The make-up of our squad is also very different to how it was in 2005. Back then, we had a lot of players who were either on loan to us or were coming to the end of their contracts (eg Dodd, Bernard, Le Saux, Redknapp, Camara, Anders Svensson). So once you removed them, together with the players who were actually good to stay in the PL (eg Phillips, Crouch), we really weren't left with much to take into the Championship. Whereas this time, I think a fair chunk of our squad will remain. Partly because they're younger and on longer contracts. Partly because it feels like we have a bigger squad this time. And again there are only a handful who I think will be attractive to PL clubs (or affordable to overseas clubs). Tella has shown this season that he can perform in the Championship. Armstrong has shown he can when he was at Blackburn. Bree has well over 100 games at that level. The likes of Edozie and Bazunu and Larios could all flourish at that level. Alcarez, Onuachu and Sulemana have all only just signed, so I imagine we'd only be willing to let them go again so soon if we can get a return on our investment - and is anyone likely to pay that sort of money? We've got five senior CBs (six if you include Stephens) - now sure, we'll probably sell one or two of them, but I doubt it will any more than that.
Suprised Elyounoussi can stick to anything. His attacking play is non existent .I felt more intimidated at my daughters 6 year old birthday party.
That's a huge assumption that SR wont look to cash in on them, or the players stamp their feet thinking that they're PL quality so will move to another club to stay in the league. Alcarez, Tall Paul and Sulemana, ABK and Salisu will hand in transfer requests the second it's confirmed Lavia will walk in to any (and I do mean any) PL club he wants and JWP will be poached by the likes of Spurs/Newcastle. KWP also good enough to demand and get a move. Bazunu is one of the worst GK's we've ever had so I doubt he would be much better at Championship level so we'll probably keep him, I've no idea whether Larios is any good and we might keep Edozie who might or might not actually become a good player. Our 23/24 Championship squad will look nothing like the one we have at the moment, SR will try to recoup as much of the money they've spunked up the wall this season and we'll raid another academy to continue project Rasmus, just with our sights set much lower. I'm sure we're casting an eye over the Reading academy right now for our first team in 23/24.....
Or rasmus looks to maintain us as a mid-upper championship club. An in house feeder club for Brentford.
I said it in the middle of the game, I honestly feel so sorry for JWP and Lavia. Two top quality players surrounded by absolute morons. I will let the new boys off a little as they’re settling in, but today was an utter disgrace. No bravery on the ball, no urgency, no real style, no passing and moving. A fair result would have been 3-0. Leeds are an absolutely awful PL side in terms of goals scored, but they were leagues above us in terms of overall play today. I am ****ing gutted. Pathetic
To be honest. I barely care what happens to us. I’ve lost a good friend through cancer, very nearly lost my twin sister through a heart attack and cancer last year, and had a triple heart bypass operation myself in November. And to cap it all yesterday found that I’m being made redundant. It barely registers anymore. Football is a game in the end, but the interest is waning due to the greed, cheating and VAR.
Sorry to hear all that mate. Things can only get better from here! In a few years you will look back on 2023 as a fleeting glance, as you’ve settled in a new job which you love and things are going well.
The only players I’d be overly fussed about losing are Lavia and ABK, and im confident both will be off when we go down, as they are both going to have top level careers and would’ve been nice to get another year or 2 from them before they moved on, everyone else is a “meh” from me in terms of them staying or going
On Wednesday Everton play Arsenal, on Saturday Bournemouth play arsenal and Leeds play Chelsea. The Leicester game is MASSIVE!
Went to the match, hoping for a win, settling for a draw. The BBC says we had 2 shots. I must have missed them. From the kick off Leeds looked up for the fight. The Saints players misplaced passes, miss kicked in the penalty area and let the ball bounce around them. I was expecting Tall Paul to dominate the Leeds defence, the centre halves out jumped him. He was a real disappointment. At no time did we look like scoring a goal, let alone winning the match. New manager, same old Saints. The Leeds forwards were buzzing, constantly on the move. The Saints forwards were playing statues.
Yep, I don't fear the drop as the likes of Tella and Smallbone will come back and be influential players even if we lose a few big earners.
Tella won't be coming back. Burnley will sign him permanently when they go up. Why would Tella want to stay in the championship?
