SonicBoom

This might not be popular but I'd rather Che was playing against us for a rival than for us. He scores the odd goal but really isn't much of a threat. He used to be good at bringing others into play or playing through balls but I haven't seen that for a while.

I am buying Redmond a dog.

Everyone seems very happy with the business to date, but we are still taking a gamble. The new recruits have barely any PL games between them. I am looking forward to seeing them, but then I was the same when we signed Djenepo, Diallo, Armstrong, Elyounoussi etcetera. They have to be a success and I'd like to see some experience bought in. It's a very long season to rely on very young players.

Seems an awful lot of money for an unproven player however not only must we have thoroughly scouted him, we also had the input from the Man City guy that is joining us to be head of recruitment. So we have a lot of first hand information on him and the club must be convinced he's the real thing.

Maybe I should have been more specific. We are going to have very little experience in our back line.

People seem excited about our recruitment. I have to say we are extremely light on experience and none of the incoming players have any PL games under their belt. They do all look good on the surface but we have seen from the last few windows that players can flatter to deceive and are soon found out. I really hope we sign someone in the 25 to 30 bracket.

Brighton seemingly interested in Delap now possibly as part of a deal for Cucurella to go to City.

Spurs are very short odds to get Eriksen back. There is no chance he'd come to us. Face it, would you ? Right now most would put us in the bottom quarter of the league for next season.

Didn't we take the Brentford owners? Bet they're loving that.

If u think that then you don't understand their new financial muscle.

Well either that or the press are linking them with the world and his wife.

Very odd management by Ralph. KWP was probably our best player last year. Livramento arrives and he's immediately dropped. He also didn't get back in when Livramento's form dipped. He was shipped to left back. Now he's fighting for that spot with Perraud. Right now he should be first choice on the right and Livramento will have to fight for his place. Every game he's on the bench I think we're weaker for it. Ralph needs to find a way to get our best players on the pitch. If KWP left it really would be a huge mistake on Ralph's part.

There is a link to the independent report on this thread on the Ugly. The report states that a Headmaster had raised concerns about the behaviour of Higgins directly to Bates. No action was taken. The report says that this might have been in order to protect the clubs reputation and not Higgins. Either way nothing was done. The report also says it is unrealistic to imagine Bates didn't discuss this at board level although there are no records if it ever being discussed. So basically the conclusion was that concerns were reported to the club through Bates but that no action was taken.

Worth watching just for JWP's goal. Unbelievable

And there it is. People being nice about forster recently but there is his total lack of command in the box. Completely in no man's land for a ball he should have claimed and then watched it over his head making zero effort. Might as well have had no goalkeeper at all. Utterly useless.

Salisu's long throws are, errrr, not actually very long are they.

Only Shane would be unselfish enough to be clean through on goal but decide to try and chip it to someone else.

That was my point earlier. With one more player we totally dominate. Lose one player and suddenly we can't keep the ball for 5 passes.

Funny how with 11 we totally dominate - yet with 10 they dominate possession.

Apparently Newcastle and one other PL club are interested. I wondered if it might be us as we are looking for a number 10. He looked a great prospect but doesn't seem to have trained on. He's had his own issues at Norwich with perceived lack of effort, being left out and some niggling injuries but there does seem to be a player in there. I'm not convinced he's the type of player Newcastle need right now, but then again they have the money to just buy whoever they want now and not worry about it. I could see him at Saints if he has the right attitude but I think he'd be a risk. Could be fantastic, could be another Djenepo.

But....but... Ralph cried!!

Listen I've been doing my bit by bonking everyone I possibly can, but I'm afraid all the kids were crap at football.

Hes been here what, two years ? When he arrived he was definitely raw but he played with a certain freedom and we saw several great goals and assists. I get the feeling the club wanted him to have more discipline positionally and I think they got that. He is a prime example of our ethos of keeping the ball at all costs. He was always a risk taker with the ball, he'd often lose it, but occasionally create something. Now he gets to the edge of the box and turns back or passes it inside. Now maybe Saints need to do that. We can't concede if we have the ball and maybe Djenepo is now "doing a job". But the cost appears to be that the creative spark is stifled. To me it was that unpredictability that was so nice to watch. Now he is slowly turning into another water carrier and we have enough of those in our midfield.

I'd take Jones. He had some long term injuries , fair enough but I think he's been fit for a while now but can't get back into the united side so he's not getting the chance to do anything. Obviously he needs to be fit enough to play but if he is then I think he'd be a great signing. Fergie always rated him extremely highly and he was a regular for England. I agree with some others that he might go the West Ham route and get paid a hundred grand a week, but if we are prepared to take a chance we could be a good fit. I'm sure he'd have a beneficial effect on the entire squad not just the CB position. And he's free....

To be fair to Diallo he is still a very young kid. He moved to a different country and culture and may not have known anyone. He had a lot to adjust to, not least of all PL football. At his age there is every reason to hope that his confidence and physique will grow. I don't remember Schneiderlin being particularly brilliant the moment he arrived from Le Havre although he was a bit younger at the time. Don't underestimate how much time it takes to feel like you fit and are at home in unfamiliar surroundings. I think Diallo could fill out and be a really good player for us this year. The talent is there. I'm not quite sure where he plays yet. I've seen him playas the DM and that seems most natural. He's also played further forward and he does have an eye for a pass but his shooting left something to be desired. My point being that it's easy for fans to write off a player as not being up to it, but he's had a lot to deal with and there is certainly a player in there.