MarkSFC

Never mind a tough CF I miss a tough CB!!!

I think its the manner of the performances that will ultimately decide his fate (in the first few games at least). If we are competitive, score, and generally look like there's a good cohesion and strategy (and hope!!!), us the fans will likely give him time. If we look like never scoring and we let in 3 or 4 or even more two or 3 times then I think he's a gona as the owners can't ignore the will of the fans too long. If there's a hangover from last seasons finish he's done. Spurs A Loss Leeds H Win Leicester A Draw or Win Man Utd H Loss Chelsea H Loss Then Wolves A Draw at least Brentford H must Win Villa A Draw at least Everton H must win City A Loss That would be 12-14 after 10 games. Less than that and bye bye!!

On the basis we play 4222 I'd be interested to see when all fit; Bazanu Tino ABK/NEW Salisu KWP Lavia JWP Aribo NEW Adams/Mara NEW Bench McCarthy/Cabellero Perraud New (loan) LB/RB Romeu Adams/Mara ABK/NEW (1or2 of) Stephens/Lyanco/Bed Moussa Tella Armstrong S Armstrong A Edwards Looms better than last season IMHO. But we will see🤣

Maybe his lack of form/lack of goals was a large part of his grumpy demeanour. Most sports people look grumpy when not performing to their expectations. When form dips individually of collectively there are bound to be tensions between athletes and coaches. Just another perspective or reasoning of "them not getting on" when none of really know.

I agree, that we lack creativity in attacking midfield on wide forward positions. We do get some creativity from KWP and Livramento, and hopefully Aribo will be a positive addition. I think Mara might be viewed as more of a wife forward than though the middle so he'll most likely be better than Redmond, Djeneppo, Walcott, Tella and Armstrong in that role. I'd love Callum Hudson-Odoi preferably permanent but even on loan. Not including Mara we need at least two more forward players. I like Adams but not sure he will get much better. A Armstrong looks like someone with all the aspects to be a good striker but right now it looks like it's purely confidence issues.

Who is your hunch?

Nor me. IF its true. If it is true though, shows we mean business and are happy to spend more than we ever have.

Disappointing.

It's all a calculated risk. If we rate him that highly (to bid 23m) then we emust feel the liklihood of him developing into a top player is reasonably high. Therefore a loan with option to buy is probably the worse option in this case on balance.

I'm still not totally convinced by Ralph's tactics and game management but with this influx of decent fresh young players I am hopeful of more success. I will predict our finish to be somewhere between 11th and 15th. We may well benefit by the enforced break due to the World Cup and I can't many of ours being involved. Premier League Liverpool Top 4 City Spurs Utd Relegated Fulham Bournemouth Leeds FA Cup Spurs League Cup City

3pm. £5 on Watford site

Looks like it will take around 20m then to get Delap. That's a good amount on a kid, it is usually us who sells the kids for that amount. I get why some are "concerned" by potentially not signing an "experienced" striker but actually it feels very exciting, even if the negative potential is perhaps higher. But on tbe basis they are as good as expected it could turn into a very exciting period for the club. With all these rumours flying around there's a very tiny and extremely optimistic part if me that is wondering if we ate going for Mara Delap AND Broja 🤣🤣 (I know it's mad!!) Need to shift quite a few soon to increase the buying power.

You'd be surprised😂😂

Ta. I feel great now.

Oh well.

Thanks, appreciate the compliment. No one is proven until they play in it and then many prove that they can't (some of whom have been or are at our club). How does anyone know whether they can't cut it either. There are a vast amount players who when given opportunity in their late teens and very early 20s prove their ability. I'm very hopeful that the ones we have signed this summer are some very decent prospects (and I will agree that they are only prospects right now). Its always a matter of preference but as someone who develops athletes and coaches for a living I'm probably more optimistic and trusting of the system than some. This game more than many others is all about timing, as in giving players the opportunity to develop, improve and perform in higher and higher levels of competition. I think these will be successful and having a younger group whose individual and collective mindsets are far less (if at all) affected negatively by previous poor performances will breed a different culture in the club. As long as they are successful (depending how success is defined of course)🤣 Sit back and enjoy!!!

Poor you.

Happy to be proven wrong but I doubt Smallbone will ever become a first choice player here for more than even a handful of games. Someone else might become this player you desire but does it really matter nowadays given how freely players move around and how easily young players are allowed to choose where they go.

I'm presuming we've announced it in principle to help their situation as it would sound like they are have very little time to prove liquidity to function. Well played Saints.

Agree. Most fans (I believe) think the Beattie was a decent player for us. He was very much a streaky player though. I'd welcome Beattie right now.

Wear Ham supposedly very close to signing Scammacca for 40m+...are they really going to sign 2 strikers for upwards of 70m??

Already got them🙄 Armstrong x 2 Adams Bella-Kotchap Bazanu

Cornet Colwell CHO Delap Dolberg

Think it's 2 but only 1 from any one club

It's far too early to be forensically critical of the performance and system but what these two games have clearly shown is that we have 2 groups of players. Those good enough, and those not good enough. Aribo looked better today and having seen a little of him at Rangers I think he's a good addition. Lavia certainly has plenty about him and looks very confident; he will be a regular. Bella-Kotchap hasn't really shown anything but nor has he had a real chance to. As we've known for ages, we are short of some real attacking quality, so until we get 2 or hopefully 3 of those we can't really tell how things will be. And these signings need to happen soon!!