benali-shorts

Benali Biryani My q: which saints player has a first class degree in Chemistry?

Liv unluckiest, then Brighton, then Saints/Newcastle (4 point swing). It brought back painful memories of Doucoure's handball..... Odd that there's no VAR given the poor standard of refereeing last season. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45087444 Premier League table 17-18 'Luck Index' simulated table 17-18 Manchester City 100 Manchester City 97 Manchester United 81 Liverpool 87 Tottenham 77 Tottenham 77 Liverpool 75 Manchester United 75 Chelsea 70 Arsenal 71 Arsenal 63 Chelsea 70 Burnley 54 Burnley 50 Everton 49 Newcastle 48 Leicester 47 Brighton 46 Newcastle 44 Everton 44 Crystal Palace 44 Crystal Palace 42 Bournemouth 44 West Ham 41 West Ham 42 Watford 41 Watford 41 Leicester 40 Brighton 40 Southampton 40 Huddersfield 37 Bournemouth 38 Southampton 36 Stoke 37 Swansea 33 Huddersfield 37 Stoke 33 Swansea 34 West Brom 31 West Brom 33

....and there we are.

Is it time to start speculating that Hughes has delayed signing to screw a better transfer budget? Hmmm....

Hughes done and confirmed Friday. He’s earned it, let’s hope it goes well.

Yes, I wondered the same. There's probably a shelf life for the Director of Football role (for both parties) and a move for Les might suit both parties if Gao wants to re-structure here too, which would be understandable. I suspect a summer of re-structuring lies ahead regardless of what league we end up in.

West Ham after an experienced Director of Football. Les must have been saving up all those amazing transfer prospects and top European coach lists for them. https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/west-ham-to-appoint-a-director-of-football-as-david-sullivan-takes-a-step-back-from-transfer-a3788646.html

One dimensional and total uninspiring.

Wilson has been terrible, including his gratutitous self-promotion in the media when Rangers interviewed him. 4 appalling transfer windows in a row. Amazed Les hasn't hung him out to dry in the name of self preservation.

Hmm, Ralph, Les, Mitchell and Pellegrino all in the same room together? Someone fetch the ricin.

You lucky bastard Quincy. You nearly had to play for the worst manager in world football.

This is a relatively well built model, if there is such a thing. Has us 7th most likely to be relegated, finishing on 38 pts: https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/soccer-predictions/premier-league/

So if Carrillo arrives, it may be instead of Gabbi rather than in addition to...

With Verdi possible starting, Bologna intends to take precautions with possible substitutes. Today there was a meeting with the agent of Orsolini but there is also another idea for the attack. This is Manolo Gabbiadini: an idea, this, for the immediate (if Southampton lets him go right in January) or for June. There was also a meeting for him between the agent and the rossoblù company, intent on returning to Serie A Gabbiadini. It will be only to see if the times will be short or will work for the summer.

Agree re Maddison. We were linked with him when he moved from Coventry. Would be nice to think we had a coherent transfer modus which involved decent young talent from the Championship.

Presumably Maya, Virgil, Hoedt - Cedric lemina Romeu PEH Bertrand - redmond Long. Which all makes sense from damage limitation perspective.

Great hair? Check. Well-cut suit jacket? Check. Managed at mid-table euro teams? Check. Out of contract in the summer? Check. If he also wears tight trousers, I think we have our man. Paulo Fonseca

Always a pleasure to reminisce: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/sep/22/the-joy-of-six-matt-le-tissier

Whoever was co-commentating on the stream on Saturday (Curbishley?) suggested Forster has an achilles issue which prevents him pushing off effectively. Would explain his seeming inability to move quickly, but would make it completely bizarre to fail to address cover in the window given McCarthy's ongoing injuries too. If the commentator was aware of this physical limitation, presumably all the teams are (and would be from England camps anyway where they must have to manage the injury) and would make Steve's comment above re frequency of long range shooting even more relevant.

Weren't we after Musa last summer?

This is beautiful work. Keep going.

Much the same from the Times, although this claims we have told Liverpool we will not sell to them at any price. We'll see. The Times: Liverpool will not face any action from the Premier League for allegedly tapping up Virgil van Dijk. Southampton made an official complaint to the Premier League this month after being angered by widespread reports that the Dutchman wanted to move to Anfield to work with Jürgen Klopp. After a preliminary investigation, however, the League has concluded that there is insufficient evidence to start disciplinary proceedings. Premier League lawyers have spoken to both clubs and are satisfied that the correct procedures have been followed. Southampton have not withdrawn their complaint, but accepted an apology from Liverpool three weeks ago and will not push for them to be charged. The Premier League will not take any action unless new information becomes available, which, given that Southampton submitted all the evidence at their disposal with their initial complaint, appears unlikely. Premier League lawyers have spoken to both clubs and are satisfied that the correct procedures have been followed. Liverpool will be relieved to escape without being charged, particularly as they were sanctioned this year by the Premier League for tapping up an academy player at Stoke City and offering his family inducements. In that instance the club were fined £100,000 and banned from signing academy players for 12 months, and although a fine was the most likely outcome if they had been found guilty in the Van Dijk case, the Premier League has the power to impose transfer bans on repeat offenders. Liverpool have not denied making an illegal approach to Van Dijk, but their punishment will be restricted to the humiliation of being forced to make a very public climbdown and the probable loss of a key transfer target. Klopp still wants to sign Van Dijk, but has been told by his employers that another move for the 25-year-old is unrealistic and so is prioritising other targets such as RB Leipzig’s Naby Keita. During the talks between the two clubs before the apology, Southampton made it clear that they would not sell Van Dijk to Liverpool at any price. In addition, Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, values its reputation for probity and does not want to be seen to be going back on its word. Southampton are hopeful that Van Dijk will stay, but Chelsea and Manchester City are also interested in him.

(cont.) The Liebherr investigation is understood to be focused on all those who received payouts from his estate and there is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by his daughter but, as she was the biggest beneficiary, any retrospective tax bill would potentially have significant implications for Southampton. The club, with a valuation of £200 million, is Liebherr’s biggest asset in a portfolio worth an estimated £300 million and a large tax bill would increase the pressure on her to sell. Liebherr has been seeking new investment in the club for more than a year and negotiations over a proposed £190 million sale to the Lander Sports Development are continuing, although the Premier League has expressed concerns about allegations of corruption in China against the owner, Gao Jisheng. Depending on the result of the German investigation, Liebherr may be forced to consider selling for a knockdown price. Southampton declined to comment last night.

The Times article: German tax inquiry could force sale of Southampton exclusive Matt Hughes, Deputy Football Correspondent June 7 2017, 12:01am, The Times A large tax bill would increase the pressure on Liebherr to sell Southampton RICHARD POHLE/THE TIMES Katharina Liebherr, the Southampton owner, has become embroiled in an investigation by the German tax authorities which could increase the pressure on her to sell the club. The Times has learnt that the public prosecutor’s office is investigating the tax liability of her late father, Markus Liebherr, who bequeathed Southampton to Katharina after his death in 2010 along with several other companies forming part of Mali Holdings. The German authorities are investigating whether they are entitled to levy taxes against the beneficiaries of Markus Liebherr’s estate after receiving allegations that he spent more time in Germany than was previously realised. The German-born Swiss industrialist claimed Zurich was his main residence, but he also had property in Germany. Authorities in Germany often focus on high-profile cases in the belief that the resulting publicity leads to a higher tax yield from ordinary citizens. Uli Hoeness, the former Germany forward and current Bayern Munich president, was sentenced to three and a half years in prison for tax fraud in 2014 in a case which reportedly led to 26,000 Germans opting to disclose unpaid taxes.

I certainly think you're full of sh!t, but you're more than welcome to keep posting if it helps you mingle with society.