trousers

What is Forster's valuation at the moment I wonder? £5m? £7.5m? £10m...?! £55k/week works out at c.£8.5m over three years, so if they can be convinced that he's worth that figure then letting him go on a free effectively neutralises the additional wages. p.s. I've no idea how one values an ex-England keeper who, in goalkeeping terms, is at his prime age and in relatively decent form...?

Indeed... I probably meant their 'Tier 3' fringe players....

Brentford, Forest, Fulham West Ham, Bournemouth, Brighton (Answering the question: "Who do you want...?" rather than "Who do you think will...?")

I forgot Djenepo was available for this one, although doesn't affect my proposed starting line-up. Great to have him back as an option off the bench though.

Anyone think Guardiola will start to play a significant number of fringe players now that the PL title is done and dusted? (yes, I know they were never going to win it, however, psychologicially we're now in end-of-term territory...). That said, no doubt a fringe-player Man City line-up would still be favourtites against our strongest starting 11.... I guess there will now be a feeling amongst Saints fans that we should now take the opportunity to field more of our fringe players in the remainings games, given we're now safer than safe from relegation. However, given how close we are to 8th place, my view is that we should continue to play our best starting 11, or as close to it as possible. That said, I would now make Adams a regular starter ahead of Long or Obefemi. I think Adams is a better player than those two anyway, so won't weake the team anyway. So, for me, the starting 11 vs Man City should look like this: McCarthy KWP - Vestergaard - Bednarek - Bertie JWP - Romeu Armstrong - Redmond Adams - Ings

Best performance of the 3 restart games by far. Smallbone looking decent. Also a good cameo from Adams. Is it too soon to dig out the December forum posts from the "happy to be wrong" brigade, just for a bit of a chortle?

Unlucky there Adams... Tried to slide it through the keeper's legs rather than just blast it...

Never any doubt

Here we go...

Whoop whoop

Nice

I'm inclined to agree with that starting 11, even though it'll obviously rankle with the "Why on Earth would you want to rest Ings?" brigade...

https://www.bmmagazine.co.uk/news/english-sparkling-wine-sector-set-to-fizz-over-the-next-decade/

Get in

The fact he (and everyone else of course) hasn't played for months is arguably a reason for easing him (and maybe others) back in, especially those like Ings whose style of play involves busting a gut each and every game.... That said, I would still start Ings for this one, hopefully with Long alongside as he's better placed to share the burden of 'gut busting', unlike Obefemi who's more of an impact player.

The temperature is likely to be mid to high 20s on Thursday p.m... that should favour us in theory, given this will be Arsenal's 3rd game in 8 days. i.e. we should be fresher/fitter.

So, I'm guessing we want the bin dippers to win this one to keep the dugout kings within spitting distance?

Skate

I suspect, for consistency, Ralph will want to field an unchanged starting 11, especially as we have almost a full week between our first two games of the restart. That said, I'd be inclined to replace Obefemi with Long, assuming the latter is fit by then.

😂

Anything without the 'band' (aka 'bra') across the top is fine by me. A sash kit is pretty distinctive and uncluttered, so it's a thumbs up from me 👍

Anyone got a link to a decent stream for this one? FirstRow very hit and miss

Decent first half, after the first rusty 10 mins. Carried dominance over into 2nd half and a deserved win, tempered slightly by Norwich being very poor. Still question marks over Valery's and Obefemi's decision making but still very early in their careers. The Saints are staying up.

He popped by a few hours ago...

Ralph making about 16 subs there to waste 5 mins or so