Holmes_and_Watson

Anyone can do that...

That's a very blinkered view of the thread. 🙂

Typical incomplete announcement. It's up to you to tell everyone in the station, that the water bottle isn't just for carrying. There's a cap at the top of it that comes off, and you should sip the contents. Be sure to tell everyone not to drink it all at once in The Heat. Don't be a SOG, stepping over collapsed Parisians. You can save lives, Turkish! 🙂

Some good points gio. Bednarek had a bid in January and has a low release clause apparently. THB is one of SR's trading model players. Taylor vanished out the squad for much of the season (I like to think he said some home truths, but that's based on nothing) ABK would have gone last season, had it not been for the failed medical. All parties are surely keen for him to go. Edwards should stay, but could well be next season's SR player trading one,if things go well. As you said, our line up may well be Edwards, Wood, Sanda and Quarshie. Fine, if either THB or Bedders stays. But if not, there's more of a spot for Stephens, particularly as form fluctuates for developing players. The club see Stephens as a versatile, committed, low maintenance leader in the dressing room. A continuity player between Lancashire and Lallana/Walcott in terms of promoting SR's goals. We don't know the details, but an extended contract for a couple of seasons may well be at a lower amount. Or maybe the club are happy, after all the personality issues with others, with what they get for their money. I don't disagree with some of the comments regarding ability. Certainly, we seemed to wobble when Martin brought him into the last Championship team. There's a broader concern that Stephen's should not be the benchmark we're setting for the first team. His versatility and commitment and leadership stand above a very, very low level elsewhere at the club. As does ability. If coaching and data analytics aren't pointing that out, there's serious issues. I've no issues with him being part of the squad next season. If we were to go up, that might have changed. But should that happen, we might get a small accounting profit, or he could still get minutes to support developing players when needed. Not the worst thing.

France were on a different level to Wales. That said, Wales had some moments. Patel will be gutted at the third goal. For the fourth, it looked as though it might get a deflection, which distracted her, resulting in a tap in. Great to see Rachel Rowe having a decent game, and a massive roar for Fishlock's goal.

A page full of horse puns. But where is the transfer news? That's the equestrian to be answered.

Yak

Good to see that, after so many instances where they say lessons will be learned, the Beeb were quick of the mark here. Just the 14 years, with them already passing the buck to production companies.

Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic. Tomorrow's the day Downs has his medical.

I thought Hoddle brought someone in to remove the curse of the evil woman? She raced down on the Last Train To London to help, I believe.

After Martin being surprised at the physicality of the PL, I hope that Still knows the fitness requirements for the Championship. Last season's flaws extended to both coaching and analytics teams for not pitching a fit, over how far off the pace the squad were. Unless it's all new people, I'd be benchmarking on successful teams and not just going by what he's given internally.

And what book? Kotchap and other condiments... A Farewell to Arma

The nicer version of fox hunting. 🙂

Muesli

You are right. I was distracted, looking up at his high ceiling.

Today's chat is probably off the back of my price comparison. Between the 16 million, Norwich are reportedly looking for, for an established and improving Championship player, and our 8 million SR lets-hope-he-comes-good punt on Downs.

Zombie

I've seen him a lot for Norwich, where he's progressed from lump to decent in our budget forward. Last season,he worked well with Sainz, and got to fucus on improving in other areas, when he had a good creative player with him.

I'll need to switch over my PL podcasts to...lower league ones. >sob< 🙂

Stiff

Bah! 🙂

I saw either on Beeb or telegraph that the asking price for Sargant is 16 million. While wages etc would have to be agreed, it's a price within our range for an improving, and already capable Championship forward.

I was seeing development in Edozie, even in the games he had before SR felt Cornet was the ideal loanee, and Sule had to be around, if only to get some money back on him. He was trying a variety of things to get past players. Considering his position, that's not always going to happen anyway. But he wasn't doing the same thing time and again. The output of that wasn't great in the PL. Yes, that was sometimes due to not making the right decision. But it was just as often, because there wasn't enough support, or there was no one in the box at all. That was a common one under Martin. Compact, deep lying possession team gets ball and has to quickly move it up the park. Some players get there before others. An extreme example was Sule, at the end of the season, who got there before anyone, but could do nothing with it. Back to Edozie, his overall game, like quite a few under Martin, improved in the Championship. Early on, his defensive work needed a kick. He got it, and was excellent on occasions after that. He got 6 goals and was looking like that would get better before being injured. As a team, we had more balance when we had Tella and a fit Stu in it. Someone with the technical ability to support, and attack in the middle in Stu, and a more direct, physical player in Tella, to balance out an AA or an Edozie. We don't have either at the minute. AA, Edozie, Fraser and Dibling to an extent are too similar. But, like SAA, it's disappointing to see a player getting better, which is what the plan was, getting moved on before we get the benefit of it.

Now we know why Lallana was kept. To help with all the grooming ahead of that Open Day. 🙂

I don't blame if he wants to go, after being dumped down the pecking order behind Fraser, Sule and Cornet. I was hoping the new set up would see him getting plenty of opportunities this season.