benali-shorts

He’s an intriguing one to place a value on. £3m?

Lacks the physical attributes to play CM, and insufficient technical ability to play further forward or wider. He’s the sort of player who would be ok to be fourth choice CM if we’re playing two, but not sure he should stay on that basis.

I understand we weren’t playing a defensive 4 today. Thank you for feeling you needed to clarify that for the group though. I am only able to judge him on the game he played today, given his scant appearances this season - and on that basis, I remain surprised he hasn’t played more in either a 4 or a 5. His limitations seem no greater than the other ones we’ve played there, who have each displayed significant weaknesses of their own. He might struggle aerially - but given his lack of appearances, we don’t have the physical proof of that either way. I hate myself for engaging with you.

Very tidy full debut today - good balance, two-footed, aggressive and with a desire to get forward. Hopefully he'll stay involved with the first team next season.

I thought he attacked the ball well today, and anticipated better than our CBs generally do. He wasn't out-muscled to any extent. He didn't over-commit and lunge in like our usual CBs which was a refreshing change. Weird to think he hasn't been tried in either a CB or LB / LCB role in the Premier League, despite the utter and repeated incompetence of those picked ahead of him.

And not only bring him on, but move Fernandes over to the right to accommodate Smallbone in the middle. Madness.

That is ridiculous. He played very well today.

Rusk a moron with the starting line up and not making changes at half time. Robinson & Kayi Sanda did well when they came on. Archer and Stewart gave us a better forward shape. Wood and Stephens are horrifically bad CBs.

Beto vs Stephens is comedy gold

One thing I would definitely do is keep the same team for the second half. No need to change things after we played so well.

I despise them all

In Wood, we have amazingly managed to unearth a CB who is worse than anything we already had

I don’t think Wood understands how to play CB

Have Goztepe gone full Jackie Charlton Ireland 1990 lump-it-up-to-the-big-fella? Odd that SR sanction that and our possession-based nonsense in the same season. Almost like they don't have a plan at all......

Garry Birtles doesn’t understand offside. Moaning old cunt.

Excellent stuff from the u18s.

He’s a total fucking moron

Downes abysmal this half

Stephens masterclass

Fulthorpe and his "small staff" and "temporary offices" and "future projects in Barbados" doesn't really strike me as the kind of guy to launch a takeover of a local kebab shop, let alone a £180m football club. https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8402353.southampton-lawyer-jonathan-fulthorpe-order-to-pay-after-employment-tribunal/

Disproportionate amount of reaction for a throwaway comment by Simon Jordan on Talksport relating to a rumour about which he didn’t claim to have any knowledge; and about which there is zero other credible substance (the usual opportunists claiming retrospective knowledge last week aside).

In the annals of our recent post 1980s history, he is our worst expenditure as first team keeper. Let’s hope we move on.

Gerrard a good name to leak to get the fan base firmly behind the other candidate

There was one moment when KWP was dispossessed in their half and Archer initially raced back to cover (aka doing his job). He got 20 yards and just gave up, leaving them 2 on 1 vs TH-B. He then jogged back to the edge of our box when the ball was safely on the other side of the pitch, before aimlessly jogging away again. He can't help being a bit shit, but he can help being lazy. Also was feebly shrugged off the ball by that man monster Maatsen so clearly doesn't bother working hard in the gym either.

You were right re Onuachu rather than BB-D. My apologies. At risk of engaging you, Archer has 18 championship goals across two seasons (18 in 42 apps) so prolific is a generous description. We know Armstrong's strengths and weaknesses. I don't think he is the shoo-in to that you do to bang in the goals next season given his experience and form this season. Spors has already stated how important physical resilience will be next season with regards to players being able to play two or three times in a week. Onuachu should be a question mark on that basis, as well as regarding his potential suitability for a high-pressing game. There are concerns over each of the three and it would be naive to assume a best-case scenario for each of them.