Matthew Le God

Rise

That wouldn't be a bad thing... as long as we sold them if promoted.

@Turkish That link is not proof Armstrong was not one of the best players in the league. What makes you think it is? #TurkishFail

Talk us through what you think that proves and how it makes me wrong about something?

A player/assistant manager duel role until his contract expires on 30th June 2025. The club would just be paying what they already agreed to pay him. There isn't that many weeks left on it. If he remains at the club beyond the summer as a coach that would be the point for a big reduction in wages from what he is currently on. I doubt we'll see him play much, if at all. Perhaps final game of the season he'll have a cameo as a final goodbye.

You were the one that replied to a post applied the squad bunch saying... "This bunch is different from the last bunch" And then shown that wasn't really true.

I'm talking about the players because the discussion was... about the players.

It isn't, I listed all the remaining players from last season. A lot of them are still here! That is a big reason why we struggled this season. We needed more of a clearout!

The point you were discussing with @aintforever was about " this bunch of players", not the "staff, situation with relegation, scar tissue, fan attitude, Spors, transfer committee". His point was about the players, not everything else.

Well... we did!

Not really 'massively' Alex! These 17 players are all still contracted to us for next season from the promotion campaign... Keepers - Bazunu, McCarthy & Lumley Right back - Bree Left back - Manning Centre backs - Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens Midfielders - Aribo, Smallbone, Downes, Charles Attacking players - Armstrong, Edozie, Fraser, Sulemana, Stewart On top of those 17 you then have Larios, Bella-Kotchap, Onuachu to make it 20 senior players contracted to the club in the last campaign. And then all the new players from 2024/25 - Fernandes, Edwards, Wood, Juan, Matsuki, Brereton Diaz, Ramsdale, Sugawara, Taylor & Welington.

@ApprenticeBillionaire He was on £100k p/w at Saints https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/2783367/2021/08/23/ornstein-palace-want-arsenals-nketiah-for-10m-personal-terms-hold-up-west-hams-zouma-move-ward-prowses-pay-record/

Hardly a surprise when he was on over £100k p/w at Saints https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/15963411/james-ward-prowse-southampton-top-earner/

I don't disagree it was a poor signing. I've not said otherwise. But it is a positive he is useful that he has a good record at the level we will find ourselves in next season.

Is 18 goals in 40 Championship games not a decent strike rate? He has been shit this season, but let's judge him on how he has been in the league we will be in next season.

1) He was the 2nd top scorer in the league last season. Why would you not consider the 2nd top scorer in a league to be one of the best players? Would you apply the same to any other league? 2) Don't view him as a central striker then! It is not his most effective role.

I can live with that if he is the Championship 2nd top scorer again while mainly playing out wide. If we can replace him with a player that would also be effective in the Premier League, then great... try for that. But it'll be difficult to find a player than can match Armstrong's goal output in the Championship, also be effective in the PL for 2026/27 season and be willing to join us in the Championship.

He has been very ineffective and out of his depth this season, but in the league, we are about to go into, he is useful. 18 goals in 40 Championship games is a decent strike rate.

What about the Leicester game? Even though it is away, they are significantly weaker than Fulham.

He was also more effective and prolific for Blackburn when playing out wide. They were not playing MartinBall tactics.

What he wants and where he is more effective are different things! Do you disagree he has been more effective wider for us? He gets lost and outmuscled playing centrally.

Why do you think that is? Could it be... they haven't been playing him in the same role we used him. Even in the Championship he isn't a good central striker, but have him out wide and he is a lot more effective.

Wrong, it is spelt Hasenhüttl. If you are going to correct my typo on a small phone screen keyboard at least get the spelling right yourself!

What exactly are you pinning on him that his fault rather than someone else?