Going to be fun facing a new team in the League next season
Congratulations Crawley
Most definitely can see the Crawley spares thread being busy for next season. Hopefully, it won’t be on Boxing Day.
Think a lot of people ticked it off as a new ground in the Papa John's. Seem to remember we took over 1k for that midweek!
I’ve been there 4 times for papa johns and friendlies, but being a league game will feel like a ‘new ground’ as you imagine it will probably be a sell out in both ends.
well done the Saints .. and that was the best play off Champ game I have seen since 1998 ! BUT IF Leeds had had a proper striker in the team I reckon they would have won easily .. two many midfielders/pretty ball players spoilt their broth
As a neutral one should hope that the team that finished third gain promotion. However, I dislike Leeds and Millwall would have missed their annual punch ups so well done Southampton!
Sunak must be happy (if he has been told his team played a play off final today).
The Leeds squad will be in for a serious overhaul this summer. A lot of players on loan (Harrison, Koch, Aaronson, Llorente, Kristensen etc) will be sold, and you'd expect players like Gnonto, Summerville and Gray to attract interest from other clubs too.
According to Keiran Maguire they have 73m of transfer installments to pay out this summer before they can even think of buying anyone.
The Leeds squad will be in for a serious overhaul this summer. A lot of players on loan (Harrison, Koch, Aaronson, Llorente, Kristensen etc) will be sold, and you'd expect players like Gnonto, Summerville and Gray to attract interest from other clubs too.
According to Keiran Maguire they have 73m of transfer installments to pay out this summer before they can even think of buying anyone.
well done the Saints .. and that was the best play off Champ game I have seen since 1998 ! BUT IF Leeds had had a proper striker in the team I reckon they would have won easily .. two many midfielders/pretty ball players spoilt their broth
he was at St Mary's for the semi .. just before election fever of course .. perhaps he wanted to be free of politics before the new season
another point, the vast majority of the Saints players are English, though quite a few, like the manager have Scots ancestry.
Manager Martin is an interesting man, he seems to have had rather a torrid childhood also, some quotes from Wiki ..
Martin has been a vegan since 2014, initially for health reasons as he sought to manage issues with ulcerative colitis.[5] He is also a part-owner of Erpingham House, the largest vegan restaurant in the UK.[6] In a 2018 interview, he stated that he had joined the Green Party of England and Wales.[6] He is also a proponent of Buddhism.[7]
One thing is certain, unless Southampton either sign some new defenders or change their style of play a bit they will take some serious beatings next season. They conceded 63 goals in the championship, so translate that to the PL and it doesn't bode well.
Bet Man City were quite pleased though. Southampton's win triggered a £20m permanent transfer for defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis.
20m for a guy who never made a league appearance for them.
as was well documented on Sky, Harwood- Bellis has been integral to successive promotions, first with Burnley and yesterday. I really rate him .. however his main attributes are his pace, game reading, tacking and passing .. I m o his future could be more as a defensive midfielder or right wing back rather than as an out and out centre back. He's obviously had a great start as a Citteee graduate
As you say, the Saints need some serious rethinking around their defence having conceded 63 last season .. 20 more than Leeds, but look who won the game !!
City do pretty well out of Southampton. Bazunu (12m), Harwood-Bellis (20m), Edozie (10m), Lavia (14m), Shea Charles (15m). Over 70m in fees and i don't think any of them made a single PL start for City.
Alternatively you could flip that and say it works even better for Southampton. They then sold Lavia for 50m and are now back in the PL
well done the Saints .. and that was the best play off Champ game I have seen since 1998 ! BUT IF Leeds had had a proper striker in the team I reckon they would have won easily .. two many midfielders/pretty ball players spoilt their broth
I remember when we beat them 1-0 in our relegation season they had so much possession but couldn't score.....or for that matter create to many clear cut chances.
Comments
I wonder before the playoffs started what the odds would have been on Crawley and Oxford both winning the playoffs.
Crawley beat Crewe
Oxford beat Bolton
Southampton beat Leeds
In all 4 national playoff finals, the southern team has won!
BUT IF Leeds had had a proper striker in the team I reckon they would have won easily .. two many midfielders/pretty ball players spoilt their broth
Sunak must be happy (if he has been told his team played a play off final today).
According to Keiran Maguire they have 73m of transfer installments to pay out this summer before they can even think of buying anyone.
Manager Martin is an interesting man, he seems to have had rather a torrid childhood
also, some quotes from Wiki ..
Martin has been a vegan since 2014, initially for health reasons as he sought to manage issues with ulcerative colitis.[5] He is also a part-owner of Erpingham House, the largest vegan restaurant in the UK.[6] In a 2018 interview, he stated that he had joined the Green Party of England and Wales.[6] He is also a proponent of Buddhism.[7]
20m for a guy who never made a league appearance for them.
I really rate him .. however his main attributes are his pace, game reading, tacking and passing .. I m o his future could be more as a defensive midfielder or right wing back rather than as an out and out centre back.
He's obviously had a great start as a Citteee graduate
As you say, the Saints need some serious rethinking around their defence having conceded 63 last season .. 20 more than Leeds, but look who won the game !!
Alternatively you could flip that and say it works even better for Southampton. They then sold Lavia for 50m and are now back in the PL
Charlton Athletic 1-0 Leeds United: Macauley Bonne goal sees Addicks win - BBC Sport