Dman

The exact same could be said about Che if he his next club were to read this forum. Lets not beat around the bush here, Che was (one of) the big reasons in why we went down last season, he just seemingly doesn't have the composure to score simple goals at the top level. Piroe is a goal scorer at this level and that is exactly what we need. He has much more of a physical presence than AA up top, knows the system, knows the manager and the manager knows him. Feels like an absolute no brainer. That being said, at the price being quoted (£13m), I'd be keeping Che and letting him walk for free next season. He's already shown he's too good for the championship.

you're either very very easily impresed or just enjoy watching women running around in short shorts. These are 'elite' professionals who train every day and have the best facilities avalible to them - the slow ponderous rubbish they knock up is not impressive, imo anyway of course. I'm in full belief that you could stick the england womens team up against any competent mens side (i'm talking wessex leauge) and it'd be a massivley one sided game - to the men. I'd actually go as far as saying if you picked a sunday leauge side off the local park, gave them a month to train like a professional (i.e get fit) and have a half competent coach and they'll still turn them over. That being said, i'm probably not best qualified to talk about it as I've not watched a minute of the shite and wont be whenever the final is either. I'd rather watch the grass grow.

In fairness Manning was litterally facing the striker and could have done anything but pass it straight too him. Noone to blame but manning there

That's not really all that difficult though, is it. The standard of womens football as a whole is questionable, but the keeping is beyond pathetic for 95% of them.

The birds coach must feel embarrsed to be at these things, surely? Clearly noone other than the odd weirdo gives a enough of a fuck to 1 and only question about the womens team. Tick box exercise

You were that sap at the fans fourm asking us to be more welcoming of awy fans, weren't you...

If true that Downes is incoming, we don't need decent cover. Downes / Charles for the more defensive role, Alcaraz / Stu for the more attacking roles. Then you have the likes of Doyle coming through as cover. A shame for Smallbone, but i'm not devastated. In fact, i think it might actually help us in a weird sort of way.

I’m wondering if Holgate is seen as our KWP replacement and will play as a RB, rather than to play CB. We’ve seen already that playing 2 attacking full backs is leaving us far too exposed, someone like Holgate, who can also play CB, would give us a lot more balance, with manning being slight more attacking of the 2 and theoretically should be able to tuck in and suit our system. Would also give the option to play a back 3, if needed. I really like the thought of that one and I think he’d surprise a few.

My thoughts, for whatever they're worth. The best I've seen St Mary's in years. Genuienly a good atmopshere in all 4 stands of the ground, other than maybe 20 mins of the first half. As much as i hate to say it, the goal music worked pretty well. Overall I don't think a point is a terribly bad result. Norwich were better than I thought they would be and will certainly be one of the stronger sides we'll play this season, I'd certainly expect them to be up there. The last few seasons we don't get anything from that game, the mentality is changing, which is good to see. However, that's 2 games now where we've relied on Che to change the game for us off the bench, which is a concern as he's not going to be here in a months time. I think Martin got it wrong with the starting 11, especially in midfield. It was too attacking and didn't have the right balance. We struggled to really dominate the ball, were a bit all over the place going forwrd and defending. That being said, I thnk he got it spot on in game. Alacraz was pretty poor up until Charles came on imo. Kudos to Charles, he looked really good and composed. Has to be starting in that deeper role for me. I'm not a fan of tella on the right, would much rather he was played on the left with SAA on the right. I think Ryan Manning is a pretty poor player. He reminds me of Danny Fox and would get ripped alive in the PL. Our inabliy to defend crosses, acually, inability to defend at all, is a real worry. For me, yesterday summed up why I don't think we'll go up, we're just too sloppy. Its going to b a stressful season if we have to endure that every week! We have the foundations of being a decent side, but were not there yet.

we'll soon see wont we. Downes is a fantastic player. excited for that one 👍

McTomiany if used correctly is a very good player. He'd be a great box to box CM for West Ham. Personally I dont think JWP is going to do too well there. Free kicks aside a ver average PL CM. I'd go as far as saying id actually prefer Downes.

Really happy with Downes - lets hope we have an opton (and he enjoys it here). Not sure he's a JWP L4L replacement and will likely play in the deeper role, so not sure what that means for Charles or Smallbone. I'd imagine that Smallbone could play a little further forward in the '8' / 'box to box' / 'traditional CM' (whatever you want to call it)ut again would start to find game time tough if / when Grimes comes in. Feel like we need to really focus on getting a forward in now. If Adams sticks around, great, but we need competition / a replacement for if / when he goes.

Kluivert is massively overrated imo. I think he'll be a poor bit of buisness. Scott is obviously untested at that level but looks a decent signing and I highy rate Aarons. I still think they'll struggle though, but will likley have enough as the leauge is going to be really weak next year. Sheff Utd seemingly going down without a fight.

Not everything is negative, just most of it. Not because I'm a skate, but because its been pretty miserable supporting this club for the past 2 years 👍 Largely, the playing squad is waste of space. I think Russell Martin was a hipster, bang average appointment and I've lost all trust in the ownership group when they appointed Nathan fucking jones, spunked £20m on some geezer who has the touch of a trampoline (and that's his only positive output), then appointed Ruben Selles to seal the deal. Lets revisit in May - I'm confident my prediction about Martin will be right, happy to hold hands up and apologise if not. I'll stick it here. We'll make the play offs at best.

If you knew what the circle knew, you'd be concerned as well 🤦‍♂️

West Ham have just rejected an offer for Paqueta worth £88 million. That coupled with getting £100m for rice, feels like they've massively had our pants down with the JWP deal. Clearly he's nowhere near either of their level, but if they're demanding top dollar for their key players, they should expect to pay it for ours. Feels like there's more to the JWP deal - perhaps Downes is the sweetener, or we had a pre-agreed fee with JWP that we'd let him go for x if we go down.

I'm not 100% convinced that Martin was actually Wilcox man - Martin was apparently our second choice behind Jone back in Novemeber. Way before the club had appointed Wilcox. The fella at Leicester was Wilcox (and our) first choice this summer.

I'm taking into consideration the comments from his time at swansea, our pre-season and the 2 games we've seen this season. Nice bloke, honourable and says all the things I want our manager to say, but we're going to dominate 90% of our games and struggle to break teams down. Draw and lose a ton. That's clear to see imo. I'm not saying we should sack him, FWIW - just don't particularly rate him and don't think he'll take us up.

Yep, totally agreed. We can afford to give Lynaco, Shite Paul, McCarthy, Bree, Mara, Djenepo away for next to nothing to 1 - free up the wage bill 2 - free up spaces in the squad.

Burnley have a better manager though. Martin is a 1 trick pony, I've seen more than enough already to know we're going to be all fart no shit this season.

LOL

Not sure that's true - Can you imagine the uproar if they came out and said 'its going to be a tough season, we're going to lose a lot of key players and not replace them with anywhere near the same quality. We'd be happy with top 6 this season and anything extra is a bonus'.. They stated what people wanted to hear.

I'm not sure what post you're referring to, but assuming it was Pilchards, he hasn't really said that. There's a big difference between actively avoiding and being realistic in your expectations and planning accordingly. I'm fairly sure there were a few quotes (can't remember who from? Maybe Rassmus or Wilcox) basically saying the aim was for promotion, but we're prepared for 2 years in the championship. To some extent it makes sense that we'd aim for promotion next season and if it happens this season, that's a bonus. If our out and out goal was promotion this season, (all be it we only are for the right price) we wouldn't be willing to sell anything that isn't nailed down. I do tend to agree that if we some how win promotion this season, we'd need significant investment again next summer to stay up.

Patino is a good player FWIW - We're a little stocked in the attacking CM area (Alcaraz and Stu), but he'll do well at swansea.

Sorry, yeah I should have been clear - Dog shit from the supposidly 'senior' players. i.e all but 2 or 3. SAA is a superstar, I think i said as much last night. Should be starting for me.