Ivan Katalinic's 'tache

Well AP said it would be "touch and go" whether the new face(s) would be in before the big kick-off and he's not wrong with any deals needing to be done by tomorrow lunch time in order to play! Really thought we'd have had someone in today. On the plus side, Plymouth have loaned out Damien Johnson to Huddersfield for the season. Good news for Saturday but 'Udders are continuing to strengthen with decent players, which is a concern.

Damn them. Why won't they just roll over and die?!

Saints are also bound to release details of any signing between 9.30 and 10.00 tonight, when the website is down, so the website immediately crashes when its brought back online, when a sudden rush of forum users log back in having been denied their fix for half an hour... Edit: the little yellow message I had telling me the forum would be down has disappeared now, so this might not be true! Spooky.

Rumour round-up: Lifted from a 606 thread. Taken from Football Rumours. Andros Townsend - wasn't he at MK Dons last year?

Was just thinking that. Also Troy Deeney has handed in a transfer request at Walsall. Pacy, good goal record at this level. Could be worth a punt although Watford have been mentioned as being interested in him.

I'm fed up with us (supposedly) chasing all these players. When are we going to catch some of them??

Interesting that we've gone from a position a week ago, when Pardew was saying he wanted 1 or 2 more (maybe even 3), before the start of the season but it would be touch and go whether they happened before the big kick off to his rather vague comment this week. I can see only 2 reasons: 1) we're close to signing these players and AP doesn't want to jeopardise the deals or 2) he's been told that there won't be any more signings and to rein in his comments. I hope it's the former.

Has Eastleigh's DoF seen that Martin might turn into a better player than he anticipated and is now wishing he'd got a better deal for him...?

Me! I was thinking that last week and, with three days to go, I'm now pretty sure we'll wait and see how we go for the first couple of games before dipping into the market again.

All quiet on the Vassell front still (regardless of who might want him).

You want rumours irrespective of accuracy then Football Rumours is the place! Here's what's on there today.

I reckon we've had a look and he's done pretty well. AP said he was planning to speak to him and we've probably asked him about whether he fancies a move here and given him the choice: will you drop your wage demands for a chance of 1st team football. If he's gone back to Preston, I'd guess not...

Interesting and concerning in equal measure, especially with Rickie not playing either and Forest "rumoured" to be interested in him. Think Tyson is definitely off the menu, with Blackpool interested, but the Dexter rumour might have legs.

Conclusive proof players do post on this forum. Welcome Anthony!

Nothing really in Pardew's comments on OS about bringing in new players. Anyone else starting to think that the reason there's no real speculation about us being interested in players is because we aren't after anyone and we're planning to go with what we've got? If it is that, I wonder if it's Pardew being happy with what he's got or NC's reluctance to give any more money to spend, to a manager who could be under pressure in a few weeks, if we don't get off to a good start?

Don't worry, we've got that Rickie-like replacement in reserve, which AP identified at the start of pre-season. Oh...

You're joking?? And I thought the idea was to try to have a settled pre-season! I know you can't predict who might get injuries but you do know it's a possibility so if you also have lack of cover in key positions, you could be said to be in a little bit of bother before a ball's been kicked in anger...

Would be great, if true! Although shouldn't we broaden our horizons and try to scout players beyond the City Ground?

Carter's not in the squad listed for the game vs Reading tomorrow, on the OS. I guess that means either negotiations are under way and we've seen enough to want to sign him or we've seen enough not to want to!

It's Friday and Vassell said he hoped to officially be free to sign for someone else from today. I guess his plans will become clear soon, if so! Come on Pards - get it sorted IF we are interested!

Was kind of hoping one of the deals AP was talking about would be done prior to the Reading game, to add a bit of interest and so they'd have the opportunity to play with the first team before the League season kicks off, next week. I guess that's not likely, now, although there are 10 more hours to go before it's 11.30pm...

So we get to beat one more team on the way to retaining our trophy then? Fine by me.

Tall, back-up striker for Lambo?

Danns, I'd guess...

Even less chance than Darius Vassell, surely?