jayrivers

What sets Juric out above Marsch? I don't know a huge amount about him, but I did read he plays 3 at the back which is slightly concerning given our history with that set up. Also I worry that we don't have time to instill a new way of playing. Marsch obviously comes from the redbull structure, loves the high press high intensity, high risk/reward football they instill, and we do as well as a club. At first glance I wasn't impressed with the Marsch links, but the more I've looked into him and his history I get the logic a lot more so than with Jones. Had he not been sacked (some are saying unfairly) from Leeds, or be American, I think people would be a lot more interested in him.

Alfie House said he hasn't heard that and it would surprise him if that was the case

Why do you think every club does a lot of big business on the last day. Players become available throughout the window, and want to maximise their deals by holding out for the best offer. Some players would just have told us to do one on day 1, but by waiting you might get a player who doesn't have any better options anymore. We may well have activated the transfer clause on the first day, but the player wanted to wait until the end, who knows! Transfers are very complex pieces of business that do no happen on the last day. For instance we were discussing last week for Paul Onuachu, so even if that goes through today, we didn't leave it until the last minute.

Exactly! I feel there is a reason why this has popped up late on in the window. As earlier on I agree wouldn't have had a chance. But it's a very different scenario now... Some deals have to be left until the last couple of days of a window.

But possibly so is he... When he didn't want to come he was holding out for a better offer. He's not had many chances this season and finds himself now second choice. It might be in his interest to put himself in the shop window and increase his chances of a better move later on. And he's very unlikely to do that at Lyon

This is the thing, since the city game we held our nerve against Everton and did what we needed. We lost to Villa, in a game where (I was there) we really deserved something. And they are the in form team in the league at the moment. Only Arsenal have gotten more points since Emery took over than Villa have. I think there needs to be some context to that loss. I don't see why it's all doom and gloom after Villa. It's frustrating, but nothing has changed really. We are a much better organised team who defend a lot better overall. We caused more problems for Villa than they did for us, and the ref lost control of the game. It was fine margins in the end. If we keep up with the improvements and add the players we need, then I still have hope.

How many of those 26 players play for teams in the bottom 6/7 clubs out of interest? Zaha, Barnes, and Maddison I expect are 3 of them.

We have no idea how linked we were to him. Did we just scout him and not follow up, did we enquire and not follow up. The truth is we have no idea. Maybe we didn't think he was worth £25m and moved one. The Jackson story seems to have been going around in circles, and that's most likely because we had already moved on.

Exactly! I was at the game and we generally matched them and deserved something from the game. Ultimately they are a better side, and since Emery took over only Arsenal have more points than villa. They are the league's in form team We were set up well, defended very well apart from that one set piece. We restricted them, and caused them more problems in attack than they caused us. They couldn't handle Edozie and just constantly fouled him. Had the ref of given a yellow card as he should have in the first half, then they would have had to of backed off and he'd have even more space. It was a game of very fine margins in the end

Not if they score goals and contribute to more goals and as a team we score more goals with all the additions and strengthening and chance of style of play for formation we score more goals, and probably most importantly we concede less goals so we don't need to score 3 goals to win a game

It's easy to say that in hindsight, but obviously not all transfers will work out. We easily could have not bothered with Lavia or Edozie and saved that money for a striker... With our approach we have to accept that not every transfer will be a Lavia, but it's worth the spread when we do find those players. Also I think opinion on Larios is still out for me. I'd like to see some more of him under a system where we are actually playing football and have a midfield to give license to the fullbacks more.

I don't think money overall is tight. We are still looking for RB cover, a def mid, and strengthening the attacking options. I think it's more about the right player at the right price. Usually if a player is too expensive it's because they are off to a bigger club or we aren't prepared to spend that level of money for what we would get.

Of course. But it's not the only option. Pelle for instance didn't score anything like Lambert and Ings, but was able to also bring other players into the game and with him we got to Europe as we scored well as a team. Obviously we don't have that quality right now, but with the current options, and changing the way we play, and having more attacking options I think we can still stay up. Of course I'd like a better striker, that goes without saying. But there are other options and I don't think we, or the club, should put everything on a new striker to stay up.

Depends, if we cant get that striker then we have to strengthen everything around it, which is what the club are doing, while still going after strikers at the same time

It's not always that easy. Reality is west ham will pay him more with a much much slimmer chance if relegation. Maybe we enquired and he doesn't fancy coming back etc...

But he's 19, so I can't see that they would be comfortable with that being their only striker. But I guess it depends on the extent of Watkins injury and if Ings actually wants to leave. But to suggest he'll be available for a snip of Jackson seems very unlikely. Like most, I would absolutely want him back for the right price/deal. Also earlier in the window it was suggested we were after two attacking players and a striker. So there is time yet. However improving the rest of the team, if we can't get a striker that would improve us and be affordable, is a valid approach. As much as we need a striker, sometimes things don't work out. Our midfield has been a huge issue and this has been improved. And our chance creation and creativity has also been as issue, as is midfielders adding goals. All of which has/is being improved. Also if you look at the scoring in the prem, only Leicester and Palace (in the relegation candidates) have players who have scored more than out top scorer JWP. We need to create more goals, however we do that. And they are already exploring multiple avenues. Long term we absolutely need the right striker to push on, but I'm just prepared that might not happen in this window due to many many reasons.

Also he's their only senior striker right now with Watkins injured. So they definitely aren't going to be selling him for a snip. And that's even if he wants to leave Villa to come back... This isn't FM where you can sign any player for their asking value...

I've already posted this on another thread but here we go again.... I think he deserves a fair chance and the fan base should get fully behind him. There are obviously no promises it will work out, but the other names I've seen banded around are from smaller European leagues etc. They don't have prem experience either. At least he's managed in the English leagues and done a fantastic job with Luton. He plays a style now that suits his players and by all accounts is adaptable in how he plays, so let's see how he sets us up before we judge his football too much. By all accounts he's an excellent man manager as well which is something we are clearly missing. Just having the team organised and giving 100% will automatically give us a boost and improved performances. Selles is staying by the looks of it, and the players seem to respect him and he doesn't have any top flight managerial experience... As others have said if he turns up, isn't a twat, runs good sessions and seems switched on then the players will buy into it. Of course he might not work out, but that doesn't mean there isn't logic behind the appointment and he deserves our full backing imo. The goal now this season is to stay up and try and have something to build upon next season. If we add a striker in Jan, then we have a really good chance Would he have been my choice, no. But that doesn't mean it won't work. Look at Gerrard at villa. A big name manager and the players didn't respect him one bit, so anyone suggesting Gerrard needs to have a word with themselves...

I think he deserves a fair chance and the fan base should get fully behind him. There are obviously no promises it will work out, but the other names I've seen banded around are from smaller European leagues etc. They don't have prem experience either. At least he's managed in the English leagues and done a fantastic job with Luton. He plays a style now that suits his players and by all accounts is adaptable in how he plays, so let's see how he sets us up before we judge his football too much. By all accounts he's an excellent man manager as well which is something we are clearly missing. Just having the team organised and giving 100% will automatically give us a boost and improved performances. Selles is staying by the looks of it, and the players seem to respect him and he doesn't have any top flight managerial experience... As others have said if he turns up, isn't a twat, runs good sessions and seems switched on then the players will buy into it. Of course he might not work out, but that doesn't mean there isn't logic behind the appointment and he deserves our full backing imo. The goal now this season is to stay up and try and have something to build upon next season. If we add a striker in Jan, then we have a really good chance Would he have been my choice, no. But that doesn't mean it won't work. Look at Gerrard at villa. A big name manager and the players didn't respect him one bit, so anyone suggesting Gerrard needs to have a word with themselves...

I don't fully understand what this means, but just to note we still have that shitty covid loan that we can't pay back yet. So it could just be to refinance that loan on better terms / replace it. Also note it says we are one of a number of prem clubs, so doesn't seem that odd. We've always borrowed to offset money as it's never paid in lump sums as well.

Few reports saying this is his doing and also he was previously linked with Brentford https://www.hampshirelive.news/sport/football/football-news/nathan-jones-luton-southampton-hasenhuttl-7792985 "It is understood that has impressed Southampton's owners Sport Republic and Rasmus Ankersen particularly, who was at Brentford when Jones was previously linked with the Bees, prior to Thomas Frank's appointment in 2018."

From everything I've seen about NJ, he is exactly this sort of manager... I'm not saying he would be my choice, but this it something that he definitely will bring. Regardless of whether he would be our pick the fans need to get behind him, it's who we are likely to have. The ownership have seen something in what he does to suggest he is a good fit for the club. They saw something in players like Lavia too, so fingers crossed this is as successful!

This has crossed my mind a lot as well. Seems a likely scenario, with the WC break as well, maybe they thing it's worth waiting to see what happens with our form and with available managers. Also we are now ran by someone who was involved in Brentford when they stuck with Frank after his horrific start to the job, but they looked beneath the results and performances and believed they say something that would eventually work if given the time. I've already said I think it's time for a change, but it's obviously a much more complex situation, and also injuries and lack of striker needs to be taken into account as well. So maybe SR feel they shoulder some of that blame, hence not hanging Ralph out to dry yet... I'm starting to wonder if he will and possibly even should get until the WC break and have a chance with Lavia back from injury

Not sure you can say we have continually sacked managers.... We went through a short spell where we sacked Puel, Pelligrino, and Hughes... Apart from the Puel, none were fit for purpose. Adkins was several years before, Poch walked, Koeman walked. And our current manager is the longest serving manger in a lot of fans life time!

100% but football isn't always that simple. That's why I think we need a manager who can bring consistency to the squad, something we have rarely had under Ralph. I like him a lot, and I think he'll remain popular, but sometimes a clean break is needed. They've tried to support Ralph, and while no one was expecting us to be looking towards the top 10 this season, I think it's clear we have been underachieving for a while now when you look at our best spells under Ralph. Even a small about of consistency would have us well clear of a relegation battle, and I personally think, where we should be.