Ok, conspiracy theory time then. Is there a case for deliberately losing at Elland Road, so Leeds go up automatically and Ipswich don’t?
I would, but it would probably go wrong and we'd lose 5-0 to Ipswich, whereas Leeds would have entered the playoffs without 20 first teamers and were recruiting form the crowd
True, just don’t want to do a Burnley. All their best players were loans and don’t think they managed to retain any despite being promoted
Burnley loaned in youngsters (Tella, Maatsen, THB), who all had high prices due to their potential. Our loans are older and will therefore be cheaper (except THB).
I can't see Ipswich being within 3 points of Leeds. I reckon they'll will drop a lot of points in April.
If you trigger the 15 (or 20) yellow card threshold during the regular 46 game season, then I believe that suspension can carry over into the play-offs. However the 46th game is itself a cut-off point, so it isn't possible to trigger the 15 (or 20) yellow card threshold during the play-offs.
So if you reach number 15 in the final couple of games of the season, you would be banned for the playoff semis?
Sure but if the player got his 15th yellow on game week 45, then he'd miss one game of the regular season etc. Would be risky playing anyone on 14 yellows round then. Think Morsy of Ipswich is on 12. Big player for them.
10 games to go and Bedders has 9 yellows, Smallbone & Manning have 8 or 9 (Stats vary), Downes has 7. No one else has more than 5 They’ll have to go some to get to 15 EDIT: Morsy of Ipswich IS on 12 Ampadu of Leeds on 8
No wishing to be thought of as picky or pedantic but this thread seems to have drifted of topic. Cod it be I'm talking a load of pollocks?
Speculation suggesting that Saints want to sign Flynn Downes permanently in the summer but it could depend on Kelvin Phillips' form at WHU... https://www.southamptonfc.news/opin...-bad-news-for-southampton-and-russell-martin/ And from a WHU site... https://www.westhamzone.com/transfe...ws-as-southampton-make-flynn-downes-decision/
Regardless of what happens with Phillips, I can't see us getting him if we don't go up. Either West Ham are willing to let him go fairly cheaply (£10m-£15m) in which case another prem side would likely take a punt, or they want £20m+ and I can't see us spending that in the Championship.
He spent 4 years at Ipswich so it would be a homecoming of sorts. But they have two very good CMs at the moment already. Downes wants to start every game, not just be a squad player. And leaving Saints will mean going to his fourth club in four years. He has only started seven Premier League games in his career. West Ham lost 6 of those 7 games. The idea that he walks into most bottom-half Prem teams is a stretch, imo.
Nice. He's already got his own Wiki page. Youngest ever player for Valenciennes, played at all ages groups for France up to u18s.
