MarkSFC

Maybe Liverpool have submitted a large bid...

Will we sign him permanently in January or wait until thr summer? He's free!!

Jack Harrison would be a decent replacement for Redmond, and left-footed which we do not have in that type of position. I would think he would cost upwards of 25m; is that where we'd want to spend that sort of money? I'm not sure. It would though annoy all my Leeds supporting mates who rate him highly.

I agree with selling Redmond. We need someone with a better speed of thought and action and probably a left-footer.

Semmens has said recently we are not a selling club. But as a business wanting to generate funds selling players is obvious. However, selling players (the best ones) only begins a downward spiral as we have witnessed far too often. I think this is what he is meaning. We do not NEED to sell the best. There will of course be occasions where an individual wants to go and that's fair enough. This is very different to actively planning to sell players and constantly evolve the squad. Ralph will not stand for that. At some point the club has to decide whether sporting achievement is more important than profit. I think we are at that point now with the people running the club. Selling lesser players, say 2 to get one is probsbly the way forward for the next year or two. By then we may have a few kids good enough and so one or two others may be sold to get one. Having said that we seem to forget that there is Sky income which surely must allow for one or two decent purchases each season?!!

Anyone who thinks we have a chance is deluded!!! Top 6 should be the only goal. 7th to 9th is likely.

would also save us a load of cash if they can both push to be a striker over the next season, particularly if Ings does go (which I obviously hope does not happen). But nevertheless,having those two progressing and acting as pressure/back-up is more appealling to me than Long and Obefemi. Walcott (as much as he may of wanted to be a striker) is more the no.10 as Ralph is saying quite often, along with Redders, Armstrong and Moussa. Things looking exciting and quite strong.

My instinct is that Ings willl not leave. Im sure he does have offers right now, it would bewierd if not. Whatever he does, stay or go, it is likely to be his final big contract so taking time to make the right decision, and get the details sorted makes total sense. If he does decide to leave then thats his choice and as frustrating that might be as a fan we will surely get upwards of 60/70m. Plenty to get 2 or 3 very decent emerging diamonds for Ralph to polish.

Not sure understudy is the right way to look at it. if we could get someone who "could" take over from either of them now or in the very near future that would be ideal for two reasons. Firstly it would put pressure on, and also be better if either get injured, suspended or just dip in form temporarily. Secondly, and i hpe this does not happen, but it would be great to get a replacement in for Danny (if he does not sign) before he goes! Longs days are numbered, his value is possibly more on the training field and around the club than the pitch. Doesnt hurt to have one or two of that type around the club. N'Dundulu looks like he has something ablut him so I anticipate he will be the 4th choice for the next year or two, but who knows, he might excel quickly. Obefemi I would think is on his way out of the club.

I think Bertrands value to the team and the squad is understed in many quarters. I like him alot and think he has been a very sound performer. That said I do not think he is Ralph's "ideal" left back. I would think he wants a left back more in the mould of KWP, faster, more energetic and more skillful than Ryan. If he signs a new 2 year deal that would be great though andbring in his replacement, and allow time for the evolution.

Do you get the impression the club/Semmens/Ralph are more "hopeful" or more "confident" that Ings will sign? How they spoke cannot easily be portrayed in simply text.

same thing ultimately in terms of his mindset being situational. But yeah good decision to give it to Danny. Good Leadership.

Yeah biggest surprise for me. I just hope it was a situational weakness rather than his goto trait, it was a tough game. Its likely that JWP is perhaps more cautious / more negative in his thinking because if you think about how long he has been there and what he has had to endure it would take an extremely tough mindset to never think negatively in any situation. Just look at how the majority of our fans think in various situations we see the team in at any given time!!

It will be interesting to see whether Ings signs. I think it comes down to whether he is happy here and sees becoming a proper club legend when he retires as the most important thing, OR whether he harbours real ambition to win the league or CL, with a bigger club. Theres no reason why we might not win a cup but that I guess would be a bonus, and we could reach europe again in the next 3 or 4 years, who knows. My gut is he will sign, but my gut has been wrong often enough not to bet on it!! Either way I hope its resolved soon. Him and Berty signing until say 2024 or 25 would be a huge boost befor echristmas and send a big message about where the club want s to go.

I think that's the first time, other than Spurs but for different reasons, that we know that the quality of our players is not quite top 8. They didn't all fire, particualrly Romeu who left passes short and his lack of speed versus really athletic players was highlighted. Armstrong I thought was a bit negative, and missed several runs behind. Not saying he should always have looked for the player but it is that vision and positivity that ultimately makes an individual and the team very good. I think we look very confident and very well drilled and I think we will be around 8th come the end of the season which will be just fine. We need that little bit more quality like Wolves have in places, like just one more notch up if you like across the team. Will that come from coaching or from new players or from youngsters if at all?! Ings obviously has it and I think JWP is nearly at that level too. Diallo I have a suspicion is going to be very useful and who knows what Salisu could be like. Many many teams will get beat at Wolves so a good point and continues the run. We did not deserve to win so I dont blame Theo for that miss, but they had loads more. Thank god Alex McCarthy had a great game. Bring on Manure....

I love our badge. Not sure why it needs changing. Perhaps some semblance of improving each element as in modernising, clearer etc but keep it the same in essence.

cuco martina!!

Thanks SO16_Saint for posting that. It feels like we are very lucky with the managers we have; Ralph, Matt, Martin and Toby. Lets hope we get a prolonged stay from all of them, a new owner and build something special!

can the article be copied onto here by anyone so as not to have to subscribe?!

I actually think 5 would benefit the smaller squads / clubs just as much. Sure the overall wuality of say Man City's 20 versus ours is going to be higher, however if we could have 9 on the bench this means our kids coming through will at least get experience of the matchday before they otherwise might. And, if we just happen to be 4 up with 10 minutes to play there will be opportunities for players to get some experience quicker than they might otherwise. With the pressure of securing 40 odd points asap the smaller clubs will squeeze as much out of their first / main 11-14 players as they can. Every 5-10minutes "saved" earlieron in the season will help towards the end. Benefits everyone but in different ways.

I'm not concerend for one moment that we will lose Ralph any time soon. For one we have him on a long term contract but more importantly what he is achieving with Saints takes time. Its taken him a good year to 18 months to get this group of players functioning in the way we are. Learning the system does not neccessarily speed up with better players but the results/output would. Most top clubs will not give virtually anyone a year to 18 months to "get things going" as would be the case. For this reason I think we will see Ralph here for at least this and next year and potentially longer. The man is a coach primarily, and although I'm certain he would like to win, he strikes me as someone who is far more driven by the success of improving individuals and the collective to achieve unexpected acomplishes. Getting Utd or the like to win the league is not something unexpected, indeed the reverse, it is expected. The fact he produced a blueprint for success for the whole club during lockdown suggests to me that he sees this place as a longer term project. There are not that many more options that could provide him with what he had at RB Liezig and now here. All too many times in football people are judged upon the narrow viewpoint that success equals being at a select small group of club and therefore you must move there if a player or a manager/coach. Coaching success does not exclusively mean trophies and medals, it is far more than that. I reckon he might just become the modern day Lawrie in terms of longevity and relative achievement.

Ralph is clearly a coach who manages as opposed to a manager who coaches. Seems obvious to say but there are significant differences in the mentality between those two types. Ralph for me has the hollistic viewpoint, where developing individuals seems to be the number one priority and the way he will achieve collective performance and success. A manager is more results driven and will not neccessarily spend as much time or effort on improving the individuals, rather work on collective organisation and buying in players which is short term. Ralph fits our club philosophy perfectly and vice versa. The fact that he has produced a coaching blueprint for the club tells you all you need to know about his interests, talents and approach. As a professional coach myself, this sits very very nicely with my own philosophy so I am extremely excited to see how far he can take this team and the longer term effect his methods and mindset will have on the club overall. Given a little bit more to spend each window, where he can get a better players and then improve them and we should enjoy some very exciting times. The issue with being able to buy better players is that you are moving up towards players who's "development potential" is reduced and so the impact of the coach appears to be less comparatively. But Ralph is operating in the results business so regrdless of his coaching methods and approach, it still comes down to who has the best rained and organised and most capable players. We are moving upwards at a nice pace....I hope he makes this club his life's work!!

no doubt that this is at least part of the reason for bringing in Walcott. Redmond has not had any cometition but we now have Walcott, REdmond, Armstrong and Djenepo vying for two spots; thats decent. Add in the four strikers, Ings, Adams, Long, and Obefemi and we now look stronger up front than we have for quite a while.

A ruben loftus-cheek y little sniff?!!!

Do we need another attacking option - yes Do we need more experience in that area - no Does this fit with our usual recruitment philosophy (young and developing) - no Would he offer something different - maybe Overall, do O think he will be a good addition - no There are imo better options, I'd rather take a younger player with less experience and far more to prove, even if it turns out to be only for a season.