Hazelboy

Danjuma the latest to turn them down, the Bournemouth desperation increases!

3 minutes ago, Super said:

I would like to see him turn them down stay here and carry on scoring goals then come the summer he'll be looking at a bigger and better move. Probably pure fantasy i know.

I understand this view, however put yourself in Semenyo shoes, guaranteed 6 months in the premier league, 10x pay rise, history of medium term injuries etc. I’d be pushing for it if I was him. 

In regards to Bournemouth & Southampton fans not being keen, how would we feel if we were linked with someone for that much money, with the goal scoring record he has? 
Purely looking at stats it’s understandable they’re a little bit miffed!!

In reality, he is worth the £12-15m we’re holding out for, as the stats don’t even begin to tell the story!

I ******* love politics, if only there was a separate page on here for people to argue about it on. 

38 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Good.  Imho, Bournemouth would be a bad choice for him (from a footballing point of view).

I agree with the relegation aspect of it, however Up front with the big lump Keiffer Moore might give Semenyo the chance on the weaker/ smaller defender that he could thrive on.

I suppose it also depends on if there is any other prem interest. Would a guarenteed 6 months in the Premier League be better than waiting until the summer and maybe ending up staying in the championship?! 

1 hour ago, mozo said:

Honestly, if Semenyo and Massengo both join the Diedhiou walk-away club I'm going to express my dissatisfaction (and nobody wants to see that!)

Going to walk from the pub with a flare then watch the players get off the coach?

1 hour ago, mozo said:

One for @Davefevs or @Mr Popodopolous I’d imagine,

if he’s sold for £20m, how much of that can we realistically spend to ‘rebuild’ as such? How much would need to be eaten up for FFP?
I know we won’t know exact figure but just a best guess, I’m assuming it will just be a tiny fraction of it available to spend!

5 hours ago, Robbored said:

I wouldn’t know - I don’t listen when he’s on. His perpetual  pessimism wears me down. Best for me to avoid it.

I’m not really sure what you feel this adds to the topic? Why read, let alone comment on Something you don’t listen to?

Proper weird bloke you are.

1 minute ago, Davefevs said:

Yes, was triggered by Martin himself because he reached the prescribed number of appearances.

Yep, he picked him, absolutely.

Klose signed a 1+1 deal in the summer.  I suspect the last thing Nige wants this season is him triggering another year by making enough appearances.

Yes, he re-signed him, but it does appear his legs have gone.  He could still play if pushed, he can lead, he can win balls in the air, but it probably is getting harder and harder for him.

 

Neil - I think we are in a situation where we are gonna be reactive I’m afraid.  I don’t think touting Alex or Antoine is the right thing to do in this window.

We might just end up on Feb 1st with exactly the same personnel (minus Ryley) that we entered the window with.

It does appear than Wilson might be back this month from what Nige said, and Kalas too.

Is it a risk?  Yep, sure is…but I don’t think we can control it.

This is what I’ve been told to expect by somebody close-ish to the club.

Not expecting anybody to reach the asking price for Semenyo or especially Scott this window. And the players we want to shift aren’t in any rush to leave. 

Remember in the summer when everybody was saying Joe Allen wouldn’t improve City’s midfield

Are we talking about Semenyo on 18k a week here?

He’s not even on a third of that! 

Imagine Ben Pearson will come up in the loan conversation! 

1 hour ago, AshtonRobin21 said:

Is it possible that Nige has been given the vote of confidence by the board, to get through January at least, and the agents tweets are to encourage the fans to stay on-side?

No chance, if he’s given January and the responsibility/ ability to bring a couple in then he simply has to see out the season. 

If anyone is to come in and replace him (which I don’t think they will) it needs to be done ASAP to give them a chance to do what they want in January. 

2 hours ago, petehinton said:

Simpson, Klose and even King were necessities really and were all very cheap ones. Tanner will definitely get better, as will Wilson, both will make us a better side as the years go on. Naismith a coup. Atkinson will go for big money too imo. 
 

You also have to see what he’s done to Scott, Semenyo, and Conway. He’s getting us £20m+ for those three and how they’ve been developed under him. I think it’s too black and white to look at pure incomings and nothing else. 
 

I’d certainly trust him over previous mangers. It’s just evaluating the situation we’re in once he’s finally given a chance to spend some cash. 

But his history of signings suggests you’d be wrong to do so, there is no proof that he can recruit reliably.

He has done well with Conway, Scott & Semenyo, however the latter 2 would be in any managers team! I’d agree Conway has been developed well by Pearson and may not have got a chance under somebody else.

He did stabilise the complete mess LJ/ Holden made to a point, however the first half season was by luck rather than good management.  We’re currently sleep walking towards relegation, his interview in the week saying the aim is get into the top half and push on from there, Tinnion on 3 peeps last week saying he believes the clubs ‘so close to achieving its goal’ All very alarming that they genuinely think they aren’t in a relegation battle, whereas the results suggest very differently! 

Regularly belittling players in press conferences, consistently rude to journalists, several players playing poorly out of position whilst players who play there sit in the stands and results becoming increasingly poor, it’s not difficult to understand why people have had enough! 

I think the question that needs to be asked is, do you trust Pearson to rebuild an entire squad?  as with so many OOC, he will have to in the summer.

For me I’m really struggling with this, of his signings he’s fallen out/ not played/ not trusted, Simpson, Klose, Atkinson (the only one he’s actually paid a decent fee for) Tanner & Wilson to an extent, although Tanner was labelled from the start as one for the future (still took every opportunity to shoot him down last season) 

Add in Sykes, who’s looked utter shite since his red card plus King well and truly past it & being played out of position.

Unless I’ve forgotten somebody that only leaves James & Naismith as ‘good’ signings. 
 

I’ve fallen into that horrible really wouldn’t be bothered if he went camp.

Bump

Things you love to see

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

Are you saying you think we’ve been better since he’s been out?  Or am I misreading it?  I couldn’t disagree more.

No, not at all. I just think, similar to Tanner last season, that as he’s out of the team people are thinking he’s way better than he is. People were begging for him to be dropped before he was injured because of his persistent errors, now these same people are acting as though he’s Rio Ferdinand!

Thats not to say he’s not been missed, in my opinion he has, but the defence was still shit with him in it! 

10 hours ago, Curr Avon said:

All those posters calling for Pearson's removal, I ask you simply. What. Is. The. Point?

As painful as it is, losing ineptly to a mid-table League 1 club, Pearson's position won't be under threat unless we're cast adrift in the relegation zone of the bread and butter, Championship.

Better times lie ahead with our burgeoning Academy, but it will demand patience.

We'll be safe come the end of this season and with more big earners cleared out, combined with savvy recruitment the club can build a tight knit squad to challenge in 2023/24.

Genuine Question, Is this something you would trust him with?  I'm not sure i would, do you honestly think the signings hes made have been good? Im not giving him Baker & Weimann as they didn't actually leave the club.

Naismith - has gotten much better since hes been out of the side and cost a lot of points when playing, better in the attacking sense than defending.

Atkinson - looks to be a good player at times but goes through pretty poor patches

Wilson - Wasn't given a sniff before his injury

Tanner - Looked ok in patches, another who got a lot better the less he played!!

Klose - Legs have completely gone 

Sykes - Looks exactly what he is, a free signing from league 1!

James - His best signing by a distance

King - Being polite, very poor especially as a 'leader'

Bajic - For the future, can't judge

The club has a massive decision to make and quickly.  If they back Pearson they have to extend his contract beyond the end of next season.  This summer is the perfect opportunity to reset and build again, you need somebody in charge who is in for the long term project.  Where is the sense in allowing him to reshape the squad how he'd like, if he or the club don't see him here after that season, for a new manager to come in and be stuck with Pearsons squad, with players all on 2/3 year contracts, completely counter productive.  If they don't see him being in place after next season, pull the plug now get the new guy in during the 4 week break, mini preseason so he can assess what he likes/ doesn't, ready for the big clear out in the summer.

1 minute ago, Redstoke said:

Get Mark Robins in.

Might as well try for Kompany while we’re at it!

2 minutes ago, Bodiesaffer said:

Again you're forgetting positions he played before and done well. not on it flat footed

May have played there the odd time before but this falls firmly at the door of Pearson. 

2 minutes ago, Bodiesaffer said:

3 minutes ago, Bodiesaffer said:

Get Semenyo off

How about play him in his actual position?

Horrendous tackle.

Just now, Robbored said:

All of the Swansea fans were still in the Atyeo in the several mins that it took me to exit AG.

One thing that did surprise me was the lack of visible police. The only time I saw any activity was when a squad car with blue was racing down the Winterstoke Rd on the opposite side heading toward AG.

Must have left before the final whistle then because they were certainly not kept in after the whistle.

Few points on this weeks episode.

Stop banging the table when you’re making points, you may not even hear it when you do it live, but it comes through so loud on the podcast

Ians clicking a pen or doing whatever it is comes through really loud on the pod as well. 
 

As for content, everyone has differing opinions etc so people can’t be criticised for having one.
However Marks ‘Millwall don’t have a pot to piss in’ is wrong. They spent over £2m on the striker, signed Afobe & honeyman both on wages above our level now and paid a decent amount on loans for Styles, Shackleton & Creswell.  QPR have also spent money down the Loan/ free transfer route that we just don’t have.
Ians point about not trusting Pearson with money/ squad rebuild, is one I don’t really disagree with, however it was ruined by the rude interaction when Mark joined in the conversation. 
The Pearson’s rule of having to have a 10 play towards the end was also wrong, it’s been a flat 3 for WBA & Reading.

Agree with Ian’s point that it’s time for the ‘WSM’ again. Something has to change and I wouldn’t be against that.

The podcast is usually done immediately after a game and all 3 regulars are passionate about the club so some of the more outlandish stuff like, give me an hour and I’ll create better set pieces & marks never wear the shirts comment last week can be put down to that! It’s a podcast that sits more on the negative scale compared to the other 2 but that’s ok, it’s nice to have a little variety! 

I know it sounds like I’m moaning, just pointing out a few pod etiquette issues and a few facts. Keep up the good work, takes a lot of time and commitment to do one after every game so it should be commended whether you like Ian or not!!!