Farmer Saint

I'd be very disappointed if that was us.

We don't want to be in the same position we were last year, having to spend £40-50m just to retain the same team.

"...you would never break the chain..." Dum, derderdum, derderderder, dum

Even then, who's spending £35m on a backup CB.

Would it not make sense to see whether we may have some additional funds if we get big money for him?

I think unfortunately, like a lot of our fans, he doesn't have the mental fortitude for it. Classic sports confidence issues. He was clearly very good for Portsmouth.

OK, let's do this then. I bet you £500, to charity, that we will finish above 8th place?

So what position do you think we'll finish in?

Is it not though? I seem to remember you thought that squad was the best in the League, so where are the big differences?

Well, would you not? Or are Porto trying to re-create the CB pairing from one of the worst ever PL defences?

But it's very similar to the one we had 2 years ago, is it not? And we also have the players we bought last season to help us this year.

Exactly, £25m was too much for any PL team to gamble.

Why mid-table? And what promises?

I would say they had the bid rejected and moved onto Bednarek, wouldn't you?

If clubs were willing to pay, then they were always going to leave, and anyone that thinks differently is mental.

I think even more, it's a fucking game, and a pretty shit one that has been stacked in the favour of the big boys for so long that it's just a bit shit. No-one's dying. We're not being starved. Get out and enjoy the smaller things in life and stop getting depressed that we're no longer a mid to lower PL table team.

I think it's more about whether people will pay what we want. If they do it's nearly £90m in the kitty, and a very similar squad to what we had last time in this League, before any purchases.

The same Porto who bought Bednarek. Thinks that's where the link is from.

There seems to be a lot of chat about THB going? What links have there been for him? He was poor in the Prem last season so not sure who's going to want him.

When have we not got what we wanted for a player?

We did a San Francisco to San Diego road trip in April with the kids, taking in Yosemite and Sequoia on the way whilst we were selling our pad North of LA. It was fantastic. You're very lucky to live in San Diego, it is a beautiful part of the world. When I lived over there I had to be closer to the tech hubs so couldn't be that far South, but if I had to move back I would move there in a second.

We won't sell Downes for £10m. I don't rate him particularly, I've repeated that I think he's a system player, and that he is not good enough for the PL, but we won't let him go for that much. Just won't happen.

Apparently we have turned down bids from Everton, but they won't pay what we want for Dibling. I still maintain that he will stay. Fernandes will go, but for a fat old wedge because so many teams want him. It is also the danger of having Mendes managed players. If you don't sell him when he wants them sold then he won't allow you to sign any of his players in the future. Agents hold too much power etc etc.

It's to ensure he doesn't get injured rather than anything else like negotiating a contract etc. We haven't accepted any offers yet so if it happens, it still won't be soon.

Shame, but assume we got a decent wedge for them?