OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint

Seems like there's still other clubs sniffing around (eg Arsenal, Man U) so wouldn't be surprised if he goes for £45m which would beat the initial estimation of us experts on here that initially valued him at £40m. Maybe the Saints hierarchy thought: "we'll show them, they value Lavia at £40m, well we'll get £50m for him."

What does he think about League 1?

Che is in a different league. Like Shane Long, useless but likeably useless. There's nothing to like about Elyounoussi. I don't get this "he's good off the ball crap" and just because he collected all the footballs for all the others who shot wide at the the training ground (admittedly there would have been a lot), it should not have guaranteed him a place in the side each week. And what song rhymes with Elyounoussi?

Quite a few people are suggesting we will be creating a lot more chances in the championship. Watching the two semi-final play offs, one was exciting and interesting, the other was turgid possession-play crap. I haven't done a full analysis but there isn't an abundance of goals in the championship compared to the premier league (maybe the finishing is worse), so without a change in attitude and personnel, there's a real danger of us "groundhog daying" playing tippy-tappy football in the championship and creating few chances.

Paddypower excelling himself tonight. Saltbay now 4/1 to celebrate with the players. Time to lump on?

And with that gobbing scouse twat adding his crap, the commentary is really irritating. Without watching the game, you'd think this was an epic game. And if he calls any more of these players heros.....

Totally agree. When he signed for us, there was a Youtube video of his hattrick - the crappiest ever - and we used to call him Bingo Paul because when the ball went to him, his touch is so poor, it would go off in any number of directions. And despite his lack of pace and ambling around, he was fucked after 60 minutes and had to go off. If we're offered £10m that would be a bonus. Get rid as soon as possible.

Looking at Pep, maybe Selles thought, if I dress like him (because I'm Spanish too) people will think I'm a good manager too.

Did like this one. And "We've got Selles" was sung really good at Chelsea this year until we realised we've got Selles!!

Must admit, thought there was a good chance he would stay until saw him clapped off against Liverpool. Problem is, with Leicester going down, clubs that might have considered JWP are more likely to be chasing Maddison - which puts JWP exactly where the press have put him, West Ham or a club of a similar ilk. Still, if someone's prepared to pay £40m, there's a lot that can be done with that in the championship. The whole Burnley rebuild didn't cost that much.

SR were like a kid in a candy shop. They had a load of cash to spend, went crazy, got the sugar rush and threw up. Does it now spend a load more cash because the last lot went down the toilet or slow down and take remedial measures? Get a manager in who can help build a spine to the club. Dragan, Ankersen with his pie charts or whatever statistical analysis he's using - not sure they know how to take us in the right direction.

Could it be that the decision makers are stalling because we have someone else in mind? A bigger 'name' perhaps? Give it to close of play tomorrow and still no decision and then the rumours will start to gain momentum.😜

Agree. Still think we need to find ourselves a couple of other strikers. Wouldn't also be averse to having Jack S. back in central defence. Midfield is going to be interesting. Expecting to keep Alcaraz but otherwise a whole new line-up there.

It's all guesswork but given the press have put a £40m label on JWP, these numbers seem about right. Next question is does Dragan sell and stick or reinvest? Last year, other than Burnley, no championship club spent more than £20m on transfers. Watford (£18m), Norwich (£14m), Hull (£11m), Middlesbro (£10m) then the next was Sunderland (£6m). Just goes to show you don't need to spend a lot.

Agree. When he finally decided to play for us, there was a spell when he looked good but ultimately looks like he's showed his true colours. Good riddance.

Ha, good point. Time for a name change. You get to an age (10?11?12?) when you don't change the club you support. As for the players, I don't expect to see Lyanco style histrionics but I sign that they cared and actually wanted to win a game would have helped. And as for ABK, he certainly gave me the impression he didn't give a toss and claimed injury at the first opportunity. In nearly 50 years, I can't think of a squad I've cared about less. Apart from Alcaraz & Sulemana, any of them can leave.

The disappointment will be more about who we keep. Hopefully Ely & Diallo have seen how Theo has done the right thing but I also don't want AA, ABK, Salisu, Tall (Bingo) Pall, Orsic, Aribo, AMN wearing a Saints shirt again. Horrid, horrid uncaring squad.

Reckon we should be getting an official announcement within the next couple of days because the rebuild needs to start sooner rather than later. Otherwise I'll have doubts this will happen. If there's no announcement by the middle of the week, the question then is who else are they targeting?

Be more use than the last two managers. They could use it to watch how Brighton train 😜

It is, but they are taking their time making a formal announcement. Are they waiting for the official end of the season or is this appointment not quite as done as dusted as it seemed?

Thanks Wyn for your insights and yes sentence does concern a lot of us. We are going to come across many teams that will park the proverbial bus and we showed this year we have no idea as to how it can be broken down...so we pass sideways and go at walking speed. Hopefully there'll be some new additions with new ideas.

I certainly remember Chaplow, well more his bald head! And Hooiveldt was not a proven failure in the premier league. Yes I'll be going to the usual half a dozen away games next season and in a weird way, already looking forward to it, and of course you support the players on the pitch, but I don't want AA anywhere near the team. He's been given enough chances already.

Although Ankerson & Kraft were removed from Sport Republic Holding Ltd, surely they're closer linked to Dragan than Semmens - so the latter is the first to go. The old school are being removed but would Ankerson leave without Dragan also leaving? I get the impression they come as a pair.

Yes, I was at two of those games and he was still easily the worst player on the pitch. And what happens if we get promoted? Unlike Rickie L who could compete in the premiership, this guy is a proven liability and no manager will change that. He is taking up someone else's space.

And are there any leaders in the squad at present? Quoting S-Clarke: " I look back to 2011 and we had Kelvin, Fonte, Morgan, Hammond, Lambo down the spine. Now that's a spine, experience, leadership, guts and quality." Who have we got today? Yes, i'd like to keep Alcaraz, Sulemana, Tino, Edozie but that's not a leadership spine. My concern is we have 2 months before the next season starts. That's hardly any time to find a completely new spine and get them to gel together, so then it goes back to what SNsun says about evolution or revolution. I can see the club taking the former approach and with our losing mentality, we slip in to mid Championship table mediocrity or worse very quickly. It's a real catch-22. I'd be looking for a striker (perhaps from the lower leagues), a forward thinking midfielder and given the centre backs seem to be imploding (wouldn't be surprised if ABK, Salisu, Bednerek, DCC & Lyanco all leave), another experienced centre back (Jack S. possibly?).