Saint86

In all seriousness, the hallmark of winning managers is that they have favourites and they have players they don't like - whom they won't waste time dealing with or even actively get rid of. Almost impossible to keep everyone happy and be a winner in football imo - unless you have a perfectly balanced squad.

Didn't someone say it was being released at midday on Friday?

2 years is the last resort time a club should be selling a player imo - at least if you rely on player trading to make significant income. If you know a player wants to leave or won't renew, you can't afford to let them stay longer financially. Saints should certainly be operating on that basis given our strategy. It's why I am wondering whether we should be shifting salisu as he is yet to sign a new contract and next summer his value will have dropped a lot (with 1 year left) / our position will be significantly weaker.

Agree completely, should have been nearer the 100m mark - as valued against rice. At least, that's if we desperately wanted to keep him. As it is, I feel we've put 75m on him because we hope someone will offer it - and we will bite their arm off if it happens. That or we've made a woopsy. I don't think it's that unlikely a team like Chelsea or Liverpool won't come in for him.

There is no way we would be able to compete with Newcastle - the joke of state takeovers and FFP... Also pope's big weakness is his touch, footwork, and distribution - which makes him a bad choice for any team that wants to play out from the back and vs pressure. Given that and his age and wages, he probably isn't necessarily the best fit for us... I'd still have taken him over macca/forster mind. Burnley fans must be spitting. First the whole Chris Woods / relegation rival poach in the Jan window, then relegation, then pope. Can see Burnley only going one way and noises about fan protests against the owners in a couple of years. A big bullet dogged by saints given they looked at us.

Surely not? Their delusional new owners wasted no time slagging saints off after they took over at Burnley.

Will have to be a top 4 team imo. If he goes, then I'd like to see him go to city or Liverpool (urgh), but that's because i want him to go somewhere to win trophies and not just for money - if that makes sense. I'd rather he stays and somehow goes to the world Cup and does well.

He's signing next few days then... Can't except Crook is on the money this early into the window and then have to believe every other rumour he posts...

Agreed. Subject to how much we spend on the next few players, at some point we'll have to wonder where the money is coming from. And our much rumoured bologna based swede is very much in the jwp style of players.

Lol. That's that argument ended in one post 😂

He was a fantastic football player and servant to the club. His views shouldn't really matter as much as they seem to (to some people) outside of that imo. I certainly can't imagine getting so upset personally about the personal thoughts of an ex football player - unless they were deeply offensive / racist etc. Just comes across as odd to me. Just be happy for the great memories imo.

If we had been playing pompey we'd have had to field bazunu - just for bants 😅

Hardly surprising though is it? They represent a bigger club/stage/exposure for him, and lyon is a great city with good connections internationally.

That's Se7en 😜 ... MLG mode deactivated

Hah! You're too pessimistic Ron! 3 players signed before the start of July! A coaching reshuffle underway, good signs for improved recruitment. The only thing we can really grumble about is the lack of a new kit atm, and we aren't alone in that... Well that and no 4th signing I suppose.

I think he was trying not to over promote said interest... 😇😄

Really good players cost an awful lot of money / wages, and you are talking top level players in order to be able to do everything. Signing and then expecting Burnley's CB to adapt to a high line press with good control and passing just isn't an efficient use of our funds. It would take time, may well be beyond them, and there are cheaper and better suited options that we can sign. Equally we are not going to change to the deep back 4 used by dyche.

#Shambles!

We defend as a team though, and a huge issue for us is that we don't carry enough threat. Improvements in attack will reduce the pressure on our defence. We also need to be wary of blocking simeu. CAM and striker should be the priorities now I think.

A note of caution in that report... The weaknesses of Bella-Kotchap’s skillset become apparent when he needs to defend on the back foot. When pushed back, his positioning can be disjointed and he often fails to cover angles and runners. His situational awareness becomes erratic too – his proactivity leads to him stepping up at bad moments, trapping him in dead space that neither impacts the ball nor covers the threat behind him. Teams can play around his aggressive style with relative ease as he disconnects from the defensive line. He is too focused on the play ahead of him to be aware of the threats behind him – no surprise given he rarely scans to check who and what is around him.

On that list, I reckon lampard, bodgers, and possibly Gerrard are decent early bets. Brighton's board are a level headed and stable bunch - an spotter is a solid manager - so surprised to see him there. Brenda basically ran out of time re fan's patience and will need to do his customary good first half of the season to see Christmas. Everton and villa both have very impatient boards, Gerrard in particular has spent a lot of money / wages and is no better than Dean Smith. Finished poorly on 45 points last year as well. Very much a sink or swim season for Gerrard this year. Obviously Ralph can't afford to have a shit start going into the WC.

Interesting. Will get the Aubergine's emojis primed.

Bizarre when you think about it. If we want him (which is a prerequisite for us to be "beaten" to him), I presume we would then also meet the release clause... Or is it some kind of tricksy before to unheard of release clause that only applies for the first offer recieved 😱😅