Chez

They are spending the forthcoming Clarke transfer money on laying a `Premiership standard' pitch to play their League 1 games. With Man U and Liverpool entering teams into the Checkatrade Trophy next season they will want to impress.

Monk didn't want Jota sold, but that happened anyway. I doubt him leaving would put a spanner in the works.

Pace at fullback is essential, without it they drop deep, don't get tight and fail to provide meaningful cover to centre halves. Top class fullbacks without pace simply don't exist.

it was a poor signing. Although not helped by the injuries he got right at the start of his Saints career, when he did play he never impressed at all, struggling to make any impact on games and seriously lacking the physical attributes needed to dominate a midfield. I wonder what alternative options we missed out on that summer? Because if you sign a duffer you also fill a shirt and a wage which prevents you signing someone else.

wants first team football? Is Gunn actually better than him?

exactly what a manager should be doing. If the buck stops with the manager then he should be intrinsically involved in the players brought in. I don't have a clue about day to day duties of a manager in current football, but I just don't understand how a manager could allow someone else to sign a player for me without scouting him (watching him live) myself.

good to hear, that's the kind of motivation needed to get him off our wage bill.

not saying we don't need all of those, but if Boufal is not going to be brought back into the fold then we still need another creative dribbler, with flair and pace. Someone that can beat a man and create something out of nothing. That final third of the pitch needs more pace, power and 'scariness'. That said, if we buy a player in any position I'd be happy as we need upgrades throughout the squad. If it was possible to ship players out relatively easy (like on a computer game) then I'd swap about 10-15

Why wereLiverpool in for him in January - was Mignolet injured? Was our inability to select Forster the reason we didn't let him go?

he is slow as ****. say what you want about any other facet of his game, he has a great first touch for starters, but when it comes to running, quickly, this lad does not do that. Cashing in on Pelle hasn't exactly worked out well for us though has it? With him, we caused teams problems and were top half. Without him we have been relatively toothless and relegation candidates...oh and we have spent god knows how much on Austin, Ings and Carillo since we 'cashed in'. Bertrand has not been in decline. He's as good now as he was two seasons ago despite what teh body language readers on here might have you believe. We have him contracted for two more seasons and we should be thankful for that. He is a top six club player in a bottom six side.

he's a midfielder not a centre back, but championship does seem a more likely destination.

stay classy Pondlife

Batman said at the time that this wont age well.

That's the Southsea Naval Memorial commemorating sailors lost in the world wars.

two footed player. Looks good in the clips I've seen. Unusual to turn Celtic down based on wages isn't it?

maybe, but I think you might have to take the opponents into account. Fulham and Huddersfield were bloody terrible.

It's ****e. If you can't celebrate a goal in the stadium with compete abandon because you have to wait for VAR to rubber stamp it, then what's the point of attending live matches?

When he came on at Fulham towards the end he looked lively. One nice turn and burst into the box caught the eye, but when a very good chance came his way he failed to take it. In the Huddersfield game he was direct, but a poor first touch ruined a couple of excellent breakaway opportunities. He then missed a couple of glorious chance before scoring. I cant remember if that goal was down to great composure or he just got a little lucky and by taking an age it opened up nicely for him. I didn't come away from that game thinking we had a Michael Owen on our hands, although they have a similar build and ropey first touch. That's all I have really seen of him live and it left me wondering how good he is. He is certainly very short. I am not sure how quick he is. Pretty quick I think. In the end it will be about finishing and his ability to take a chance. I doubt we gave him a new contract if he hasn't shown that's exactly what he is good at. Looking forward to seeing him develop and become a top class striker. No idea if this will happen though. I have nagging doubts, but plenty of time for him to put them to bed.

I've read you post four or five times just to be sure, but no matter how many double takes I make, it is clear that you really have described Targett as having "good pace"...all I can say in reply is since ****ing when?

I'm with you. 15 goals in 65 appearances at Monaco. What on earth made the club think he was worth spending £19m on? Absolute ****ing madness. Monaco didn't even really want him. Loan with view to buy...simples. Woeful negotiating, woeful decision making, woeful management.

exciting transfer because I know **** all about him. Hope he turns out to be another Mane. Best of luck fella.

Chilwell looks a proper player to me. is he quicker than Target? What about built? Is he a big strong lad or more of a wippet type? How is he in the air and does he have the first touch for this level? The really top class fullbacks and pacey and tremendous judgement on distances, knowing when to jump into the tackle and when to drop off. How is his decision making?

selling Bertrand is madness IMO. He is a quality player and at some point you need consider talent on the pitch is more important than figures on the balance sheet.

From what little I have seen of Ramsey looks a little bit of a fish out of water at right back. He looks more of a centre back to me, although I'm not convinced he is ready to do a job their.

like the sound of this. Has he got genuine pace?