S-Clarke

It shouldn't bother us at all, but it just feels inventible that Witty and Vallance will be stood on a podium at some point in the next 6 weeks, showing graphs and charts and talking about 'grave' figures again. They're creating a world full of people scared to even venture out of their homes. Let's just get back to normal now, it's getting beyond ridiculous for so many people.

The 'European' third wave is primed to hit just as we start to bin everything in June. I can see where it's going.

There will be more milling around in all the beauty spots this weekend, I'm sure.

I wouldn't have thought JWP is injured. This has happened before, he's returned as a 'precaution' and then plays 90 mins next week. The guy is a freak in terms of fitness. I think we had a little chat with England prior to this due to our already depleted squad, and it was probably made clear to us that he wouldn't play all 3 games, as Kalvin Philips is the chosen one at the mo. It's nice that little old Southampton can be heard.

I think that's a little bit too strong. It was pure stupidity yes, and what this has probably done is removed Ralphs trust in him. He'll have to build that back up. But history has shown that once Ralph loses trust in you, it's hard to see a way back - he is very stubborn. I expect him to go.

As other's have said, what are they testing? The world is peak stupidity at the moment. This somewhat doesn't surprise me and I think that's probably the worst part of it. I fully expect these decisions now.

I've noticed that with a lot of Sheldon articles, they're a lot of words wrapped up in the illusion that behind-the-scenes stuff is being shared, but in reality he's just fluffing up what is already in the public domain and any of us can find. Nothing new is ever presented in what he posts. It's either his opinions or fluffed up words that can be found anywhere. I expect more 'in the know' stuff from the Athletic to be honest.

The fact Gaston ended up on loan at Hull and on the back of that, on loan in the NPC with Middlesbrough probably tells you all you need to know about his suitability for this league. He's done ok at Sampdoria to be fair, that's probably the best fit for his ability - la liga wouldn't have been a bad shout either. Slower pace, more time on the ball. The total opposite of this league.

Nah, he'd be out on his arse in a Ralph team. A luxury player who'd be totally lost and at odds with how we play. Not sure why you feel he'd work well in a Ralph system. I think most fans accepted he was genuinely gifted, very technical, but just not really suited to the rigors and pace of PL football - much in the same way as Boufal really.

Those years were the most exciting I've had supporting this club. Some great away days, breaking records all the time. It was such good fun, only have good memories of those years. What makes it even better is how that core came up and then finished in the top half of the top league as well. Love stories like that, probably won't happen again in my lifetime. Don't forget Guly! Whilst he split opinion, he was too good for L1.

That has been dreadful, such a low standard. Not sure why we've got 6 defenders on the pitch against Albania. The entire setup looks condensed and confused. It's no wonder we're not creating anything. What were Southgate's senior managerial credentials prior to getting the England job? Relegation with Middlesbrough?

Wow, that's like a thing of dreams! (Well, not selling Ings and Vestergaard as I don't want them to leave). We can't sell Gunn, he's already agreed a 2nd year loan at Stoke next year. Need to hope Fulham go down then, as the agreed fee with Fulham is around £4-5m

Like you said, our management of these players have been poor. I class Slattery in that group as well - very talented, but kept here for too long and not given opportunities. There's only so much you can do in the U23's. I hope we don't end up doing the same with Alex, as I think we'll look back in a few years shaking our heads if he leaves.

He's been decent up there, but in context the Celtic fans aren't too excited about keeping him. Like you say, the only clubs who could potentially offer him an avenue are smaller European sides - and there's no money in those teams really. As per our unsellables, he's on big wages and I can't see us being able to shift him for a fee because of that. Same issue we had with Boufal, Carillo, Hoedt etc.

Looked like he was in tears when he came off in that game, I don't think it was even that bad an injury. I think if we'd have been in the Championship, Hesketh and Sims may have progressed a little more. They were unlucky to come into the side at a time when we had Mane, Tadic in and around the squad (and Long...). They were never superstar young players at the time, just decent enough players to help fill out the squad, so they weren't ever going to oust established PL players. That's why they stagnated I think. There was definitely something in both of them and I think they'll make a career in the Championship and below- Sims, maybe bottom half PL later in his career.

We're in a bit of a tricky situation with Elyonoussi. I don't think anyone will pay a fee for him, so we'd be limited to just sending him out on a random loan again next year. That doesn't give us much/if any cash, so we couldn't then fill the spot he vacates. In that sense, for squad depth alone, it may be a good idea to keep him around. I think we should try all we can to sell him if i'm honest, but I just don't see any takers as he's not very good. I think Abraham and Tangana are realistic loans - possibly. Not permanent signings though. And don't you be surprised at the club leaving an obvious squad shortfall come August the 1st. We do it every year, 3 centre backs would not surprise me in the slightest.

If that is the approach, we will be relegated. Ings has to be replaced, it would be suicide if he wasn't. He's not had a great year this year, but still - without his goals which have either got us points or wins (Brighton/Burnley/Villa/Liverpool etc) we'd be adrift in the bottom 3.

A normal person would have said. ''I don't agree with your claim that he's not a captain. A captain for me is x, y z, and I think he has those attributes'. All you did was attack the views of people who didn't feel he was a good captain. You didn't offer your own opinion as to what you feel a good captain is, you just keep asking others the question which wasn't actually adding to the debate. Your responses and questions are more often than not designed to antagonise people. Back to the actual debate, I personally feel leadership is one area he struggles. I don't think you want captains to scream and shout per say, but what you want to see from a captain is someone who stands up and you notice them in the bad times - they lead by example through their ability and don't hide away into a box if the team is struggling etc. That's my only criticism of JWP, like a lot of this squad, when the going gets tough they shrink away into their own little bubbles and you don't really notice them. I don't think that's amazing leadership.

This was actually a decent debate until MLG got involved. Derailed it.

You need to get laid.

That hasn't happened though. Read the posts and the context around them rather than jumping up and down to try and troll.

He sometimes doesn't look like he's doing a great deal in general play, but his distance covered and general running around the pitch is impressive to say the least - we've got no one who comes close. His energy levels and fitness are just on another planet. You're never going to get Xavi or Inestia like playmaking from JWP, but you will get someone who can operate in that pivot/number 6 they call it and recycle the ball with accuracy and maintain a tempo. He barely gives it away nowadays, even in tight situations he's got the ability on the ball to control and move it at pace. His whole game has come on a level and a lot of what he does 'in play' can sometimes go unnoticed I feel.

Come on, those comments at the time were just bordering on mentalist. It's like conspiracy theories 101. It was ludicrous what I was reading the night he got sent off. I hope that event doesn't underline his time here, as like others I think he's got something about him.

I've never classed Ronaldo as a great free kick taker, it was just another element to his amazing list of things he can do - but it wasn't his main ability. The ones he has scored have been extraordinary in technique, but he hasn't scored as many as people think. The ones he has just stand out. It strikes me that there are certain posters on this thread who binned JWP out a few years ago, decided he was no good and we should sell him for £10m to Watford. They obviously cannot come to admit they may have been wrong in their judgements and reassess their opinion, no chance. So they'll stand by steadfast in their original opinion from a few years ago when he was flitting in and out, not consistent enough and not imposing on games. He's not the same player anymore though. It's ok to admit that you may have been wrong a few years ago, no one is going to crucify you for it. In the last 18 months to 2 years he has gone up levels in both consistency and influence on the pitch. I struggled to understand JWP's role a few years ago, we had managers such as Puel, Pellegrino and Hughes who just had no idea what to do with him either. Ralph has come in and has understood what he can bring and JWP has taken this onboard and has moved his game up so many levels, I don't think anyone can disagree with that. It's getting to a stage now where I think 'big clubs' will be looking at him as a big transfer.

It was Louis Carey on the touchline again today. Another of the clubs unspoken mysteries is the coaching setup of the u18's atm.