If SR decide to get a new manager in, they really can't take a risk like they did with Jones. They have to go big. I fully expect them to at least have a word with Potter, perhaps some other 'names' from abroad.
It's a funny one, I mean I can see Ruben (perhaps rightly) being able to convince them to give him a go, at least at the start, after a pre-season where he can bring in these rumoured different systems of playing, that he says he hasn't been able to bring in since coming in (because he's had to revert to Ralphball as there's not been time to work on new stuff).
I think we will see a bigger turnover than that, certainty our best three (JWP, KWP and Lavia for £40m each) will go, Che Adams to who has been not happy for ages will be off like a shot, I would be very surprised if ABK wasn’t snapped up too. Ely (thank goodness) and Theo are out of contract So that’s over half the first team gone then there are Djenepo and Mara who were wanted in January by European clubs, Adarma is off to Ipswich, wouldn’t be surprised if Burnley offer a good fee for Tella too. I think about half the existing first team squad will be gone Hopefully Rasmus will go with them otherwise goodness knows what our recruitment will be
Can’t see Potter dropping down to the Championship, but can’t hurt to ask the question. If Leicester stay up, they’ll be after a manager. Palace probably will be too. I can also see West Ham surviving then sacking Moyes. Could see Potter going there. He’ll have the pick of PL teams wanting a new manager. Marsch might be a realistic option for us, just based on who we were interested in this season. Based on the little knowledge I have I quite like the idea of Cooper if he gets sacked by Forest.
I'm with you on JWP. I'm not at all sure he's itching to go anywhere whatever happens. The only way that'll happen is if, and it's a big if, SR pull another NJ stunt, then we'll all be 'off'!
Obviously JWP would prefer to play in the Prem, but £100k per week in the Championship isn’t a bad life. Would be a statement if we can keep hold of him. Big summer for us regardless of league.
If Prowsie moves to a bigger club, but then falls out of favour, he could find himself making fewer appearances in the long term, than if he were to spend a year in the Champ and get promoted again with us. He'd be a starter for us until into his mid-thirties. Not sure if that will be the case with another club. He'd likely fall down the pecking order if he doesn't perform well enough.
If JWP doesn’t break Beckham’s free kick record this season, I don’t think he will stick around should we be relegated. It’s his chance to be in the record books and a record he would be able to build on for a number of years. I really can’t see him giving up on that opportunity, although I would be happy to be proved wrong. I’m not sure he will get too many more chances this season as pretty much every team has stopped diving into tackles, outside the box, knowing that we have more chance of getting a goal from a direct free kick than from open play.
I'd be very surprised if this was Prowsie's main motivation. He's been with Saints since he was 8 years old; that's 21 years! He is captain, and the fans love him. The club must mean so much to him. Surely, getting us back into the Premier League would be more of a priority than the free-kick record. No one even knew about Beckham's record until JWP started creeping up on it, and it will be forgotten again soon enough until someone else gets close to it, which of course, eventually will happen. And once it gets broken, what then? No more legacy for JWP. If he sticks with Saints and gets us back to the Prem, you're talking a statue or a stand named after him. Don't know about anyone else, but for me that sort of legacy would be a much bigger carrot. If he were to leave for other reasons, chance of silverware, England selection, staying relevant, I'd say fair play. But not simply for the free kick record.
I definitely think that JWP would have a much better legacy by staying with us, getting us back up and being a one club man, rather than going to a Newcastle or a Villa and being one of many (see Danny Ings). Here he's the captain, the poster boy and adored by pretty much everyone at the club. The team is built around him and he won't get that anywhere else. I suppose if we can't come straight back up then that's a problem. If Liverpool or a big club like that want him then maybe it makes his decision easier, but I'm not sure a top club like that would go in for him. I do think the area comes into his decision making too, as his family may not want to move. Again, it's likely all going to come down to our ambition for next season/the new project.
Yeah, he will leave because of ambition and like Adam Lallana before him I won't blame him. He has already built his Saints legacy and should always recieve a warm reception when he returns, i'll be clapping him anyway.
