Mark Kelly

Didn't someone say the only other number available was 41? Declan Rice's number. Hmmmmmm

Don't you dare! We need people like you to lift the mood. I'm getting very little joy from what appears to be happening (fear more than desire) and we need the lighter touch from the likes of you to help haul us back over the parapet. I'm heartily sorry if what I've contributed to the forum recently has upset you, I'm often wildly wrong about things so I really wouldn't read too much into it other than a silly old fart having a moan. I will try and hold back on my criticism and doom mongering I sincerely hope everything turns out OK with SFL and I'm left with a supermarket full of egg on my face.

I still don't like it Danny , who would ?

We MUST smash them.

Unless you have had some very frank and uncomfortable discussions at the end of the season with the players that had done reasonably well to get fourth place , and lets face it two losses to United meant they got six extra points and we lost out on six points so we'd in essence almost done enough to get third place , then surely you look at your regulars like Giroud , who'd been excellent and start them and phase in the new players when the need arises not throw everything out the window and start again with the newbies. Piss poor man management , he'll have a whole host of disgruntled players on his hands expected to dig him out of a hole of his own making . It's a recipe for disaster.

I hate to be "that guy" but I suspect you are correct . Sadly.

Maybe not an ego problem per se but more a desire to lose his job because he didn't achieve and not because disgruntled player a and b didn't do as he asked and prepared for. Nb Giroud didn't exactly look overjoyed when he scored in the cup either, and not for the first time. As I discussed with you earlier in the week I think Frank picked entirely the wrong line up for the Liverpool game which must have been a kick in the guts for a few.

What we have, I suspect, is a manager who wants to be the voice the players listen to, the one they do the bidding of. Can you imagine Frank telling the boys to get the ball up front as quickly as possible and then week in week out watch as Jorgi Slows everything down to Jorgi speed? I think you're right there have been Fallings out and these rumours appear to be illustration to that effect.

I really don't know, however one of the driving forces behind this could well be to try and get a core of decent English players before brexit brings all manner of issues with player nationality. Sell an Italian so you can force the issue with Rice a nominal English man and it makes more sense. I expect Frank wants to be the man Roman listens to.

Kepa, nope on your own there Azpi knocking on a bit but indispensable Rudi, seems to be on a downward trajectory Kante, been awful for six months, clueless when played as Lampard is playing him. I would imagine the propensity to speak is why Rudi finds himself in the position he does currently and why Willian is slumming it down the Rd with Luiz. The way things are going it really wouldn't surprise me if all of them bar Azpi were sold.

On one hand I wouldn't sell them the steam off my piddle but on the other hand he is almost dispensable seeing as we already have Kovacic ready to stand in and we should be able to ask a decent price for him. Outright sale though, no loans.

Spot on .

Just read an article on the BBC and it was basically the story of how he got to us but everyone interviewed said he was an intelligent guy and was a big voice in the dressing room even when he was only second/third choice. I have a much better feeling about him now having read that. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/africa/54085178

Just been reading some comments on another forum from Rennes supporters and they seem sad to see him go but pleased to see him get a dream move. General consensus seems to be , because he's so big he makes the saves look easier than a smaller keeper would , he's great in the air but has a tendency to push things away which he could be catching . Hopefully he'll get all the coaching he needs to improve , there appears to be enough of them to devote to the task!

Welcome aboard Ted .