austsaint

Good player, Jack Stephens. Not quite consistently good enough at Prem Level, but would be excellent in the Championship. Moot point though with indications we will sell to Bournemouth.

Let's hope you're right - that we don't let all of them leave. The two I have hoped would realistically stay are Alcaraz and Sulemana; but the signs are that both may go.

Beautifully summed up. The most puzzlingly (often) selected Saints player I can remember. Wish him well, but he never belonged in the Prem.

Yes, I think the Club should hold their ground with Tella. A required player who has the recent Championship pedigree to help us try for an immediate return to the Prem. Morgan Schneiderlin is one of the last Saints players I can remember the Club holding to his contract for a season prior to joining Man U. Different situation I know, but Saints don't have a strong record of holding required players to their contract....disgruntled or not. Surely enough funds can be raised with our Lavia, JWP, KWP, ABK, Salisu sales without the 15 -20m Tella would probably fetch.

Fair enough -35m was probably market value at the time. I think it's just you could see how good he was, and how good he was going to become that made the fee seem a bargain. What was he at the time, 24? I though he was already a better player than Hazard, it's just that his reputation at the time hadn't caught up with what was apparent to many Saints supporters.

Having watched a lot of Postecoglou (managed sides) in Oz and Japan prior to his move to Glasgow I've been surprised by the amount of rave notices he's been given for his record at Celtic. I mean apart from the 20/21 revival of Rangers it's been Celtic's name being engraved on the shield every season for more than a decade - it hasn't been a high bar for a Manager to clear, has it? I hope Levy signs him up because they won't be getting the next big thing they might be expecting.

Interesting that he played his most minutes in the last game. I see him as a star in the making and I would not have put him in the "shop window" against Liverpool. If he remains to play the Championship with the likes of Edozie, Tella, Mara, a new striker, even Adams.....I see a quick return to the Prem as possible. That's assuming midfield and CB vacancies are filled well.

I can't go past the 3-2 win v Liverpool when Mane and Wanyama came on at half time and inspired the Koeman managed comeback. There was also a 3-1 win over City under Poch's watch where Luke Shaw really announced himself, and the whole side looked ready to take on any Prem opponent.

Yes, probably right. Leicester have been in decline for a season or two and Leeds, after such a long hiatus in the Championship look likely to return there surprisingly quickly. "Big name" Clubs though, capable of a big push by the time August comes around. As you say, the summer rebuild is crucial for all three relegated Clubs.

Definitely don't want them in the Championship with us. Bad enough that the calibre of Leicester and Leeds are the more likely to join us - makes the top two automatic places very difficult to achieve.

I'd be trying to keep Sulemana too.

Agree. I think they will both go on to be top drawer CBs. Salisu was mucked around by being asked to fill in at LB so much and ABK obviously held back by injury. Both capable of playing well in top level Clubs. ABK surely to the Bundesliga and Salisu to La Liga.

I think you're on the money. The only change to your scenario I see is City buying him back ad playing him in the 23/24 season. He's that good! Staying with us is a fantasy which won't happen.

Lavia's been the one bright spot during this wretched season. Even as the side has fallen away under Jones and Selles - he has given his all; played with great skill and work rate, and also been prepared to acknowledge the fans when others have scurried away to the sheds. Deserves a good move and how lucky is the Club that gets him next......Pochettino's Chelsea? And FFS....he's 19!!!

He is such a poor player. A damning reflection on Selles team selection.

Sick for the last few days apparently.

Yet he is much more effective than Elyounoussi wouldn't you say? Incredibly low bar admittedly.

I don't think fans want him to leave - but we're going to be in the Championship next season. Can you see JWP wanting to stay around for that at 28 or 29 years of age? The fee we get for him is the interesting part.

Yet there are people claiming Elyounoussi played well?? While it was true (as many have pointed out) that KWP and Perraud had their hands full containing Martinelli and Saka, neither of them got much help from Elyounoussi or Armstrong. I'll never understand the Selles faith in Elyounoussi; it's like a feeble concession to our prospects of commanding a game. One of many decisions by Selles that must disqualify him from continuing as Manager. Good luck with the pizza dough.

Pochettino would be a perfect manager/coach for Lavia. What makes his season with us so good is he's done it in a struggling side with a clapped out Ralph, a fraudulent Jones and not ready/may never be ready Selles. It's going to be a joy following his career - even if the next part of it is with Chelsea.

Glorious goal - sublimely weighted pass from Alcaraz and the neat Walcott finish. Downside was that the prospect of keeping Alcaraz next season probably diminished.

Not really a double edged sword. I think it's more he has a world class free kick technique but in open play he's a hard working, average midfielder. It will be interesting to see what sort of fee the Club gets for him in the Summer.

That Lavia substitution. That Elyounoussi non-substitution. Pack your bags Selles!

Get Sulemana on and the statue Elyounoussi off.

I like Sulemana - he's going to be a good player. You have identified the problem though - in our current set up, he's the lone ranger running at the defence and showing a bit of creativity, with a bit of help from KWP.