S-Clarke

I think that's a daft statement, it could also, more than likely, be an example of a maturing player who is now more experienced than he was in 2019. Let's not kid ourselves that the Eredivise is some super league, I'm sure he'd be scoring bucket loads over there now. He'd be a solid addition for us, good age too. (YTGTI)

Lis - been on loan in France with Troyes. Only made a handful of appearances for them.

It's interesting reading everyone's views, and also the Swansea's views (when do we get his family members on here?) Personally my overwhelming feeling is of scepticism, I'm conflicted though - would I have felt this way had we not signed Jones before Christmas? Not sure, but I think it's fair that the failed experiment from then is somewhat clouding my judgement and maybe some others. One of my biggest worries is that this appointment appears metric driven, rather than purely down to what we need in the door right now. ''He's made x amount of passes'' ''He has x amount of possession compared to Barca or whoever'' - that's all well and good, but completely and utterly irrelevant if he struggles to deal with personalities, culture changes and an enormous turnover of players. He may not, of course, but it just feels like an almighty risk once again at a time when we didn't need to take one given the resources and the attractive project on offer here. We took a risk in the summer with Bazunu in a position we couldn't afford to do so, that went as expected. We took a risk replacing Ralph with Nathan Jones, based purely on metrics, that also went as expected. I think it's fair to see why people are incredibly nervous about this, I want it to work out and I want to see us winning again, but I just don't trust the people making these decisions as they always seem to be needlessly risky. The only plus is that we seem to be moving quickly, which will provide the biggest opportunity to asses the level of change required.

For an idea of what they will look like, I imagine they'll be very similar to this (so we can look even more like Leicester City's stadium!)

It's clearly not agent talk, more or less a done deal by what I can tell. Should get it on the OS next week I imagine. Not really sure what to make of it, have a nagging feeling we'll be talking about a next new manager in December and by this time next year we'll be Watford mk2.

Got to give it to Wednesday for that, totally dominated that game in every way possible. Perfect pens too. To get 96 points and not go up is harsh, so one more game for them and I make the favourites now.

They've levelled it again! Great game.

How are Wednesday behind again FFS? this is a crazy game, what you don't expect. I thought they'd make light work of the extra time.

Great drama, but given how utter toss P'Boro have been all night , they should have got 4 before then! Only one winner now, just a case of how many Weds score in the 30 mins I think. P'Boro are absolutely gone now.

Blind faith, maybe! totally losing all faith now though to be honest. If this happens I'm convinced they have no idea what they're doing.

We seem obsessed with finding managers and players with specific metrics, but surely the most important metric is winning games? I don't think Martin has won enough games at this level to be linked to promotion challenging sides, if I'm totally honest. In addition to that he's new to the managerial game and this is going to be a situation like no other - big egos, big internationals, players wanting out etc. Is he big enough to handle all of this? We really needed to get a 'no brainer' appointment this summer, someone everyone could get behind and make sense of, I don't think this is that appointment.

I must have been taking the same drugs as when I proclaimed Elyounoussi would add pace to our attack. It's ok, I'm not taking them anymore.

He knows he's onto a winner here, not going to get this anywhere else - he'd be stupid not to commit himself really, easy ride for him as he's shown over the last few years. But I just hope we don't commit our future to him, as that will be a bad day.

And character, I'd say that's even more important. Luton aren't full of quality or players that will end up at the top level for ever, they are an incredibly hard working bunch with the right character and mixed in with the right physical attributes. I'd argue Sunderland had more players in their team with much better technical ability and youth, but it goes to show how you always need a bit of substance to any quality you have.

Not sure it matters, they could put a team of exhausted OAP's out and they'd still turn us over without breaking sweat.

Sunderland struggling to get to grips with this, as it stands I can't see past Luton.

Yeah I agree, I'd be much more comfortable with someone like Koeman (not saying Koeman, just with that sort of gravitas). We had a lot of change in the team in 2014 and he handled it and was strong enough to manage it, that's what we need this year I think.

To be fair to Pilchards he told us of our interest in Jones way back in Summer 2022, so he was clearly on the list long before November. (they actually had time to deliberate over that, and still came to the conclusion he was the right fit to replace Ralph)

I always found that the weirdest comment ever, did he think he was joining Liverpool or something?

I still think he's onto a good thing at Boro, even if they don't go up. (Plus he's close to home). I'd expect him to be on our list, but I'd personally be happier with a Viera type.

Did he? Source?

Looking at next season I'm not sure who is the better shout to be coming down with us, being totally selfish you want the weaker ones. Leicester, financially, look to be in dire straights sadly - they're in a position where their big sales (Maddison/Tiliemans) will be either free or cut price as they've let their contracts run down, so I'm not sure where they generate funds - as they couldn't even sign anyone last summer if you remember, and that was after they sold Fofana for £60m - so they could be in trouble. Leeds may be able to sort themselves out, they've got the backing of their American Owners which kicks in properly in the summer.

My fear with Martin is his lack of experience, I don't doubt that he may well become a good manager but I think the timing is a bit off for us to be considering him. As mentioned in other threads we need someone proven and with suitable gravitas to handle the big changes in personal and structure that are going to happen, this will be a chaotic summer - and throwing an inexperienced manager into that will only end one way imo.

Does that mean we need a front footed and aggressive manager? In all seriousness the way Brighton play wouldn't work with us because of JWP in the two, he's too one paced and not dynamic enough to create those quick transitions. Lavia can certainly do it, but we'd need someone else in the mould of a MacAlistar or a Cacedio to partner Lavia if we wanted to try it. The other benifit going for Brighton is that they have options to feed to, either Mitoma on one side or Marsh on the other side - and then Gross picking up those little pockets of space in front of the midfield. If we had another partner for Lavia then JWP could do that Gross role I'm sure. I can imagine our CB's could play that way, and ditto Lavia, but it stops there - we don't have anything else which is why we go backwards all the time. That needs to change in the summer if we are to adopt a new style.

I don't see Everton going, they'll sneak out of this - they do every year, then they'll have a pitch invasion celebrating it, bomb next year, change the manager and rinse repeat. It'll be Leeds following us and Leicester I think.