VectisSaint

Six really, looks like Christopher Klarer is in the reckoning. Really won't be surprised if we don't sign a new CB. Would much prefer we strengthen midfield further.

Why? Ralph has seen him play and can see why he will never be a team player, and why he has no end product. He is a very skilful footballer, but has a basic faulty trait that means he does not link up with other players. Ralph has presumably reckoned he cannot change Boufal's style, in the same way none of his other coaches have and requested he be transferred out. Don't think it's an attitude problem, though its possible, just a realisation that he does not have the tools to fit into Ralph's team.

Koeman left because he fell out with Les. Everton just happened to be the right place at the right time. Worked out well didn't it.

Maybe things have moved on during the week, a week is a long time in football. Maybe he wasn't fully fit. Who knows and frankly who cares.

Our youngsters will probably be facing Matt and Joseph Mills as well as Lloyd James. Quite the little reunion

Marcus Barnes hasn't even been mentioned, takes up a squad place so guessing he is due to be shipped out as well.

His loan at Blackburn was ended early because of a serious ankle injury.

You didn't read the article did you.

Surprised at the comments about him being isolated and the language barrier. Didn`t we bring in Imants Bleidelis to help, we certainly didn't bring him in for his footballing prowess ? George fecking Burley has a lot to answer for. There's a lot to be said for having Pahars and Adkins associated with the Club, I'm sure Ralph could benefit from their involvement.

Surprised there is a place for Elyounoussi.

Nope, you are wrong. FIFA solidarity payments end when a player reaches his 23rd birthday (or at the end of the season he turns 23) unless the transfer is between different national associations (hence Bale would still be covered if he moves away from Spain). Unless Gallagher or Stephens move to a foreign club (Inc Scotland) there is no Solidarity fee. I said Stephens and Gallagher may have clauses in their contracts, so agree there, not sure how you would know, are you party to their contract details?

Solidarity payments apply only up until the season where a player reaches the age of 23. Sam is already 23 (nearly 24), Stephens is 25. Don't think Plymouth will be owed anything if either move on for a fee, at least from a solidarity/training comensation perspective. Of course there could be a transfer fee % in their contract, who knows.

What about Bonio?

Yep, looks like he'll be at Staplewood a little earlier than expected. What a fecking useless pen.

There seem to be a few players not back, at least not noticed in any of the training pics/videos. Haven't noticed Armstrong, Bednarek, Moi, Long, JWP, PEH, Redmond, Gunn, Sims. Maybe one or two of them have been missed (by me) but it looks like anyone who was involved in any sort of international game during June is not here yet (even ones who were not actually selected for final squads).

The Italian season finished 2 weeks after the PL, plus he got married last week, probably agreed an extension due to that. All his antiSocial Media posts suggest he is no his way back from holidays.

When do you think Ralph is going to be able to watch him pre-season? He is at AFCON and won't be back in England much before the season starts (maybe 2 weeks depending on how Morocco actually get on). Expect them to beat Benin tomorrow, they could well go all the way, possibly to 3rd/4th place which is on 17th July. At least 2 weeks holiday after that, might see him a week before our first game.

Takes one to know one was the old school days explanation, certainly seems to fit the bill in this case.

Oops, forgot about Cedric, Carrillo, Boufal, Clasie and Hoedt, all of whom we expect to be shipped out.

You need 8 home grown players over the age of 21 if you are going to have a full squad of 25 (you can have a maximum of 17 non home grown players). We were already well stocked with home grown players last season, this reqlly isn't an issue any more. McCarthy, Stephens, Long, Ings, Austin, Gallagher, Ward-Prowse, Bertrand, Redmond, Gunn, Sims, Forster, Barnes, Adams. I make that 14 and I suspect there are one or two more that are now "21 or over" that weren't last season. I think we only have 9 non-homegrown over 21 players at the moment. Currently

You sure? He was in Utah on Saturday (Amangiri) after he got married. Perhaps he got an extended holiday for his honeymoon.

He won't be next week. The fact that he is permanently crocked and can't run is more pertinent than a random birth event.

The whole issue of using VAR for offside is pure madness. The offside law was never intended to be to penalise minute infringements, it was designed to stop what we used to call goal hanging, and the tactics that used to be employed to overcome it. It is only the re ent obsession with deciding if a player is half a millimetre offside or not that has resulted in VAR being employed. It should be perfe tly reasonable for a referee and lino to make a judgement unaided as to whether a player has gained a serious advantage or not without the need for technology. In most cases where the call is close the benefit should be given to the attacking player. People have simply lost sight of the reason for offside law. I think this is what Whitey was getting at, generally I reckon he is spot on with his assessment of the ridiculousness of VAR in this context.

Not often in agreement, but would bite their hand off. Must be the inflated market for him to be worth 8m.

Generally considered passing style?