Lighthouse

And yet they only stayed up because of a completely freak result, away from all their fans, at the Amex, and a GK who’s far better than any other in the bottom half.

We can debate all this ad nauseum but looking at the table; Arsenal, Brighton, Fulham and City have all had fantastic seasons. Bournemouth too, relative to their resources. None of their stadiums are known for being a cauldron of passion and it hasn’t stopped their teams from playing with passion, purpose and a positive mindset. If anything I’d say places like SJP, Goodison and West Ham are more likely to develop a negative, toxic atmosphere than SMS. Fans running on the pitch, berating players, throwing their STs at the manager, chasing players cars down the street etc. doesn’t help the situation. As the Scouser said to the toothpaste, deodorant and shampoo salesman; I’m not buying it.

Given their nationality, I expect a full Les Mis style West End musical about it.

No he doesn’t. Nobody in this squad deserves better than the people who pay hundreds or even thousands of pounds, during a cost of living crisis, to watch the absolute dross we’ve just been served.

You do realise that's a number pulled out the arse of a Sun journalist, not an official public statement by Rasmus?

Because for anyone of a right wing persuasion it’s absolute gold dust and makes them look smart, relatively speaking. It’s something lefties support which is delusional, irrational and very easy to argue against.

I’d wager Buffon, Casillas, Van Der Saar or Cech might have kept out three or even four of the goals we conceded yesterday.

I don’t think he’s suggesting players SHOUlD stay loyal, simply pointing out that they don’t and TBH he’s got a point. Tiss was one of the few players who was genuinely loyal to us as he had serious offers to go elsewhere and earn more. I find it somewhat bemusing when people talk about the likes of Benali and Long being loyal. JWP has stayed with us because he’s a lower mid-table standard player, or a reasonable squad option for a European competitor and up until now, we’ve managed to provide him with the former platform.

I fear you may be getting altitude sickness up that tree.

There’s no ‘getting away with’ IMO, Baz will be a decent enough Championship keeper. Don’t forget Kelvin was in the team of the season at that level.

It’s weird to think that he has actually played with Marian Pahars.

I can't see how he's better than Baz. 17 conceded in 6 league games.

They've just signed for us, they wont be leaving unless it's on our terms. Besides, up until now KS has done bugger all, I don't think two goals in a dead rubber are going to change much, even against Liverpool.

God, I hope so.

Can we maybe have a bucket collection to donate Bournemouth some of our goals?

Everton aren’t going down and we aren’t winning this game. That would involve some aspect of this season being enjoyable, which isn’t allowed.

I refuse to get my hopes up.

I think it’s quite poetic actually, a fitting end to this season.

I really wish we’d never brought him back from Everton at all. He has offered painfully little across his last three years here and the fact that he has been one of the marginally better players in the most pathetic season I can remember really isn’t saying much. Bringing in a has-been who couldn’t get a game for Everton is a wonderful avatar for just how poor our overall recruitment has been for several years. Im not buying all the stuff about what a great guy he is either. My uncle is a smashing, kindly spoken bloke who loves Saints (although unlike Theo he didn’t decide he actually preferred Everton five years ago), it’s going to take a hell of a lot more than that to make me feel any real gratitude. I’m not sold on him being a great role model and personality in the dressing room either. Our mentality, particularly in attack, couldn’t be any more pathetic. In fact; short of Mara collecting the ball, sprinting 60 yards back towards our own goal, slamming the ball past McCarthy and bursting into tears crying, "I don’t know what I’m supposed to do!” I’m struggling to envision an attacking force which could possibly be worse.

I think you need to read back a few more posts. That’s the whole point I was arguing against, if the clause is that none of City’s rivals can buy him, he can’t go elsewhere and get anything.

I think the buy back deal was mutually beneficial to all parties, without the need for an exclusivity clause. Lavia gets first team Prem football, we get a decent player and City get the chance to buy him back at a reasonable price should they choose. I think the two year thing was probably because we wanted to get a second, decent season out of him, before being poached back by City. Like I said, I just can’t see Lavia and his agent agreeing to what you’re suggesting. Supposing he’s on £40kpw here, he could put in two absolutely sensational seasons, be in the PL team of the year both times, and City can effectively say, “here’s £40,000.10, take it or leave it.” I’m only suggesting what seems most logical to me, I guess we’ll all find out in due course.

These Enid Blyton novels are getting a bit dark.

I can’t see Lavia’s agent agreeing to a deal which effectively bans him from signing for anyone but City. It would put them in a much weaker position. None of us know the exact details of this clause but most of the rumours point to a pretty straight forward buy-back fee, starting in 2024.

Mids go from 161-4 to 171ao. Some collapse that.

No, Brighton absolutely sh*toting the bed against them in one of the most bizarre games of the season has kept them up. They’ll likely stay up on 36 points, which is absolutely crawling to safety really, and if it weren’t for Pickford, they’d have finished bottom. True RE Allardyce previously, I was just referring to Leeds.