Colinjb

On first impressions (and even considering that QPR made Swansea look epic....) 2 million pounds..... we missed out on a player like that who cost only two million pounds? Why the f**k did Vallecano let him go for that little? What's wrong with him really? He looked (in MOTD editted style) to be an utter class apart.

17 - Dalek!

Bless you child.

Obsessions are very unhealthy Turkish. I've already told you, it's not going to happen. Get over it, there's a good lad.

You seem to be stalking me enough you creepy b*stard. Don't want you knowing any more.

Who said anything about her dumping me?

Used to go out with one, a nurse. Actually, no, hold that. She was a total b*tch.

Get in there Barney! Scummers came to get you cheating f**kers!!!!

The timing is very convenient though. But no, i'm clearly an idiot. Serves me right for playing devils advocate and attempting to sensibly discuss a not impossible scenario.

Sounds like crude negotiation to me. Don't f**k with Don Nicola......

Your spelling and grammar certainly backs that view.

No need to be so condescending, I am simply expressing a thought. While yes, it would be daft to assume that there would have been no activity on the assumption we were already at a perceived 'good enough' level, it is surely not out of the question that the chairman/staff would have been shocked by such a heavy defeat? Some glaring weaknesses have been exposed and now very quickly afterwards not one but two players have surfaced to fill one such area.

No, they quite literally own 30% of the player. But yes, it seems it will work like a sell on fee in this instance. If Bologna are demanding a sell on fee for him though, will that mean that Penarol are entitled to a 30% share of that when the time comes for Ramirez to leave? Or have we had to negotiate with Penarol for their 30% share of the player?

That's a lot of faith in the youngster.

Oh god, my eyes! Please, gouge them..... gouge them now!!!!!

A difference of 3.75 million pounds (About 30%) of the transfer and personal terms have been essentially agreed. We'll make it happen.

Amused to see you needed to clarify the girlfriend's gender.

I can't feel sorry for anyone who has so outrageously made the most of their incredibly limited ability. Was he an early bloomer? Just failed to develop after a certain age? Or wasted the ability he had by being an idiot off the pitch? Either way, he's done well and lived a lifestyle most of us can only dream of. It's all coming to an end for him though.

What picture?

Maybe some face saving going on with the Italians. We didn't want to accept the money but Gaston made his mind up...

I still can't believe we would go for both Phillips AND Ramirez!!

Our interest in Ramirez has just put this most dramatic of stories into new focus. Three years ago, at the foot of league one we began to rebuild. Right now the skates at the foot of league one are now scraping around for players to sign on in a vain atempt to try to be competitive. Three years ago, the skates doing everything they could to keep on the high earners they couldn't afford and sign mercenaries to stay in the top flight. Right now Saints spending money we seemingly can afford (after scruitiny.... we need to be sure we don't go too far) to build a young hungry team to survive and grow into premier league football. The counterpoint of our destinies is incredible. The turnaround couldn't be more pronounced. And while we ask the pertinent questions some of the few have the temerity to point the finger and say we have now sacrificed the high ground, not at all. I quote Nigel Adkins: "We were in administration a few years ago, that will never happen again. We must cut our cloth accordingly." And no, that wasn't said when he joined the club. That was his reaction when asked about Ramirez in the last hour.

I actually don't mind Ian Holloway, but he really seems to hate us.... bet he's fuming right now! Bless him.

The score against Udinese was humbling, especially for a club that has members of the senior staff claiming European ambition. Could the renewed transfer activity be a direct reaction to our humbling at the hands of the italians? A massive wakeup call against any complacency that may have crept in? Or is the simply the conclusion to a summer of build up activity?

Certainly less expensive!!