nta786

Also direct player swaps don't happen anymore now do they? I think I read it was something to do with FFP and in the financial statements such deals would show as an accounting "loss" on player registrations or something. Hence why deals have to be structured like KWP/PEH for example. I think the last high-profile swap was probably Ibrahimovic/Etoo a long time ago?

I'd take Rose as a back up to be fair, he started the 2019 Champions League final and would be an okay back up. However, I'd only offer £30k a week max; as I said before pay should be linked to quality on the pitch (hence why I'm not a fan of offering Walcott £75k to sit on our bench)...

From the video then, the trait they extracted from each player/legend/fans as follows: JWP - Perseverance Romeu - Bravery Che "McAdams" - Composure Tella - Drive Matt Le Tissier - Creativity Fans - Passion Women's team - Resilience Franny - Determination

I quite like it! Just not a fan of the pricing of kits these days though... Some sort of pre-ordering incentive would have been nice, even if it was free printing on the back or a free PL badge.

Yep agreed. I reckon if Wesley Fofana joined us instead he would look nowhere near as good as he does for Leicester too.

I am pretty sure he said it himself - "I will do my best to become the next Sadio Mane" https://talksport.com/football/713089/moussa-djenepo-exclusive-southampton-sadio-mane-danny-ings/ https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18496585.southampton-winger-moussa-djenepo-backs-surpass-sadio-mane/

My apologies for not using "most games"- I will edit to make it correct... 🙄

Would we have an issue with touts? We don't have a waiting list for season tickets, and reality is anyone who wants a ticket can get one for most games, including the ones against the Big 6 (for which I think only a previous purchase is a pre-requisite) which are the only games that ever sell out anyway to be honest [but even then it's not instantaneously]

Perhaps we should rename this thread the "Adam Lallana Thread"? Either that or we have found TheVMan's second login.

Thanks both for the updates - don't want to derail the thread but of course a lot is now discussed about mental health of footballers who are released its perhaps best we never release an article basically saying "the following 18-20 year olds were not good enough..."

Yep agree to an extent! Does anyone remember the tweet below from Koeman? https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/where-have-all-southamptons-players-gone-ronald-koeman-tweets-empty-training-ground-picture-jkzskzmkpcc

"getting a better manager" isn't guaranteed and I'm not sure I am willing to take that chance just yet! Spurs look like they are struggling to find a replacement atm and they are a much bigger pull than we'd be. I'm interested to see who both Wolves and Crystal Palace get too.

There will probably be a signing on fee though of c. £1m? £75k x 52 weeks x 2 years = £7.8m A replacement might well cost more but pay should be linked to quality on the pitch, not for "professionalism" and "being a good member around the squad". I mean no point discussing as done now, and of course it's only the Athletic so he could be on £50k (which is what I'd have offered tops), but okay fine - welcome on board - we're clearly competing with the big clubs now when we have a £75k player we can bring on from the bench 🙄

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/transfers/endendevertraege/statistik?plus=0&jahr=2022&ausrichtung=alle&spielerposition_id=alle&altersklasse=alle&land_id=0&yt0=Show All players whose contracts expire in 2022 - the scouting department need to go onto this site 😉 (go down a few pages - we can't attact the page 1/2/3 stars 😂), and then start getting into agents ears and play dirty. I like the look of Faitour Maouassa from Rennes at LB, is only 22. (MLG Note - yes scouts use far more advanced software than Transfermarkt... like FM)

some padded seats around the halfway line please

This was the table when he inherited us - are we suggesting we set this as the barometer for if we pull the trigger on Ralph next season? Give him 15 games - if we are on 9 points or less then perhaps it will be time to rip up the playbook and get someone with fresh ideas in.

I'd say there are more duds out there than you think too though... I'm not willing to trust our board to get the next appointment right either

I'll rate this season a C, assuming GCSE style that a "C" is a pass, then yep we've scraped it simply by staying up. Continuing on the exam style analogy, I'd say we got an A on paper 1, a C on paper 2 and then imploded on Paper 3 by achieving a "U" (that's right we basically didn't turn up)

@Lighthouse some sort of poll surely? (I'm still Ralph in...)

This is the problem with the PL nowadays, and a problem for so many clubs. Clear outs are near on impossible as ultimately no team abroad can afford the salaries of our junk....

Co-commentator: “Bale scores at the King Power. Leicester players have been complaining about a Kane handball” Commentator: “Are you watching another game?” Can’t say I blame him

I’m still watching this rubbish, can’t bring myself to change the channel. Rice 3-0 fucking shit defending

Yep partially agree except I think Ralph will be give more than the first half- I think unless we are on 0 pts from 10, he’ll be given at least 30 games. If we continue this 2021 run the damage might be too late by then. I think it’s a tough balancing act though. Do we invest as much with a manager who is now very much becoming 50/50 with the fanbase? Or do we hold back on investment to save it for paying Ralph off if this form continues? Or do we save some funds for a new man to have some to spend in Jan 2022? Some tough questions but this would be all futile assuming board give Ralph their full backing including keeping him in the Championship if the worst were to happen.

Well yes because we were doing well. Which cre*in would criticise a team that is doing well? I think most of us saw we were showing great form at the time, and now the criticism is rightly coming in because the implosion we’ve had is beyond unforeseen