S-Clarke

The wages are probably wrapped up in the chunky loan fee to be honest, they've just given us his wages up front. Often how loans work tbh.

Maybe - it does seem a rather pointless figure plucked out of the air, like you say it's similar to those 1bn release clauses Barca players have had. No chances they pay anywhere near that, they just don't have that sort of spare cash to spend on a Championship player. Puts him in a higher profile shop window though, so if Juve don't cough up someone else might in the PL - or he comes back here as a better player. Lots of winners in this deal whatever way you look at it.

Leicester fans managing to piss their manager off - ------------------------------ Enzo Maresca’s frustrations over the fan response to his style of play boiled over last night as he threatened to leave Leicester City if doubts over his philosophy intensify. Since his arrival at City, Maresca has routinely appealed to supporters to get behind his team and create an atmosphere to help them earn big results, and he did so again before the clash with Swansea. But he suggested afterwards that some fans are taking for granted what his side are achieving. “Probably the people, they think it’s easy to win games, but it’s not easy,” Maresca said in his post-match press conference. “I just want to remind that we have played 34 official games and we have won 26. That is a huge number and probably the people they think it’s easy to win games. But it’s not like this. “You can feel the fans when they’re not happy. Probably some people they take some things for granted. But it’s not like this. Twenty-six wins out of 34. It’s something unbelievable. Probably when you win, win, win at home, and you continue to win, people think it’s easy. But it’s not easy. “I arrive in this club to play with this idea. The moment there is some doubt about the idea, the day after, I will leave. It’s so clear. No doubts. “We have won 26 of 34, a huge number. If people think it’s easy and take it for granted, it’s not like this. Huge respect for the players and the effort they are doing. Hopefully we can reach and give our fans the right joy at the end of the season.”

All tongue in cheek really, nothing to get too upset about. Probably a little rose tinted about themselves though in terms of how good they are - 25 points, not too far away from the relegation argument he doesn't think they're in! Football changes so quickly, and no one knows what's around the corner. Not so long ago Reading were higher than all of us. So absolutely they can enjoy gloating about being a PL side at the mo, but for Clubs like Boruenmouth, ourselves etc, we will swap places so many more times in our lifetimes.

Juve have to include all the financials in their communications, so here are all the details - Turin, 31 January 2024 - Juventus Football Club S.p.A. announces that an agreement with Southampton Football Club for the temporary acquisition, until 30 June 2024, of the registration rights of the player Carlos Jonas Alcaraz Duran has been finalized for a consideration of € 3.7 million, with the addition of ancillary costs of € 0.2 million, which might be increased up to a maximum of € 1.9 milion upon achievement of specific sporting performance objectives. The agreement further entails the right for Juventus to definitively acquire the player’s registration rights for an agreed consideration of € 49.5 million, payable in three years, which might be increased upon achievement of further sporting performance objectives over the duration of the employment contract with the player.

Manning has played as Left sided CB in his past at Swansea. There's something to send shivers down your spine!

If we do manage to catch them then this team will trump the Adkins lot and then some. We'd probably end up as the best Championship team ever if we finish above them. I think we will hit an inventible dip, I don't know if it's just the saints fan in me or not, but just rules of averages suggest you cannot churn out win after win after win endlessly - there will be dips. We just have to hope those dips happen at times when the likes of Ipswich and Leeds also have a little wobble. As Leicester have been so fricking consistent, we simply have zero margin for error for the remainder of the season. That's a bloody tall order. I'm just focusing on Leeds and Ipswich if I'm honest.

It's a shame, I like Charly. Hasn't massively flourished this season for sure, but a great option to have around the place. but...for him, a move to Juve is just massive. What an opportunity for the lad. For us, we get a pretty chunky loan fee - and even more if he doesn't get the games - and if he tears it up, we get £45m and double our money and then some. Personally I can't see Juve buying him as Italian clubs don't have any money, but it will certainly put him in a higher profile shop window - we've secured ourselves as he has a long contract, so his value isn't dropping. In terms of the squad, if you look at where he plays, Stu, Aribo and Rothwell are also competing for that role. Brooks is also very, very adept in the number 10 role - so we kinda do have a bit of an embarrassment of options there. It won't hurt us as much as losing KWP would have, or Che. We have plenty of alternatives to fill Charlys void for now.

That's a blow, I really like Charly and think he can offer a lot. He hasn't been the regular we all expected him to be though. You could argue it's player led as he wants to play, but he's not going to play regular at Juve. I imagine we'll get a decent fee, plus wages covered. If they stump up £35m in the summer we've made more than double our money if we're looking at it pure profit wise. I'm disappointed though.

They were 2 down inside 2 mins, incredible performance by Brighton. Sleepwalked through that first half.

I think as many loans as we want, but only 5 can be named in the match day squad.

They're giving Swansea a bit of a sniff here I think, but I don't think Swansea have anywhere near the level of quality required to do anything of note. Leicester will win it, but I agree they've not been amazing.

I've always been a fan of Brooks, a silky player with the ball at his feet. Could have gone to Spurs a few years back, they were interested. I thought it was an interesting shout back at the start of January, but then I watched him single handily tear apart Swansea as Bournemouth captain, I assumed that ship had sailed - so I was surprised when it was a goer!

#FreeBenson

Really pleased with this one, I reckon he'll have a similar impact to that of THB. He oozes class.

Agreed 100%. Anyone who says otherwise must have been very fortunate to have never had it cross their lives.

Yeah, you're a wum. Back to whatever Portsmouth forum they have these days for you.

Footballer interviews are always full of cliches, and PR driven responses - but what a difference that was, it was just like listening to an everyday guy telling us the horror he'd had to go through. Came across so down to earth, very humble and a proper genuine person. Very relatable and refreshing to hear the good news story at the end. Don't wish what he went through on anyone, to get back to where he is today would have taken some serious graft. Defo. an amazing character with the right mentality.

Didn't realise there were games tonight, but given that we've pulled them back in to our sight, the Leicester v Swansea fixture is something to keep an eye on. Although given how horrific Swansea are I'm not expecting much, but stranger things have happened.

I'd leave Holgate out every day, even if he was fit. We've got Stephens as the backup CB on the bench.

Worst post of the year award has been won, and we're only in January.

Being too clever? I'd say this is the most no-brainer signing we could have made if he was available. You got the injury the wrong way round - he got a Hamstring injury after he'd returned from his cancer layoff, well long-term as in the same length as Stephens recent one. No surprise really, in fact it would have been a miracle had he not picked up some form of muscle injury given what his body had been through over the previous 2 years. He's been injury free for around a year now, just trying to fight his way back into the side.

They're an odd bunch. Madness. Strategically it’s in our interest to be the dominant club in the geography. Fair enough let Brooks out if it’s the best for him and us but not to Southampton. What a terrible decision.

Nice link up with Fraser on quite a few occasions there, they were quite the double act for Bournemouth a few years ago.

Not yet - they're in the playoffs, so they could be. He was quoted as saying he wants to play so he's in contention to be part of it whatever happens.