Wurzel

We don't want anyone that is known for a particular formation. That has been the problem for the last 2/3 years. We need a progressive thinker who isn't prdictable and is open to change when it's needed.

1974 relegation. I cried. I didn't know any better. Turned out it wasn't such a big deal. 2005 relegation. Felt numb at the final whistle. How could it go so wrong just 2 years after a cup final? Was over it by the time I left the pub. 2009 relegation. Horrible. The worst. Not so much the relegation itself but due to the financial state of the club at the time the feeling was we might never be back again. 2023 relegation. Total indiference verging towards grateful. . Actually looking forward to starting a season again thinking we will be in with a chance of winning something. It almost feels like a potential re-birth.

Totally agree with you. I think even the squad we have now (if it stays together, and the owner sticking another £15m in last month makes me think selling them off now isn't part of the plan), with the addition of a natural goal scorer or two (and you can't say we didn't try to get them) will, this time next year be looking a pretty decent side. There are some very good young players there who can only improve the more they play, and will hopefully play under a manager that picks a side to suit their strengths, not emphasise their weaknesses. The big mistake, or maybe you could say the big gamble was that there would be 3 worse sides than us this year whilst they developed - that well and truly back fired. Too many too soon but, if they get the next manager right and a goalscorer, I could see us coming straight back and this season will be all but forgotten except as a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong.

Didn't the owner put in an extra £15m last month? Must have gone in the books as a share issue and not a loan. Big question is why did we need it? edit: answers own question fom The Athletic article 13th April

It will eventually. Even a stopped clock is right twice a day

Are we talking "on the pitch" or can we include Nathan's press conferences?

Does Fonte even have a coaching licence?

AA saw ity first, I think just because he was closest. Theo went round like some sort of school prefect showing it to most of them, seemed like everyone got a look at the note except JWP and McCarthy and whoever was pretending to be injured at the time. They all looked pretty bemused by it. Someone, I think it was Bednarek, took a 2nd and 3rd look, as if they coudn't believe what they were seeing. I'd love to know what was on it.

Can Jack Stephens play?..I've forgotten if he's on loan or we sold him

He died over 4 years ago, he ain't gonna save us no more

What suprised me most was, bearing in mind his comments in the summer when going to Villa and previous reluctance to put club before country, how insistent Bednarek was that he wanted to carry on.

Interesting Athletic article HERE if you can access it . Basically virtually every one outside the top 6 follows the a similar cycle of promotion, over acheiving, making tweaks to management/playing staff as that group get stale/too old/get poached by big 6, become established and lose the underdog spirtit, make a few mistakes in recruitment, struggle, eventually go down. Anything over 5 years and you're doing well. We've done better than most - outside traditional top 6 and Everton we are longest serving with West Ham at 11 seasons. We might not like it, but we've overstayed our welcome, it's simply our turn. ☹️

Discussed on The Price of Football podcast. Front of shirt only, Big Six don't have gambling companies as main sponsors anyway as they can attract bigger fish, for the rest the sleeve sponsor will probably now attract a higher sponsorship fee than the shirt front.

Really can't see what he was complaining about. Something must have got inside his head in that match.

If, if , if. Utter nonesense. Every match ever played has an "if only" moment. Just cherry picking the ones that suit your agenda is ridiculous. Genuine "luck happens once in a blue moon, I guess you thought the likes of Alex Ferguson just got lucky year after year.

Christ was that 37 years ago? 😕. Yes I was there, and I now feel about 20 years older than I did 2 minutes ago

Yep you're right, having googled a bit the second part of my question is called a first refusal clause.

Good sensible reasd. One question, if City have a buy back clause, only effective in (or from?) 2024, if we sold him this summer would that clause not then also go with his contract and impact on the buying club? If so no-one is likely to pay more than than the £40m they might have to let him go for a year later. Actually 2 questions. Does a buy back clause mean if City offer £40m in 2024 we have to accept it? Or does it mean if we choose to sell him they have to be given first dibs for £40m?

Niemi cost us £3m but worth every penny. And Anders Svennsson for under a million has to be in there.

Doesn't Claise hold some sort of record for us, highest percentage of wins per games played or something? Never quite looked the part but must have been effective

They didn't, they threatened to but never went through with it. Am I right in thinking if - big IF - they did go down anyway but also received a points deduction, as it's a PL punishment it wouldn't apply until/if they ever got promoted again?

Out of principal I will never bet money against Saints. But I have captained Kane and transferred in Son in my Fantasy team. So Saints winning about 8-7 will make my weekend.

Burnley currently have a transfer embargo, but apparently it's only for late filing of accounts and they seem adamant it will be lifted soon.

"Back where we belong" and "Premier League? It's not all it's cracked up to be"

20/ 10/96 Newcastle 5 - 0 Manchester United. following week 26/10/96 Southampton 6 - 3 Manchester United Absolutely no relevance to the present day but a little straw to clutch at.