Saint Charlie

I've considered other arguments, absolutely. But for the purpose of the thread I am saying I would try and move him on and find someone else. Thats not too outrageous. He is an ok player and handy bench option, although for a team of our size I would expect more for that outlay. I think by letting him go the scouting guys can find a better player. The likes of Jay Rod, Mane, Tadic, Pelle all cost less than Long and are (far) superior so I would admit when it isn't working, try & recoup as much as possible then try again. Shane Long isn't providing competition for Pelle because he isn't trusted by the Manager. He will never be a regular starter for us and will cost close to £20m across the 4 years of his contract. So sell him and try and bring in someone who will provide value and will impact the team more.

Yeah, that what I meant. He has 2.5 years left now, so no reason not to get at least £6m unless: a.) nobody wants him enough b.) he is ****e, c.) he is on top much money d.) all the above Move him on and reinvest in a better player to improve the team.

No chance they will sell him. But Long certainly replaceable with a better player.

Have you got many examples of him doing that to good effect leading to goals for others? To me the others don't want to combine with him because they don't trust his technical ability. We often play worse when he comes on as a sub. Over four years, what he brings isn't worth £19m - and he won't improve.

He gets loads of support from the Management who always bring him back into the starting XI despite average performances. He should start repaying that faith!

Would you all just keep him for the four years of his contract then? 12m plus probably £7m in wages over that time. For a very mediocre player who will never be a regular starter. Surely those are the ones you let go to move forward? Or should we let him stay because he seems like a good lad and might nick the odd goal (his PL average return is about 7 a season)? All the teams we think we compete with would be looking to ship out and sign better.

So we were panic buyers paying over the odds? He still has 2.5 years of contract left so that will have no bearing on the price you get. If we have to sell to buy then why not sell him? His contribution is disproportionate to his fee/salary. The Manager doesn't trust him and only picks him when he has no other option.

So is Kelvin, but that doesn't win points. Fans like him because he runs around a lot (although is poor at tracking opposing full backs). Is that enough?

Well we paid someone £12m only just over a year ago? High profile goal versus Germany may help, plus he knows the English leagues. If we can't get £6m then it shows how poor a signing he was!

Wonder if we might be looking behind the scenes to offload Long if that gives us some room to bring in someone the Manager actually rates and who suits the team better? Long probably wants regular football (in his preferred position) ahead of the Euros and he won't get that here. He is also the most dispensable player who is still worth something, although his value will start to drop substantially the older he gets and less he plays so makes sense to cash in now. If we could get something like £6m from either a lower half PL side (Sunderland?) or a Championship promotion hopeful then we could reinvest. Long still a strange signing for me. Hasn't done any worse than at his other clubs but just doesnt seem to suit our style and his lack of a first touch almost renders him useless out wide which is why he is rarely used there now. For the price I think its one that the Club probably regrets as could have found someone better at those figures. Considering the above and also his sizeable wages (which could make him hard to shift) I wouldn't be bothered if we sorted something out that gave us room to try something different. Football is ruthless and sometimes you have to make tough decisions to look to improve. He isn't good enough.

Think maybe we didnt need both Romeu and Clasie and instead could have signed one of them and another player with different attributes: more mobility, pace and power in there who can drive forward (a Sissoko type). Our midfield is rather slow, ponderous and none of them are comfortable carrying the ball, but tend to look to offload as soon ss they get on the ball.

Easiest possible draw at home, obviously.

Long is crap in all honesty, aside from running around aimlessly when it suits (he was utterly woeful at tracking Stoke's full backs for example). Truely dreadful first touch.

Over 100 Saints apps and less than 10 games where he has had a large influence or been "really good". He seems to have to do less than others to gain starts as has been left out numerous times this year only to start the following game without really showing on the pitch that he has earned it. When does promise and technical ability become wasted talent? When should he be judged by fans against the same standards the other players are i.e by performances on the pitch now? Another 100 games? Always "next season will be the making of him..." Summary: he will have a PL career but won't be as good as he or Saints make out that he is/will be. Pretty much summed by by others leaving and in 4 years nobody really coming in strongly for him which is why he signed another 5 year deal with us. He wouldn't get in the starting midfield of any top 10 PL side.

One thing...Long isn't the answer to anything.

6.4/10

1. Why would we pay £8m for Austin in Jan when he is available for nothing in July? 2. Why would he sign for anyone in Jan rather than waiting to be a free agent in July? (He won't make the England squad for the Euros even if he plays in the PL) 3. Is he even that good? Or even what we need?

He definitely was the Morgan replacement in name at least...

Has to be confidence

Better to be missing than not creating.

Does seem to be a lack of continuity of the coaches. Fleming was brought in as an assistant and then took the main job despite a relative lack of experience in youth coaching. But ultimately it must be the players.

More 'Durman logic' here. Exactly what has he done to earn a recall after being poor in his last start and poor off the bench versus Liverpool? In fact, aside from Norwich at home when they were down to 10 men after 40mins, has JWP fot beyond 6/10 once this season?

Messi doesn't have enough bite. I'd give Ramirez a go as an offensive sweeper because he has largely been poor, injured or disinterested across the 40 months of his contract and will be leaving soon, so has earned a chance.

Charlie Austin to replace Mane. Only on SaintsWeb.

Take Tadic out, who was our best player versus Liverpool and probably City and instead play Long who apart from running is pretty ****. Glad you aren't the gaffer!