revolution saint

Yeah, don’t forget fires, floods and other biblical catastrophes. They could all happen too. Any player could get injured

I don’t know if he’ll be the same player he was either, no one really does, but it’ll be interesting to see how he gets on. It’s exactly the same kind of deal we did with THB so just seemed a bit strange to knock it.

Whilst it’s fun to knock other clubs, I think it’s quite a good deal. It’s 30m of next years money if they stay up, and if they do stay up then presumably he would have contributed to that.

Before my time but a quick google tells me you're right. Marvellous, isn't it.

Jumpers for goalpost eh? Isn't it? Marvellous, hmm?

shadow striker, or an 8.5

Nonsense, AA is a false 9. Do keep up!

Are we the only club that has a goals scored ration? It would explain a fair bit.

Except no one really is, people are commenting on links not the accuracy of them.

Yeah, does beg the question why we bothered with Taylor if we bring another LB in. Also puts the boot in on the idea that we'll be using the loan market for a high profile starter that can't get a game at big club. Probably bollocks though.

Matt Targett on a season long loan - Graeme Bailey. If true then KWP is probably off. Sun reporting interest "hotting up" in Jack Clarke with us and West Ham interested. Could see this happening. Sunderland want 25M but have a reported 25% sell on to Spurs. Fee would need to come way down but someone suggested yesterday offering Edozie on a loan which probably works for both parties.

Neither is Downes a DM and that's my point. Downes only really played that role because we didn't have any other options but when he played for Swansea it was Grimes as the more deep lying midfielder. Downes is a great all round midfielder and this kid maybe too. Let's be honest, none of us really know much besides what we've read and seen on the interweb but personally feel that we need someone more productive at the top end of midfield. Someone who can take on his man and either score or assist. Stuart Armstrong could do that but I'm not sure we really have that at the moment. Aribo possibly, and he did well on Saturday, but I'm hoping we get someone else who naturally plays that role.

He did and fair play to him. That was against 10 men and a team sitting back defending a lead though and I don't think we expect him to be doing that every week. Of course, and we don't know how much money we've got. If we end up with options that address the creativity and goals from midfield AND other options that leave us well covered then no complaints from me. Obviously judge it at the end of the window but the money on Fernandes seems to be quite a lot for someone that, on the face of it, doesn't offer much more than we already have.

Yep, 100%. It's all well and good bringing players like Fernandes in if we've got the rest of the squad sorted. Fernandes is basically Downes. We're still sorely missing a bit of creativity and goals from midfield.

TBH I didn't really notice him much. Think he had a shot around the edge of the area and fairly central which went over the bar but it was a snap shot and wouldn't class it as a gilt edged chance. By the time he came on Newcastle were mostly camped pretty deep and, while we had a lot of possession, we didn't create any really good chances and rarely did we have a chance for anyone to get much of a run at defenders. Not a great start but nothing to get too worked up about yet.

I'm going tomorrow and looking forward to it. I'm expecting it to be pretty derivative but it's a franchise and probably inevitable but if Alvarez can keep the tension and suspense up then I think I'll enjoy it. Least it doesn't sound like it's going to disappear up it's own arse like Prometheus and (to an extent) Covenant.

I guess so although can you do that in the same financial year (from a PSR perspective)?

Academic, we can only have one player on loan from Chelsea and we've already got Big Les.

Apparently interested in another 20 year old midfielder, Oliver Arblaster from Sheff Utd. Ipswich and Brentford also in the running. Dunno anything about him except he was made captain against Man United last season having only played 10 games. Source: Mike McGrath

Did we end up signing that Portuguese kid we had on loan last season? Seem to recall there was a report saying we’d bid 4m euros or similar. Only reason I ask is that I hope we can integrate Fernandes without the same problems Charley had. If he doesn’t speak English then I don’t think we have another Portuguese speaker on the playing staff. Edit: Ussamane Djalo was the player I was thinking of and appears we didn’t

I did some research when we were first linked and they moved him to playing striker for the European playoffs and he got something like 8 goals in 10 games so he’s not that bad but probably not what we need right now. Always had the feeling the link was driven more by Gent or agent than Saints anyway.

I'll take that as Cedric was crap. You're deluded pal!

OK, if being a Portuguese international isn't enough for you, he also was part of the teams that finished 6th and 8th for Saints. Koeman thought he was decent enough and he's probably a better judge than you.

Yeah, that's bollocks. Personally I always thought Clyne was probably a bit better but Cedric was decent. All about opinions obviously but I'm filing yours under "clueless".

Does anyone else think we need a new ‘keeper? Only ask because it doesn’t feel like it gets the attention it deserves.