Badger

IF City have buy back clauses to sign one of the players for £40m or set amount in two years, presumably the contract will also prevent Saints selling to anyone else before 2024, or do City have an option to match the bid, or exercise their option sooner ? Probably an uncertainty around this as it’s new ground, but interested if anyone knows.

He may prove to delight his new fan base though

Don't think he has said anything that most people haven't thought or said. Whether it's wise to go public on it is another question. It's good and refreshing to have some honesty and openness from Ralph. Although this can come at the cost of discretion perhaps it's a welcome change from the more evasive "we'll discuss it behind closed doors" all the time.

I also think he might turn it down but more because the Chelsea job is such a poisoned chalice. The England job is as well but for different reasons. I suspect Chelsea will initially want someone with some trophies on their CV already. Cant see Poch setting and staying there very long with the regime in place. But then he may see it as a quick earner (factoring in the speed with which Chelsea turnover managers and will look to pay him off).

Appreciate the criteria you’ve set but I think David Peach was certainly’above Average’. Although in the 2nd Division he was an outstanding LB for us,and goalscorer (penalties especially of course). I always felt he was the best LB in the country for a couple of years (no bias in my teenage years of course). It was unfortunate really that his peak years were in Div 2. Doubt that we’d be able to keep a player of his standout quality in The second tier now (and probably not EPL for that matter).

Perhaps Tuchel has learnt to regret not accepting Les’ offer (insert emoji for yes I know, it’s only a pisstake)

Tuchel has been a bit of a loose cannon in his career and appears to have fallen out with every club. Surprising he’s been sacked although I thought there would be some ructions there and he’d walk away later in the season after throwing toys out of the pram. Perhaps there’s been a bit of that behind the scenes. Does seem incredible sacking a manager after a handful of games having spent over £200m. Potter would be mad taking the job, money aside. Someone made the point on here about him the other day, he’d not get the time to build at a Top 6 side, less so at Chelsea

Think his last minute equaliser v Villa in 1976 should elevate him as above average when looking back

Nick Holmes - constantly steady without being spectacular. Manny Andruszewski. Malcolm Waldron (won Player of the Season once) Fred Kemp. David Walker

Wonder if they needed VAR for this sending off: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62783917

Leicester probably think he's theirs for the asking... think they're in for a shock.

Has his Dad remained in his coaching role after sacking their manager ?

As he was about Gapko though ...

Hazy recollection that kick offs were moved to 2.15pm during the power cutss/electricity crisis of the 1970's. Including midweek matches, although can't see that happening (just yet) this time round. Premiership times probably won't move due to tv/screening rights overseas, but lower divisions could be more flexible.

Firstly, for initiative and ambition I'd say 10/10 for Ankersen, and SR , the Gakpo approach was very bold and ambitious. For the actual recruitment though they have plugged some much needed gaps, shifted some of the deadwood which we wanted. But I'd say a cautious 7/10 depending on how the players develop. The lack of a striker is a disappointment, and annoying that we probably parked this for what was (in hindsight) probably an over ambitious attempt to reel in Gakpo.

Perhaps this is a rile Selles is being prepared for. I've mixed feelings on this as it worked for Ankerson at Brentford with Thomas Frank, bi=ut our own experiences of promoting good backroom staff have been disastrous.

True to a point, although interestingly they'd rather adopt a different approach for their elite youngsters such as Delap, McAtee, and probably Palmer. Wonder why.

Thanks for posting that.

Strange thing for me was that despite his performances there Villa didn't want to keep him Thought that was quite telling.

Garth Crooks runs him pretty close I’d have thought

Is it still happening though ?

It's an interesting market that we've tapped into. We need to make full advantage of it whilst we can as I suspect at some point The FA, UEFA, whoever will look to regulate it to prevent clubs simply being 'nursery sides' for larger clubs and abuse of this system. How they regulate it is open to debate, possibly only one buy back clause contract in force with a particular club. This and the 'multi-club' model is bound to come under scrutiny at some point.

I was comparing as a transfer target and general observation as to standard rather than anything else. Bow to your greater knowledge of him though, and if he lives up to your billing then great, it will be a shrewd move.

Not keen on this tbh, strikes me as Arsenal's version of Harry Winks, average player whose reputation is based largely on playing for a big club where he's surplus to requirements, and linked with us every window. (Will probably be a reasonable signing then, if he doesn't sulk about where he's asked to play). Credit where it's due though his Mediterranean cookbook was quite good.

That's nor the yardstick to jusge a player by. Seem to recall Redmond scored against us for Norwich, which was enough to convince Les anyway.