Matthew Le God

We did as recently as 4 years ago! In 2016 Saints were only 3 points away from 4th at the end of the season.

You wouldn't be insinuating Ralph told him to do it... would you...!? 😃

Stuart Armstrong will miss Wednesday's game vs Israel due to getting booked today vs Slovakia. Helps keep him fresh for Monday vs Wolves. 👍

It has the Southampton club crest, kits and player faces, which are not available in the standard edition of Football Manager 2021.

I'll be improving Ward-Prowse further for the winter update, including a higher rating for free kicks. Not going to happen before then though.

Interviews he did during his time in Spain were in fluent English 🙄

Vardy has been a top Premier League player for 5 years, Ings only for 12-18 months. He is closing in on Vardy's CA with more and more evidence building.

The guidelines we have (which do have some flexibility) have Saints needing an average CA for the top 16 players to be 135. Ings is at the top end for a Saints 'star player' and will very likely be improved in the winter update.

If they keep up their form, that is likely to be close to what I'll do in the winter update.

That is irrelevant. It will only become relevant when the winter update is done. Which will very likely see Ward-Prowse improve in FM21 database if he keeps up this form.

An increase of 5 CA is not a small amount it is pretty much the guideline increase amount. Mason Mount is starting games for Chelsea and is above Ward-Prowse in the England pecking order. As I've also said, if both JWP and Ings maintain this level they'll get big boosts in the winter update, along with a number of other Saints players like Vestergaard, Romeu and Armstrong.

Very strange use of 'literally'. 😉 I'll probably give some of the backroom staff a boost for the winter update.

Southampton edition of FM21 available...!

That is Donald Trump levels of conspiracy nonsense!

The game has been moved to Monday 23rd November at 8pm. Live on Sky Sports rather than PPV. Gives more time for Bertrand, Walcott and Ward-Prowse to recover. Along with any international players.

It'll be 'God save the king'... like it was for hundreds of years before 1952. Though I'd rather with kept both God and the monarchy out of the national anthem. Not very inclusive.

Have you not seen the amount of stick Davis and Watson get on the main Saints forum? 😃 It isn't easy to judge a coaches' ability, but they haven't really done much that is particularly noteworthy. Were they to leave Saints I doubt a top club would be in for Kelvin Davis as a coach.

What about Kelvin Davis' coaching career is particularly notable to warrant a higher rating than he has?

Vardy for example has been a top Premier League striker for the last 5 years. We have a large amount of evidence for him, Ings has had an amazing 12-18 months. I gave Ings a big increase for FM21, if he has another season like last season I'll be able to justify him being even closer to Vardy.

You need to be pragmatic when being a FM researcher. You can't get away with wearing rose tinted glasses for Saints players, there are a lot of checks and balances we use so fan bias doesn't influence player ratings.

I'd say that is more a case of Bowen being rated a little too highly! 15 is still a high rating for finishing. It is the same as... - Sterling - Bruno Fernandes - Rashford Ings will be in line for a boost to his finishing if he returns from injury and keeps performing as he has been until the winter update.

Vardy has been a top Premier League striker for the last 5 years. We have a large amount of evidence for him, Ings has had an amazing 12-18 months. I gave Ings a big increase for FM21, if he has another season like last season I'll be able to justify him being even closer to Vardy in CA.

Only Bale, De Bruyne and Maddison have higher than 16 in the Premier League! I think Ward-Prowse should be above Maddison, but 16 is not a low rating. If he keeps it up I'll boost him for the winter update.

Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Jankewitz, Ferry and others all have decent PAs as players and time on their side to develop further.

14 out of 20 is very good for a player of his height. It is at the very top end of the guidelines.