Tommy Mulgrew

That is true and could benefit us. Nevertheless, Leicester will have a whole season and will play against the same teams as we shall, as in last season. Last season we were both top dogs in a lesser league. Next season we shall both be bottom dwellers in a strong league. Leicester have demonstrated that they were the stronger of the two sides. One might expect the stronger side to do better than the weaker side against better teams (EPL) to a greater degree than both performed against poorer teams (Championship). Therefore, although I agree with your argument, I still think Leicester could well overcome a 10 point deficit and finish above us. Let’s hope not.

Those thinking Leicester are certs for relegation if they get c.10 points deducted have short memories. Leicester beat us by 10 points and a goal difference of 24 last season. So far I have seen no reason to think they cannot repeat that margin next season. And we might not be one of the two or three weakest teams next season. Just saying.

Linked also with Everton, Liverpool, Brighton, Inter and Wolfsburg. Can’t imagine we would be his first choice unless KWP definitely leaves and he could come here as our first choice right back.

Another one going where the grass is greener: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13605917/premier-league-england-15-star-transfer.html Most importantly, he has a double-barrelled surname: Harley Emsden-James.

And Luke Pierce loaned to Cardiff. Oops, I stand corrected.

Mert Gunok is into the last year of his contract at Besiktas. His value on Transfermarket is only £1.2m (35 years old and short remaining contract). Tall Paul wants to stay in Turkey and Lis is already there, too. I spy a swap deal; you know it makes sense. Experienced goalie, excellent at both stopping shots and distribution - a perfect fit for our needs, if only for a few years on account of his age. But by then Bazunu MIGHT be ready to be our first choice. No chance. But worth a try.

That wood be Ronnie Woods, a friend of Ross(Rod) Stewart, too. We’ll have some pretty fancy half-time music.

And Manning!

I think England might benefit from Slovakian players being distracted: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13579421/Meet-former-Miss-Slovakia-national-team-England-Euro-2024.html Either that or Slovakia might be inspired to raise their, er, game.

Worrying that we have allowed all that to happen. 7 players have already left and one still in contract discussions. Only destination club to be announced yet is Rafferty to Glasgow Rangers. We shall do extremely well to be in contention for promotion next season with 7 or 8 new starters in a team of 11. Who did the manager report to and why was nothing done until the announcement that she would step down? And why so slow in getting a replacement? Lots of questions and so far little in the way of answers.

Another 18 year-old: https://www.caughtoffside.com/2024/06/20/premier-league-malick-junior-yalcouye/ Malick Junior Yalcouye. Looks a promising player.

Morris is the second woman to leave this month because of a failure to agree terms in discussion over a new contract, with the club apparently wanting to keep them both. Anyone know whether that is true, whether we are offering uncompetitive terms or whether it masks some underlying malaise?

Llama has 34 caps and 3 younger-age caps. Bednarek has 57 caps and 45 under-age caps. What twaddle you talk! 😉

Welcome Rachel Rowe https://fawslfulltime.co.uk/2024/06/14/former-rangers-midfielder-rowe-joins-southampton/ One out to Rangers, one in from Rangers https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/news/article/rowe-becomes-womens-first-summer-signing

My son spotted him in Westfield before the Leverkusen game and got a photo with him. Really nice guy who was happy to take the time to speak to us, said his plans for next season were definitely to come back and fight for a place in the squad unless the manager decides otherwise. Looks like he's had a great season for Southampton, I think he would have got plenty of minutes with us the way the season shaped up. Saw that on the WH forum. Unless he has changed his mind since then, it seems FD prefers to stay at WH, where he would be uncertain of starting games, instead of almost certainly starting for us. Unless their new manager does not like what he sees, I think we need to look elsewhere. (The COT might think differently, of course.) 🤐

For lovers of curls, Eric Martin and, for the Brylcream lovers, Ron Reynolds. And Kevin Keegan of course.

Hello Henrik!

That’s one of the few of your posts that I have agreed with. Things are looking up. The future, like the present, is red and white. I thought Martin had read this forum and based his play-off tactics on our advice but maybe he has studied Ancelotti instead. 🙂 Let’s all be optimistic of having a good season in ‘24/25.

Bedders has been excellent this season and has well earned another season with us in the EPL. One thing that impresses me especially is his care and concern for others, whether friend or foe. He is always first or thereabouts to anyone injured, especially if seriously hurt. I noted that he went up to Farke and consoled him after the match. Sheer class when everyone was euphoric over our victory. I hope he will do well for us next season; Martin seems to value him so I expect he will have a big part to play next season.

Some interesting stats in the Sky analysis of the forthcoming game: our passing figures for the season are half sideways (50:50 left:right), quarter (just over) forwards and quarter (just under) backwards. No wonder we have difficulty getting the ball up the pitch to threaten the opposition’s goal. Whitey might find those stats accord with what he sees. 🙏 But, hang on a minute, are they stats? Or are they facts? 😩 Phew, for a moment I thought that I had found some stats that he would accept. Better luck next time, perhaps. 👌

We’d better get promoted quickly, then, before Chelsea get relegated as a result of following its owner’s young-player strategy. 🙂

Last week, I looked at the OPTA ratings of us, Leicester, Leeds, WBA, Norwich and Ipswich and the bottom four EPL teams and, we were above only WBA, Norwich, Ipswich and Sheffield United. ( link on another thread.) The relegated teams will undoubtedly lose some good players but, if we do not go up, so shall we. So it will not necessarily be as easy to get promoted next year as it might seem just by looking at the points this year’s relegated teams achieved and saying that they cannot be as good as us. Just saying the obvious.

Fellows, or whatever his name was, was pretty fast last Sunday. Stephens is even slower than Manning and showing a winger a route away from our goal area and goal line is not his forte ; IMO Bree, or even Meghoma (I know that won’t happen), would be better. Regardless, think positive and enjoy the win.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c4n11qx654qo The stick we give Manning on here reminds me of another player who used to play FB for us: Paul Wootton, who has just been appointed manager of Torquay United. Good luck Paul.

Why do you want three CBs at home? Stephens to get some splinters. With only Flynn and Big Joe in midfield, we’ll be overrun. I’d start Charles or (so long as he is docked £10,000 each time he passes backwards and £1,000 each time he passes sideways) Smallbone alongside those two. LND will come on from the bench, not start. I’d not have Manning or Stephens exposed to their wingers; Bree at LB for me with Fraser or Edozie to start on the left in front of him. Start aggressively and with pace and we’ll be 3:0 up before WBA know what has hit them.