Ludwig

If I remember rightly; Mayuka has a CA of 123 and PA 150, Ramirez CA 142 and PA, didn't look up Yoshida. They're pretty solid indeed. Ramirez has a PA matched only (hopefully if MLG's done his job right!) by Shaw and Ward-Prowse!

Just focus on our performances and over the course of the season we'll get a better idea how well teams are doing. Way too early to pay much attention to anyone but ourselves right now.

You've misinterpreted this. Italian clubs are allowed to sign two non-EU players from outside of Italy every season. The fact that he's not occupying one of these spots is irrelevant, it applies on a season by season basis. Gaston Ramirez does not yet qualify for an EU passport, so will require a work permit. However, given his potential and international caps, this will be a formality.

I heard we had a scout (along with Aston Villa and another PL side - I can't remember which) at Watford on Saturday sent out to watch Sean Murray. He didn't play though.

Am I alone in feeling a slight sense of deja vu about this thread?

No.

Absolute nonsense. Would Saints fans genuinely back the killing of Pompey fans? I contend that the rational majority would not. Whereas sectarian chanting has a history of violence and warfare more severe and ingrained than a quasi-fictional history based around docker's strikes and a few scuffles (albeit possibly serious ones relative to the world of football violence). A sizeable minority of those partaking in sectarian chants or generally chants referring to continuing conflict (be it active, or recent/potential) would advocate and back them. Chanting something that stirs genuine feeling that exists beyond football is unacceptable. Chanting something that gives the impression of stirring feelings that exist beyond football, but in actuality don't, is not as easily condemned. Arguing otherwise, or even arguing against the vague categorisation I've given would quite clearly indicate idiocy.

What then, other than achievements, can accurately demonstrate the size of a club? I'd argue that there's a very strong correlation between clubs that make appearances in European finals and 'big' clubs - moreso, perhaps, than average attendances or similar vacuous measures.

Yeah, when was the last time we got to a European final?

Quite short. Good on the ball, versatile, played at PL level before (and did well - albeit at right-back). If he was taller he'd be first choice for a lower half side, his height is the only real doubt as to whether he can step up effortlessly.

"[Rangers researcher] has done more for John Fleck's career than his agent ever could - he's sh*t!" - quote from a Rangers fan who used to work on FM.

doesn't fit in this margin but i can show: zorn's lemma undecidable, well-ordering principle true, axiom of choice false.

Can't even spoiler (or edit). Hooray, probability for the masses (excuse the pun).

It isn't right at all, but provides an estimate that isn't too bad. The probabilities of these events occurring aren't independent (as you're assuming). Instead, we can quite easily enumerate the respective probabilities for all combinations of relevant outcomes as below (assuming equally likely trial outcomes, which is wrong, as we know certain clubs are paired, others would be controlled for police reasons etc., which in this case (if we are paired with Reading) increases the chance of a promoted side playing a top three side, as Reading and Saints can't play each other first day (and decreases the probability of Saints playing West Ham on the first day of the season) - which does deem that in the spoiler somewhat irrelevant, but if anyone cares, the maths is below (though probably wrong). Actual probability of at least one promoted side playing a top three side is ~ 0.425.

Schneiderlin won't get near the French team after a good season at Saints next year. He's nowhere near able to compete with Cabaye, M'Vila, Sissoko, Gourcuff, Capoue, etc. and won't be seriously considered for a little while longer. I do, however, feel that he has potential to be seen in the same way Joe Allen has this season - as a very very tidy young player with serious potential. Will take a little longer for it to become clear and for him to be able to begin asserting dominance upon games, influence-wise and dictating tempo at will and with regularity, but his class is clear to see. With experience and growth, he'll only get better - he's the sort of player who'll only grow better with age - one hopes that he's watching Andrea Pirlo every week with a notebook and getting everything down.

Scoring ratios in their last four years in Holland are both ~75%, Van Nistelrooy marginally higher.

We are all Deppo.

Managers grow on trees.

Heard a rumour Gary Madine has an offer from us. Not really sure why that'd be the case, but still.

You're talking complete and utter ********. Their midfield is packed full of talent, Coloccini is excellent, Krul and Santon good prospects (and reasonable at present!), with Ba somewhat mercurial and Cisse more predatory than Ched Evans - they're not going down.

I see Lallana's worth to us (and thus the value which I'd see as an acceptable figure for signing him) as more than what I'd be willing to pay for him, were Lallana a player at some other club. I'd be concerned, say, as a Burnley fan (having just been promoted) if we were to sign Adam Lallana for £8M from Southampton (a Championship club), despite agreeing that his quality is sufficient to improve the side. It's more the fear that the reported fee and associated expectations may both affect the player and the club's future transfer dealings, than thinking that Rodriguez represents a 'bad buy'.

Is no one concerned that this is a very expensive signing? This is the sort of figure that Newcastle signed Pa**** Cisse for. Is Rodriguez necessarily going to be able to step up and have the impact that such a pricetag suggests is expected of him? He's the right sort of player, seems of good character, potential and has performed well for Burnley - but £7M+, seriously? Is he worth 2.5x+ Lee, Lambert and Sharp combined? It's a dangerous precedent being set to spend such a large figure so soon. Unless we're intending to do most of our business elsewhere, if we look at other young British players, clubs will look to hold us to ransom. Which will either result in not securing our preferred targets, or spending an awful lot of money, which although encouraging (wrt what our current financial situation/backing is) is not something I'd be glad to see (even though we're not looking at the sorts of players QPR signed, we could end up with players who turn out 'average' [see O'Neill's signings at Villa, or Bruce/Keane at Sunderland].

Isn't he registered to Udinese, but has been on loan at Granada for a fair while?

I disagree in this case. A player from a top club who can perform immediately at our level - and even if they succeed won't necessarily force their way into contention at their parent club - is surely lower risk than spending silly money on Hooper/Rodriguez/Rhodes, none of whom (I think) demonstrate the same level of potential that Guidetti has. From all of the interviews/features etc. I've seen written about him, he doesn't appear to be of the normal footballer mould, he's got an incredible focus and determination (and self-belief) in a way that a lot of young players do not - I would not think that he'd be a disruptive influence, from the sounds of it he just wants to play regular football at the highest possible level he can.

Pretty unlikely, but a player in the mould we're looking for and of sufficient quality to start every week - John Guidetti on loan from Manchester City? Unlikely to be able to play as much first team football as he'd like there, but his progress at Feyenoord (who possibly have an option to extend the loan for 6 months into next season?) has been notable - so City may want to keep hold of him, and give him PL experience. Would be a perfect striking option for a year, anyway.