SNSUN

I posted this last month on another thread. I don't know how accurate it will be, especially as we have been linked with a goalkeeper since... ...Okkkkkkk, end of the season. Phew. So now we look to the summer activity. A 25 man squad needed and some of the youth like Sims will now qualify as part of the 25 man squad if we want to keep them in there. So this is my squad for next season, including transfers in and out. Obviously Ralph's will be different and of course it is dependent on finances but this is what I'd like to see. OUTS would be loans if we can't sell. I think I have the youth ages right. GK: Gunn, McCarthy, (Lewis - youth) OUTS - Forster/Rose RB: New RB (Valery, Ramsey - youth) OUTS - Cedric LB: Bertrand, Targett. OUTS: McQueen CB: New CB, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, (Alfie Jones - youth) OUTS: Hoedt, Stephens DM: New DM, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Romeu, (Slattery - youth) OUTS: Reed, Clasie AM: New AM, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Sims (Johnson - youth) OUTS: Boufal, Elyounoussi, Hesketh, Davis STR: New STR, Ings, Long, (Obafemi - youth) OUTS: Barnes, Austin, Gallagher, Carillo That's 21 senior players backed up by youth, with 5 incoming signings as part of that 21 as I doubt we'd sign more than that. Which leaves four spots for players we can't get rid of! So we refer to the OUTS: As I figure we will probably be stuck with Stephens and Elyounoussi, then they can pick up 2 spots, and I would give Boufal a go under Ralph's guidance too, which takes us to 24. The 25th spot I would either give to Reed or Hesketh, and because of his versatility, I'd go for Reed. So the final 25 senior players are: Gunn, McCarthy, New RB, Bertrand, Targett, New CB, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Stephens, New DM, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Reed, New AM, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Sims, Elyounoussi, Boufal, New STR, Ings, Long. That should at least provide us a stepping stone for a better placed finish next season, with a view of completely getting rid of the deadwood/rot next summer. Of course I've not factored in players that could be wanted by other clubs - Redmond, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse and possibly Lemina will probably have their admirers, with either of the goalkeepers, Hojbjerg or Bednarek possibly left field transfers too. But I feel it should be more about adding to the group this summer, not dismantling it and starting again. However those 5 incoming players would need to be of better quality than what we have already... RB - Needs to be of first choice quality, or very near potential first choice quality, irrespective of Valery's promise. He needs competition and it will only be good for us in the long term. (Especially if Valery becomes our most sought after player next summer. (Like Wan Bissaka at Palace.) CB - No brainer we need a first choice, someone that is equally comfortable in the back 3 or in a back 4, and dominant. (In a similar vein to VVD, Alderweireld et al if possible) DM - A mobile tank - more Wanyama than Schneiderlin. Someone that can shield the defence but get forwards if needed. AM - A playmaker with goalscoring capabilities. Someone that can change a game. (Even though I've included Boufal, who could still prove a disappointment, I still feel a signing here, even a younger player, would adequately equip us for a full season.) STR - Someone that can frigging score more than he misses! A target man with mobility. (We can't rely solely on Ings, Long and Obafemi for goals all season!!!) So there we are - that's my 25. I'm sure it's wildly inaccurate as to what will actually happen but we shall see... Since that post, with recent rumours, it seems the CB could be Jansson, the AM is Djenepo, the STR could be Adams but the DM and RB is anybody's guess. Have we even been linked with a defensive midfielder?

'Tis. Daniel James/Ben Godfrey/James Maddison...those are the sort of players a middle of the Premier League table team should be signing (and we were linked with James not so long ago), not one of the richest clubs in the world with aspirations to get back to World Dominance. Investing in youth is one thing, but United are the sort of club that should be buying players at the peak of their game - similar to Liverpool with VVD and Mane from us. I still doubt whether Solksjaer is the man to bring success to that club but we shall see.

He seems to relish the challenge he’s taken on. Shift the deadwood and bring in his own players push up the league and he’ll be gone. But it would be worth it. Ball, Strachan, Adkins and Koeman have been my favourite managers since I’ve supported Saints, but Hasenhuttl could usurp them all if he keeps on impressing.

That's probably half of what they're looking for! But it's wise to start low and work your way up, even though it's a bit "West Ham"! As long as we don't miss out on him for the sake of, say, a million, then if that article is true, it's a sensible, if slightly tight, stance.

Would be a decent bit of business for that money. He's their best centre back and has been linked with Benfica. However he only recently said he's happy to stay next season. But at 28 would he be tempted to jump to the highest level...

Jordy Clasie to join Frank de Boer at Atlanta United in the MLS. #fakerumouroftheday

I like Reed, bit of a terrier, but he’d be a squad player and at 24 you’d think he’d want first team football. I haven’t seen much of Slattery but he’s looked decent when I have, and at 20yo he’s probably the way to go in central midfield. The money we’d get for Reed would probably outweigh keeping him as a backup.

Media love in for Villa next season then. Shame, as Derby would have been the more beatable team next season. McGinn looks like a decent player.

Tall and looked fairly quick, but too often played the easy pass. Although little trick for the build up to the winner. No harm on a free. Little Ben Reeves celebrating too. Bad times go on for Sunderland.

That’s what i assume. Signing as a back up, either Lossl genuinely thinks he can displace Pickford or he’s one of those that’s just happy to earn his money for doing very little. Of the relegated keepers though, I would rather have Etheridge.

That’s what i assume. Signing as a back up, either Lossl genuinely thinks he can displace Pickford or he’s one of those that’s just happy to earn his money for doing very little. Of the relegated keepers though, I would rather have Etheridge.

Recall him, and the first XI could be: Forster Cedric Stephens Hoedt McQueen Elyounoussi Clasie Reed Hesketh Carillo Gallagher Europe here we come.

We could've fed it to Freddie Starr who doesn't mind rodent cuisine, but we're a few days too late for that...

Do we get a trophy for that?

I hope Ledong is big, I hear bigger is better. Sounds like money coming into the club to me, in a summer we need investment in the playing staff, that's surely a good thing...?

Okkkkkkk, end of the season. Phew. So now we look to the summer activity. A 25 man squad needed and some of the youth like Sims will now qualify as part of the 25 man squad if we want to keep them in there. So this is my squad for next season, including transfers in and out. Obviously Ralph's will be different and of course it is dependent on finances but this is what I'd like to see. OUTS would be loans if we can't sell. I think I have the youth ages right. GK: Gunn, McCarthy, (Lewis - youth) OUTS - Forster/Rose RB: New RB (Valery, Ramsey - youth) OUTS - Cedric LB: Bertrand, Targett. OUTS: McQueen CB: New CB, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, (Alfie Jones - youth) OUTS: Hoedt, Stephens DM: New DM, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Romeu, (Slattery - youth) OUTS: Reed, Clasie AM: New AM, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Sims (Johnson - youth) OUTS: Boufal, Elyounoussi, Hesketh, Davis STR: New STR, Ings, Long, (Obafemi - youth) OUTS: Barnes, Austin, Gallagher, Carillo That's 21 senior players backed up by youth, with 5 incoming signings as part of that 21 as I doubt we'd sign more than that. Which leaves four spots for players we can't get rid of! So we refer to the OUTS: As I figure we will probably be stuck with Stephens and Elyounoussi, then they can pick up 2 spots, and I would give Boufal a go under Ralph's guidance too, which takes us to 24. The 25th spot I would either give to Reed or Hesketh, and because of his versatility, I'd go for Reed. So the final 25 senior players are: Gunn, McCarthy, New RB, Bertrand, Targett, New CB, Bednarek, Yoshida, Vestergaard, Stephens, New DM, Lemina, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Reed, New AM, Ward-Prowse, Redmond, Armstrong, Sims, Elyounoussi, Boufal, New STR, Ings, Long. That should at least provide us a stepping stone for a better placed finish next season, with a view of completely getting rid of the deadwood/rot next summer. Of course I've not factored in players that could be wanted by other clubs - Redmond, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse and possibly Lemina will probably have their admirers, with either of the goalkeepers, Hojbjerg or Bednarek possibly left field transfers too. But I feel it should be more about adding to the group this summer, not dismantling it and starting again. However those 5 incoming players would need to be of better quality than what we have already... RB - Needs to be of first choice quality, or very near potential first choice quality, irrespective of Valery's promise. He needs competition and it will only be good for us in the long term. (Especially if Valery becomes our most sought after player next summer. (Like Wan Bissaka at Palace.) CB - No brainer we need a first choice, someone that is equally comfortable in the back 3 or in a back 4, and dominant. (In a similar vein to VVD, Alderweireld et al if possible) DM - A mobile tank - more Wanyama than Schneiderlin. Someone that can shield the defence but get forwards if needed. AM - A playmaker with goalscoring capabilities. Someone that can change a game. (Even though I've included Boufal, who could still prove a disappointment, I still feel a signing here, even a younger player, would adequately equip us for a full season.) STR - Someone that can frigging score more than he misses! A target man with mobility. (We can't rely solely on Ings, Long and Obafemi for goals all season!!!) So there we are - that's my 25. I'm sure it's wildly inaccurate as to what will actually happen but we shall see...

So oddly I’m supporting a fifth of the Premier League teams today, Us and Arsenal to see us jump a place above Burnley, and City and Wolves to stop the dippers winning the title. Ultimately just seeing us finish on 40+ Points would be a nice end to the season.

Gazzaniga Alderweireld Van Dijk Lovren Clyne Oxlade-Chamberlain Wanyama Lallana Mané Lambert (umm) Ings! manager: Pochettino. OK couldn't think of an eleventh defector but that's quite some list since we've been back in the Prem. 3 or 4 in the final I reckon too. Oh how I'd love a Wanyama 30 yard winner after a mistake by Lovren. ABL - anyone but Liverpool. Sadly it'll be Liverpool.

Wikipedia has his height at 5’11’’...

RIP Toomer.

Gunn Bednarek Jones Bertrand Valery Lemina Romeu Targett JWP Redmond Long subs: McCarthy, Ramsay, Vokins, Hojbjerg, Armstrong, Ings, Austin. Forster, Stephens and Moi blasted into space in a rocket. Hojbjerg given a break to see how Romeu and Lemina get on together. Long over Ings only over recent form. Must win really as 15th is on offer with the extra dosh that comes with it. (Helps pay off some of the wages.)

I keep thinking back to the Wolves 6-0 when Saganowski scored a hat trick away from home when we were all expecting us to get tonked as the big players were out injured. Let's hope Ings and Long can bang in a few like that because we certainly aren't keeping a clean sheet with Stephens and Forster keeping the goals out. Is this Elyounoussi's last shot? Annoyingly, for Premier Fantasy Football purposes, I put Rice in defence and he's out. The player that will come off the bench to replace him? Redmond, who's on the bloody bench for us. I knew I should have put Ryan Fraser as first choice sub. It's not a terrible line up but there are 3 glaring weaknesses. I look forward to a stronger squad next year.

I was in a bar in Paphos when he scored the Reading equaliser with some other Saints fans. Memories.

It’ll be interesting to see if we get enough points from the Ralph tenure to show we could have stayed up even without the Hughes 9 Points. 29 points so far and Cardiff are on 31, I think one win would do it. We’d have stayed up in a 23 game Ralph season. That is some going. Man’s a genius.