Right, and even if that lot leave, that leaves a first team looking like; Bazunu Livramento Lyanco Stephens Perraud Smallbone Alcaraz Sulemana Stu Armstrong Mara Onuachu Bench: Edozie, Diallo, Bree, Larios, Adam Armstrong, Simeu, Tella, Aribo, Djenepo Spend decent money on some tough, experienced defensive midfielders, and that already looks like a team that can challenge top 6.
To be fair it's not the players is it but how they are being told to play and how we set up depending on the opposition? How you play at home against AFC Bournemouth is not how you set up against Newcastle United away - yet somehow we haven't even really grasped this revolutionary idea. I'm no football genuis as is obvious but my only thoughts about those remaining players is will we keep some of those/ will they want to stay? Can those players score goals past some wily defenders? We struggled against Grimsby this season.
I'd be looking at bringing in a solid, experienced and dependable CB to lead the back line too. Lyanco will still be a bit reckless at a lower level but ok as cover. Basically get a strong spine and build a team from that.
Can our players score against defenders? Time will tell of course, but I'm confident the likes of Mara would score 15-20. Everyone uses the example of Tella for highlighting the gulf in quality between Prem and Champ. Well look at another ex-Saint who plays for Burnley, J-Rod. Absolute spent force in the Prem. He scored something like 2 or 3 goals in his last two seasons combined. This season in the Championship he scored 10 goals in just 1,801 minutes of football. That's a goal every 180 minutes. Nathan Tella scored 17 in 2,471 minutes. Or a goal every 145 mins. I mean, that's not a huge gap between them. So for everyone raving about Tella, it just isn't that hard to score in the Champ. Regarding players wanting to leave. Of course any player would prefer to play in the Premier League, but, will a team offer what we want for them? Will they be guaranteeing first-team football? Can we tempt them to stay with increased wages/bonuses/appearances? Will our manager be a 'name' and inspire the players to stay at least for half a season? There will be half a dozen games before the window closes at the end of August. if we hit the ground running and win most of those games, I'd say that would be another big factor in encouraging players to stay.
Which leads us back to the question about who our manager will be next season. I might be proved wrong, but I'm not currently worried about what playing staff we will have next season. But I absolutely am worried about which manager we will have next season. It is so essential to get that right. We got it wrong this season (on multiple occasions), and the consequence is 20th place. We can't really afford to get it wrong again next season.
This may sound strange but frankly who will be the next and therefore, new manager is the only show in town for me at present. He must be involved in player decisions before the auction starts! SR will stand or fall on this one decision.
That's fair enough - I'm not quite as optimistic as you, recently we seem to ruin good players, whatever anyone thinks of Adam Armstrong he was tearing up the Championship and he's got two goals (I think maybe three) for Saints - he just can't be as crap as we think he is.
We did also take some of this summers budget to spend more in January (that went well), so wouldn’t expect us to spend all we make in players sales either.
If NJ was still in charge, I'd say my football disliking wife, MrsNo7...She'd do better than him. EDIT: If NJ was still in charge, i'd take anyone male or female who hasn't a clue in football and think they would do better.
There are semi regular mentions of Wiegman, but I doubt she will drop the England National Team before the World Cup when there is a reasonable chance of an England win.
My god. That would be horrific & classic saints. Just like when we appointed that rugby chap and thought he could influence a football team.
I actually disagree. Can't see the difference in the right woman from the right man. If they possess the qualities to do it then why would it be horrific? Sir Clive Woodward was different...that was from a different sport and discipline. We are in 2023 O's.
