SNSUN

Has he done a Saphir Taider? 😁

Anyone posted this? Anyway 3 of our back 4 in the top accurate passing defenders. In addition having lost Jack for a while, Wood is on the list too as a likely replacement. OK we have been playing a heavy possession based system but I still think that's impressive. Especially Bednarek.

It would be nice if they could contribute to us getting lots of points on the board by then. Similar to this August - I knew there would be a lot of our better players leaving late in the window, I just wanted them to stay long enough that we can get some decent points on the board come September. And we have, with JWP and Tella at least making a small contribution... ... which brings me to my next point - we have 10 points from 12 in the league and have lost a ton of talent, with only JWP and Tella making small contributions to that tally. Martin has done a terrific job really so far. Yes our performances have been a bit "bitty" since Wednesday but when you look at that list we have almost completely overhauled the squad. You could make a whole team of the exits: Willy Tino DCC Salisu Perraud JWP Lavia Tella Elyounoussi Orsic Walcott With Lyanco and Diallo on the bench And I reckon our current best XI would beat them! There I said it.

I said this when ABK got his bad injury towards the tail end of last season. I wondered if it would keep him out long enough that he'd still be here come September. Time is ticking...

Good attitude, just not the best defender.

Baz KWP (please!) Bednarek, Holgate, Manning Downes, Charles Edozie, AA, Fraser Ings 😀

If we do keep him I'll be surprised but it depends where his head's at. If he's one of those players that sulks because he didn't get his move then there is no point him being here, if he's one of those players that just gets on with it and is happy to be here (a la Alcaraz), then I think he'll be a real asset and our attacking options will be a lot stronger with him here. I hope it's the latter. Although as I say I would be surprised if we still have him by Saturday.

I'm surprised nobody has gone for him so far. I think there is a good player in Iheanacho. And it weakens Leicester if he goes so...

If KWP does go (and he's the one I've wanted to keep all summer but I can understand bigger clubs wanting him) then the acquisition I'd like in his place is Ben Johnson. Defensively he's very good from the little I've seen of him, not as attacking as KWP though. More of a Wan Bissaka than a Trent as right backs go. But he's been West Ham's young player of the year twice and I think he'd be very good here. Versatile too, like KWP. Of course ultimately I hope we keep KWP!

I don't think January windows have been particularly kind to us without looking at the facts.

Well he's in the Scotland squad so Championship football isn't hindering him from that. Sign the contract Che!

Get Onuachu on the pitch! Just maybe when there isn't a game on... 😏

Pleased with that. I don't think he's going to pull up any trees long term but he's a tidy passer of the ball, works hard and, probably most importantly for the club overall, is now our academy poster boy.

Ah I thought this might happen as he's probably too good to sit on the bench this season in the Championship. Meghoma seems to be highly rated (played in the cup game and pre-season) so I assume he'll be the back up until Larios is back? Of course we still have KWP that can play on the left... 😁🫣🙏

I thought they were getting Beto. Though I'm not sure how, they're supposed to be skint. "We bid these five magic beans for Beto. Of course if you agree to this deal, you understand you only get one bean per year over five years. So you won't know we've screwed you over until the year 2028 when you plant them and fuck all happens."

Can someone try to make a Youtube video of Alex's best saves, then pad it out with filler so it lasts 30 seconds?

https://www.67hailhail.com/transfers/celtic-and-lyanco-link-already-over-as-defender-makes-qatar-switch/

So not Celtic then. Well that's one player we didn't need off the books.

https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/23749557.martin-insists-southampton-will-replace-tella-despite-fraser-signing/ ???

One thing we do have at the moment is good versatility within the squad - players that can play in different positions if needed. KWP can play left back, Manning apparently can play CM, Holgate can play right back, Larios can play right back, Charles can play CB, SA, Smallbone and Alcaraz can all play CM or AM, Aribo and Djenepo can play in a couple of positions, Edozie right or left wing, AA obviously either AM or wing. If we do get an injury crisis this season I think we are in a strong position to cover it - but we will see what this week brings with the window still open.

Squad as it stands (using the senior squad list on Wikipedia so excluding youngsters unless they are on there...) and my thoughts in brackets. (Work is quiet) GK: Bazunu, Lumley, McCarthy, Bycroft (Surely one out, loan or sale) RB: KWP, Bree (Fine if it stays the same) LB: Manning, Perraud, Larios, Meghoma (Again fine, although I wonder if Perraud is happy on the bench. Still possible loans out for the youngsters?) CB: Bednarek, Stephens, Lyanco, Holgate, ABK (With one more CB being sought and probably coming in, and Lyanco probably off to Celtic, we should be fine unless ABK goes). CM: Charles, Downes, Smallbone, Doyle, Alcaraz (Again looks OK. Maybe one more in? I haven't seen much of Kami Doyle to know if he's ready.) AM/Wing: SArmstrong, Edozie, SAA, Fraser, Sulemana, Djenepo, Aribo (IMO we are stocked here, surely we will be seeing one or two out? And then there is the Tella replacement and the fact AA can play in these positions better than his own...) Str: AA, Adams, Mara, Onuachu, Ballard (Definitely need one in - I'd even say as much if Adams stayed as Mara and Onuachu have so far not contributed much, Ballard is raw and AA is better deeper or wider. Getting the striker right is the key to promotion IMO). It's pretty easy to see where we are overloaded right now, more so if you consider AA is better in the AM/Wing category, EVEN more so if you consider Alcaraz an AM. I'm glad to see Martin thinks Tella will be replaced but I do think we'll see a few 'outs yet'. Ins? CB, a CM/AM, a right winger and a striker. 4 in I reckon.

Yep I was reading the Burnley forum after our first game against Wednesday and even though Tella "scored" (later given to AA) they were surprised he played so wide. It seems at Burnley he played more up top which was a more effective use of his pace. I do think he would have got goals this season, and by leaving I think he's passed up being first choice in a team that will be fighting for promotion but I can see why he did it, and I think we have been financially compensated rather well for it. The big question now is... can we bring in a replacement who will be as good (or better) and will potentially get as many (or more) goals? We will see.

Not the first time I’ve said it this season… Martin made good subs. Also good to see he’s not afraid to start a 17 year old (even though we can all see how good he is) over the likes of Aribo, Djenepo etc. on top of that was a brave decision to move Charles to CB and bring Downes on. 10 points from 12 with his hands tied behind his back with outgoings. He’s doing a decent job so far!

Or not slow enough if you like all the action to be done on deadline day when we can all be glued to SSN in the hope that someone whacks a dildo in a presenter's ear.

I also think we should sign Akpom and Piroe. To hell with the teams they just signed for! 😁