CB Fry

That Dujun is absolute mustard.

Not really - in the fans forum there was a point when Ralph actually said "when Vestergaard goes" (not if) and then slightly checked himself. Not sure if you heard it last night but my take out was that he would be going, all three of them talked about it as being quite similar to the Ings situation. Either Semmens or the other one said they would like to try and keep him but not much more than a vague half-idea. You're making it sound like the fans forum panel were making grand statements that Vestergaard will absolutely not be leaving etc etc but they really didn't. The only coincidence is we are getting to the start of the season which is a) when fans forums are and b) when clubs try and bid for players.

We have a bit of history of last minute signings - Mane and Toby being the standout examples. Toby was signed after quite a lot of noise around "we are not in the market for a centre back" at the time. Ralph I'm sure has talked about adding a number 6 (which means defensive midfielder these days, granddad). So my hope for a "Mane moment" this summer is someone to give us a bit more depth there. The fans forum did not say we were definitely finished.

1) We don't know if he's any good at this level yet 2) giving every single player a five year contract would be financial madness 3) most players have a reasonable sense of a career plan, and don't necessarily want the longest conceivable contract. He's 24 and might want a bit of flexibility later in his career. He will also be thinking that in two years time he might want a pay rise, not be bogged down with a five year deal he signed before he'd kicked a ball in the Prem for us. In two years time, if he is good enough to attract interest from big clubs then a) that means he's scored loads of goals for us and b) we'd get a great fee and c) if he wants to go he'll go. Four year contract is appropriate and sensible. Let's see how he gets on, yeah?

I don't think we need to put that much pressure on him. Basically in this season we need him to be as good as an Ostenstad or Pelle type - if he can get us ten, twelve goals or so in his first season, with Che, Theo and this Broja lad adding the rest, that should be enough. But I know what you're saying - lets hope we fall in love with him.

This is nice.

What kind of Blackburn fan is writing a sentence like this? "Tella and possibly Diallo" Do me a favour.

We should have signed one of those genuinely good strikers who scored 56 goals in the Championship last season.

Was a bit nervous after all the "he prefers Palace" stuff but he should know that this is a decent move for him and a good signing for us. Plus, some cash to spend elsewhere. All good, well done Saints.

A year ago, Dan Sheldon (him again) reported in the Echo that we had accepted an offer for Hojbjerg from Everton and that Pierre had been to their training ground and agreed terms. So you can see that even when there are reports of things being done, it ain't done. Fingers crossed: get it done Saints.

Good news. But the risk is Palace and co know what they need to match so can still come in. Or, if he really doesn't want to come to us, he can just wait for the club he does want, because Blackburn will still sell later in the window. Let's hope we've already sounded all that out.

My point is that if Villa suddenly bid £50m we'd likely take it, but that is not some insight exclusive to you that the "club stooges/mouthpieces" have been tasked to hush up and fool the fans about - ask Blackmore that and he'd agree. He's said as much on Solent before anyway. You're making out Blackmore is some North Korean propagandist for the club when he isn't.

Show me where Blackmore has said JWP is "definitely" staying? I would think Blackmore would agree with the analysis of the situation you've just laid out (he has said as much on twitter and broadcast) - so why are you allowed to say it but if Blackmore says the same thing he's a "stooge" or a "mouthpiece". Are you a club mouthpiece now?

In summary you believe the source that backs up your already existing "we're going to sell everything because we're useless and shit with no ambition" position. If Blackmore was a "club stooge" then he'd be tasked with "softening up" the fanbase in preparation for this inevitable sale. So I don't think you understand what a "stooge" is, you just don't want to believe he's not being sold.

Memorial in Woolwich, put up 6 years ago. Why the ....dots...?

Recycled from The Athletic earlier.

Isn't that what the recruitment department are doing for 10 months of the year ahead of each summer transfer window? We're now making out someone walked into their office on Thursday morning, announced to them that we've sold Ings and they all spat their tea out in shock?

It feels like Armstrong prefers to go to Palace so whatever our "take it or leave it" offer is just the usual performative "we tried our best" routine.

A vague article setting up some ifs, buts and maybes hardly justifies "boom". On the two main strikers we've been talking about it doesn't feel were anywhere near signing either. Let's wait until we actually sign someone.

Send one thousand pounds to my lawyer in escrow immediately.

I'll give you another "Premier League quality squad" including Antti Niemi, Jason Dodd, James Beattie, Peter Crouch, Claus Lundekvam, Rory Delap, Matt Oakley, Kevin Phillips, Anders Svensson, Fabrice Fernandes, Graeme Le Saux. If you've decided Tella and Perraud are already Premier League quality then we can be as optimistic about Prutton and Higginbottom as well. Plus Quashie, Bernard, Redknapp and Camera. Plus we've spent big on Van Damme and Jacobsson. All way too good for the Championship, that's for sure.

Errrr, right you are. We've finished 17th, 16th, 15th in the lat four seasons, with really just the one "good" season (11th) amongst that. We have a handful of genuine Premier League quality players, were we're not some super squad. You'll have to remind me how "Premier League quality" we were in the half season since January. At that's without us getting all nervous/jittery/etc in front of full stadiums again. Remember that? Unless we sign a couple of miracle signings who genuinely take the roof off we are in the relegation mix for certain and then just a case of whether we can scrape up. I accept we might do that, its not impossible. By all means be all jolly and confident but please don't try and intellectualise your own optimism. Fundamentally, we're shit mate.

No one has agreed that. Its obvious we will and I see absolutely no one at all saying we won't sign anyone. It's pretty easy to envisage that we will sign some players but still be in the relegation mix and perfectly possible to be relegated. Sheffield United signed a twenty plus million pound striker and went down abjectly last season.

100%, not joking this time. Of course we could never ever have their manager at our club because he said dat fing about us once.

I wish we were Leicester.