West end Saints

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

Our two 'experienced' players in this area are neither good enough, we are getting no where near enough assists from them. For me, Ely offers more than Stu Armstrong, however we needed to upgrade both. Their stats for last two seasons are telling: 22/23 Goals Ely 0 Stu 1 Assists Ely 1 Stu 0 Blocks / tackles / clearances / headed clearances / aerial battles won etc - Ely actually surprised me with decent stats and miles better than Stu. 21/22 Goals Ely 4 Stu 2 Assists Ely 2 Stu 0 Again defensive stats Ely miles better. When you add his work rate, and reasonable decision making you can see, with the lack of decent alternatives managers have Ely as one of the first names on the team sheet. If we are going for 4/2/2/2 formation I would hope that Alcarez and Orsic would be better but we don't seem happy to rely on them??? Other options are Theo, Aribo, Edozie or AA. I guess the point I'm making is despite his failings, Ely wouldn't be far off my 11 - unfortunately as others haven't proven to be better. I would like to see a midfield and forward set up of JWP / Lavia Orsic / Alcarez Onuachu / Sulemana With Mara / Edozie coming off the bench.

Maybe I was right, and the manager had an idea what he was doing!

Don't think we have won a league game this season without him starting

Huge over reaction without much though on this thread. 1) Salisu injured, clearly DCC not being considered so CB not my choice but understandable. 2) midfield (with 2 young players) totally lost their shape and threw the game last week. I like to watch Alcarez but can see the need to balance youth with experience (which was what most on here said we needed!) 3) Moi is hugely under rated, his decision making, moving ball when under pressure better than most we have available. If we are going 433, as many here wanted, who else could play along side JWP and Lavia? Can see the sense in him. 4) Stu is good, but I don't rate him in a midfield 4, or whatever the most defensive line of midfield is, as number 10, or one of attacking 3 is decent choice. 5) AMN, must be KWP isn't 100% so one of AMN or Bree, he's gone for experience, again shouldn't be surprise as in press conference Selles said we needed more experience and that was clear from Wolves. Not an easy fan pleasing team that many of us (including me) would have gone for, but 100% consistent with press conference and nothing ridiculously wrong with it

Personally love watching him and the city team

Because his team had stopped playing in his style, lost energy and motivation, as he had.

Like the vast majority on here I would fully support JM being appointed. Reasons being: 1) as above, seems to unite fans 2) often hard to judge managers as people have given the Strachen example 3) I liked Ralph but felt both his, and the team's energy went - one thing we will get JM positivity and energy. 4) no back 5 5) no learning curve for this league. Of the other options, opinions seem very split so feel, after the negativity with fans and media caused by Jones, feel anyone else (who we stand a chance of getting) would be significantly less supported by fans

Prob judging by my fading energy levels! Raneiri was 64 when he won the title, so shows that maturity isn't all bad! Average age of manager in premier league is currently 47