Chez

Forrest had a similar issue with Garner. He was fundamental to the way they played in their promotion season. They tried all summer to sign him from united, eventually failed and it left a gaping hope in their midfield (I guess not too similar to our failure to sign Broja). I hope we have three or four very good options.

I care. If he wants to threaten to go on strike, that's up to him, but don't come back looking for a job and expect me to welcome him back.

Surman had retired, was a fully qualified coach and had done the job for a year at Bournemouth before taking a role at Saints.

but he's here, with a long contract. So unless someone comes in for him, you either integrate him back into the side or you pay him a massive wage to play in the reserves.

Not sure what you are talking about with regards to the "shoehorn" comment. If it's about Stephens getting games, then I'd say he was picked, quite rightly, to play, not to mentor. I think the whole mentoring thing is a load of bollocks. We pay coaches and managers to mentor the players. That is literally their job. Paying an older pro a shit load of money to train, sit on the bench and tell the younger guys how he did it at Liverpool makes no sense to me. I don't really care about Lallana's own coaching aspirations. I've no idea why we would want to bend over backwards to help him transition from player to coach. If we have a youth coaching post open, we should simply employ the most highly qualified and well respected youth coach we can find (who's annual salary would equal a week of Lallana's), that will have a wealth of contacts/scouts and knows exactly how to work with youngsters to get the best out of them. if that is Lallana, then I'm all for it.

Ok, fair enough, but why do we want to sign a guy that Brighton planned to start less than 14 games? Are we similarly planning on him playing 20 minutes here and there?

Queue lots of lowball bids for Pickford, Branthwaite and Onana. I'd take James Garner.

Don't really understand the Lallana signing. If we want a youth coach, get a youth coach. There are thousands of them. If we want a player to come on for 15 minutes, to keep the ball, then O'hare is available in a free. Much higher ceiling than Lallana. Has Lallana done anything over the last four years at Brighton? Seems like an overpaid bit part player that they could have done just as well without to me, but maybe I am mistaken? Our transfer policy has been shite, but not spending £100k plus a week on him was one thing we got right IMO.

Why on earth do we want to sign a player that thinks starting 14 games is too much football?

he's got a sweet left peg.

I wondered the same about Lawrence Shankland.

Hamer at Sheff United might be another option if we are looking for that small, technically good link up player to play in the hole. I think he did OK in the Prem. I wonder what his relegation contract clause might look like. I thought you were more of a tried and tested Prem player fan? I guess it's not easy to attract those types as a newly promoted club. We had our chance to go for that type two seasons ago and went City youth team instead.

Agree. And RM simply didn't trust Charles, and that was in the championship. He was far too lethargic and some of his passing was woeful. He's young, but whether he will improve enough between now and September for RM to trust him against better and more ruthless opponents is debatable. He needs to be loaned out and an upgrade made in that position.

Every time I watch O'Hare (admittedly only about 6 times) I see a wonderful little footballer that drifts into pockets of space and links the play beautifully. He has a great first touch and a little like Lallana, controls the ball brilliantly while on the move to enable the attack to flow at pace. You have to have the right formation for him to work, and Cov certainly did. Not sure we do, although we seem to have become a little more fluid in the last month or two. Not sure we are flush with cash, so a free transfer would be a nice pick up. I've only seen Clarke four times and apart from the game when they stuffed us, he has underwhelmed a little to be honest. Good ability, but a little lightweight. Great potential, but not sure he is ready for the Prem next season.

Aim high. He looked bloody magic a season or two ago. Has disappeared behind the brilliant talent that is Odegaard. Certainly the type of player we want at SFC, but he might pecieve us to be `relegation potentials', so will be a hard sell.

He was great at Leeds. If you want a guy to run all day, make tackles, hassle players on the ball, force turnovers of possession etc, then he is your man. With the ball, he is pretty limited. Although we desperately need a player with his legs and bite, he really doesn't seem like a RM type of player, which is all about having the ability to pass, control and move into space.

It's a decent shout. I think Liverpool fans have been very impressed with him when he has been called upon. I would imagine Baz would seriously consider his options, as being behind him here would give him no chance to compete for the Ireland shirt. Which in all honesty, might be no bad thing for us!

He's been poor for West Ham, costing them goals and games. Doesn't mean he couldn't turn it around. His pressing and energy are exactly what we need in the middle of the park, but I can't see him being a RM type player.

Hope we are not paying him £50k a week to coach the u11s.

played well yesterday and has played well over the last month or two in the CM position. It has suited him better than the more forward roles. He has the strength and touch to hold the ball up when under pressure. I really liked his effort and willingness to tackle, which is not something I thought he had in his locker. Big step up. Boy would it be great if he could make it. We look thin in the middle so we might need him to.

unsettles Leicester, which is good for us.

Are we though? Baz is out for a long time. Until he returns Lumley is second choice. An injury away from starting Prem games. Shudder.

I wonder if we will stick with the 5 at the back. Having extra men back made a huge difference in the final four games. That will make a difference to who we sign.

He's has a very good season...in the championship. In the Prem his mistakes and limitations will be more obvious. They all will. We will struggle to sign better until we solidify our prem status.

no other Prem side is signing him. Not 100% sire we should be, but he's had a very good season. I'd like to think we can get him on a reasonable wage for two years.