The pre-season thread - 2024/25

I bet RM won't be moaning about Alcaraz's Spanish speaking as he will the the translator for the group lol

 

Well timed Janny

 

RM, in the Echo, saying that Sam Amo and Tyler Dibling saying it is up to them to show that staying at the club is more beneficial than going out on loan. He says that there is a lot of interest in both of them and uses the word “inexperienced”, which is largely true, but then how experienced was Lamine Yamal before the Euros?
I think they both offer something different from other squad members and I would like to see them get some bench time and opportunity.

 

Sam Amo was our best player against Eastleigh, I thought, closely followed by Dibling

 

I agree. I’m desperate not only for both to stay but to be given decent game time

 

I think he was bought with getting us out of the Championship in mind, much like Billy Sharp. Obviously injuries ducked that for him and be interesting if the club want to trust him to be one of the strikers going into the PL with the injuries and the fact he has only played half a season in the Championship

 

Yeah would make sense seeing as he's not even proven above league one level. He's barely played in the last two seasons too.

For his sake as well it'd be better to move on.

 

GK McCarthy, Lis, Lumley
RB KWP, Bree, Sugawara
CB Stephens, THB, ABK, Edwards, Wood, Bednarek
LB Manning, Larios(np), Taylor
MF Aribo, Alcaraz, Lallana, Charles, Smallbone, Downes
WG SAA, Sulemana, Edozie, Dibling, Robinson, Merry
ST Armstrong, Stewart(np), Mara, Onuachu

31 players in the squad now(counting the youngsters who featured against Eastleigh)

Stewart & Larios definitely won’t be playing in Spain, but still 29 to pick from for the two warm up games.

Based on not playing Friday and Martins comments about players need to leave for game time, it’s fair to think Sulemana, Tall Paul & ABK are the ones we’re looking to move on.

 

Come on, Yamal is a special, special talent. Not fair on either Dibling or SAA to use him as an example!

 

Yeah. Magic's suggestion of sending him back to Sunderland in order to bring Clarke here just seems so obvious for both parties. Sunderland never successfully replaced him (or Diallo), so it's not there isn't room for him back there. Obviously it would have to be Stewart plus cash, because Clarke's value is greater than Stewart's.

That said, Sunderland know Stewart's injury history very well - and it might put them off wanting him back permanently. So it might have to full price for Clarke, plus a season-long loan for Stewart on attractive terms (for Sunderland).

 

Who is the chap on the left? Struggling to keep up with the youngsters and their baby faces

 

Nathaniel boot I think.

 

Could be Terry Boat, Jason Dog, Luke Automobile, Tony Wheelbarrow or Phil Tophat?

We have a Monopoly on silly names…

 

Dibling sounds like a character from Trumpton

 

Thanks, young center back.
Looks like Stephens might have picked up an injury, not seen him amongst those off to Spain and was absent from Eastleigh.
ABK might be missing too and potential he’ll be a player leaving
Edwards had a slight knock against Eastleigh.

Saints could well be putting the Boot in Wednesday

 

Stephens is definitely in Spain, saw him in the background of one of the photos Saints released of the players boarding the coach.

Would assume his presumed injury isn't that major if he's travelled out.

 

I think Billy Battleship might do well this season

 

I didn't even remember this, but apparently we need to hire a Fred Flatiron.