nta786

All the oldies on here think football is best played in a “4-4 fuc*ing 2” Therefore, the 4 at the back need to be 6ft+ sorry for my “agist” comment

Quick- someone check the obligatory Football Manager stats too! Or was it FIFA. Signing looks good on paper and at a decent price. Let’s hope we can get it done.

I mean I have no idea how reliable this is, but would it kill to have a net spend similar to the clubs above - even Bournemouth in this list are 8th. The likes of Fulham, Wolves, Palace, Bournemouth (I could go on) have all spent over £20m on one player, our record signing remains Carrillo/Ings both from 2018 (MLG note- the price for Ings was agreed in 2018 even if it was loan originally). It seems we are the only club where we have to sell to purchase players. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/fuenfjahresvergleich/wettbewerb/GB1 ^Or a good table above here. Our ambitions are competing with Palace and Burnley rather than to push on and compete for top 10 against the likes of WHU, Everton, Villa, Wolves etc etc

Rules on switching allegiances are just so lax now. You can even change nations providing you haven't played a competitive game. So if in 5 years when it becomes obvious he won't make it into the England squad, can easily change his mind.

Because imagine by some divine intervention and incredible luck, we manage to win the Euros. Henderson, will pull the largest strop in the world for not receiving a medal and he will threaten Southgate forever. So yes, we couldn’t leave out haughty Henderson could we- it’s what their like in Liverpool. Yes do take the above with a pinch of salt but I’m sure there is an element of truth in there. Ultimately if Henderson (and Maguire) aren’t fit, perhaps they said to Gareth, “you leave me out and I won’t host the Monday Night Quizzes, just watch the team morale deteriorate”

I think in that scenario, Southgate will probably bypass both of them if we are needing a goal to be honest, or if he really is a wuss, then he’ll substitute on Henderson because he is a yes man. (My point is it deffo won’t be JWP!) If we need a goal, then Gareth will look towards the following first assuming they are on the bench: Foden, Sterling, Rashford, Mount, Sancho, DCL, Grealish, Saka, Mount (and even perhaps Bellingham) I just don’t see JWP in that pecking order anywhere and it’s made up in Gareth’s mind that he won’t be starting for England.

How wrong was I then to rule out option A!!!

I think JWP is a machine and probably doesn't need a rest in all honesty. It's not like we are a top 6 club or a team regularly in Europe and it's not like we had a European campaign last season. I hope he does get in, will do his mental frame of mind wonders and would be further testament to the idea that you can get into tournament squads even playing for little ol' Southampton.

This is part of the bollocks why Jordan is in the team for... EDIT: Cue Lord D say "JWP never does any of the above and it's why we are mentally fragile"

tbf with this setback I feel the line between logic and opinion is somewhat blurred. TAA is injured so, and assuming we can only select from the 6 on standby then: a) Do we replace somewhat like for like with a right back? Or another defender? In which case, only Ben White or Godfrey would predominantly work (MLG - doesn't matter that JWP has played right back before already) b) Gareth said something along the lines of selecting the 26 best footballers right? In which case the next best option is Lingard or JWP - who is better is very much subject to debate as ultimately both play different roles (my opinion is JWP is the better player over last 18 months, but Lingard had a far better 2021 so can see why neutrals would vouch for him - recency bias will kick in) c) Or does Gareth use this time to rebalance the squad? We are light on strikers as we only have 2 recognised strikers - in which case in comes Watkins. Our defensive/centre-mid options are short too with just Rice and both Henderson and Philips who have recently come back from injuries - in which case enter JWP. I think too many variables at hand so I can understand all sides of the debate, but I think we can rule out going down route A.

I don't know why but I'd remain slightly cautious about Firpo. Semedo came from Barca too and is perceived as the better player in his peak years but he hasn't exactly set the world alight at Wolves. I think as long as the price is right, well worth a punt.

Come off it MLG, not every thing has to be justified or be a "fact". This is a forum where we all speculate a little bit and give our views on things. Not everything has to be authenticated with a spreadsheet.

I think KWP is longer down the line than we think. Aaron Wan-Bissaka will be the 5th choice. Ayling/Matty Cash/KWP all in the same bracket too I'd say. Next on the list would be Tavernier at Rangers, and perhaps Aarons from Norwich but I'm really pushing it there.

All would be very much dependent on what the relegation clauses on players salaries are like though!

If TAA is to be ruled out, I think I read somewhere that Watkins, Lingard and JWP are the main 3 on standby. Ramsdale, White and Godfrey basically knew they were only there for the experience to train with the others. Surely, just surely, the logical choice would be JWP here. Although I suspect Southgate will take Lingard not to fix the balance of the squad, but purely because he'd be a better option off the bench than JWP if we are chasing the game.

I think there is very little logic to that! If the clubs value declines, then he for sure will not be recouping anywhere near his £180m. In fact, I'd say he'd be lucky to get over a £100m. I don't think we'd be sellable either if hes drawing out the parachute cash! If I recall correctly, I think keeping VVD was a big reason for Gao paying as much as he did too, after all he was a £75m asset at the time. Also, surely if he wants to siphon money out, then best way to siphon that out is by remaining a PL club with the c. £100m we get every year just from being in the league? On a separate point, I don't understand people who say relegation is good for the club because it allows a rebuild... Surely it's easier to "rebuild" by finishing 17th and the c. £100m that comes with it?

Some on their forum want Conte, Poch or Simeone... There were some of them downplaying Poch for thinking he got lucky with Spurs and wouldn't want him It's hilarious that some on there are spouting how "football is unfair" and about loyalty etc etc, yet they've forgotten how they got Koeman and Marco Silva in. How you get them is how you lose them.

Apparently Ancelotti to Real Madrid is happening very soon! How funny for the deluded Evertonians if he was to leave - guess those dug-outs weren't famous enough 😁 Wolves, Spurs, Palace and potentially Everton all looking for new managers now...

I wouldnt be surprised at all if JWP is left out. Henderson, Rice, Kalvin Phillips will be the 3 ‘defensive’ midfielder roles in the squad. I don’t think I can complain about that as long as Henderson is fit. All have had better seasons and Henderson is obviously going for what he has achieved in the last few years.

Care sharing names of all the players?

I’ve seen a lot of “Pep Out” on Twitter from City fans. How fickle are fans! Anyways, looks like it’s time to close this thread- goodbye season 2020/21 you won’t be missed

We are the nicest, most complying club in the PL. We're the club to play by the rulebook everytime- heck we'll even shut down all our facilities for players to recover. As they say... nice guys finish last (or 15th!!!)

In case anyone interested. Only 3 other clubs have confirmed fixtures - and all of them currently staying within the British Isles. I’d like us to play a load of Championship clubs ideally, would be keen on southern-ish clubs like Millwall, Luton, Reading away etc etc

So MLG asked the question here "how many Hasenhuttl era signings have been flops?" - West Ham 3-0 Saints - Match Thread - Page 3 - The Saints - SaintsWeb If we change the question to - "how many of his signings are players that the Big 6 want?" - then the answer to that would be zero. Ings is the only one and I'd argue he was a Hughes signing given that there was a contractual obligation to sign him following season anyway. I do acknowledge Salisu / Diallo are still young and have only been here a year, but they haven't ruffled feathers in the way Fofana has for example - but understandable when Leicester finish 5th and we finish in the bottom 3rd

Oh yeah I agree. I’d just like wages to deflate a little bit though and if collectively the PL did it that would be good. It’s not like 30k a week is a pittance, I’d love for us to take the approach that by coming to us we are giving them the PL platform. If they want to earn more, put in good performances and they can move to the Big 6 or sign a new improved contract (like Bednarek). It is tough though, such a way of buying players mean many might reject us (especially in the modern day with agents) but equally if they do turn out to be crap then we can get rid very easily.