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Prediction Logged by at 13:43:49
Brentford v Southampton prediction logged
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England
at 18:14 29 Aug 2024

Ramsdale dropped as soon as he's linked with Saints

No left back but Livramento in so maybe he will play there

Gibbs-White in deservedly. I remember us trying to sign him from Wolves. Shame

Carsley picks his U21 squad members including Angel Gomes!

Some interesting selections and some that shouldn't be there (Maguire)
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Are we just preparing for the Championship?
at 13:49 28 Aug 2024

I think we probably are. I'm sure SR hope we'll survive, but they are preparing in case we're relegated, unlike last time we were in the PL. So, it could be said that they are learning something(?)

This means that rather than spending say £30m on one player, they want to spend £15 on two, because the £15m players will still be around next year, whereas the £30m player's wages would be too high to carry in the Championship, and they will have a release clause so that if we go down, they can wave goodbye.

At least this strategy should give us a good chance of bouncing back from the Championship again next season. We'll then have another crack at the PL in 2 years time without the burden of previous PSR losses hanging over us as they do now. So you can see some logic in it.

But this gives us lots of problems, primarily a lack of real quality in the side. I think potential relegation will also complicate other transfers we need. For example, Ramsdale we probably want as a loan with option/requirement to buy if we stay up. But Arsenal are probably looking at it and thinking that we'll probably go down, so they'll just get Ramsdale back with 1 year less on his contract, which they won't want. That might mean we won't get him unless we end up paying a serious loan fee. Hopefully we're now their only option, just as he seems to be our only option.
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Prediction Logged by at 12:39:40
Southampton v Nottingham Forest prediction logged
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3 "relegation 6 pointers" coming up?
at 14:50 22 Aug 2024

It might be too early in the season to hear the term "relegation 6 pointer", but that might be what 3 of our next 4 PL fixtures turn out to be.

We'll need about 10 wins to stay up, and about the same number of draws. That's roughly a win and a draw in every 4 games overall, with a number of those fixtures being very difficult to get any points from. Although the likes of Bournemouth or Fulham may stumble, I'd say that these are the clubs we're really competing with and they represent our best chances of getting results:

Wolves
Everton
Brentford
Forest
Leicester
Ipswich

If we're going to survive, we'll probably have to finish above 3 of those, so our fixtures against them are absolutely vital. We need both to win the points and deny those other clubs points.

Although the start to the season might be fairly "easy", that just makes it even more important that we get the points. Forest and Ipswich at home might be as easy as it gets for us.

Although there's a long way to go, the course of our PL season may well be set over the next 4 games. I don't think we're really ready for these key games yet, but I'm just hoping that we get some results and that gives us confidence.
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We are top of the league, said we are top of the league
at 15:03 19 Aug 2024

in this one anyway:

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/backward_pass

and bottom in this one:

https://www.premierleague.com/stats/top/clubs/total_long_balls

I expect our placings in these tables will be similar at the end of the season too. You can't say that Russ doesn't have a clear idea of what our "identity" should be.
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Prediction Logged by at 10:02:58
Newcastle United v Southampton prediction logged
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Sorry but Russell must be either irrational or unprofessional or both
at 16:43 17 Apr 2024

RM decided that Baz should be in goal last night with Lumley on the bench. So, he'd decided that if Baz was injured after 30 seconds, Lumley was the right man to come on. Then, because Baz was injured in the warm-up, he decides AM should come on instead. In what world is that logical decision making?!? It doesn't make any sense, but then some of his other decisions have been pretty weird too.

The only alternative explanation that does make sense is that RM just didn't think about it beforehand. Despite the fact that he's had all season to think this through, the evidence suggests he hasn't really thought about it at all. Only when he's forced to think about it does he decide what he really wants and then he just decides on a whim. This is just unprofessional.

It must be one of those 2 things right? What other explanation is there?

We won, which is great and credit to all involved, but I do wonder what is going on inside RM's head, if anything much at all.
[Post edited 17 Apr 16:45]
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Leicester points deduction?
at 14:25 7 Mar 2024

There is talk in the press today that Leicester have been in legal dispute with the EFL over financial losses putting them in breach of FFP. It seems that Leicester have won the latest battle but a cloud still hangs over them. The talk is of fines and potential point deductions. From what I understand, they can get out of trouble by making player sales in June - but that is hardly the way to prepare for the PL.

Before we wish too much ill on them, we should remember that we are up against the same issue. The limit that Leicester, Leeds and Saints face is a maximum £83m loss over 3 years. It seems that whether or not Leicester or Saints get promoted, the ability to strengthen the squad in the summer will be severely limited.
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81% possession
at 11:33 25 Feb 2024

I don't understand why people are so upset about the result yesterday. You can't get better than 81% possession and that's what matters, right?
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Will we be promoted?
at 12:30 18 Feb 2024

The bookies think we will, but I think the odds are actually against us.

According to the bookies we're about 4/7 on, so saying that we probably WILL be promoted. But, to me, Leeds look the stronger side and have the advantage of the final match. We're the best of the rest, but missing out on automatic promotion means we're in the playoffs and that will be a bit of a lottery. Even if we're playing well at that stage and go in as favourites, our realistic odds will only be roughly 2/1 or maybe 3/2, so the odds go against us. I can easily see the likes of Norwich surprising people and going up via the playoffs.

The bookies think our chances of promotion are 64% and I think the real number is more like the other way round at 46%. What do you think?
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