labibs

I’d rather we played Barnes than Austin.

Like when it was 0-0 against Cardiff in Ralph’s first game, Austin started and did absolutely f*ck all?

I don’t like the chances of Valery lasting the full 90, up against Zaha. Subbed or an early bath?

Austin has played in 13 league games this season and scored 2 goals. In the games he hasn’t scored in, he has contributed relatively little. In particular, he was very poor away at Cardiff and away at Everton. If you give him chances and he’s fit, he’ll score them. We don’t know that the same wouldn’t apply to Gallagher, but I suggest you will get a lot more running out of Gallagher than you will out of Charlie

That’s true. We simply accepted the 1st offer for all of our players. That’s why we got a world record fee for a defender

They have a transfer ban due to breaching FFP (and signing a player this summer when they knew they had no cash). Not 100% sure, but don’t think the Adams money would be enough to bring them into compliance (‘Arry really did a number on them). Even if it did, zero chance of the EFL agreeing to rescind their ban. So if we buy him him in jan, they go without for the rest of season (and possibly next season if they don’t get the ban lifted)

Have to believe we are clearing the decks of wages to accommodate 1 or 2 big signings. With Cedric and Austin gone, that would be a lot of wages off the books. This could be balanced against sizeable wages and 6 months amortisation on new signings, more suited to ralph’s style. Like others, more than happy to wait until end of window before melting down / wetting the bed.

Cedric has played left back quite a bit recently? Or does it not work the other way?

Maybe Cedric is incredibly disruptive behind the scenes? Maybe Ralph thinks that either Bertrand or Targett can fill in at RB if pushed? He’s on sizeable wages and in the summer will have a year left. I agree an obligation to buy would be much preferred and given we will have shipped out or a combination of the wages of Gabbi / Davis / Hoedt and Cedric - you would hope there is some wiggle room for a loan signing at least?

“The Bruce Effect”

He was pretty poor in the championship. Why would you want him here with his wages?

Always leave them wanting more. The boy is a showman

Murphy repeatedly says it’s ‘a good goal’. Pictures shows it as off-side, changes tack and starts moaning about time taken to try and deflect. Another ex-Liverpool player stealing a living in the media

*♂️

To be fair, Gueye’s passing isn’t one of his strengths and amongst Everton fans I know, he is very highly rated and recognised as one of their key players. Also, not sure that ‘being nasty’ is mutually exclusive from being a good player / liked by fans? Having said that, Gomes is good on the ball, but is yet to be targeted by other teams (the way Jorginho is for Chelsea) and there’s quite a lot of sideways passes from him.

There’s this guy Kane at spurs as well HCDAJFU

There is a difference between Gao not having money and him choosing to not put money into saints. We are a club that aims to be self-sustaining. We can moan and say we wish we were backed by early abramovich, but we’re not. Hence why we need to release players to free up wages and bring in funds before we can buy. I don’t think it’s a case of not being able to afford Ings, this will be funded by next year’s money. It’s more that we haven’t generated significant funds yet to allow Ralph to further increase the wage / amortisation bill of the club during the January window. Especially when there’s a real chance we could go down still. I would hope a few more would leave and we might bring in 2 signings, maybe on loan. Hopefully a CB and a quick, hardworking forward. These types of players are hard to find though.

Does anyone think Ighalo would actually be a good signing? He was pretty poor that second season for Watford and at the time I remember them being very pleased to take the money from China. At £20m, I wouldn’t be interested to be honest. I would actually be quite surprised if we made any permanent signings this window. Loans only.

“No Charlie, I think you are a good finished who has made the most of his talents to forge a professional career. However, you don’t seem up to the physical demands of playing in a pressing team and seem to need have the team built around you to thrive. This coupled with your age and sizeable wages, mean in my opinion, it’s probably best you move on”

I think Obafemi counts as a first teamer now? I’ll drive Austin there myself if they are paying his wages

They turned down £25m in the summer. Suspect they would want closer to £30m from us

Only if you consider Long’s contributions to have been of any use

Did we excise a recall clause, or did Reading just not want to spend the money / loan space on a player that wasn’t performing them? Genuine question, do you know which way round it was?

You really think we are letting players go just to free up squad space, with no financial impact at all? Do you follow Saints? Have you read any of the Krueger interviews where he talks about us being self-sustaining?

Everton turned £20m+ for Lookman in the summer and that was too a club abroad. Suspect they would want £30m from us. Is he worth that?