04 May 2025 19:35:18
I know a CF is a priority but we need a strong, vocal CB who can work with our young lads coming through. I think it's as important as as a forward for next season.
04 May 2025 22:28:30
We have Maguire, De Ligt, Martinez for that. Maybe we go for Tah but I don't think a vocal presence is what's needed. Instead we need the players to be more comfortable in possession when being pressed.
04 May 2025 23:26:16
Need to sort this wingback situation out once and for all. Amass targeted and weak on all 4 goals. Sorry but we don’t have a Lewis-Skelly here.
05 May 2025 03:38:04
Spenno,
An 18 year old playing his 2nd ever away game, that’s it he’s written off already? Wow.
05 May 2025 03:56:54
Maguire just points and does no actual leading on the field. Martinez is made of glass it seems and De Ligt is sadly perhaps not up to it. We need a real DEPENDABLE leader in there.
Maguire reverted to type against Brentford. Slow, ponderous and out of position.
Please please tell me that there is a bit of pudding pulling going on with this talk of signing him for longer! Never was, isn’t and never will be EPL level player.
But then as you all know. I don't like him one iota as a player.
05 May 2025 05:59:01
Deligt, Martinez or Mc Guire are just not good enough mobile enough or injury free enough, RA knows this that’s why he wants a decent CB because we not got one, problem is he needs a GK too along with couple of strikers minimum and a Ugarte replacement that’s the whole spine of the team and every existing one we have is dreadful.
The usual suspects will jump and shout about how great Deligt is or Martinez but they are judging that on a couple of games here and there where they been ok, no more than that and both have too many injuries anyway and both too slow, if they were at other teams we would not even look at them.
Stop filling yourselves.
05 May 2025 08:29:46
I've liked what I've seen from Amass so far. Yes he could have been better on a few of the goals yesterday. Yet he's just turned 18, and was up against Mbeumo (one of the best players in the league off the right hand side, Salah and Saka are better than him, but I don't think anyone else is) .
What I liked though was that he didn't lose out because he wasn't in the right place, or did the wrong thing. He lost out physically, while still showing a lot of fight. He's still quite small and hasn't filled out yet. When he gains a bit more muscle and fills into his man's body he'll be a great player.
He's shown that he reads the game well, is technically good and creative going forward, and he's shown great work rate, attitude and fighting spirit.
He has everything he needs to be a great player, he just needs to grow into his body a bit more. No doubt the club will have a carefully structured training programme for him for over the summer, while he'll naturally fill out over the next 12-18 months or so anyway.
As for CB's, we could obviously look to upgrade in this area, but I don't think it's a priority by a long shot. This team needs goals, energy in midfield and a keeper who doesn't have butter fingers long before we need to upgrade our CB's.
05 May 2025 09:07:06
He’s clearly not ready at all, not even close.
05 May 2025 10:22:47
I think it's only fair to judge him when he has had several games and got used to playing with his new team mates. It's like any relationship. takes time to settle. Also if our midfield offers no protection he will face an impossible task.
05 May 2025 10:57:36
Spenno, I don't think he's a long way off. He's far too good for under 21's, but is maybe a few months away from gaining the physical core strength needed to compete with more physically challenging players.
He has good reading of the game, great technique, is creative going forward, and is quick. In Germany, Spain or Portugal he'd be playing most weeks for any mid-table sides.
The tricky thing is he won't learn how to compete with men without actually doing it.
Depending on how he fills out over the summer next season he'll either need a loan where he'll start most weeks. Or he could stay and be a rotation option. If Shaw is fit I'd be tempted to loan him out until Christmas maybe with a call back option. That way he can play for someone else for a few months, then come back more physically able to compete probably around the time Shaw pulls up injured again.
He turned 18 a month ago, I'm almost certain that he'll be ready before he turns 19.
05 May 2025 11:17:14
I would love to be able to say Amass will develop into a great player for us but I don't think so. I know he's only 18 and just started his career but his lack of size is a worry in a side that is physically weak already.
05 May 2025 13:29:49
CB is probably the lowest priority for me. We have de ligt, martinez, yoro, maguire and heaven. We also have mazraoui and shaw who can play in there. Not to mention the younger lads like fredericsson.
05 May 2025 14:39:17
He’s already taller than Patrice Evra, Denis Irwin and Roberto Carlos, an inch or 2 inches taller it seems to suggest online, so not sure you need to worry about his lack of size.
05 May 2025 16:06:02
I am not sure people are stating height is the problem it’s physically strong enough that’s the problem, it’s ok saying he might fill out, yes he might, but he might also not and stay very slight…. which in a physical league such as premier that’s a problem and may make him better suited overseas in a more technical league…. But he can’t be judged yet, just have to see if RA thinks he good enough to start more games.
05 May 2025 17:01:17
Height isn't a big factor for a wing back, imo. Strength and energy are much more important. And Amass looks like a sturdy young lad with a good engine. He just needs to develop the confidence to use that strength up against men.
05 May 2025 17:15:31
We 100% need a decent CB, luckily it looks like RA agrees, so that does for me
We need a new GK
We need 2 min new strikers
We need a proper midfielder to replace Ugarte
That will do for now…
Try our best to sell Deligt, Martinez, Onana, Rasmus, Garnacho probably sell Mainoo, Bandiyer, McGuire, can’t see anyone buying Ugarte so he have to be back up.
That would put us in much better position on day one.
05 May 2025 17:15:52
Height is not the issue agree. Fully agree with German it's physicality. He may well get that and with more experience learn how and when he needs to use it.
Way too early to tell. I think he would benefit from a good loan move if only 3rd choice next season. If he is 2nd choice he will get plenty of football here to develop.
05 May 2025 17:56:54
Germansupp you talk absolute nonsense. Ugarte has been one of our better players this season you clown.
05 May 2025 18:48:28
German, Ugarte will be first choice next season, likely alongside a new midfielder.
MdL if he can stay fit will also likely be first choice. Especially as we are unlikely to sign a new CB this summer. The most recent rumours (and of course as they are rumours they may well be wrong) is that we have shelved looking at a CB as we feel players like Yoro and Heaven can step up, and instead we will focus the spending on the forward line. Looking at players like Cunha and Mbeumo to play the inside forward positions as well as looking to sign a striker. While we are on the fence with a keeper apparently, happy to sell one of or both Onana and Bayindir if we can get acceptable offer, but unless one of them leaves we won't move for a keeper.
05 May 2025 23:58:30
All successful teams have a strong foundation ie defence. That starts with the keeper and sorry but Onana is just not top class. Compare him to Schmeichel and VDS and you can see how much he lacks the organisational skills and technical ability nec for his position.
Am not sure Ramsdale is the answer. He couldn't organise a poor Southhampton defence and I don't feel he is good enough to play at the highest level.
If Martinez at Villa was available I would take him. He has a big ego but seems to have have got stale at Villa. A new challenge might be just what he needs.
Shappy you may be right about the central defence being kept as it is but it is a huge responsibility to put on young shoulders like Yoro and Heaven.
Cuenha or a skilful maverick like him going forward is a definite must to help Bruno create chances and share the burden of goal scoring and creation and obviously a top goalscorer is something a blind man knows that we need.
06 May 2025 05:39:52
Let’s see, but I reckon 100% a commanding decent CB is high on RA list and so it should but we will see….
As for Ugarte if that’s the level of player we are looking for, hell this season is not a one off!
06 May 2025 12:31:19
I reckon we have a pretty solid selection of CBs personally and whilst it of course could be improved, doesn't feel like a priority. Of course what does change things is the strong likelihood that one or both of Evans and Lindelof leave. If we're going with this 3 man system we need at least 5 strong options which we have (Martinez, De Ligt, Yoro, Maguire, Heaven) before we even include fullback options who can do the job (Mazraoui, Shaw) .
06 May 2025 16:42:59
Problem with those CBs Spenno is Deligt been injured most of his career, Martinez is accident waiting to happen and injured more than not, same with Shaw, McGuire also picking up injuries now, so basically have Heaven And Yoro, Mazaroui, I would not fancy our chances with that back 3, that’s for sure
100% RA buys a decent CB.
06 May 2025 18:06:34
We need a top experienced cb badly.