West end Saints

I know I can sound like I'm against Stu, but I just can't see how he is seen as a high threshold for an attacking midfielder. Seemed a good guy, some good direct runs and a few good goals but often lazy, light weight and made poor decisions. How often in prem did he give the ball away in our half, then just watch as we had to defend? Last few seasons in prem 2 goals, 1 assist 2 goals, 0 assists 4 goals, 5 assists 5 goals, 3 assists 3 goals, 2 assists Last season in championship he did a bit better with 5 goals, but Smallbone managed 6. I am optimistic that if we went with Smallbone in that role he could manage a couple of goals and assists. If we spend on a new AM it will be because they are confident he is a significant upgrade on Stu.

Central midfield yes. I will be very surprised and disappointed if our attacking midfielders are not significant improvement on Ely and Stu. Even without new signings Smallbone / Aribo are likely to better Ely / Stu combined total of 3 goals and two assists! Smallbone (particularly in second half of season ) and Aribo both more mobile and actually sometimes track / tackle which is an improvement. Also Maitland Niles and Djenpo played significant minutes. Lavia also, as would be expected for his age, wasn't always consistent. I think we will be stronger in midfield this year.

I was curious how our team looks compared with our last two prem seasons and don't think we look any worse (important as we finished 20th in last one!). These are based on 442 of most common starters, and our squad as of today although clearly will change. 21/22 Finished 15th Forster Livramento Salisu Bednarek Walker Peter JWP Romeu Elynousi Redmond Adams Broja 22/23 20th Bazunu KWP ABK Salisu Perraud JWP Elynousi Lavia Stu Che Adam A This season Alex M Sugawara Bednarek THB KWP Downes Smallbone Aribo Edozie Adam A BDD I think the only area we look weaker is losing JWP/ Romeu or JWP / Lavia. We have better players than elynousi, Stu and possibly Redmond before any additional signings . Another forward and some quality like O'Riley, and we will definitely be stronger. If you look at goals / assists over those last two seasons from AM, it would not be hard for Dibling to do better.

I think they are open to upgrading him, but he was our best player for the last month of the season and a key factor throughout the successful play off campaign so is likely, and rightly, a contender to start. (Edit - replied before seeing the widespread support for Will - glad most could see what he did for the team appreciated his pivotal role in our promotion, all about opinions...

That's not the view from within the club. There are high expectations for Larios, which was why he was so involved with the celebrations at Wembley despite no game time

He is a decent sub in prem, and was probably offered short term contract on that basis I hope it works out well for him as seems a decent bloke but we need to be aiming for better performing and more consistency for a prem midfield. As an attacking midfielder he was a key player in our relegation season, with 2 goals and 1 assist, and personally I felt responsible for several goals against with taking risks in dangerous positions and not tracking or tackling. Two year older and recovering from injury, would he be more than a sub coming on to input some drive (which he does very well).

One of the podcasts named Smallbone as player of the playoffs over the five games. I thought he was very good over the second half of the season and still young

The Brexit argument will not support any changes, as many politicians could see that it just did not make sense but a simplistic argument won a vote and caused endless problems in parliament, legally, with law enforcement and immigration. I also think Farage will be less significant next election after a few years frustrated on the back benches, realising how infrequently he gets to speak in parliament and running a constituency.

I'm a hypocrite on this topic. Often thought it would be a better, more democratic system, but seeing the reform vote I don't want us to go anywhere near it. If there was some way to control rubbish that reform spout, that they don't really mean and have no thought through plans to implement just to get some gullible people fall for, then it maybe worth considering but at the moment it would elect racists and bigots, who no one has vetted and would not help the country at all.

Secret service shouted "Donald, duck!"

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The pricing with WHU is tricky. If they were at the same stage of their contracts KWP would be worth significantly more than Downes. Downes is 25 and unproven at the top level (63 of his appearances at league 1 and 2 level). KWP is 27 with over 100 prem appearances, performed well enough to be picked for England. Also reliable fitness. He would easily be worth double but clearly the last year of his contract makes a difference. I wonder if there is better value elsewhere than Downes, as much as he would be a good fit with us and RM. The discussion about starting CB - if Stephens and Bednarek are still here and fit at least one will be first choice. No way will Martin want to start in premier league with CBs who are both young and not played at that level

Signed by Martin before I believe

I gather Larios is seen as part of first team squad, and a lot is expected of Meghoma - they won't be relied upon as first choice but fit in well with signing a 30 year old LB (Taylor). I wonder how far Shea Charles, edozie will develop this year. Are Dibling, Bragg and Ballard going to be more involved? These will impact on requirements for balancing the squad

Expected by you? Because you had confidence in him? Most relegated clubs do not go straight back up. Usually one does. Any team who finished bottom, and as far a drift as us is not likely to go straight back up. Teams can improve their chances by investing due to a takeover etc, we had the opposite, we lost a lot of talented players. Just because you knew he would completely turn the team spirit and attitude around, build strong unit and improve players and therefore did as you expected, it doesn't diminish his achievement . He did very well and is understandably and rightly being rewarded.

This is why I'm not stressed at all about the finances. We haven't got a clue. We are pretty sure we are not paying £60m on a player, but my gut feeling is that we are not as tight as some are saying after the amount we had coming in. I'm sure KWP knows he can get a decent offer here and first team football, but also decent offers elsewhere

Can you imagine if we were signing a 25 year old defensive midfielder with about 100 championship appearances, 60 league 1, 10 league 2 and 20 prem, who has spent last year in championship side who finished 4th, wasn't player of the season and we were paying £20m...people would go nuts on here! I would love us to keep him but he isn't worth anywhere near £20m surely?

Difference is we are not a yo-yo club. Those teams have all had half the time we have had in the premier league. 25 out of 33 seasons, and even more established pre premier league days. Of course good players make a big difference, and quality costs, but we have shown numerous times that our best players are not the expensive ones. The key this season will be mixing strong character and good experience (Lallana, Fraser ) with talented young players (THB, Smallbone, Charles etc).

Doubts about age and fitness, but technically a perfect fit for RM style - totally two footed, experienced and calm on the ball, ideal for team trying to play good football when likely to be under pressure. Similar qualities to Stu A, but if has a decent level of fitness several classes above in ability. The post someone added earlier of two younger Brighton players talking about him perhaps also helps explain it. RM clearly wanted to improve the positivity and volume in the changing room, and it worked last year. He will be totally accepted of he plays well. I'm not going to sulk about 10 years ago as I'm not 12! His move was annoying at the time but clearly a 100% success story for him.

Just seen how late seasons starts, maybe 3 games before window shuts?? Suppose not too bad to wait, if he comes as he knows RM's style, but I do worry about signing a player , for a role pivotal to our style, without a preseason

Although he was superb last season, and clearly a player RM likes, I hope we don't wait too long for him. I had never heard from him 12 months ago, and as a 25 year old who has played more in league 1 them prem , I'm sure there are plenty of DM available of similar level.

Right decision. Really hope he gets the club he wants, but not good enough for what we need. Good part of the promotion squad and seems well liked, will be remembered fondly.

I get your argument but one main difference is that Stu is 5 years older. I made the point earlier that a key issue is whether RM has improved players or whether it is too that we have been playing at a lower level. I think Stu was particularly poor in our relegation season, but if he can play at this seasons level than he good behaviour useful. However, his fitness and work rate let us down previously and so, a year older, I would be concerned. He has ability, and seems a positive popular player to have around, so could be a useful squad player. We need to be aiming for better in our first choice 11.

Depends whether his better performance this season was due Martin or the lower league. He was not good enough in the premier league for probably the last two seasons, and one of the reasons we got relegated.

I wonder if the fact that those three games were at the end of 9 games in less than a month, we seem better the more time he has to prepare a team A very successful season, actually think best way to go up