Summer '24 transfer window

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i think the best thing to do with 'the three amigos' would be to leave one of the three out each week so they get a bit of a rest during the season, we have enough cover who will come in and do a good job...so basically, all three play week one then for the next three games they take turns having a break.

while both rigg and jobe just want to be on the pitch they are still young lads getting used to the mans game, neil has had plenty of these games but i honestly feel a break along the way will do them the world of good, of course, RLB will do it his way but i would like to see this, maybe even increase it around the pitch.
 
Jobe was phenomenal against Pompey mind

but yeah how RLB deals with rotation it’s important. The whole squad has to be happy but also mature. If you’re a team doing well and you want to be in a team doing well sometimes you’re going to sit on the bench.
I agree, but felt we were missing his skills further up the field. I would have preferred Browne to have taken the deeper Neil role. An interesting conundrum for RLB. It's a great time to be following the lads.
 
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From what I saw last night, I think Isidor was wasted on the left and Watson was wasted in the middle.

Isidor seems the kind of player who wants to get on the ball more. I think he'd be perfect through the middle for us. We don't play with a style that needs a battering ram. It just needs somebody who can get on the ball, keep it and either run with it or move it on.
Agreed, It's not a stretch to describe Isidor as Wish Thierry Henry. Wenger wouldn't have used Henry as 'just' a wide player. It'll need some adjustment to compensate, but he looks well-suited to playing centrally to me.
 
Jobe was phenomenal against Pompey mind

but yeah how RLB deals with rotation it’s important. The whole squad has to be happy but also mature. If you’re a team doing well and you want to be in a team doing well sometimes you’re going to sit on the bench.
One thing I want to see more of from RLB is usage of subs. Thus far he's been relatively slow to use substitutions. For squad harmony, for energy levels, for sharpness, for player development I'd like him to use more subs - and use them earlier. Hopefully with the new players arriving he's more confident in doing so while maintaining the standard of the XI on the pitch.
 
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Apparently they are playing Watson through the middle to challenge him more in those areas as it's too easy for him on the left at that level.
That was what clicked for me while watching the game last night, mind. Didn't like the central three and felt we were far too soft in there. But what benefits SAFC more? Winning/drawing an unimportant U21 game? Or putting young players in unfamiliar situations (as it was for Watson, Kelly and Jones last night) and letting them work out how to cope - and eventually (hopefully) thrive? Definitely the latter.
 
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He's a bit like Ekwah for me, pleasant, ready smile and seems a nice bloke, I'm really disappointed Ekwah hasn't given us everything he's got, but that's football. Wilson can become a fans favourite very quickly if he hits the ground running. looking forward to seeing him on the pitch regularly.
 
One thing I want to see more of from RLB is usage of subs. Thus far he's been relatively slow to use substitutions. For squad harmony, for energy levels, for sharpness, for player development I'd like him to use more subs - and use them earlier. Hopefully with the new players arriving he's more confident in doing so while maintaining the standard of the XI on the pitch.
I agree. We haven’t had much option from the bench though of good players so far. He also likes to win games by a few and doesn’t give up if a few goals up.

I think all the new signings will get games
 
i think the best thing to do with 'the three amigos' would be to leave one of the three out each week so they get a bit of a rest during the season, we have enough cover who will come in and do a good job...so basically, all three play week one then for the next three games they take turns having a break.

while both rigg and jobe just want to be on the pitch they are still young lads getting used to the mans game, neil has had plenty of these games but i honestly feel a break along the way will do them the world of good, of course, RLB will do it his way but i would like to see this, maybe even increase it around the pitch.
Interestingly the new DM has the highest calibre of any midfielder we have atm too
 
I agree. We haven’t had much option from the bench though of good players so far. He also likes to win games by a few and doesn’t give up if a few goals up.

I think all the new signings will get games
I'd tend to say that he's had more options than he's been willing to use up till now, but I'm happy enough for him to build up trust over time. Defo needs to use these players more though, as time goes on. We've got a squad that remains pretty massive and they won't stick around at SAFC unless they are given opportunities to develop.
 
He's a bit like Ekwah for me, pleasant, ready smile and seems a nice bloke, I'm really disappointed Ekwah hasn't given us everything he's got, but that's football. Wilson can become a fans favourite very quickly if he hits the ground running. looking forward to seeing him on the pitch regularly.
I believe the Roadrunner can run... has a few tricks as well, I'm sure I saw him meg one of the defender's last night
 
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One thing I want to see more of from RLB is usage of subs. Thus far he's been relatively slow to use substitutions. For squad harmony, for energy levels, for sharpness, for player development I'd like him to use more subs - and use them earlier. Hopefully with the new players arriving he's more confident in doing so while maintaining the standard of the XI on the pitch.
It was a criticism of him in his time at Lorient.
 
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Disagree...


I agree with Southern, I'd bring Neil back in, as Jobe was wasted there. This then leads to RLB main problem of rotation... someone will have to drop out. How RLB manages the team will be the making of the man.

you dont change a winning team, it's neils own fault he got suspended and has dropped out.

It's not a slight on the lad either, it's just finally competitive in the middle and it's arguably a good position to be in.
 
It was a criticism of him in his time at Lorient.
Yeah I can imagine. He's made noises about wanting a tight core of players he trusts. However, at SAFC right now I don't think he can only work with a group of 16 or so key players. It works against our ability to develop players IMO. Also means that any player losses are more keenly felt.
 
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Yeah I can imagine. He's made noises about wanting a tight core of players he trusts. However, at SAFC right now I don't think he can only work with a group of 16 or so key players. It works against our ability to develop players IMO. Also means that any player losses are more keenly felt.

He's also said several times that it's a very long season with 46 games and a decent size squad is vital.
 
Yeah I can imagine. He's made noises about wanting a tight core of players he trusts. However, at SAFC right now I don't think he can only work with a group of 16 or so key players. It works against our ability to develop players IMO. Also means that any player losses are more keenly felt.
In his first season at Lorient he got 25 points from the first available 30, then they really just fell away from there. I don't know so it's pure speculation but I do wonder if a bit of fatigue set in from using such a small core of players and not using substitutions adequately. If so, then hopefully he's learnt his lessons as the Championship is a far more demanding league than Ligue 1 in terms of the schedule.

I'm concerned still about the size of the squad, it's going to take some very decent management to keep everyone happy and engaged and to maintain the excellent team spirit we have currently in the group as a whole.
 
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