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Yankee_Jack

Key Player
I am not sure we are conditioned well enough to play at a higher tempo. This is a manifestation of the larger problem ... Martin operates in his own bubble. A bubble that would have been burst if we'd played prem or peer level opposition in preseason. But since we played, rather meagerly, against L1 opposition there was the bubble feel good factor. Martin lies to himself.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
I see Sam Clucas has been released by Stoke. I won't forget his celebration when he scored against us. Good enough for him.

Luke Jephcott has also been released by Plymouth. He did well for a while scoring 7 in 14 when Plymouth were promoted to Div One. In the 20/21 season he went on a run of 14 goals in 18 games attracting a lot of interest from Championship clubs. Then his form fell off a cliff and he was loaned to Swindon scoring 7 in 32. He can obviously score goals and I wonder if playing at a better club with a different manager might re-ignite his form. Reckon he's worth a trial. Born in Aberystwyth he has Welsh 'Unders' caps.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
PS: He's still young at 23 and his career goals/game ratio is 1/3.4 games. I know that isn't great but he did win Division 2 Player of the Month award and 14 in 18 shows he does know where the net is. He hasn't repeated that but doing it in the first place was excellent. Why did it stop? Who knows? Maybe injury; team change of tactics; personnel changes or whatever. It seems to me though he has the striking basics that good players could bring out of him.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
I see Ben Woodburn is a free agent at 23 years old. I understand that his career has stalled after a bad injury but he had HUGE potential and I reckon the right club, the right handling and the right environment could bring it out of him. He has all the raw ingredients and was highly regarded by Liverpool when he was younger. If the price is right, well worth a gamble imo.
 

CroJack

Key Player
If the price is right, well worth a gamble imo.
Mate, we have Cooper, Walsh, Paterson, Congreve, and probably Cundle for another year in that position. Not to mention Ntcham, Fulton, Cullen and Piroe who all can play in the attacking midfield. And, of course, Whittaker if he stays with us.

What we need is a couple of speedy and creative full-backs, an experienced goalie, and a physically strong striker who is good in the air.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Mate, we have Cooper, Walsh, Paterson, Congreve, and probably Cundle for another year in that position. Not to mention Ntcham, Fulton, Cullen and Piroe who all can play in the attacking midfield. And, of course, Whittaker if he stays with us.

What we need is a couple of speedy and creative full-backs, an experienced goalie, and a physically strong striker who is good in the air.
Good point but, as a youngster, it's a fair argument to reason that Woodburn was better than most of them at the same stage. Liverpool recognise talent and Woodburn was being touted by them as a future star. I accept that he has nowhere realised his potential through injury and other reasons but I feel that he could in the right team. He's young, has ability and might well be cheap.
 

CroJack

Key Player
I don't know. I like Walsh, Oli Cooper, Cundle, Congreve, Whittaker, and Paterson. I understand what you are saying, but the question is are we going to get a better player than what we already have?
 
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ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Probably old news now but Ogbene has signed for Luton and Gylfi joins Rooney at DC. Hope we're not paying his wages!
 

Yankee_Jack

Key Player
He was quick to venture forward and slow to get back. Defensively 1-on-1 he was weaker than your typical LB. He has delusions of grandeur when it comes to comp. Look at what has transpired, his agent has known what was happening for months. And yet, despite being all that and then some, apparently, no other club has come calling for his services. I’m not saying he’s over valued, all the other clubs in the league are. All except Martin, who wants him to play his brand of Madness. Martin needs a pet to be enthusiastic in training and faithful on the field. Soton are going to get what they hungered for … mid-table madness.

Lati is also without a club. Another weak defender who thought he was all that and then some. Is he too waiting to be sucked up by Martin. Another player with an agent that can’t even get a call answered.
 

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
I see that Brentford may be interested in Nathan Woods. WOL mention a fee in the region of £4 million whilst the Sun say closer to £7 million. He's one of our better players and likely to improve further under Duff after being exposed to Martin's madness last season. For me he's an absolute keeper but if we have to sell him, we need a lot more money than what's being quoted with a stiff sell-on clause in there as well.
 
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