Chewy

The move seems a bit leftfield, but he’s not getting many minutes here and a chance at Juventus is huge for him. In a similar vein to the Brooks loan, there’s no real losers here - better for us (and AFCB) to have the option in the squad but we’re losing them for the odd 10 minutes and we have other options. Better that the player gets minutes imho. Keeping on the theme of leftfield, I wonder if this move is in any way linked to a summer bid for Matias Soule should we go up? As for Charlie, I wish him lots of luck. Think he’s struggled to settle culturally, not helped by joining a total sh1t show for the first few months. Lots of talent and hope he makes the most of it, preferably back here but if not wherever his career takes him (except if he ever ends up at Pompey, of course)

@Over land and sea Thierry Rohart-Brown scored for the B team but isn’t on this list; not sure if he’s too young to officially be a scholar? Google suggests we got him in October from Reading as part of the Ballard loan deal. And seeing as I’m messaging … thanks once again for your work on this - love this thread

Done as a THB style loan with an obligation to buy if promoted and I’d be all over it. Bags of potential, looks perfectly fit whenever I see him, just needs a confidence boost of scoring goals. And if Che Adams can score regularly for us I’m pretty sure Broja would manage to. All a bit moot, though. I suspect Broja is in no rush to move given his contract, would only be looking at PL or larger European clubs … plus we’re maxed out on loans for the matchday squad.

Regurgitating other comments, but in summary I think there’s no need for “resting” but a definite need for “protecting “. Those I’d like protected are Downes, KWP, ArmA and Fraser. In addition I’d like Charlie to play and based on RM comments we know Rothwell will. I’d give the nod to Dibling ahead of SAA for the start, swapping them on about 60, so would want/expect something like Lumley Stephens Bednarek THB Meghoma Rothwell Shea Alcaraz (or Smallbone) Mara Adams (or Alcaraz) Dibling Wouldn’t be surprised if Smallbone started and Alcaraz was further up or to see Manning play. No need for changing keepers but it seems to be the done thing. Holgate would probably play if he’s still here I guess.

What a difference RM is making. Love going to St Mary’s for the first season in years. And last year a scared, inept, confused and depressing premier league saints needed penalties to beat a league one Wednesday and you honestly couldn’t tell who the PL side was, with all the financial advantages. This year we’re in the same division and we looked worlds apart. Shows what confidence, coaching and mentality can do when added to the monetary help. Let’s make it count and get promotion! Game itself - after the first minute panic it was never in doubt, just a matter of when. We wear teams down and now have the confidence to not panic if it’s taking a while. No surprise we’ve turned 1-0 leads from 60 minutes into absolute thrashings 4 times in a row at home. Just need to have the belief we can do the same on the road - we certainly have the quality. Excellent performances everywhere, KWP brilliant again. ArmA with a goal and 3 assists and still not MOTM which Fraser earned with a fantastic display. Special mention too for Downes - our control of midfield when he plays is crucial and he makes it look easy. It’s staggering for his age. Enjoyed the Dibling cameo too. Hope Wednesday stay up - another person with mates connected to the club and I’ve always liked them. Finally, about as bad a ref as we’ve had this season. Good job it didn’t matter but he was dreadful. Well done again to all the players and coaches - barely put a foot wrong and all deserve full praise for that display!

Which player(s)?

Away to Palace or Everton it is then! I’d love Eastleigh.

Because Bree is injured.

I’m aware some people will consider this impatient as we have plenty of time before the window closes, but Danny Ings handed his notice in 3 years ago. Any chance of a replacement? Why is this not sorted for January 1st? It’s not like we haven’t known about this for some time!!! Yes it’s a difficult market, yes there’s FFP, yes everyone wants a goal scorer but either we’ve sorted someone or we haven’t. If we haven’t, please can we avoid last minute panics that get us a crock (Stewart), an overpriced and unproven kid (Mara) or someone entirely unsuited to our style of play (Onuachu). One thing to sort in 3 years and we still haven’t. Basically cost us relegation, worried it’ll cost us promotion. Lots to be happy about right now but this situation is not acceptable for an ‘elite’ professional football club.

This apart from Bednarek not THB and Fraser for Dibbling IMO. I’d like to see Dibbling at some point, though. I’m also happy to see Megoma if he’s considered ready by the coaching team. On the other hand, we need to win this - league is obviously more important than a cup we won’t win but extending the unbeaten record and maintaining moral is important I think.

Best goal KWP Best Signing Downes worst Signing Orsic Game to remember 4-0 Bristol City Game to forget too many; Forest, Wolves, Grimsby, Leicester Player of the year - I’m going to be controversial and say Bednarek when including last season. KWP brilliant since September

I’ll be honest, I’ll take a draw - if we come away from here unbeaten we’ll be surely breaking our all-time record in a couple of weeks which, quite frankly, would be an amazing achievement. That said, we’re good enough to win and I think we probably will. Depending on what was/is up with Downes we should be able to significantly freshen up midfield and possibly change one or two up top. I think Charlie deserves to keep his place and shouldn’t be too tired. KWP looked utterly knackered at the end of yesterday but will hopefully recover by Monday and can have a rest next week. I’d personally like Bazunu KWP THB Bednarek Manning Aribo Downes Stu ArmA Charlie Edozie Shea or Smallbone for Downes if not available.

Bit late with the post match thoughts and not a lot to add to what’s been said. Thought it might be tougher and so it proved, due mainly to some poor luck, good keeping and excellent defending. Plymouth pressed high for 15 mins, got ripped apart and then changed and sat back making it much harder. We still fashioned enough chances. Must remember it was essentially our second choice midfield (all of who were on yellow cards) and with Adams we’re basically a man light up top. Probably a bit unfair but he wasn’t great. Edozie was well marshalled by their fullback. On the other hand Manning wasn’t exposed and apart from a couple of breakaways (including the ‘offside goal’) they didn’t fashion anything. At least until the Stephens/Baz howler. Overall another well-deserved win, another good performance, lots of good signs around team moral etc (celebrations with Che for example). Lots of players unrecognisable from their previous selves and clearly a happy, confident camp. And as a match-going fan, a positive, confident atmosphere and a fun place to go. The last 5-6 years have mostly been tough (the good spell was in Covid and we couldn’t go) - it is really enjoyable at the moment. Credit to the players, the coaches and the manager, they are all working hard and working well and it really shows.

I so wish we’d lost the last 3 and could all unanimously call RM a cunt rather than this terrible infighting about when and if it’s the right time to call him a cunt. Ruined my fucking Christmas. Cunt

Difficult to know what to do with the team after that showing; Argument for leaving alone but I’d prefer KWP at full back instead of Stephens or (preferably) Manning. Shea back available so expect Dibbling to drop out of the match-day squad. I guess there might be some rotation to save legs for Norwich but no idea on who will need the rest. Wouldn’t be averse to something like Baz Stephens THB Bednarek KWP Smallbone Downes Aribo ArmA Charlie Edozie Bit of a rest for Stu, Shea in reserve for midfield changes. But we’re in such a good place right now I’d happily see the same 11.

Just back from the game. Meh - it’s just propaganda football. MOTM to the left winger - not sure which one, though. ArmA with 2 assists and doesn’t get a look in! Downes is different level, defence (except left back, obviously) looks sound, Smallbone and Aribo probably don’t even lose possession in their sleep. Not a bad performance anywhere. For a ten minute period of the first half after we scored we looked brilliant. And like Blackburn, the last few minutes allowed us the provide a score that matched the dominance on the pitch. If I’m being ultra picky, think we had chance to give SAA a brief run, or maybe even Dibbling, but the subs all performed really well. Combined with the last minute Pompey defeat, that’s about as perfect a Boxing Day for football that I can remember in years! Thank you!!!!!!

Neither are outlandish. Diallo is unlikely but just about believable. Mount is a million levels past outlandish. About as likely as Ronaldo.

I posted the below on another thread a couple of days ago. I’m pretty sure the below is accurate. “Ref the afcon and Asia cup, I think it’s only Leicester at a disadvantage. Fatawu, Daka, Soutter, Iheanacho and Ndidi all likely absent. We lose Aribo and Kamaldeen, Ipswich probably only Burgess (Luongo retired from internationals, Morsy hasn’t been picked for Egypt for months) and Leeds don’t lose anyone. If a team makes the final it’s possibly 5 league games they miss. Obviously we’ve been without Kamaldeen for a while and with Shea and Charlie have options instead of Aribo so I’m not overly concerned at our predicament - but we don’t gain any real advantage here over Ipswich. FWIW the impacted Leicester games are Coventry away, Ipswich home, Swansea home, Stoke away and Watford away. Not the toughest set apart from Ipswich, although Coventry is a local rivalry.”

Sorry for your loss -condolences to you and the family

There may come a day when we lose a game of football, but it is not this day. Hopefully. Obviously no Shea, so probably same midfield 3 if Smallbone and Downes don’t have knocks. Guessing Manning for Bree if he’s out, otherwise I’d imagine unchanged. Might see Charlie for this one with so many games and he’s completely fresh - can’t see anything else. With Shea and probably Bree out of the match day squad there’s a couple of sub spaces available- guessing Dibbling and either SAA or Meghoma?

Ref the afcon and Asia cup, I think it’s only Leicester at a disadvantage. Fatawu, Daka, Soutter, Iheanacho and Ndidi all likely absent. We lose Aribo and Kamaldeen, Ipswich probably only Burgess (Luongo retired from internationals, Morsy hasn’t been picked for Egypt for months) and Leeds don’t lose anyone. If a team makes the final it’s possibly 5 league games they miss. Obviously we’ve been without Kamaldeen for a while and with Shea and Charlie have options instead of Aribo so I’m not overly concerned at our predicament - but we don’t gain any real advantage here over Ipswich. FWIW the impacted Leicester games are Coventry away, Ipswich home, Swansea home, Stoke away and Watford away. Not the toughest set apart from Ipswich, although Coventry is a local rivalry.

What position is Miles playing? And do you happen to have any idea what injury Doyle currently has? Sorry for the annoying questions!!

Given your recent record in transfer windows I’d keep quiet - I certainly wouldn’t be stating anything as fact … nor calling out others for daring to suggest an outlandish claim either for that matter!

Afraid it’s his loan contract that expires 2024 - his permanent contract at Juve is until 2026

With kWP another country mile ahead of him. my top 3 are: KWP KWP KWP ArmA, Bednarek, THB and especially Downes have been real highlights, but there’s only one winner so far.