CB Fry

We were never going to finish fourth. Even Cortese himself spoke about not over-spending in his "ask now if...but how" routine so don't kid yourself that we would have spent another 30 mil in January if he was still there.

Chelsea and Man City spent an effing fortune. An effing, sodding fortune. Both of them. A fortune. Millions and millions and millions of pounds. So what exactly is your point?

This post is a bit of a mess. Firstly, as you've already been asked, who are all these players at, say, Stoke, Hull & West Brom that are wanted by the CL level clubs enough for them to make £20m plus bids for them? Secondly you agree with the "dumbed down" ambition so what's the problem? Thirdly you've decided we've definitely sold five players, but also seem to be saying we will have players in the team who don't want to be here next season. Who are they then? Lastly who says we're going to be relying on the academy for the team next season? It's early July and it looks like we're in the market for two additions with more to follow I'm sure. Oh, and the answer to your Lambert/Lallana question is, simply, "yes".

Blue shorts is a great idea. We can have that with next seasons striped shirt.

9/10 for trolling.

Great post.

Do a Hoddle joke. They are so funny.

Do a Hoddle joke to cheer us all up. They are so funny.

...and let's remember dreams and ambition is all wonderful and that, but not if you are, say, Luke Shaw. Because Luke Shaw should not be ambitious to play for the biggest football club in the world for over a hundred grand a week. The Richard Branson thing to do would be to stay at mid table provincial team playing in front of 30k people. Yep, that's the ambition he should be showing. Luke Shaw: forget climbing Everest and stay exactly where you are.

If Cortese was still here with his Richard Branson style dreams, ambition and vision there is absolutely no way on earth Adam Lallana would want to double his wages and play in the Champions League and no way Shaw would want £100k plus a week to play for the biggest club in the world. And they'd all stay, with no pay rise, no nothing. They'd all stay on the same money because they believed in the vision and stuff about Everest or something. That is what would have definitely definitely happened oh god oh god why did Cortese have to leave.

Cortese was so driven he walked out on his project in January.

What are you on about. I do a little bit of pi ss taking, if you think that is "big bullying" then I don't think you understand the meaning or concept of actual bullying. The likes of Dig Dig can just have a pop back, as does trousers, Pap, Alpine, Strawlock and whoever. Fine by me. Bring it on. And the last time I said something like "don't belittle my opinion" was probably to Pap. Not because my precious feelings were hurt but because I won't be talked down to by a conspiracy theory believing gullible effing moron. So nice try, but no dice. This thread really doesn't need to be about me, anyway. I think it is a support group for people who have had their hopes and dreams crushed by howwible Les Reed and all them lies what he said.

Not as good as you openly weeping at our weakest squad in the league, granted.

I think there is no one on here who has been as hysterical as you, squire. I kno stuff I do and no mistake. Right make yer eyes water it would if only you knew. Promise I'll tell all and no mistake but obviously not now but later or something.

Waaaaaahh. I fort we were going to be in ver Champions League I did.

Waaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh.

I could live with it.

Far too early as we haven't built the team yet. I'm expecting solid mid table, because I can't see Koeman being worse than Steve Bruce or Mark Hughes.

Do your stuff about Hoddle. It's so funny, it really is.

Do your stuff about finishing 17th. It's so funny, it really is.

Indeed. Dortmund have only won the League title eight times. And loads of other trophies including the, err, Champions League. So yeah, the fans of that tiny plucky little club with the largest fanbase in Germany must be amazed how they've "hit the heights" all of a sudden. And as you say, lets not dwell on the oh so similar to Saints record of Atletico. Just the standard winning of the league ten times, just like us.

If we refuse to pay over the odds for, say, Tadic, and ends up at a different club, you will greet that as good news and evidence of the club doing the right thing, yes?

I don't really get the need to be "inventive". We wear stripes, other teams wear stripes. It's fine.

Stop nicking my act.

Who has flatly rejected him? I think people are allowed to have reservations at a high price for a player that old. Making an utterly irrelevant comparison doesn't make the case for signing Pelle stronger.