As most of the replies point out, a) it's been happening for years b) the opposition also have the chance to do exactly the same I'm pretty sure that the hydration breaks which are common in summer tournaments have just crept into domestic football, and I doubt if Saints are the only team doing similar. By the way, did anyone else notice Martin Starke's sly dig at Dan Sheldon at the end of the latest TSP, where he pointed out that they had managed to get through 48 minutes of the podcast without stopping for a cup of tea?
Anyone know what positions he can play in since it says “versatile” but I can only find DM/CM which doesn’t quite count as versatile to me I guess we could just abandon all pretence and go in for Simons, Vale, Anjorin and Colwill. Might encourage Broja to join / extend his loan if a load of people he likely came through with and has known for years are here
I have done some digging and he can cover the right back / right wing back positions. Which means he can probably take Valery’s squad spot if he joins and give us the DM cover that is actually the main area we are missing
I don't think that there's any question we're doing it...once you notice it, you notice it most matches. I also doubt we're the only ones doing it. But really, there just should be a hydration break at a dead-ball moment around that time, if only to lessen the likelihood of cramping breaks in the 80-90th minute.
Indeed, why should football be any different to tennis?, they use energy gels all the time. It makes perfect sense to treat players as humanely as possible in this modern era.
It also just makes for a better match. I'd rather that they have an intended pause than players cramping up or faking injury in the dying stages.
Thinking about it they had those breaks in Project Restart and we were excellent. Then last year we didn't do it and we weren't so good. We started this year doing it and we are good again. Not a scientific observation, but could be a correlation.
The Times today is reporting Manchester United interest in Tino now we that have said we wouldn't stand in the way of him leaving.
So of course he would like to remain. But would he accept a 40-50% pay cut McCarthy was presumably unable to secure a significant pay rise through his free agent status. So I would not expect Fraser to be offered anything close to what he is on anywhere else Feels like the apparent McCarthy extension was a mistake in hindsight as I don’t see us being able to move him on
If the money was right it would be good business. Maybe even get another year out of him then sell. KWP is probably better so we would essentially get the full transfer fee to spend (£40m?) On a back up right back to KWP and then improve another position. Although Chelsea might want to exercise their buy back - which is apparently only active from summer 2023.
This has been common knowledge for a while (hence him getting loaned rather than sold) and any talk of an extension is on the assumption he would be willing to take a big pay cut.
Yeah I thought everyone knew Forster has been our highest earner for a while. I do think that we need a new keeper, but if we are going down the route of promising youngsters then not against giving Forster a year or so extension to let the younger keeper settle in
