West end Saints

And again, ffs

What was ABK thinking??

If we get a decent manager and a couple of decent replacements we should be competitive: Keeper, I think Bazunu could be OK with another year experience and hopefully less in the firing line. RB we have two who I think both are good for this level. (Bree and Liv) LB - prob need to sign CB - we have 6 and I can't see them all leaving, so not likely to be a panic area but may need some balancing. C Midfield I see as one our priority. I would like to see Alcarez as our more advanced in a pair (although need to remember his age and will have dips in form), with Smallbone as another option. That leaves an controlling, prob experienced, captain type midfielder. Attacking options Tella maybe here Sulemana Edozie Dibling Maybe Aribo at that level, and a manager able to find his role? Maybe Djenepo within the squad. CF New?! Mara Ballard Not seen enough of Onuachu? Che would be decent and may stay, if those both go will need to sign a couple. Both Armstrongs need to go. Stu has been very poor for at least a couple of seasons, Adam needs a complete confidence reset. Orsic, God knows what's going on but can't want to be here now. Diallo, Ely, Walcott go. I wouldn't be against Djenepo within the squad I don't think the squad will be as big, so prioritise few key signings 1) CM 2) goal scoring forward (a new concept!) 3) more experienced attacking midfielder to compliment Edozie, Sulemana 4) LB

Wasn't criticism of you, just that think we need to buy in more balance

The CM looks unbalanced to me. Stu is liability unless he is further forward, too weak/lazy and gives the ball away in dangerous positions. He only works in a more attacking role, and tbh not very well there for the last two years. Alcarez looks best, for me, in a attacking AM role. I'm not sure how smallbone plays now but we look two players light in CM or DM roles.

I couldn't give a shit if he keeps them up or not, I would never want him near our club. I would rather get relegated and have some ignorant optimism that things will improve, than have to sit behind that on our touchline.

Smallbone saying today how he wants to come back, and if we go down how useful his, and Tella's experience would be.

Walking out of the ground we were talking about who we wouldn't be upset to see go. We so need a reset and this team is so hard to connect with I hope we have a big clear out. For me, it would be a shame to see Alcarez then less so, ABK, Lavia, Djenepo, Sulemana, JWP or maybe Mara go. Maybe Che for a lower league. I hope both Armstrongs, Ely, Walcott go. Most of the others I'm pretty indifferent. Tbf, never had as little attachment to the players.

Not 100% convinced Lavia will go just yet. He is clearly going to be a very good top tier player, but he isn't yet. Still only 18, his passing has been erratic lately so wonder if may benefit from more experience before inevitable move to a top club. He is unlikely to be a regular starter for a top 8 side just yet

Our championship promotion midfield was Schniederlin 21, Cork 22, Lallana 23, Hammond 28. Our apart from Fonte and Lambert don't think the rest was amazing. Surely the remnants of our squad and reinvesting if we sell, should be able to get at least a competitive side? If we get decent manager!

Liked Ralph as person and manager, but he had to go, we would have been relegated under him as well. He was stale, team was stale, the last 12 month period of his tenure was 100% enough to sack him. He should have gone sooner. The problem was the appointment of Jones. Many other managers could have easily kept us up at that stage.

Think there are some good contenders for both good and bad in this post and below. I know Mohamed Elyounoussi is not great and fans love to slag him off, but objectively think he was about 15m?? Not fortune at the time, and has played 71 times for us in prem. More than pelle, lallana, cork, mane etc. (albeit not as well!!) but for a player with some value still, not a waste of money

Clutched straw... 10 game current form (decent sample) projected for next 10 games. Palace 32 Wolves 40 Leeds 35 Everton 36 Nottingham 38 Leicester 33 West Ham 34 Bournemouth 32 Saints 33 Still in it!

Bizarrely, when looking at other fees not much. £22 million. Not in the top 100 fees for Premier league players. When you have other clubs paying 3 or 4 times that for players (Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man C, Man U, Spurs, Newcastle) he is not anywhere near a premier league luxury level player. Even lower in the league many clubs pay more, or in some cases a lot more (Villa 33m, Bournemouth 25m, Palace 27m, Everton 45m, Fulham 27m, Leeds 36m, Leicester 35m, Nottingham F 43m, West ham 45m, Wolves 42m). Clearly has decent potential and for his age, and natural pace doesn't seem over priced in the current market.

This thread is up there with one of the most ill-informed on here. The comparison with Mane is clear, both in the style of play and the way posters who have no idea about ability or potential write a player off. He is younger than Mane, and probably joined at a harder time and started better. He wasn't great in midweek, but in a bad team performance it was clear he had ability on the ball and did OK. I used to love the way Mane would run at defenders, then stop and wait, knowing he could burst past them. Enjoyed seeing that done again today. Posters complained that Mane was a waste of money and not up to the level. He clearly was, even from the start, at least a decent player. So is Sulemana. Too early to say how good he will be but definately a decent signing.

The only time Man U have failed to score at home, in the league, this season, was 5 months ago against Newcastle. Excellent point.

Yea, must have been. Shows how hard these predictors are as I don't think for a minute that is how it will actually finish

In my mind we are 80-90% down. However, I just did the predictor, & thought my scores would relegate us, but final table had us safe with 35. Bottom 4: Forest 30 Bournemouth 29 West Ham 28 Leeds 27 Don't know if I was ridiculously hard on them, or whether they have a hard run in.

Doubt after one goal conceded in three games Selles will be changing keeper.

Would this work? Bazunu KWP, ABK, Salisu (although think he will go for JB) Perraud JWP Lavia Walcott Sulemana Adams Onuachu

Stu can only play if further forward, total liability defensively / retaining possession. If you use him it must be driving towards and around opposing box

Are you looking at the Stu of 3 years ago? Or the last two shit seasons

Just not true. Stu has odd good game. This season 1 goal, no assists. 21/22 2 goals, no assists For a No10 that is piss poor. He has probably, almost certainly directly led to more goals against in that time with giving the ball away in our half, or watching a play go by him. I agree he is more exciting and easier on the eye, but he is not the answer. Tbf, I don't think Ely is either, just don't think he is quite as bad as some on here make out, and do understand why 3 managers have picked him. Hopefully Orsic will settle and live up to our hopes as we need better

For those slagging him off, compare your better options, over last couple of seasons with him here: https://www.premierleague.com/stats/player-comparison I'm not saying he is good enough, or we shouldn't look to improve on him, BUT, he has been he beats most of our other options on goals / assists, and is well ahead on winning the ball, aerial challenges, forward passes etc. Certainly well ahead of Stu, who is no where near good enough to be a regular starter, AA, Djenepo, Walcott, Edozie.

Forgot Djenepo as another option