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Iron

Yep. Quality place. Sean and Aaron have done a brilliant job, and the food is top notch. Best curried goat around. It's a sad state of affairs when people can't see the good in Matt going along to help a fledgling business get up and running. An yep, Shirley road has a few decent places these days.

Who should RM play instead? Easy to whinge about him, but he's here and has gotta be used.

There's been far far worse.

Yep. Absolutely this. We ain't buying a striker good enough to get us up and play in the PL. It's just not happening. We've got what we've got, and Mara has to play when needed. People seem to think we can just pop in eBay, buy a box ready striker, and bobs your uncle.

We play in this league. He's fine for it as back up. Regardless, it's him or Che to play through the middle, so the boss ain't got much choice but to play him.

We're taking the league seriously. As we should.

Has to be, if not, the last 5 words are spot on.

Ha! Our saintly club have never ever ever spoken with a player or his agent to sound him out before approaching his club. Never ever.

Thanks all, much appreciated. I knew nothing about the lad, but he sounds like he'd give us something.

Interesting. I know nothing about the kid. Anyone know what he can bring to the right wing that SAA/Fraser/AA can't? Strikes me as a bit of an odd move.

Who would we be desperate to keep who isn't on a pro contract?

Adjuster

Still listed on the OS as first team coach https://www.southamptonfc.com/en/teams/mens-team

Ross Stewart has been crocked since he's been here so Mara was our only back up. Nobody can complain that the only alternative is played. Armstrong is crap through the middle, and it'd be nuts to shift him given his form imo. Che has been used. Rothwell will be decent imo, and frees SA up to push wide left or right. No harm in having extra depth in the middle for the run in. It's a game of opinions, but I'm genuinely struggling to understand your complaint about the manager playing the lad (in small amounts) when he's had no other option.

Not a fan then? I'll ask again though, who's the alternative?

Kate Abdo? There on merit for me, and certainly adds something.

So be it. If a kid is stellar, he'll get chances.

Who's our alternative? Stewart is crocked.

I'm all for giving the kids minutes, but it'd be madness to bring kids on with half an hour to go when we're only 2 nil up. If we then concede a goal, we'd be in trouble. Promotion is the key this season, not promoting kids to the first team.

We don't know that yet. If he's gone to Brighton to play kids football, then I'd agree. If he's gone with (I think unlikely) assurances that he'll be around the first team then it's very different, ditto if he's gone to get half a season on loan in a proper league, them return to a pathway at a PL club. What's obvious from all the replies is that nobody has a clue whether promises here weren't met, and what's on offer elsewhere. All I see is a promising kid nearly out of contract, who's not been given a chance here, going to a PL club. Seems like a no brainer for the lad.

Ability and attitude are different things.

Yep. I struggle with the "poor attitude" comments towards a young player who wants to play football, and has the confidence to uproot himself to play elsewhere. Self belief, a will too play, and a willingness to go to any lengths to succeed, strikes me as a cracking attitude.

Yep. And Small came from Everton as the next best thing, but can't get a kick here. There are countless other examples. Good luck to the kid.

Someone like him would be nice, but I don't think we need him. We're not struggling to score, and Sulemana is on his way back.