Had this argument last week, so reluctant to go into it again. But he joined Age 16 as an academy scholar.
What I find really galling is that we are making all of this transfer incoming revenue by selling the players that got us relegated. So some body thinks they are decent enough to sign. Shows how we really messed up on the management side last season. Wonder where we would have ended if we’d replaced Ralph with a good quality manager rather than experiment with who we did
Yeah, agree with that. One of the great "what ifs" - we really should have taken De Zerbi when we were looking at him in the summer.
Oh, I’d be a lot less bothered if we were selling a guy who we’d bought for big money and had scored twice in 40+ appearances. But I know what you mean.
No, he didn't. He joined us on April 21, 2017: https://www.southamptonfc.com/news/2017-04-21/announcement-signing-southampton-nathan-tella He was born July 5, 1999. That means that he was six weeks short of his 18th birthday.
Hope you’re right. Barely any proof of his finishing abilities and productivity. He can run and dribble, sure, but could easily be another Edozie that flatters to deceive. Tella has actually done the business
yeah we definitely had some talented players in the squad last season. We just had poor management choices and too many players which was our downfall. On paper we definitely weren’t a bottom 3 team in my view. But whatever all history now
Mind you, if we had stayed up with De Zerbi, I bet that absolute whopper Ankersen would still be in charge of all football matters, so y'know, every cloud...
We definitely could’ve done. A decent striker in and not the absolute lunatic managerial appt and it could’ve been very different. In hindsight, should’ve sacked Ralph in the summer and brought in a fresh slate for the squad. I got that wrong at the time because I felt he should continue.
Tella is one of those that I’d file under “didn’t want him to go, not overly concerned that he’s gone”. Not because I don’t think he can do a job in this league (he clearly can), but because I think we have ample cover there, and players that can equally do that job.
Yeah, pretty much this. Also I know some people really liked him and he has a great personality but I saw him play about 40 times for us prior to our relegation and he scored one goal. Ran around a lot but I have to be honest I never saw him as a PL player and stunned that he’s ended up as a £20m transfer. Will be interesting to see how he goes in the Bundesliga.
Plus he’s already been directly responsible for both our wins this season. He’s better than Sulemana. He’s been here for ages, he’s earned his chance here and we didn’t need to sell him. Im absolutely furious about this one tbh. He’s one of those players that makes the trip to st Mary’s worthwhile. But we sell on as usual I guess
Yesterday I was wondering if he was still playing, after what turned out to be a damp squib of a move... "Manchester United have placed English free agent Ryan Bertrand, 34 on their shortlist as they look to find cover for injured 28-year-old England defender Luke Shaw." BBC
Tella is better than Sulemana. Mentally up for the championship. This is a **** decision from the club. We also don’t have a striker with adams going. Today has been kind of like losing lallana and lambert just before the start of the last championship season. I don’t really get what there is to be positive about?
You don’t know he’s better than Sulemana. I’d suggest Sulemana looked better than Tella in the short time he was in the PL. Tella was pretty crap in the PL, Sulemana hasn’t played in the Championship.
