Dman

“I cannot say that I prefer the 4-2-2-2 the most now,” Hasenhuttl recently said. “I prefer to be flexible. It makes it harder for the opponent to look at you and it makes it more interesting to prepare for a game.” Most people’s issues where that he was reluctant to move away from his preferred formation. He’s confirmed himself, he now flexible.

Confirmed to be absolutely true, by the man himself…. LOL https://theathletic.com/3096228/2022/01/27/ralph-hasenhuttl-is-showing-signs-of-increased-flexibility-and-southampton-are-seeing-the-benefits/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983

If Chelsea offered us a deal livramento including Broja, I’d snap their hand off. Broja would be far more important and valuable to us and we have KWP, who’s more than good enough (imo better atm) and I’m sure we could find a back up RB. Does make you wonder about the links to that Spence at Forest….

Interesting… FWIW Colwill (a Southampton lad, who’s family member's are key heavily involved with sholing), will be a top player.

I wonder if we’ve been told no to Broja (or not yet at least), but Anjorin is available…

In 2012, Aubameyang was playing top flight french football, so to a degree was already established in European football.

Imo, Ali wouldn’t suit Ralph’s preferred 4222 formation (tbh I think that’s a crap formation anyway), but I think if we played more of a 4411 (as we have done a few times this season now), I think he’d be a very good option in the 10 for us. The trouble with Ali, a bit like Ozil towards the end of his time in England, is that he’s not really a midfielder and not really a striker. He’s an attacking 10, who offers little defensively, which makes it very hard to squeeze him into a team. Similar in a way to MLT… where would he fit in to a modern side? Could see him doing well at Newcastle, under Howe, in the same way that King and Wilson played at bournemouth as a pair, at times. All theoretical though, he’s not gonna come here, he’ll end up at Everton or Newcastle.

For the love of god, please stop calling him ‘Ralf’. You’ve only had 3 years to start spelling his name right ffs. As for the geezer at AFCON, wouldn’t touch anyone based on who shines, in that comp (unless they’re established in Europe), with a barge pole, absolute joke of a competition.

I’d have thought 30m is more likely the figure they’d want (if he’s for sale at all). The fact we’ve made an offer would suggest that we’ve been encouraged that he potentially is available though..?

I agree. So, so important to us. JWP wouldn’t be half the player if he is, if he was next to diallo (not a dig at him, btw) instead of Romeu.

Always makes me laugh when people get excited over a transfer that clearly won’t happen. if the interest is true, I’d rather it was directed at lingaard, we won’t be getting either though. Alli is a Everton or Newcastle signing.

Haven’t the new owners basically already said that the running of the club will be left to those currently in charge? Theyve probably provided the additional funds to make these sort of deals, but let’s credit Crooker here, he’s the one who’s driving these sort of things.

it’s a very simple concept, to be honest. When agreeing the deal with the selling club, in this case Chelsea, it was agreed that they could buy the player back for X price (usually these deals have a start and end date - for example that fee kicks in starting x and ends y) The buy back price is only applicable to said club (Chelsea), so if Liverpool offer is 50m which we’re happy to accept, but we have already agreed Chelsea can buy for 25m, we would have to accept both offers, regardless of what is higher… basically if Chelsea meet the price set in the time period set, we have to accept the offer. This doesn’t mean the player has to go to that club, they could refuse, which would allow us to sell to the open market at a price we want. Finally, if Chelsea want to purchase him before or after the period set (I don’t know what this is or if there is a period at all), then we aren’t obliged to accept any offer for him.

They can also be very misleading. For example, someone compared Redmond to Buendia the other day stating the stats determine Redmond is a better player (it was clearly nonsense then as much as it is now). Gerrard has found a system since the arrival of couthino, which has since drastically improved the output of Buendia. Again, on paper Redmond may look better, but watch the 2 and you’d see Buendia is considerably better. The long and short and last I’ll comment on the matter is to not try and be clever by using stats to support an argument which is clearly nonsense. Watch a player before you make a judgement.

To be honest, it was said in jest.. I wouldn’t want either of them, but from what I’ve seen, he was the brains behind the organisation of the 2.. especially with the youngsters who he had worked with just before.

Exactly, they’ve been around for ages and the famous ‘black box’ was basically just a data storage tool. As you said, nothing new. I don’t think anyone is ‘anti stats’, you’d have to be stupid to be as they can be very useful. However, they’re not the be all and end all. If anyone think Brentford were signing players based on stats alone, you’re wrong. As with any club, they would physically watch the player in the flesh as well. Data can be a good way to identify targets but there are so many differing factors, it’s just stupid to compare x with x based on stats. As shown by the Armstrong and Broja debate. Upon arrival, Armstrong looked the better player (on paper), but it was clear the minute Broja stepped on the pitch he was going to be a future star… you don’t need to be for or against stats to determine that. Blackburn clearly have a style which enables strikers to get Plenty of chances to score (as shown by Brenton, this season) and also had Harvey Elliott who was a fantastic, creative player in that division. Whilst his ‘stats’ may have been decent, IIRC, a few Blackburn fans had doubts about his ability to step up and basically said he scores so many because he has so many shots (I.e poor / average conversion).

Interesting… perhaps stephens is off in the summer and Simeu will step into his place as 4th choice for the 1st team, with this fella taking his spot in u23’s and/or out on loan…?

Maybe we should just appoint Lampard and Morris as managers and clean up the Chelsea academy each summer….

Possibly. That was before they could offer him triple his wages though. Should they stay up, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he was interested in the summer.

‘Apparently’ they’ve offered within the region of £30m. Tbh in January I don’t see that as anywhere close to enough. £50m before you’d even consider it, which I still don’t think we’d sell to them.

Cheers, top feedback. Perhaps the mods should add a ‘bio’ to each profile. I can wear “by far the worst poster on this forum” as a medal.

Sorry, yeah good point. I was referring to anyone new. I wouldn’t be holding off to get Broja, if possible. Sadly; I don’t think Chelsea will sell for a price we’re willing to pay and/or he’ll have other, better, options.

We are, but we’re in a position where we’re not going to go down and we’re not going to achieve anything more than mid table. It’s pointless paying January prices when we don’t really need to. we’re best served waiting until the summer. As for the RB, we don’t need another. Under no circumstances should be looking to sell KWP.

How many times had you watched either of them? Maybe Armstrong a handful if that and Broja never? 😂😂

If you mean by recent evidence, the first few minutes he walked on the pitch, then that’s fair enough but you said after he’d played a few games for us Armstrong had a higher ceiling. It was very, very clear that that wouldn’t be the case. That’s why stats are useful (I agree with that), but not the be all and end all. That’s why along with data which I’m sure clubs use, they also have a scouting network with study and analyse players in the flesh. Buying players based on stats alone, results in getting people like Muyaka who score a few in AFCON but I cannot believe anyone would watch him for a period of time and think he Was a PL player.