Nathan Tella

[4midable]

Will.he start for southampton tomorrow?

[Bosscat]

Yes

[claretburns]

Going off there final pre-season friendly then yes, Tella will start tonight.

[Lancasterclaret]

I wouldn't read too much into that btw, Lavia will almost certainly start tonight as well, and he's not going to be there past August 31st

[LeadBelly]

It doesn't prove he'll play but I note, with my bookie, he's the shortest odds player on the "players to score" list in this game tonight (@5/1).

I'd be very surprised if Southampton don't start him - a player who performed exceptionally well in this league last season - against a side which just come up from third tier.

[Leisure]

They're just playing what is their strongest 11 at the minute.

[Woodleyclaret]

I personally don't get the Saints hype they have looked poor for the last 4 seasons and think they will be a midtable side at best.They lacked leadership and a cohesive defence and Nathan won't have the superb service he got last season.

[Newcastleclaret93]

Based on pre season there team will likely be:

Bazanu
Walker pieters
Charles
Stephens
Manning
Smallbone
Ward Prowse
Alcaraz
Edozie
Tella
Armstrong


Wouldn’t be surprised if Adams started in front of tella though. Apparantly he’s fit again.

[Goobs]

I personally don't get the Saints hype they have looked poor for the last 4 seasons and think they will be a midtable side at best.They lacked leadership and a cohesive defence and Nathan won't have the superb service he got last season.

Football is all about opinions I guess, and mine is that you are so wrong it is laughable. The team / squad they currently have is way too good for the championship IMO.

Obviously time will tell if that squad remains the same and which of us is right I guess though.

[jedi_master]

Based on pre season there team will likely be:

Bazanu
Walker pieters
Charles
Stephens
Manning
Smallbone
Ward Prowse
Alcaraz
Edozie
Tella
Armstrong


Wouldn’t be surprised if Adams started in front of tella though. Apparantly he’s fit again.

That team absolutely walks that league IMO.

[Lancasterclaret]

I think they will have a wobble at the start because it will take time for the team to adjust, but they will be well up there one would think

Plus Martin knows what he is doing

It will be interesting to see who leaves before Aug 31st though

[Goobs]

That team absolutely walks that league IMO.

And that is without Adams who will crucify that league.

[JarrowClaret]

My concern for them is that they seem to be pricing players out of moves it is a fine balancing act and only time will tell if the players are happy with that. I’m thinking more in terms with Lavia and Warde prowse than Tella I suspect he is aware that our interest won’t become reality properly until towards the end of the window. I think we probably accepted fees that were below what we actually wanted to get the players out and new ones in which helped us form a cohesive group of players all pulling in the same direction from the off will the Saints have the same we will find out tonight.

[JarrowClaret]

Based on pre season there team will likely be:

Bazanu
Walker pieters
Charles
Stephens
Manning
Smallbone
Ward Prowse
Alcaraz
Edozie
Tella
Armstrong


Wouldn’t be surprised if Adams started in front of tella though. Apparantly he’s fit again.

I’d be shocked, unless a fee is agreed obviously, if Lavia isn’t playing!

[Selby Claret]

Been given the no. 11 shirt for Saints

[Muric Leggings]

If Southampton have any sense they will keep Tella and he will fire them back to the Premier league,superb footballer in that league,him in the the Premier League I'm not so sure.

[Goody1975]

That team absolutely walks that league IMO.

Think Leicester might have something to say about that.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I’d be shocked, unless a fee is agreed obviously, if Lavia isn’t playing!

Lavia hasn’t featured very often in pre season. I would be surprised if he plays.

I do think Southampton storm the league at a canter. They have two strikers that already have a great record at this level. Then some premier league talent in Walker Pieters and Alacaraz that should blow teams out of the water

[Colburn_Claret]

I've been convinced for a long time that the Tella link was dead in the water.
Not sure what sort of season Saints are going to have, but I wish Nathan nothing but the best.
I hope he bags 20 this season, but a lot depends on how Martin sets them up to play. Any player is just a cog in a machine, and none of them can run it on their own.

[claretonthecoast1882]

Leicester have taken the most sensible approach to this season, got the players out who were never going to stay in Maddison & Barnes and made some decent signings, Southampton have probably 3 or 4 who will still be sold before the end of the window and then need replacing and could find themselves playing catch up by the team they get their business done and squad settled. Makes a lot more sense to get things done early when coming down.

[JarrowClaret]

Leicester have taken the most sensible approach to this season, got the players out who were never going to stay in Maddison & Barnes and made some decent signings, Southampton have probably 3 or 4 who will still be sold before the end of the window and then need replacing and could find themselves playing catch up by the team they get their business done and squad settled. Makes a lot more sense to get things done early when coming down.

Agreed we have seen many times that if you have a disparate squad in the championship (any league really) it can make you struggles. I think Southampton are making things harder for themselves than is necessary whilst trying to get the highest fee possible. I understand that they want what they believe are fair deals but they are leaving themselves open to disgruntled players affecting the squad and their start. Then selling them later in the window and being unable to replace them.

[4midable]

That team absolutely walks that league IMO.

Leicester will win it but southamptons core should beat most

[claret2018]

Southampton and Leicester were both dreadful last season and neither has had a revolution over the summer like we did last time.

I’d expect both to be top half but don’t think either will win it.

[CoolClaret]

I’m not as high on Southampton and Leicester as a lot of people.

Southampton have got a great squad for the Champ on paper but Russell Martin is extremely uninspiring.

The manager in the champ really sets teams apart imo - just look what Carrick managed to do with Boro last season, or what Cooper did with Forest the season before.

Leicester again have a good squad on paper but I’m very skeptical about the ability of some of their players that I believe are massively overhyped- I think Winks will be made to look average and I don’t rate players like Dewsbury-Hall, Vestergaard, Faes, Souttar at all… not to mention their steady contributors over the years Vardy, Albrighton are significantly older.

[Newcastleclaret93]

I’m not as high on Southampton and Leicester as a lot of people.

Southampton have got a great squad for the Champ on paper but Russell Martin is extremely uninspiring.

The manager in the champ really sets teams apart imo - just look what Carrick managed to do with Boro last season, or what Cooper did with Forest the season before.

Leicester again have a good squad on paper but I’m very skeptical about the ability of some of their players that I believe are massively overhyped- I think Winks will be made to look average and I don’t rate players like Dewsbury-Hall, Vestergaard, Faes, Souttar at all… not to mention their steady contributors over the years Vardy, Albrighton are significantly older.

Ipswich have got a great manager.

I would be very surprised if Southampton don’t go up. There squad is levels above the rest of the league

[CoolClaret]

Ipswich have got a great manager.

I would be very surprised if Southampton don’t go up. There squad is levels above the rest of the league

Ipswich do indeed - they’re my dark horse and I have them finishing in the playoffs.

I agree Southampton have a great squad I’m just not sold on their gaffer at all.

[Pickles]

Leicester and Southampton seem to have the squads to both run away with the league. But it doesn't always work like that does it.
Leeds are are a weird one. Ampadu's a decent signing, a bit surprised with that one. But overall I don't see them coming straight back.

[Vegas Claret]

Leicester manager has never been a manager before
Martin's Swansea had loads of the ball but were wide open defensively, they were probably our easiest home win last season

What odds Barnes getting another title with Norwich ?

[Pickles]

Leicester manager has never been a manager before

Six months as Parma manager in 2021.

[Vegas Claret]

Six months as Parma manager in 2021.

as much as that

[Gp8419]

That team absolutely walks that league IMO.

Very rarely does anyone walk the championship it’s a grind and then some.That was something special last year by us shocked if it gets 100 points again this time.I think saints will do well to get top 6 with there revised line ups in September.Leicester or going to keep more of a core would fancy them.Be a few surprises in the championship this year I think.

[fatboy47]

A bit of an "" after the Lord Mayor's Show"" feeling about the coming season for Tella. He's being denied a well earned tilt at the Prem.....something Southampton may well come to regret.

Fair play to the lad for putting on a brave face and acting professionally.

[welsbyswife]

That team absolutely walks that league IMO.

Why do people write in that manner on message boards? It's everywhere you look. That team "should walk" or "will walk" that league!

If you said "John walks to the shops" it's an indication of something that he already does. So it's like using the present or past tense for something that may happen in future. Maybe people feel it makes an opinion sound more like a fact. No need for it. It's very annoying.

[Aclaret]

Why do people write in that manner on message boards? It's everywhere you look. That team "should walk" or "will walk" that league!
"Will runaway with the League " ?........just like Sheff Utd did last September.

[123EasyasBFC]

If tella isn’t in squad tonight I think twitter would explode

[jedi_master]

Why do people write in that manner on message boards? It's everywhere you look. That team "should walk" or "will walk" that league!

If you said "John walks to the shops" it's an indication of something that he already does. So it's like using the present or past tense for something that may happen in future. Maybe people feel it makes an opinion sound more like a fact. No need for it. It's very annoying.

Maybe you don’t realise that IMO means ‘in my opinion’?

This messageboard blows my mind.

[welsbyswife]

Maybe you don’t realise that IMO means ‘in my opinion’?

This messageboard blows my mind.

Completely missing the point I was making.

[welsbyswife]

Maybe you don’t realise that IMO means ‘in my opinion’?

This messageboard blows my mind.

Completely missing the point I was making.

[jedi_master]

Completely missing the point I was making.

Look, it’s Friday night - just get over whatever your small annoyance is with my post and move on. I am sincerely sorry that my assertion (and, in particular, the manner that I stated it) that I believe Southampton will win The Championship has wound you up.

[ClaretAL]

Look, it’s Friday night - just get over whatever your small annoyance is with my post and move on. I am sincerely sorry that my assertion (and, in particular, the manner that I stated it) that I believe Southampton will win The Championship has wound you up.

Nothing to apologise for mate, this is his MO just to drag people/threads down. I am fairly sure everyone else understood what you was saying.

[welsbyswife]

Were saying

[mkmel]

Oh give over!

[1989_claret]

He starts

[Newcastleclaret93]

Based on pre season there team will likely be:

Bazanu
Walker pieters
Charles
Stephens
Manning
Smallbone
Ward Prowse
Alcaraz
Edozie
Tella
Armstrong


Wouldn’t be surprised if Adams started in front of tella though. Apparantly he’s fit again.

I wasn’t far off at all.

Bednarak comes in for Charles

[dermotdermot]

He may well be starting but I'm starting to think that he will be back here shortly. So many of these other targets are proving hard to get over the line.

[Blyclaret]

I have a feeling that ye will still be chatting about Tella on this thread even after the window closes.

[4midable]

Why do people write in that manner on message boards? It's everywhere you look. That team "should walk" or "will walk" that league!

If you said "John walks to the shops" it's an indication of something that he already does. So it's like using the present or past tense for something that may happen in future. Maybe people feel it makes an opinion sound more like a fact. No need for it. It's very annoying.

The same idiots who said sheffield had ran away with it last season

[IanMcL]

NT playing, as is Ward-Prowse.

[agreenwood]

I’m not sure we’ll sign Tella now, but I’m not worried that he’s playing. They aren’t going to rest top players.

As I said on another thread, Southampton’s owner is mega wealthy. They can’t demand huge fees, because they don’t need to sell.

[Elbarad]

Not sure if I want him to score or not. Just hope he doesn't get hurt. Whether we end up signing him or not, after last year he seems such a good guy I wouldn't wish him anything but the best either way.