Willo of Whiteley

I must admit I completely forgot about Fernandes and Archer. That’s just how irrelevant they were/are.

It’s very simple. I wouldn’t trust them to spend the money wisely. Also you cannot say they spent the money eighteen months ago. Taking Downes and THB out of the occasion we spent money on Aaron Ramsdale and peanuts on everyone else (Sugawara, Brereton-Diaz, Fraser, Edwards). The picked peanuts players at a time where it was time to invest.

I think the problem is that even if SR did the unthinkable and made some shrewd signings, and we did get promoted; we’ll come straight back down. We aren’t ever doing a Forest or a Sunderland and buying our way to stay up in the Premier League.

I’d be wanting a lot of guarantees to be signing for Southampton right now. Or money. Almost like we’re going to need to start bribing people to come here if things don’t change. That’s why a strong manager can make all the difference. It encourages and entices players, it also shields the players of all the bollocks that happens above the manager.

Stats mean absolutely fuck all. If you don’t score one goal more than the opposition then it’s all irrelevant. Nothing should matter more. Not really sure why most managers want to play pretty nowadays, play effective.

Good. He can leave. Another Sport Republic masterclass in buying. This squad is abysmal compared to two years ago.

Most teams only offer contracts nowadays to protect their previous investment. But it’s becoming more common for players to run down their contract. I don’t blame him for wanting to leave, he’s been subjected to barrels of abuse for ages. I wouldn’t want to stick around. But he’s still an international goalkeeper so will have the outlook of “I’m still a good keeper” - fine. Good luck to him. Shea Charles will be next to be sold in the summer. His contract offer has been on the table for about four months now.

I don’t think Adam Armstrong will be going anywhere. Some people need to check the sources before jumping on the panic bandwagon. He’s head and shoulders our best forward and does a lot more than people think. Is he Ronaldo? No. But if he wasn’t playing for us there’s a lot of people that would quickly hope he was.

I’d take him even if he was missing a foot and in a wheelchair.

Sport Republic love a yes man though

I’d argue that for the most part Les Reed signings were good. Even under Martin Semmens when money was harder to come by there were some very screwed signings that kept us ticking over for years. Livramento, Salisu etc

Absolute bollocks that. Lovren, van Dijk, Yosida - all right footers that played on the left

Rosenior was out of our league when we sacked Will Still. Carrick hasn’t pulled up any trees at Middlesbrough. But he was always going to get it over Ole Gunner Solskjaer. If they’d brought him back it’s basically another admission of failure from the board (going back to the same person).

Couldn’t disagree more. Even the first season under Russell Martin there was a clear plan and identity of the type of style we wanted to play and player we wanted to go for.

Can they play now instead?

Knowing our board they’ll buy for another position that we don’t need, like another goalkeeper.

But in the end Newcastle lost so it couldn’t have happened to a bigger bellend in Eddie Howe 🤣

I just don’t have faith in the manager, style of play, most of the players or the board.

We won’t be getting promoted for many years

Linked with that average Lens player again that we were back in the summer. Nothing screams “Sport Republic scouting” more than going back to players that weren’t deemed good enough before. You also know if we sign him he’ll be the first out the door in the summer, and not for a sale, probably a loan because no one will take him off us.

Johannes Spors clearly out another Sport Republic dud signing.

Beatable on his day. One of the worst the clubs seen. A liability to those around him. Goodbye, Gav.

The pay check means more now. I’ve touched on it before but Jimmy-Jay Morgan went to Chelsea’s academy and he has been farmed out to the lower leagues the last couple of years. He is never playing for the first team. But I bet he’s set himself up for life along the way.

I’ve said for several years Manchester United are now a mid table team. My wife and her family (all MU) get frustrated when they lose to Brighton or draw with Wolves or Fulham - I keep saying until fans, players and pundits accept that this is their level now, nothing will change. But every season we get the same old tripe about how they’ll be better, “this could be their season” - I’m sorry, they’ve been shit for years. Maybe they should give as much airtime to some other mid table clubs rather than Man United’s “disappointing season” AGAIN. So boring.

Probably Sport Republic’s scouts