Chez

After all that build up I Thought you were going to say Deschamps.

Looked decent in the cup game against us, but doesn't seem highly rated up there. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Agreed. Our blend of pace, strength and ability is what has taken us to these heights. We need to,be careful we don't lose that mix.

Not a chance, but plenty of Saints fans will lap it up.

Who on earth else would have given him that sort of deal until he had proved he was fit?

Fack off

So when Koeman said the players coming through the youth system currently were not good enough, the powers that be agreed with him, thereby perhaps putting to bed the theory that he and the club fell out about that aspect of the club. Great that the club is again spending some money in that area to go with the training facilities. Hope he comes good like Lallana etc. did.

I was surprised we offered JayRod such a long new contract before he had proved he could make it back to his old form. I have to say I was equally surprised we signed Austin. The combination of low fee, high wages, injury troubles didn't feel like a recent Saints signing at all. Wonder who pushed for that one?

likewise. I've not seen a lot of him, but whenever I have he's looked handy. Is he better than we have? Tough to sign players at this upper level without spending a small fortune, but there are gems out there that just stare you in the face. Maybe he is one of those?

Compared to Classie perhaps, but in Wanyama and Morgan before him we had CMs that won the vast majority of headers they went for. It will go relatively unnoticed, but it will have an effect. This is one those marginal gains/advantages that we have had that has helped us get top 6.

Said the same thing myself. I know the game is played on the deck a lot more these days, but we really have been strong in that area over the last few years and it real does make a difference.

So when Koeman said the players coming through the youth system currently were not good enough, the powers that be agreed with him, thereby perhaps putting to bed the theory that he and the club fell out about that aspect of the club. Great that the club is again spending some money in that area to go with the training facilities. Hope he comes good like Lallana etc. did.

Yes. Didn't realise Piper went out not into the foxes. My mistake. Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

Jose is ruthless, but I don't see any point in bringing in Matic (who was poor last season) with Morgan already there.

Can Kittel win green if he wins most of the sprinters stages?

At the moment? Wow, what a disclaimer. Only Berahino is approaching the end of his contract. Let's see if he stays at WBA if someone else comes in for him. Leicester's approach appears to be to match any rival offer with a new massive contract. Oh and they have champions league to tempt the player. Not really comparative is it? You are saying Stones will stay at Everton his whole career?

I like your style, but maybe Spurs go elsewhere and we end up with no fee at all. Sustainable clubs need to sell players not allow them to leave on free transfers.

Quite a step down, but works for me. Like Deschamps he has prem experience.

Was he in the last year if his contract at Celtic?

Both chose Leicester City over us back in the day didn't they?

with Wanyama on his way out I am just waiting for someone to suggest Tiote from Newcastle, who is IMO garbage.

didn't Piper and Elliot make a similar choice?

Agreed. I guess that's where the release clauses come in. The Mane contract offer will be a case in point. Add two years to his deal to help protect the asset value, offset of course by a huge wage rise, and then a suitable release clause so he can jump ship if the right offer comes.

That is spot on. £11m for a player people know can do it in the Prem is a great deal for Spurs. Us on the other hand have cash, but have a much harder task in finding another player that will hit the ground running and be a performer at this level. We have been excellent at doing that, no doubt about it, but there are still relative failures...

but if they had both stayed for two years we might have got an extra £20m in transfer fees, which we could have reinvested. Very tricky balancing act the club has to play. I am not sure they want players getting down to one year left on their deals. Mane's situation will be very interesting. Two years left on his contract feels like we are in the driving seat, but if he doesn't extend this summer will we HAVE to cash in or face losing £10-15m on his value?