bugenhagen

Forgot that he started ok, just remember him being very poor, and then started to turn the corner at the end of the season, and sometime in the start of the second season he became a nailed on starter for me.

Well said! I think he has had two bad misses, and he has not looked particularly good from what I’ve seen so far, but I am still interested to see how he develops and adapts. I thought Mane was poor most games in the first season. Must be OK to say so now that we know how he turned out.

Tweaked it a little bit… as I fear the starting lineup will be something between what you posted and this: Bazunu; Bree, Stephens, Quarshire, Manning Charles, Fernandes Armstrong, Fraser, BBD Archer

Based on that analogy, I thought you were going to suggest that Baz should quit and consider coaching 😉

I prefer 4 at the back, but if we are without Downes, Fernades and Dibling next week, the 3-4-3 we played at the end might suit our remaining players better? Watching the game, it was a combination of things that led to the good spell last 30 min. We got dominated and overrun by Brighton before the subs and change of formation. Was it the players or the change of formation that made the difference? Or a combination? I do not think we would have changed the game simply by changing formation and not personell.

Robinson makes it fun to watch football

Don't know about injured, probably more "ill" like Fernandes...

I hope you are right, and I have no problem with him playing if it is on merit. It's just too easy to fear the worst right now.

While that part is true, the problem begins when he is being picked every game, not on merit, but because he is captain. Quarshie, THB, Wood and Edwards are all competing for the place next to Stephens.

Or... did MLG do a joke?

I just don’t agree with you. I think you are jumping to conclusions, even if your first post on the subject stated that there may just be a concern. Why the need to call me names? I joined in a discussion on a point it looked like you wanted to discuss. Anyways, I’ll leave it alone.

I don’t think we even know that for sure, or how exactly we were turned down? Either way, that does not equal motivation issues if he does sign. You made that conclusion.

But you made up the whole motivation issue. It is not really there, it’s in your mind…

I agree with this. I had two wishes for the next season: No Bednarek and no Bazunu. “Whoa, we're half way there…”

For me, the more creative players are often involved with making something happen one or two moves before the assist, so it is not just about the final ball. This is the area I’m most concerned with, especially if Dibling and Fernandes leaves.

Agree about Baz. But way too early to say the window is looking like a failure. Sadly, Dibling, Fernandes and Ramsdale will never be resolved until the closing of the window. The "dross" will probably take it's time to get rid of as well. The real test for SR and Spors is how they react at the end of the window when the probable sale of these three will happen. Do they have good replacements ready, and will they be able to get them when the dominoes start to fall?

My biggest problem with Stephens, the armband and the new contract is that we end up in a situation where two (or three) defenders are playing better than him, and we start to change players or tactics to get our captain on the field. That is my fear. I never had that feeling with Dodd (or Frannie).

Fernandes is number one for me as well. The main reason I am a little fussed about Ramsdale, is that keeping him guarantees no Bazunu.

Oh, the obsession over 9k… we all know it’s not about the length, but what you do with it.

When it comes to transfer fee, the club values him based on what he showed glimpses of. When it comes to contract, the club does not value him based on those highs, but you can be damn sure Dibling and his agent do. The club value him higher as a transfer asset than they are willing to pay him in wages. I have no problem seeing that he will be reluctant to sign a new contract.

Pretty sure he had the armband, yes.

Yeah, I enjoy watching him play. Industrious player, makes things happen, brings others into the game. Brings some of the same things that Stuart Armstrong brought to the game.

This is so true, I don't mean to speak for everyone, but hey, lets... The starting 11 was more or less the players most of us want either gone or as backup.

Yeah, just a confirmation by the club that Bazunu is not the one would be good