Chez

Spending big, for us, certainly doesn't guarantee success, but we did spend a few bob on Ings, Mane, Lavia and Van Dijk, so there have been some exceptions. Despite the TV money kind of levelling out, the prices for players seem to keep going up, fuelled by billionaire's, oil money and mega sponsorship deals. Not sure how we get the talent here on a shoestring. Even the untried youngsters from City etc. cost £20m+ these days.

From what I saw in the video, he doesn't offer much in the way of creativity. He's more of a spoiler. Lots and lots of sliding tackles. Not sure we have a great deal of that currently, so perhaps the squad has room for it. He may have more to his game, but you can't see it in the youtube video.

Very bold and likely to annoy a lot of Saints fans, but if you going to do it (an unorthodox, edgy design), do it well, which they have.

I think he's not as good as people imagine. He has the physical attributes (pace and power), all be it he has had injury issues, but his reading of the game and positional play leaves a lot to be desired. Anyone that disagrees needs to watch the Forest away game highlights. What on earth he was doing for their first goal is beyond me.

£30m is still a massive amount of money. Is he worth that?

And he's the 35 year old keeper people on here think we should sign? I know GK is and has been a real problem for us, but maybe the grass isn't greener.

I don't understand why they are letting Dubravka go - he filled in well last season for Pope - to be replaced by Odesea Vlachodimos (who couldn't get a game ahead of Matt Turner) and John Ruddy, who is now 37. I know he only has a year left of his contract, but it feels like a downgrade for them rather than an upgrade.

If we really did make a bid for Delap (Steve Stone seems to know his stuff about City), does that mean the Che new contract negotiation has come to an end, or are we looking to sign two strikers?

So, seven minutes into the Spurs game (score 0-0) he puts his shoulder out cos he `didn't fancy it and wanted to get subbed'? Are you saying that after 42 minutes of the West Ham game, at which point we are winning 1-0, he `pretends' he has dislocated his shoulder (causing him to miss the next three games) cos he doesn't fancy it? The Forest game at SMS was a painful affair for everyone connected to SMS, but he plainly slips on the astroturf where the managers stand, injures his knee and misses the next eight games. You are concluding that he `didn't fancy it and wanted to get subbed'? He might not be very good - the way he defended the first goal in the Forest game away at their place was quite frankly embrassessing - and he might not want to be at Saints, but unless your mate is the club physio and he's told you that ABK was feigning injury, then I am going to have to disagree with you on the bonkers theory thing. He won't be here come the end of the summer, so I guess it matters little.

Made the champions league again, plus the Europa league win and Hojland transfer fee will have sorted their finances right out. I'd say they are an attractive option. I guess they are a stepping stone club too, but CL is a very nice window to present yourself in. They did just spend about £25m on another attacking midfielder, de Keteleare, turning his loan into a permanent.

the big sides have it sewn up. All the money to buy top talent from everyone else, and then all the best young talent too, which they cherry pick the absolute best and sell the rest for a shit load. What chance do we have?

Sir Southgate.

Top work Stones beating their two giants in the air.

lots of calls for subs, but who you taking off?

Is Shaw going for the world record of backwards passes?

Foden and Bellingham pulling the strings. Very good half. More confident than ever that we'll win the whole thing.

Seeing as West Ham don't want Downes (well, they didn't last season anyway) no reason why we can't think the same - that we are doing WH a favour buying him. In reality, no one is doing anyone a favour. If they want KWP they can pay what he's worth, whatever that is with a year left, and we can do the same with Downes. I wouldn't rule out another Prem side buying KWP though. Not Spurs.

they (along with Chelsea) attract the best youngsters and keep them by actually paying them a small fortune. They play for the England age groups, everyone else knows all about them and inevitably there is a degree of trust that their pedigree, potential and talent will turn into top quality senior players. Some fail, but some become Jadon Sancho £90m superstars.

You are providing inside info about PSV's signings too now. Excellent.

Interesting that the wings were a strength last season with Fraser, Sulemana, Edozie, Brooks and AA giving us a lot of options. It looks like we will have four of those five players here again.

gotcha. What we need now is a nice Bree transfer link to pop up and shortly after Saints to announce that KWP has signed a new three year deal.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/newcastle-exit-shave-thousands-wage-29512230 Article paints it as Fraser waiting for Newcastle to pay him a chunk of cash to fuck off. It also says he's on £70k a week at Newcastle. He's 30, so you'd think 2 year deal, maybe with an option for a third?

Paying less is good whether he turns out to be good or shit.

We seem to have paid European prices rather than Prem league prices. Excellent. Hope he is brilliant.

Surprised he was `happy' having his wages cut, assuming that happened. Maybe it didn't. You'd imagine if we were pricing him out of a move he'd of been a bit annoyed. Maybe we weren't, but because he was shite in our relegation season, perhaps there simply weren't too many interested parties?