egg

Tim, this is a post brexit thread, not a general "industry revival" one.

Again, nothing to do with brexit.

All great in theory, but the fact is that we've all but abandoned our steel industry. Remaining in the EU wouldn't make any difference to whether we have a viable steel industry going forward.

He looked poor when he played last season. While I'd rather go into the season with him than nobody at LB, I think we can do better.

Whilst I can't see any benefits of brexit so far, the steel argument is a poor one. Our steel industry was shot to pieces years ago. Whether we import steel from the EU, China or elsewhere, it ain't British.

There it is, the silly comment. I like him, but he's not as good as the other midfielders. It's that simple. Henderson and Maguire were both picked on their way back to fitness. When available, Henderson will add to the team in open play. JWP wouldn't. Pop a pair of these on.

George

We don't know how fit Henderson is, and (like Maguire) he wouldn't be in the squad if Southgate didn't think he could play a part. The whole discussion goes around in ever decreasing circles though. Some saints fans just won't have it that the players selected are better. That's cool, we all have an opinion.

No. Henderson is the better player by a country mile.

I've never heard of him, but that was an amazing goal.

I'm talking starting 11 in response to the suggestion of playing Grealish and JWP. Henderson ain't starting so we can't leave him out for JWP.

Which two players would we leave out to accommodate Grealish and JWP? I'd have Grealish in over Sterling, but I can't make the case for JWP over Rice or Phillips at this level.

So pointing out deficiencies in one player, and suggesting that others can an offer more, is patronising now. A cynic would say that you wouldn't say that if the player played for another club.

I'm not seeing anything in that to tell me what JWP would have added. Kane's inadequacy was down to Kane, or our tactics, not the midfield. He was dropping deep and time and time again balls weren't going in to him. That's not a Rice deficiency, they were simple passes that Rice saw and could have made but didn't. That has to be down to tactics. What Kane didn't do is offer any runs to push their back 3 back. JWP, or anyone else in midfield, wouldn't have changed that. So yep, dribblers were needed to get behind their defence. As for JWP keeping the ball moving quickly, that's what he doesn't do. He dwells on the ball, whereas better players don't. We all see it differently, and as much as I like JWP for his commitment, energy, dead balls, I can see the faults I'm his game and accept that we have better. Far too much Saints bias from many in this discussion, and not enough objectivity.

This. Good player, but the notion that JWP could come off the bench and influence a game more than Grealish, Rashford, Sancho, Calvert Lewin, or even Bellingham or Saka is daft. If this was American Football where you can bring on a kicker, I'd get it, but in real football in open play he'd have added nothing more on Friday than anyone else.

Bad

Island

You've told us elsewhere that on here you use a persona (grown adults don't do that by the way) . Flowing from that, explain what this means if I've misinterpreted your words Plus even if it was, being superficial on one forum for random Saints chat doesn't mean you are when in another role I'd put my shovel away if I were you mate.

So you're now saying that your saintsweb persona (which you've told us it is) likes to give the impression of only superficial footy knowledge, but in the real world you're a footy genius. Fvck me.

What would he know. I bet he's shit on football manager.

Matthew, I really can't be arsed with another round of your doggedness. This started over us having a different opinion on whether JWP would offer more for England than Rice or Phillips. I said "we'll agree to differ" and on it goes, via a tangent or two. I judge players on what I see on the pitch. You judge them on what you see in a spreadsheet. I believe I understand the game. I believe you don't. I'm agreeing to differ. Have a good evening.

It's the honesty you don't like. You've boasted that you've been asked to scout football clubs. I've said that I find that hard to believe because your posts over the years suggest to me that you next to fuck all about football. If you feel the need to boast, don't bleat when you get some honest opinion back.

You're confusing honesty with disrespect.

I vote pony. I mean no disrespect, but the way you post, it's clear to me that your knowledge of the game is very superficial.

Seriously Matthew, arguing the merits of a footballer based on stats is ridiculous. They don't tell anyone how a player finds space, how he picks up the ball on the half turn, how he moves when he gets on the ball, whether he looks up before he gets the ball or has to think when he gets it, how quickly he releases the ball, whether he completes a pass by recycling it or by progressing play, etc etc. You won't get any of that on a spreadsheet. Turkish is right.