qwertyell

England haven't created a single chance in a game and a half. The tactics are sideways, backwards, backwards, sideways passing until they can work to either full back, who will then ineptly shank a cross nowhere in particular. Must say, Redmond has been one of the poorer performers.

Sure, they see our clubs coming - but it's still better out there than in England. Everton are signing Ramirez, a La Liga striker who scored 16 goals last season, for £5m; Saints are rumoured to be after a Polish u21 international defender in the same ball park. How much would they cost if the transfers were between English clubs?

I think we compete by generally leaving the English clubs to fritter away their riches indiscriminately and spending our money on elite player development instead. We have the high quality facilities and the infrastructure to source and develop our own talent, but - from the outside, at least - it doesn't seem like our coaching is at the level of the "very best". It's bizarre, for example, that Jake Hesketh still can't play men's football at 21 because he's so physically underdeveloped, in spite of being a professional athlete for numerous years. Does the club cafeteria not have any protein bars? Are we doing everything we can to ensure we have the highest calibre of coaches possible across all the age groups? If we can afford to spend £50-60k a week on bit-part players, can't we afford to pay the going rate for some of the best coaches from around the world? It remains Brazil, Spain, Argentina, Germany and France that seem to bring through the major playing talents - perhaps we should be recruiting our coaches from there, rather than Les Reed's Christmas card list. We should still be able to pick up decent, value for money signings from abroad, to supplement the first team squad, if our famed scouting network is as good as is claimed. If the new world is a place where £30+ million buys you an average English centre back, while we can sign Van Dijk from across the border for £12m, then it's pointless shopping at home. Whether we can truly "compete" by being sensible in our transfer policies and by playing the long game investing in youth remains to be seen, but it seems the only realistic, sustainable option available to us.

This is a bit Saintsy - moving the ball too slowly, too predictably; a total lack of ideas. I'm sure the presence of Prowse and Redmond is just a coincidence...

Or, perhaps, why we shouldn't appoint Adrian Boothroyd as manager...

Does sound a snip - but he missed most of last season with a serious knee injury and I'm not sure he's returned to the same level. Hasn't kicked on as a player since his early promise, sadly, like so many hyped up English youngsters. I hope the move works out for him - he's a lovely little player to watch when he's on his game.

Gibson looked okay in an ultra defensive Boro set up, but when they finally tried to come out and play, after Karanka was sacked, they shipped goals for fun and he didn't look remotely adequate. It wasn't even like they were playing kamikaze all out attack. Just slightly less hunkered down - and he couldn't cope. File under Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, who seemed reasonable in a dogged Birmingham side a few years ago but have been rather shown up for the limited carthorses they are since. For the price Gibson would command, we should expect to find better - probably overseas, as usual...

Pretty sure that's the first time I've ever seen the words Delph and outstanding used in the same sentence... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Chance of a strong start up until mid-November, when it'll all come crashing down again.. Going to need plenty of points on the board before April - not many on offer in our last six...

They're not the first to report on Tadic having a £13m release clause. Seems unlike us to A) agree to such a clause and B) value our player so low that we'd barely make a profit if we sold them. Didn't Tadic cost roughly that amount to sign from Twente?

Apart from a lack of pace, crossing ability, skill and attacking instincts, he's almost the perfect winger... I think Target has improved defensively in the last 18 months or so and become a relatively solid - albeit limited - back up. That's pretty much his correct place in the pecking order, though.

He's done his ACL anyway - won't be back playing until sometime in 2018. Hopefully we've learned our lesson from Rodriguez, that giving contracts to seriously​ injured players and just assuming they'll return as good as new isn't particularly clever.

Talented striker whose career could go either way at this point. Depends on his attitude. The fact that he priced himself out of a new contract at moneybags Chelsea is a bit of a red flag, though. Allegedly was holding out for 50k a week.

Man City signing the superb Bernardo Silva from Monaco. Cripes, their attacking options next season are going to be unreal. If only they could cobble together a half-decent defence... I repeat, I think Patrick Roberts would be a good, Saintsy signing - he's just going to drop further and further down the City pecking order.

Spurs doesn't sound that believable - although Bertrand leaving certainly does. He's been phoning in performances a la Clyne during the run in. Arsenal need a LB...

Harsh. Cuco was pretty limited, but did a surprisingly decent job in his first season. Won't be missed, but given how little we paid for a back up player, he served his purpose. Good luck to him.

His best days are long behind him. Would be a strange move for everyone.

Not that anyone really does cash plus a player deals these days, but I'd take Patrick Roberts in a heartbeat. Can't see City finding room for him among their attacking riches, but he's a very talented kid.

Not that I particularly rate Austin nor that I think Rodriguez shouldn't move on. Just seems an oddly defensive bench (two defenders, two defensive midfielders) when in the previous game against better opposition we had Austin, Rodriguez and Boufal in reserve - if Rodriguez can't make the final 18 for a match of so little importance against nothing opponents, that rather suggests he's done.

Assume that's confirmation - if it was needed - that Rodriguez is off. He's gone from scoring starter to sub to out of the match squad in three games. Rotated right out the door.

Not sure Saints have any - Ward-Prowse and particularly Hesketh have needed to bulk up for years, but to no avail. Poor Jake wouldn't win an arm wrestle with a kitten. But, yes, Stephens has done well. I particularly like the look of him when he glides forward into the midfield. Seems like it comes naturally to him.

Stoke were absolutely appalling against Arsenal the other day - clueless in defence and attack, totally anaemic in midfield. They're not so much on their summer holidays as semi retired. I think we'll end the season with a comfortable win. Might paper over the cracks, but at least it'll be a positive note to wrap up on.

Ward-Prowse is so poor...

I think we can discount any of our midfielders being in the opposition's box... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Probably, but if you don't try you'll never know. The new owners - if that happens - may be able to sell an ambitious project to someone half decent. If they have an ambitious project in mind, that is.