Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Although they're both wingers, I think it depends what you're after. Ince is left footed and, whilst it appears to me that he has a bit of pace, he is more about trickery and would be more like a poorer version of Ramirez IMO. Phillips, on the other hand, is more about pace and power, is more explosive, is right footed and would presumably play where Jay Rod is failing on the left, cutting in on his right foot. If we do get Ramirez and we can get a Blackpool winger, I think we're making the right choice for our requirements.

You won't be able to find the article even if he does sign.

So basically we're paying the money to Bologna but Penarol 30% of any sell on fee? Not joint ownership per se but like a legal charge put over property? I guess this way neither Saints nor Bologna blinked first, it was the agent who did (unheard of?). Whatever, hopefully we'll be welcoming a much needed creative force into the team very soon.

Arse.

Couldn't get in the Bolton side last year? Sounds great...

On the online translator I used, it says Fiorentina were a "step away" from signing Ramirez last year. Seems to be a habitual problem teams getting close to signing him only for deals to fall through near the end then? No wonder he's annoyed with Bologna, if so, and why we're also potentially having difficulty getting over the finish line.

The only nagging concern for me is that there's no fall back position of the loan window to fall back on as in the Champ and League 1. Still in NC & NA we trust & hope for a couple of decent, maybe even exciting, signings before the window closes.

At Gatwick now, just back from Menorca. I'll see if I can find him..

Interesting that we suddenly slap in a 6m bid just after NC supposedly met with Ramirez's representatives. Can't see us signing both so maybe that meet didn't go so well?

My eternally optimistic side is hoping that the reason there's still been no announcement of the squad numbers is because we're hopeful of adding a player or 2 before the Citeh game. My realistic side says, though, that we just haven't announced them yet. Schizophrenia is so hard to deal with; I never know which side of me to believe.

http://www.molineuxmix.co.uk/vb/showthread.php?t=72486&page=4 According to this Wolves forum they turned down £8m from West Ham but now the Star are saying they've accepted £6m from us? Need a new accountant, methinks! Would be an excellent signing, if we could get him, but can't see Wolves accepting £6m when they're demanding more than £12m for Fletcher. Still, on the plus side, with this and the Danny Rose stories, we at least have some viable rumours going round again!

Nowt from Nigel after the game about new arrivals then? Or are we still working very, very hard behind the scenes?

Yes, let's loan out the only striker scoring regularly in pre season. That said, Nigel's new formation looks like there will be plenty of bench time for Billy if he can't get in ahead of Rickie so stranger things have happened. Crazy if we do, IMO.

Tell him to forget the cr*p sweets or biscuits when he's back in the office & to bring us back a football megastar instead. Ta.

According to Alan Nixon, our "main man" has been away. Might explain the current lack of activity. [Ducks & covers whilst all the 'what the f**k is Cortese doing away at this key point of pre season' posts fly around...]

Agreed; I'm sure Vitesse said something about Buttner signing an 'agreement' (presumably with his dad) after he joined Vitesse, which his dad says is valid, but which neither Vitesse nor Saints are willing to honour - quite rightly - as it occurred after he signed up. Silly lad, if so, as he's made himself untransferrable as who would just lump over some cash to his dad for no good reason?

I wonder if we've exhausted the original list of targets & now begins the re-think?

Good point. And, most definitely agreed, we need a defender in very soon.

Can't believe it's been so quiet. Can't work out if that's a good thing or a bad one, given our wish to always do business quietly.

Almost the same as me... Slight tweak!

He seems to have disappeared completely. Probably a speedbump now, for crossing the Don IMO.

He seems to have disappeared completely. Probably a speedbump now, for crossing the Don IMO.

So still all silent on the Buttner front then beyond a couple of brief posts here. I do wonder if something is happening because it's all gone quiet again and that's the way we work plus no-one else has been confirmed as being close to a deal. He's also quite clearly no longer required at Vitesse.

That clears that up then. Must mean all our business is done.

With Harding gone or all but gone, where there any whispers around the ground about Buttner or anyone else?