benjii

She wrote off tens of millions of debt so Christ knows what you're banging on about. She clearly wanted to sell up because when no longer wanted, or could, own a football club but suggestions she was drawing money out of the business before the sale are backed up by absolutely no evidence but are countered by a bunch of verifiable public information to the contrary.

Good post. I have reservations about the new owner but the OP is too reductive. The current predicament is due to a bad managerial appointment. As Bearsy says, at the start of the season we took a stand with VD and added some good signings. The only area of the squad which still looked thin was striker but if we had upgraded our manager, having sacked the previous one, we could well have had another good season. The new owner may be a disaster but half a season of a bad manager is not evidence in that respect.

Basically, we've made a mistake with a managerial appointment. Ridiculous to start making valedictory pronouncements. As all historians know, perspective is key.

He did look good to begin with. Played in wins at Old Trafford and the Emirates. When we had our dire run under Korean he got hooked off early a couple of times and he had a poor game against Sheff United in our cup defeat, getting sent off towards the end. Then he got injured and has barely been seen since. I'm guessing he's still not fully fit given the way he hasn't had a look in at all.

Pedro is 30 and Willian is 29 so maybe the idea is to integrate Barkley with a view to replacing those over a couple of years.

Eh? Pied played right back and was one of our best players on the night. If McQueen wants game time he needs to show he is better than Bertrand or Tadic/Boufal/Redmond, which he hasn't done.

To be clear, I'm not including Gardos or Bednarek in that as they are clearly viewed as sub-standard by management.

We have one decent CB, one average one and one below average one. Pretty poor.

Does he fancy going into management?

Tadic is a good left winger. He's a poor central player. **** knows why the manager can't see that. Boufal, or even the boo-boys favourite, Redmond, would be better in Tadic's current position.

Austin is out for quite a while.

The issue, as was clear at the time, is that half the defence pushed up and half stayed back, which was why there was such a complete absence of defenders challenging the second ball once Benteke won the header. **** defending. No point whingeing about an off side decision that comes down to, literally, an inch or two. And the tackle by Long looked needless and like a foul in real time.

No, he wouldn't.

Yeah, he was pretty much the only positive.

If he's not gone by the Watford game then a proper course of action will be the only chance of saving the season.

Agreed.

A) no idea. B) no idea. We have had barely any communication of any sort from them and we don't really know where the purchase money came from so, who knows? I won't be buying an ST next year without some clearer idea of what this guy stands for and what he thinks he's doing here.

Stephens and Yoshida isn't really good enough for first choice pairing in the Championship. Stephens complete lack of aerial ability would get exploited. Assuming Hoedt leaves we would need another CB unless Bednarek is good enough. I'd imagine / hope the following would be off: Forster Cedric Bertrand Hoedt Romeu Lemina Tadic Boufal Gabbi Long That would leave us with McCarthy Pied Targett McQueen Yoshida Stephens Bednarek Hoj Davis JWP Redmond Austin Potentially the makings of a very good Championship team but a few additions would be needed.

Not sure what you can do about heading really? Headgear for all doesn't really seem viable and headgear is really to protect against isolated catastrophic injury - it doesn't offer protection against repeated blows and the effects thereof. In male amateur boxing, headguards have been ditched as they just make the head heavier and seem to lead to increased risk of concussion. The only feasible way to reduce the impact of heading is to regulate heading itself in the rules or somehow make the ball very light. Perhaps a rule that goal kicks or free kicks within the defending team's own half can't be headed? Hopefully, long-term head injuries through football are a thing of the past linked to the heavier balls but if it turns out that they are not then it will need some careful thought.

Liverpool is a **** hole. Fact

Jon Gittens has a great jaw and does not get sparked out. Your friend / you are probably suffering from delusions brought about by the absolute pasting Jon Gittens delivered. KR, JG

Oh, was he! Didn't even notice. Well spotted..

I've kept my identity concealed for a long time but I have to speak up now after some of the posts on this thread. A few things to set the record straight: 1 - Jon Gittens was, and some might say still is, an excellent player for Saints and all his clubs. 2 - Jon Gittens does not not show up. 3 - Jon Gittens focuses when coaching. There is no need to smile. 4 - Jon Gittens has a bright future ahead of him KR, JG.

Hoedt out is a blow. Should be a young CB on the bench then.