The Original OTIB

Naismith came on a free and will have one year left. He will be gone, in my view. The Wells contract runs to the end of this year, if I recall correctly, as it was a "new" one in Dec 2022 for 2 years. Likely to go to a relegated Championship club or the local route (near neighbours). The former more likely owing to wages. All guesses, of course.

Without any doubt whatsoever, the STATED position by the club and Manning was that they were in alignment (LM used that word). The club STATED that they believed in the squad (please don't derail via opinions about lies, incompetence, b.s., and all the other stuff that's been done to death, there are countless threads for that). Manning said: "The big bit is the playing group that is currently here." - "The big attraction is the current group that are in place". He was ok with what he was walking into and that: ""The balance in the group looks good". The balance being the OLD and the NEW. Equally, on older professionals, he said that it is: "Important for any group ... a core of senior players ... I'm big in terms drawing out that experience and that knowledge." Now every close season will have a natural turnaround of players, so that will get them off the hook to some extent, but if they perceive now (or season's end) that there is an imbalance at all, it will be one that they have stated that they did not see (or STATE thus) at the start of their "journey". All that aside, much of the change will undoubtedly be at the senior level. I can see this going one of two ways. 1. They will say that the seniors are those that remain, i.e. Rob Dickie and they will also bump up Zac (albeit at 27) into that category. Only younger players added. 2. Manning will bring in older heads from the lower divisions, people that he knows and has worked with to augment the aforementioned (or maybe an older, lesser known pro from West Ham as well). If two, will the club (well, BT) pitch in and identify senior players to bring in to add something else? I think (as do many) that we will see the end of King, James, Naismith, Wells, Williams (only 27, I know) and probably Cornick (I'd keep him, but that is a whole other, contentious area best left for other thread hysteria). That will leave Sykes as the next "senior(ish)", at the grand old age of 26 (have i missed anyone?). The serious question is, who will be the new old heads for next season? ** Footnote: This isn't a LM in or out thread, there are plenty of them already. I believe (95%) that he will be here so I'm not even bothering on that score. This is about likely trajectory into pre-season and into next.

Best time on left of a front 3 while at Luton. Think still carrying a knock today.

A very good passer, decent pace, good engine, so disagree.

Not good today, better as an attacking mid for me, not comfortable holding and doing the dirty stuff. Good footballer though.

They have mentioned the subs as obvious and largely what should have been done in the week.

?

Tovey sounds like he's been at the sherry

Not a football one

Irony about Withers is that he thinks Swansea shit but do so much of what we do, pointless passing.

Too close to the club now?

Joke

L1?

Probably true

Still relying on others being shitter than us. Right team to play at just the right time.

Nutters on pitch

Proves Roberts should have replaced Cam in the week.

Tame from Wells

Bollocks, 13.5 my guess No chance

Nahki does far more running than TC.

F me, Swansea mess up another golden chance

Do we do that?

Stuck to the, I mean my gameplan?

Odds on Manning saying " it's been coming" if we win?

Bad miss