I hoped the commitment he showed would lead him to do well for us for seasons, only for the pressures and personalities of that horrible season turn it the other way and make a departure best for all concerned.

Balloon

Hands

Superman

He showed flashes of talent when played under Ralph. Pace and some directness (compared to how otehrs were playing/ insructed to play). But not at the stage or execution that Ralph was looking for. Which is his decision to make. The loan move worked out really well for him. When he left, no doubt a few wondered wht he'd be like with regular games. That's exactly what he got. I'd like to think that had we stayed in the Premier League, so would he. But I guess we'll not know. I'd have liked him to have stayed to help take us back up. He offers a nice, direct balance to the likes of Edozie on the other side. But we got as much as we were hoping for in the deal, hint of someone else coming in too. I thought he'd been fine for us when playing this season. His contribution certainly helped towards our good start. A deal that suits all parties, except fans who wonder how good it would hav ebeen to have his goals added to the rest of our attack for the season. We'll see how good his replacement is.

Saves me having to post "game changer". D'Oh! 🙂 His directness immedaitely on coming on turned made all the difference today. Can only look forward to not only more of that, but the others working with his capabilities and knowing the spaces they can move into, to get on the end of things/ create chances for themselves.

Everything I saw him doing, he did well today. Not bad at all for a debut performance.

There were a couple of those moments where your heart goes in your mouth as the ball is either underhit a little to the goalkeeper, or we've just invited too much pressure. He handled both very calmly. Since my heart was in my mouth, my natural reaction is that it was cleared too calmly, perhaps taking a risk, before realising that he knew what he was doing. 🙂 Yes, no doubt at some point we'll get caught doing it. But if it's very isolated, it's virtually nothing compared to all the times it starts off one of our attacks and helps keep the pressure on our opponents.

Little Mara shout out. He had the ball. COuld have run directly at their goal. There was cover there. SO, with us just in the lead, did the smart thing and goes back. Just what Martin was asking of him.

Well, we did our best to make a mess of that. Controlled passing breaks down. A lot slower in getting back. Once again, that bit too far up the park. Lucky late escape. And not for the first time. Will be looking for Martin to be addressing these thngs as we go.

Very close for the third. But it's daft that we are happy to keep possession. But then ovecommit, and allow a dangerous counter attack. If you're going to control the game, and close it down, make sure you're keeping enough back. Or at least know when an attack is going to be made to ensure that back up is there, to remove the risk. AA man of the match. Well done.

Nice movemmetn from Aribo there. Our new closeing down the game sub?

Manning better when he has that bit of extra support. Smith running him for pace, and Armstrong for strength. But has had some moments. Not a settled back line today either, with the changes.