Saint Mikey

1 hour ago, Sarnia Cherie said:

The worst result for Man U last season was winning the FA Cup. After a poor season, even by their diminishing standards, they were the underdogs against City. Had United lost then I believe Ten Hag would have been sacked. With the FA Cup Ten Hag won a stay of execution but surely they must be sharpening up the gallows at Old Trafford now.

Fuck me. Is this what football has become? The worst result of the season is beating your bitter city rivals, in a game when you're the underdog, in the FA Cup Final?

I know football is about progress and Utd don't want to be where they are, but it's also about moments. That win will stay in the mind longer of those fans than having an improved season and finishing 3rd or 4th in the league.

17 minutes ago, Saint Scott said:

Yeah, fair enough. A decent record 79 goals/assists in 269 PL appearances.

Back to my original point then, you have to go back 30 years for a successful striker joining from the SPL. Miovski and Shankland aren't the answer

Mark Viduka wasn't that far back, but was still a while ago TBF. I can't think of any newer examples.

1 hour ago, charliemiller said:

I Read a report last night saying Fraser could mess up his transfer because he is insisting Newcastle pay up his last year of his contract which is 3 m quid . So he wants to be let go free to us and draw a wage and get paid for next by them .

I can understand Newcastle being Miffed if its true

This is how ALL transfers work, unless you've handed in a transfer request. You negotiate what's left on your contract with your current club (probably including loyalty bonuses), then negotiate a new wage and signing on bonus with the new club. It's how some players make an absolute fortune and move clubs a lot.

This is very well described in the Secret Footballer series of books. He makes the point that players like Robbie Keane, Craig Bellamy and others made a lot of money this way.

48 minutes ago, Dman said:

Won't wash with the football hipsters on here, but wouldn't be against us looking at Chris Wood on a freebie, should / when Che leaves.

No frills but low risk, big, strong, knows the leauge and scored 14 goals last season.  

Is he actually available on a free? Transfermarkt have his contract ending, but Forest paid c.£15m for him last year? They paid that transfer fee and only gave him a one year deal? 18 months if you include the previous loan. Seems odd. Also, I heard some of the Forest players are on mental money, and he's likely to be one given he came from Newcastle. 

Do think he'd be a better option than both Che or Stewart though.

Where's the best place to find and read retained lists? Appreciate that clubs release them at different times.

Didn't Justin Robertson go to prison for drink driving? Think he may have killed someone? Think it happened before he was playing for us, but sentenced while he was on loan.

He played about 3 games and scored one (very) good goal when we were in the Champ, I think.

25 minutes ago, Fan The Flames said:

Why don't Brighton want him as a player coach and mentor?

They did. They offered him a playing contract. De Zerbi wanted him to stay. He turned it down to be closer to his family, so he says - we may be offering more money or more coaching opportunities.

31 minutes ago, SherSaint said:

I think the point I'm making is being missed. Given the financial restraints many fans are facing, why didn't the club consider putting a £20 cap on home tickets. Would it really have made that much of a difference to the club's financial state? Such a gesture would, in my view, have been a nice way to thank the fans, and acknowledge some of the challenges they may face. It's within the clubs gift, I'm just trying to get understand the logic other than it's a business and price at what you can get away with. Maybe it's just me. But early round in cup games are priced more keenly. 

It is a business though, and it should be looking to maximise its revenue within reason. The club owes nothing to fans or season ticket holders. If you bought a ticket you got to see a game, if you bought a season ticket you had the opportunity to see 23.

The CoL isn't the club's concern. Should the Mayflower, Take That or Taylor Swift give reduced tickets because of the CoL?

I've done in depth analysis on our rivals fixtures lists and looked back at 5 years worth of Championship data.

Taking into account trend analysis, I've come to the conclusion that the two teams with the most points and/or better goal difference after 46 games will be automatically promoted.

1 hour ago, Harry_SFC said:

Surely you'd rearrange your wedding? Priorities and all that...

Save Chip! Don't let Sarah win...

17 minutes ago, hypochondriac said:

How could they possibly know that? 

Exactly. There's always so much guesswork with these figures. Probably taken from Champ Man and/or Transfrmarkt who are both guessing.  

5 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

“Will become”?

It already has. It seems to me that these sort of practices have arrived into our sport along with the ‘continental’ players.

Like Francis Lee?

When they identified 700 odd people who were apparently falsifying accounts and on the take, did no-one say 'hang on a minute, could it be the system that's wrong?'. 

13 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

It's that cheap plasticky chocolate though.

Ungrateful.

10 minutes ago, tdmickey3 said:

Showing just how good he is now, bloody annoying as it would have been for us if our idiots on board didn’t appointment utterly useless idiots as managers last season

We would have been in a stronger position to keep him had we stayed up, no doubt. However, who's to say he wouldn't have wanted to leave and we wouldn't have sold him anyway? The last few seasons were desperate, if I was a player I wouldn't have wanted to stick around for 5,6,7 wins a season. It's bad enough as a fan, it must be truly shite as a player and if you've got suitors you'd be off.

Wouldn't we be looking to loan Mara out too? Hasn't happened for him here and may benefit from a loan to France. Would rather a perm, but can realistically only see a loan. Provided we could get replacement squad player, may be best for both parties. 

If Argentina are digging into the second-tier talent pool, they must be scratching around. Don't get me wrong, I rate Alcaraz, and I think he's gonna be a solid player for us, but he's not quite cut from the same cloth as the legendary Argentina No 10s like Ortega, Veron, Aimar, and Pompey hero Riquelme (not to mention the top two guns in that list).

29 minutes ago, revolution saint said:

I thought that but then realised I couldn't pick anyone out who wasn't in that group.

True. Only Tall Paul, maybe he's in a group of his own - basketball training?!

Interesting to see the following training in the main group for varying reasons: ABK, Kamaldeen, Larios, Che.

I think Stewart would be a good signing. Is a proper 'No 9' and a real focal point - would be the closest to Lambert/Pelle that we've seen for a while. Caveat that there's a concern on fitness, but that's what a medical is for, surely?

If it hasn't been already, surely it's time to resurrect the Rasiak chant based on KC & The Sunshine Band - Give It Up?

Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na now!

Charly Alcaraz - Alcaraz - Charly Alcaraz

PS - I have heard he fucking hates Pompey, but unsure how to work it in.

I've no idea why Chelsea are pursuing Caicedo given that Brighton want £100m (and have already rejected £70m) when £50m would more than likely would get Lavia. Caicedo is a bit further ahead in terms of consistency and level of performance, but on the other hand played in a much better team and is a couple of years older - he's certainly not twice as good as Lavia.

Don't get why some of these clubs haven't gone straight in and bought him. £50m is a bargain! It's clear he's going to be a top player for the next 10 years. As others have said hope we can get a sell-on clause included.

1 hour ago, SaintsFan86 said:

GKs; Bazunu, McCarthy, Bycroft. 

FBs; Tino, KWP, Bree, Manning, Meghoma, (Perraud, Larios)

CBs; Bednarek, Stephens, Lyanco, Salisu, (DCC, ABK)

CMs; JWP, Smallbone, Charles, Lavia, Alcaraz, Doyle. (Diallo)

AMs; Tella, Sulemana, Aribo, Djenepo, Samuel Amo-Ameyah. (Edozie, Stu, Dibling) 

ST; Adams, Mara, Arma. (Onuachu, Ballard)

Put in bold players who may have gone but haven't for varying reasons. Have I missed any?

9 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Dont even recognise the bloke at the front. And wtf is "our anthem our history". A bubble machine ffs.

I think it's Maxwel Cornet. Another player rumoured to be on the move.

31 minutes ago, Highfield Saint said:

If Chelsea have offered £38m for Tina that’s simply a deal to implement the buy back clause a year early?

Tina must be a stunner if Chelsea are offering £38m! Rule 1...