Dman

Unless JWP is off, we don’t need him. More than happy with our business so far, hoping we’ve got a bit of budget left for some real game changers up the top of the field.

If we wanted to be a real modern progressive club, we could have used the stripes to our advantage and had a Rainbow flag’d shirt, especially with it being pride month, that really would have got a few likes on the bird app. However, this does present an opportunity for us to show our progressiveness on the Terraces, in the form of a new song. Rule Southampton, our new shirt has the waves. We love non-genders, bisexuals and gays. I’m sure @Turkish would approve.

The thing is, if he goes to Newcastle on 7k a week for 3 years + sign of fee’s etc., then he’s pretty much set for life, regardless of what happens (providing he doesn’t spunk it all) He could easily stay here on presumably half or less than half of that, and pick up a career ending injury and/or never make the first team. I don’t think you can blame him, to be honest.

West Ham is my bet. Can’t seeing him coming back, especially if those 2 are interested.

To be fair, so is Kante, but he wears 7. But agreed, 8 is probably the ‘right’ number for him, but 7 holds a bit of prestige for us and you’d have to say he’s probably the most influential player for us.. seems a natural fit. Although; Like someone else said, if he wanted it I’m sure he would have been given it.

JWP for me, should he want it, of course.

Yep, kinda how I see it. Im sure I saw somewhere that we would look to bring in experience along with youth. We’ve not seen much in terms of experience with the links I’ve seen, which is a worry. If we’re in the shit come Christmas time, which could easily happen, I’d fear that a team full of kids might not have the know how or savvy to get us out. Time will tell.

Yes and no. He could also go to Newcastle, earn enough money to basically be set for life and in 4 years time break into a side who are competing for the title. If he doesn’t, then he’d likely still get a PL move anyway.

If true, which I’m not doubting, then why aren’t we offering him what Newcastle are (or even more). If he’s in and around the first team, he’s worth 7k a week as a premier league player. Especially when you consider we have Theo who’s not gonna get a sniff on c60k a week.

As poor as they may be, a 16 year old (unless a total freak I.e Rooney) would be way below the level of them.

Was Slatery also supposed to be the next big thing. What even happened to him in the end?

I’d be genuinely interested to know if the likes of Chelsea, city etc. Make or lose money on their academy players. Yes they pay a lot, but they also then tend to sell them on which seems to help fund their first team. I’m not saying we will or should, but if we were to match the big boys in terms of salary (6k in the grand scheme of things is a drop in the ocean), it might mean down the line we don’t need to sale first team players.. That being said, they’re selling to the likes of us, so I don’t know who we’d sell the ones we don’t want to

You could also add Ake, Wilson and Bundia to that list… there has been loads. Such a stupid sweeping statement.

And isn’t the place better as a result ✅✅

All true though… no?

If we managed to shift Stephens, Bednerak and Lyanco, there would absolutely be space for Colwill. Salisu, That new chap, Colwill and Ben Mee would be a significant upgrade on what we currently have and would complement each other well, imo. interestingly, Colwill grew up playing with Jamal Musiala, (who now is starting for Byern Munich and Germany) before both being snapped up by Chelsea. Both of them can be considered ‘one who got away’.

Get whatever we can for him. Not gonna cut it at this level imo. We’ve no room for passengers. Let him find his untapped potential elsewhere.

I mean there are some on here who claim Howe was a failure / underachiever at Bournemouth, despite taking them from the bottom of the football league to a sustained period of time the in the premier league… predominantly the same bunch who will back till end a manager who has gone on runs of 20/30 games with a handful of wins and 2 9-0 defeats... We have a really odd bunch that support us.

The key of man management is knowing who to put your arm around and who to rocket up the arse. There is no one size fits all approach, it’s something the best generally get right.

Mine come first hand from one of the first team players (one who’s in favour), so yeah…. just shit stirring.

Fair enough! I knew there was something not right about the way he left. The rumour going round was that they had a fall out. I’m sure they did by the sounds of what you’ve said, but not on Ralph for this one. To be honest, I think it’s 6 of 1 half a dozen of the other with Ralph to be honest. He comes across as a decent bloke and one that cares for the club. I think he probably has an ego and is stubborn which, when coming into an environment where he has to deal with others who have massive egos, it ends in a clash. Ive said before, but one of the reasons he wouldn’t do well at a big club.

Very different having a discussion with the manager before you’ve signed, to working day in day out.. especially when things get tough. It’s pretty common knowledge that when he was here, Rohl was effectively the main go to for the players and was the bridge between Ralph and the playing squad. Fell out with Rohl as well didn’t he…

100% true. Know a bit about this one as well. Ralph amd Armstrong had a big bust up when Ralph tried to explain why others were playing ahead of him, to which Armstrong told him exactly how he felt. Armstrong not the first to fall out with Ralph. I know ings wasn’t too impressed with him when he left as well, and obviously Broja…

Me either, looked crap and not the type of player we need. let’s hope this is true and the links are wide of the mark.

Fergie had the pedigree to back it up, Ralph on the other hand is known for losing 9-0, twice…