S-Clarke

Like you said, my worry is that we'll be hand tied with the work permit stuff. <£10m players will probably be deemed 'not important enough' to meet the criteria from EU countries, which could cause a huge problem for us. South America could be an option. I don't believe we have no scouting networks in place, the club will be fully aware of South America players I'm pretty sure. Those sorts obviously come with their own pitfalls though! Attractiveness and wage offerings will be the big thing this year, as I'm sure other clubs in our 'arena' will be shopping with the same mindset

I try to forget that game tbh. Still think we're due some the other way after that.

They've been very fortunate with 'technology'. I seem to remember that they'd have been relegated, had that 'goal' been given that Sheffield United scored.

Good effort by Leeds that. A very huff and puff performance by Man City, they didn't really create anything of note. They just kept the ball a lot. I'd only call it daylight robbery if City were creating chance after chance, hitting the bar, and then the oppo nick one on the break. But City didn't really create anything.

Next 2 games crucial for Newcastle. Two wins in those (it's not beyond the realms of possibility) and Fulham are pretty much done for. Like you, I kinda hope it doesn't pan out like that as it would equal an epic final game.

I'm kinda hoping/expecting WBA to have the same 'after the lord mayors show' effect, starting with our game so we can move even further to the top half on Monday.

Fulham can only get a maximum of 44 points now, and they still have Man Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal to play - away. Feels like they're gone now tbh. I reckon 34 points is enough, easily.

That's pretty much a nail in the coffin for Fulham that one. Newcastle can't believe their luck! So, what's that - 10 points clear, 2 games in hand. Let's start offering contracts now. Safe as houses, as we always were.

Yeah, exactly. It's all getting a little bit ridiculous now. That's not clear and obvious to me, just let it stand.

Fulham got lucky there. Another armpit offside moment.

It's a fair point. Hopefully we're building some momentum again, so he can start to be part of a positive team in our remaining games. I still think he struggles to assert himself though, both on and off the ball.

Yeah, I don't think he's shown enough to warrant a big transfer fee. I can see him heading off to a foreign league where he can really show his talents.

We're not opening everything back up though are we? There will still be significant restrictions on elements of 'normal life' come June, you can bet your house on it. My job for example - we've been told we cannot go back to an office until November at the earliest. At a significant cost to the tax payer, 200k upwards, it's being revamped in order to abide to 'social distancing'. And every other site in my industry is the same. An obscene spending of public money on something that shouldn't really be needed, but it seems like we're being slowly lulled into a lifetime of social distancing. Beyond that, what happens? If the vaccines are indeed our 'way out' then we should be able to fill St Mary's in August. I'm not holding my breath though.

Arsenal fans loving him on their forums. He is proper average. Always was, and I was never upset to see him go. We've got a much better player now

But at what point does the vaccine actually provide the protection we were told it was going to provide? If we still hide away once everyone is vaccinated and we have herd immunity in play, then why? The risk is so low at that stage. If we're worried about the stages other countries are at then we will never, ever get out of this cycle. Wearing a mask in isolation isn't the problem, it's when we're not allowed to mix with people, or go to stadiums as we used to do. If we want everything in the world to be 100% before we open that level back up again, then we probably should accept that we will never, ever be able to open up to that level again - and that's pretty sad.

I think he's been an absolutely awesome servant for us...but if the opportunity arose to refresh that position, then I'd be keen to explore it. He's not getting any younger, he will likely want a big wage - and someone like Rico Henry at 23 offers much better value I'd have said. If Bertrand wants to hang around and play rotation with Rico or similar, then great....but I think it's getting to the stage where the club are looking at the future beyond Bertrand.

But it's not going to go away, that's the reality. Vaccinations and herd immunity will make it very manageable, but it's not going to go away. It will always be a risk - so do we continue to shut ourselves away in case of this? Should we stop driving in case we have a car accident? Should I stay in, in case a car runs me over? Should I avoid going to the doctors/or hospital in the winter in case I catch the Flu and get very ill from it? Life is full of risks, it's always been full of risks, but as a world we learn to live with those risks and you have to weigh up each side. We either hide ourselves behind masks and 2m away from everyone for years, or we accept there will always be a risk and we just live with it? I fully expect the mask wearing, 2m distancing, queues outside shops, no drinking at bars, x amount in stadiums to continue long after June - and that's what myself and others just don't get.

This is the million dollar question. All we've been fed for the last year is how the over's are venerable, anyone younger it is a very mild disease. This has been born out in the stats, and that is actually the words Chris Whitty uttered. There will be some younger people who have been badly effected, that will happen sadly - but statically it's quite rare. But it's just backtrack city. It was the same last year, we had Boris say in the summer last year how he expected us to be back to normal by November and remove the final forms of social distancing. But along came variant number 2 and we've been in lockdown pretty much since October/November time. Granted we didn't have a vaccine at that point...but the government do have form for significant backtracking because the SAGE fellas have scared them into it. Going by some science I've read, the way the vaccines are 'coded' means that it's very unlikely that they'll be resistant to any form of variant - maybe slightly less effective in some circumstances, but according to the science these vaccines should provide a form of protection for all variants. It's wholly possible we may have to get regular 'boosters' to pump up it's 100% effectiveness, but I don't believe we should remain in lockdown or social distasting whilst we wait for a booster. I just have a hunch that's the line we'll hear come the winter.

I listened and I must admit I came away feeling quite confident. He sounded quite bullish and obviously he must have reason to feel bullish. This is one of the quotes: "I am sure not only this player will sign (Theo), but we will have next season a very, very balanced and mentally strong side, for sure."

I'm with you, I don't have any questions in terms of how serious it can be and I'm not one of those who thinks the entire thing was made up on day 1. But to me, this feels like it's being prolonged now, and like you...the stats aren't adding up to me? There's still a lot of fear mongering out there, mainly put out by the SAGE guys if you read it. We were told that vaccines are the way out of this....but now we're starting to hear, as per last year ''testing is the way out of this'' - what is it? If we've all been jabbed, why is testing the key again? Surely there has to come a point when we all get back to normal? If the scientists have their way then It feels like this is going to be an endless cycle of the same for years upon years upon years. Opening up, closing down, opening up, closing down. ''Infections are rising, mutation number x - we all need a new jab, new lockdown required''. Rinse/repeat etc.

If i'm honest, I didn't expect anything else. Getting a new sponsor in this climate would have been challenging, I doubt anyone else would have offered that value. Sponsorship is sponsorship, no idea why it's a disgrace. If it allows us to keep a player or to sign an additional player that will improve our chances next season on the field, then what's the problem?

I think he's decent, you're not going to get much better for £10m. He definitely needs better players around him though, he couldn't burden the load all on his own shoulders. But he's very effective in the right partnership/with the right players around him.

Sounds like we must never criticise Southampton players or call them shit. But, we can call the opposition shit. So, if we lose at the weekend, who is actually shit?

Standard Lemina really, in and out of the side, 1 or 2 games where he stands out a little, but mixed in with a load of avergeness and 'missing in action' performances. I think we could poss get 7-8m fee wise from someone as a going rate. The Fulham agreed fee is 4-5m I think. But yeah, your question is valid - who else could be interested? If he does come back, it may well be yet another loan I guess.

We may still have Lemina to shift as well.....again! Might be able to get a couple of million extra if we are able to sell to someone else.