Will Smallbone

Defensive Midfielder - Southampton
28 Sep 2026
Monday
Process
Overview Personal Contract News 2 Transfers Relations Events 60 Awards Matches History

Events

60

  1. Left out as Flynn Downes was preferred

    Serious
    Chosen instead
    Flynn Downes was preferred — sharper match readiness.
    Cause
    He is left out while unsettled over his future at the club.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  2. Personality clash with Charlie Taylor

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  3. Personality clash with Matías Díaz

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  4. Hard conversation with the manager about playing time

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  5. Praised by manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  6. Promised playing time by manager

  7. Promised more playing time by the manager

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  8. Praised privately for his recent performance

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on his recent performance level.

  9. Hard conversation with the manager about playing time

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  10. Asked the manager for a private conversation

    Serious
    Cause
    He is unhappy about his playing time. His relationship with the manager is steady but tense.
    Outlook
    Manager intervention may be required if it persists.

  11. Left out as Flynn Downes was preferred

    Serious
    Chosen instead
    Flynn Downes was preferred — sharper match readiness.
    Cause
    He is left out while unsettled over his future at the club.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  12. Personality clash with Ryan Manning

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.

  13. Personality clash with Joachim Kayi Sanda

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  14. Promised more playing time by the manager

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  15. Praised by manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  16. Promised playing time by manager

  17. Promised more playing time by the manager

    Serious
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  18. Hard conversation with the manager about playing time

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  19. He has started to want: To be paid what he is worth

    Mind

  20. Unsettled by the squad wage hierarchy

    Minor
    Cause
    The squad's wage hierarchy is the underlying issue. The gap to the squad's top earners has become a daily reminder.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  21. Left out as Flynn Downes was preferred

    Moderate
    Chosen instead
    Flynn Downes was preferred — his higher squad-status priority.
    Cause
    He is left out while unsettled over his future at the club.
    Outlook
    Manager intervention may be required if it persists.

  22. Personality clash with Flynn Downes

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  23. Personality clash with Gavin Bazunu

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  24. Difficult conversation with the manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion covered general matters.

  25. Praised by manager

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  26. Promised playing time by manager

  27. Praised by the manager

    Major
    Cause
    The discussion covered general matters.

  28. Hard conversation with the manager about playing time

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  29. Squad status changed

  30. Given a personal development plan

  31. Personality clash with Eduardo Henrique

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  32. Personality clash with Samuel Edozie

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  33. Stayed back for extra training

    Moderate
    Cause
    He stayed back for extra work after the rest of the squad had gone in.

  34. Left out as Flynn Downes was preferred

    Serious
    Chosen instead
    Flynn Downes was preferred — his higher squad-status priority.
    Cause
    His squad status would normally start, so the omission stings.
    Outlook
    Manager intervention may be required if it persists.

  35. Hard conversation with the manager about playing time

    Moderate
    Cause
    The discussion focused on playing time.

  36. Led the defence in a tight match

    Minor
    Cause
    He held the back line together when the game was hanging in the balance.

  37. Reassured by a calm full-time message

    Minor
    Cause
    The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. His professionalism usually steers him back from these moments.
    Outlook
    Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.

  38. Personality clash with Lewis Bailey

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  39. Personality clash with Kuryu Matsuki

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  40. Worried by competition from a new signing Eduardo Henrique

    Moderate
    Cause
    He was already short on minutes before the signing arrived.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  41. Led the defence in a tight match

    Minor
    Cause
    He held the back line together when the game was hanging in the balance.

  42. Praised in a satisfied full-time talk

    Minor
    Cause
    The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. His professionalism usually steers him back from these moments.
    Outlook
    Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.

  43. Personality clash with Shea Charles

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  44. Personality clash with Joe Aribo

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  45. Left out as Flynn Downes was preferred

    Moderate
    Chosen instead
    Flynn Downes was preferred — his higher squad-status priority.
    Cause
    His squad status would normally start, so the omission stings.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  46. Personality clash with Caspar Jander

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  47. Personality clash with Mads Roerslev

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  48. Personality clash with Joshua Quarshie

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  49. Personality clash with Charlie Taylor

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  50. Personality clash with Ryan Manning

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  51. Personality clash with Will Merry

    Minor
    Cause
    Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
    Outlook
    Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.

  52. Signed a new contract

    Moderate
    Cause
    He committed to the project on terms both sides could live with.

  53. Signed a new contract

    Moderate
    Cause
    He committed to the project on terms both sides could live with.

  54. Unsettled by the squad wage hierarchy

    Moderate
    Cause
    The squad's wage hierarchy is the underlying issue. The gap to the squad's top earners has become a daily reminder.
    Outlook
    Contract request risk increased.

  55. He has started to want: His place back

    Mind

  56. He has started to want: The manager’s trust

    Mind

  57. Contract extension signed

    Decision
    Movement
    4y · $1.6M/y

  58. Contract renewal offered

    Decision
    Movement
    4y · $1.6M/y

  59. Contract renewal offered

    Decision
    Movement
    3y · $1.4M/y
    Who
    Martin Alexander

  60. Contract extension signed

    Decision
    Movement
    3y · $1.4M/y