macca155

Alcaraz is so important to our build up play, we'll struggle to keep him if he keeps this up.

Stephens losing it 😃

I didn't have an issue, which I know is super helpful. Paid on my phone then logged in on my laptop and it said video purchased. Keep trying should work.

OK so far, Tella is really direct and does his share of defending. This fannying about at the back is going to be the death of me. In fairness Bazuna is excellent at that part of the game. Just needs to work on his positioning.

Gibbs White had already made quite an impact at junior level. Rated by the right people I guess. No question Forest took a punt but it worked. Burnley probably know Tella better than us and I agree with you, a bid of £9m seems very low. Considering the money coming in now, it seems madness not to up that to £18m, get their player and move on. Maybe they aren't convinced. Tella's clearly available so other teams may be tempted to jump in.

Tella isn't proven in the Premier league (yet) and we all know what can happen to players who score a hatful in the Championship. There is no doubt he is a talent and there is a strong argument for keeping him for this season. However, with such a big squad players have to be moved on, particularly where we have multiple players fighting for the same position. If Burnley push their bid up to £12/13 million I can see the club accepting it with a bunch of maybe bonuses. No different to buying a house really, you never get what you want but you make the sale because it gets things moving. Some of our major players will move on, most of us will have accepted that, its more about whether we can move players on who don't feature in Martin's plans, and keep one or two of the genuine game changing players. I think keeping S Armstrong, Stephens, Tino, Alcaraz, and possibly Bendarek will be a good result. I know Stephens isn't rated by some on here but he is a consistent footballer and fits Martin's style of play. He adds a bit of fire to the team in attitude and that is something that is missing at moment. I'd love JWP to stay but I can't see it unfortunately, same for Sulimana as I think there is a proper footballer in there somewhere. I'm really not over bothered by any of the others going. If the likes of ABK or Salisu do end up staying then they seriously need to sort their attitude out. They were instrumental in taking us down so need a bit of fire in their belly to fight hard for our promotion. Sooner or later the dominoes will start to fall as the same process gets moving in the Premier League. Nothing happens until that money starts dripping down.

He's a young lad, world at his feet. Have to accept he'll have the odd off game. In other games he has been a standout. To have Liverpool prepared to pay a fortune for you must be quite something. He was certainly trying but it just wasn't happening for him. He had way too much to do and not much support. Plus Bournmouth know all about him and targeted him early on. He started to make an impact as the 1st half went on, when he learnt how to evade his markers. He'll bring serious cash into the club, which probably means we can keep at least one of Alcaraz, Tino , or JWP. That is the edge Saints need.

Shouldn't underestimate Bournmouth. As much as we hate it, they are a tidy unit particularly in defense. Saints have really been exposed by a lack of height. Bournmouth simply stick a couple of big men up for corners and it is panic stations. Some nice play through the middle, they seem to be adapting well, but a real lack of bite in there atm. It's a friendly, a good test and that most certainly wasn't the A team. 2nd half should be interesting.

Let myself down 🤣 Need to put some sofa time in.

Fair one I'm at the game so not had chance to see all posts.

How come Lyanco who is doing his job gets a load of stick, when Lavia and Moussa have been terrible and nothing is said. Lyanco isn't the answer agreed, but for goodness sake look elsewhere for the main problems.

I suspect KWP and Manning are Martin's starting FBs. One has to go and Tino raises most money. Saints are championship, this is how it works. They'll keep a few decent players but most will go. Money rules

I'm a fully paid up member of the Lyanco fan club, I like his commitment, he is a good ball player, quick for a CH and if given sufficient reign I reckon he'd score a few as well. Don't underestimate what a player like that does for team spirit or the crowd. When settled he reads the game well and we see good interceptions and calm shepherding of attackers away from the goal. He looks and acts like a player who should collect a load of yellows and reds. In reality he seems to walk the line quite well. Only 4 yellows last year. I suspect a fair bit of his chest thumping is an act.... some not! However the moment he is exposed he panics, charges forward recklessly, or misplaces a rushed pass. If it was only occasionally then we'd have a great player on the books, but it happens every game far too frequently. He seems to be fine when he has a competent CH and FB next to him, he can do his job but he cannot cover others and that's when the problems start. In the first two friendly games he seems to have regressed in even those aspects I like. Bottom line is he cannot be compared to the likes of Fonte or Lundekvam and that is what we need at the moment. I'd hoped that ABK would fulfil that role but so far we've only seen flashes of that, he'll be snapped up by a German side soon anyway. I can't see Lyanco fitting into Martin's game plan at all, I think we can comfortably assume he will leave for a Turkish or Italian side pretty soon.

You'll be disappointed, fat and grey

Ballard is going to have one hell of a season because I can't see much coming from Adams, Armstrong, or Mara. 2nd half was better but Lavia won't be here so that's a false dawn. Be interested to see Martin's full strength side.

Probably worth remembering it's an early pre season game, squad players being used, and the temperature is ridiculously high. Doesn't excuse some rank goalkeeping, and poor passing. Just pass and go, really not a complicated game.

You can't play Sulemana and Tella in the same team. One or both has to go. Burnley seem OK with £15 million so suspect a deal has been agreed

Bazuna, Tino Lavia, JWP, KWP, Salisu, and Smallbone will all cope but how many of them will still be here.

Not a bad knock about. Tino looked absolute class, we'll struggle to keep him sadly. Thought Smallbone had more impact than JWP. Dibling's 2nd stint was more impressive. Bazuna looked confident. Djneppo was ..well the usual.

Great save from Bazuna but hospital pass from Salisu.

Certainly a good test of Martin's tactics. Benfica are a class side. Smallbone connecting well. Having Lavia play is a bit cruel. Head and shoulders above the rest.

Lot more pressing this half but as Inspector Grim would say 'too much fannying about at the back'

Never make assumptions from pre season games. Especially not one played at walking pace. They look rusty and only a few of these will actually start in August. See what the 2nd half brings. Cricket is decent, bit of a fightback from Hampshire.

All done, hope it helps. Having been responsible for a number of these type of surveys, I'd reinforce the need for supportive comments. This is what gets picked out, the rest goes through as data. Quotable comments, like 'Community cohesion' go down well with councillors. As I am a saddo, I scanned through the OUFC response to the strategic priorities. Some serious work has gone into that. A very comprehensive document. I always quite liked the old Manor ground, had a fair bit of character. If you get this through, you'll be in a pretty small club of three stadium clubs. There's a quiz question there. Good luck.

I think that's key, the club have to drastically reduce the squad as it is way too big. This will allow a decent pathway for Ballard, Doyle, Dibling, and the rest of what seems a decent cohort of youngsters. In addition if the club really want to keep Tella then he needs to be confident of playing. If he is left fighting for a place with 3 or 4 others then he's bound to agitate for a move in January. That will be the same for any signings they won't sign until others are out of the way. Lots of dominoes to fall yet I suspect.