southernmag

Even if he has been naughty and rushed back slightly, he's got a handful of games then a summer of (theoretical) rest. I think he'll be alright.

I'd like to think there's a good chance someone like Delap sees that moving to Man United has a huge number of drawbacks. Yes he'd be second fiddle to Isak, but at a far healthier club, and he'd play a crap ton of games with Europe etc. He's also one Isak injury or an Isak sale (not impossible if Real or someone come in with 150m plus) from being our permanent lead striker. Also surely we won't be daft enough to hang on to Wilson. It's high time we made some intelligent and bold decisions with regards to moving players on. I'm excited but nervous about the summer. Here's hoping it's a good one.

You'll be glad to hear I'm not gonna nibble on any more God stuff in this thread. Much as I'm tempted, it's not really the place.

FWIW I think Guehi could be a good signing for a reasonable (say sub 40m) fee. I'm not fully convinced by him but we've seen what Eddie and co can do to players to raise their level.

I think the short answer is that the Bible asserts Jesus 'fulfilled' the Old Testament law (as in, without exception and to the fullest degree), therefore endorsing all of its contents, even if his views on specific issues aren't always recorded in the New Testament. But again I'm happy to discuss further elsewhere - I'm trying to resist clogging this thread up further with a God debate.

Look, I'm a Christian, and I understand the strong opinions on this issue. I'm going to stick my neck out though and receive criticism if necessary, because there are one or two things I think need clarifying. What it ultimately comes down to is our underlying beliefs about where we get out moral authority from. Some believe it comes from God (or a god), while others believe it's based on the opinion of the majority, etc etc. I have my view on what holds more weight in that regard, as do others. It's interesting that some insist that someone like me is clearly hateful, a bigot, backward, a c**t, all terms used in the last few pages of this thread. I think if you actually met me you'd have a hard time convincing yourself I was those things. Maybe I'm wrong. The Christian standpoint is effectively that God a) exists and b) because of his nature has the authority to assert what is right and wrong. This is obviously offensive/unpalatable to many, but that is the assertion. When people diverge on this fundamental worldview, then of course we're going to see stuff like homosexuality completely differently. It shouldn't surprise us. I'm still learning and growing as I go through life, but the Christian claim - as I understand it - is that God's judgement of sin, and him being loving, work together, and are not a contradiction. Again - offensive to many. A decent analogy to relate to this (in my view) is that as a parent, you tell your children what's right and wrong, as you have the right to do so, and you love them too much to do otherwise. You hope that they'll trust you, and do what you say. When they defy you, do you hate them? Of course not. You're disappointed, but you desire them to learn obedience. You want to reconcile with them. That's how the Bible says God views us. Any true Christian views homosexuality as one of many sins that lead us away from God (and we're all equally guilty of sin), but not that cause God to "hate" us. Again - I know people have very different views on all this. But at the very least, I'd hope you wouldn't be so quick to automatically label me (or someone with my worldview) hateful etc. I think if we're honest we all know that Marc Guehi is very likely a decent human being, not a hateful, bigoted, c**t of a man. At worst, ignorant, but again, that's a claim based on wider worldviews which we could discuss till the cows come home. PS not sure if NO has a private message feature but I'd be happy to talk about this stuff further in private if anyone wanted.

But some are more moral than others. Based on what?

Guess we can add dumb to Guehi's list of disqualifying characteristics. What's your basis for deciding you're in the right on this? Are you familiar with moral relativism?

I have been advised that due to Guehi having beliefs some people don't like, he is some combination of dickhead, bigot and/or c**t. If we signed him he'd clearly stink out the entire club. Why are we even discussing him?

It's interesting how the term 'homophobia' has been hijacked to accuse some of having a phobia of a whole people group, when actually it means (in many cases, and clearly Guehi's) a moral objection to an aspect of their lifestyle. Two completely different things. He doesn't have a mortal fear (or, contrary to popular rhetoric, a loathing) of homosexuals. He just dislikes something they do. You can think he's a 'dickhead' for that, and want to shut him out of our club. But that also strikes me as odd from those often claiming love and tolerance as surpassing virtues. Clearly love and tolerance are very, very selective.

Crikey. Yes I hope he takes absolutely as long as he needs, even if it's the rest of the season. It's only football.

I literally did this in my current Football Manager save. Brought in Woodman, even Tavernier and Mbabu. Now got Anderson back. Kept Longstaff for donkey's years and played him about three times a season...

I could probably handle Collins for a lowish fee.

Agreed, there are plenty more Huijsens in the sea. We need to stop being lazy and beta, picking them up for exorbitant prices a year after other clubs made their move.

I agree that Delap has the potential to go to the top, but like others have said, we'd be signing him a year after we should've. And paying the price (literally) for it. IMO David on a free is smarter business in the current PSR climate.

We're really gonna have to get our act together and be bloody clever in the summer transfer window now.

Huijsen would probably be a good signing in terms of strengthening the team, but to splurge 50 mill on him a year after he was available for relative peanuts is pretty embarrassing business. Bournemouth would think we are mugs and rightly so.

Why should we boo a player who left us through little to no fault or even choice of his own?

Probably the biggest concern for me is our inconsistency, and how when we just don't show up for random games, you can see it virtually from the off. Why a) are we not showing up at all for some games (/why is there such extreme variance in our performances), and b) why is it clear from pretty much the opening whistle when we're going to have a shocker? I could bring up multiple games this season as examples. Before any pitch forks come out, I'm not saying Eddie has to go. I'm just raising genuine questions, and not necessarily buying ALL of the mitigating factors. Is it possible that PSR is a crock, AND Eddie has some real limitations?

I want to know that we've at the very least pushed like crazy for most of these, the free transfers especially. If we dawdle around again, missing out on good deals while emptying our pockets before Steve Parish for two months, I will lose my rag.

I'm hopeful, but also have some trust issues preventing me being confident.

Gordon, when he's bad, he's so so bad.

Standard morsels for Osula.

Howe needs to be bloody putting his foot down and ensuring our best players take our set pieces. Not letting it be a literal crap shoot.