saint-crinny

Valverde? All the stories on the OS about our links with Bilbao are way over the top for a pre-season friendly (even in between seasons). Or truth behind the Silva rumour from Greece? Or, and this is most likely, none of us have a ciue

Yeah, my thinking too really. Some of the bigger sides seem happy to let us sign a player first and then pay more for him once established in the Prem for a couple of years. Guess his cost will be dictated by length of contract he has remaining.

As Vic is off, replacement will be interesting. Not many players like him. With the Portugal game just kicking off, worth watching Carvalho for them. He always looks good when I see him. If he's up for grabs this summer, sure there will be plenty of big clubs interested but he'd be a great signing IMO.

Seems to have gone a bit quiet on this one after reports expecting it early this week. Anyone got any updates/insights?

Are you resting Walker and Cahill or dropping them? Cahill has been pretty solid and Walker has been excellent in both games, bombing forward really well. Final ball isn't always that great but neither is Clyne's, and he doesn't get forward as well either. Quite a recovery from Walker, about a year ago Clyne was miles ahead of in the England shake-up

Apols if I've missed chat on this already, but a couple of bits doing the rounds on social channel (pinch of salt obviously) linking Valverde from Bilbao today. To me, this would be quite an exciting appointment, he's done a good job there and has good experience elsewhere - what are people's thoughts on him?

9 points in August, nice

I don't know if I really believe that Ox would return to us, but if he would be prepared to, there is no reason to think that signing Redmond would mean we wouldn't be able to sign OX as well

He would in all likelihood be second choice next season behind Long, and depending on who else arrives, but certainly not fourth. Hard to make a case for him to be behind Austin unless he got fit and recaptured his QPR form, and certainly JRod, who I have doubts about whether he can ever really get back to where he was

Would much rather we kept him, but if he's off we need him to head off abroad. No value in us allowing him to join a PL side likely to be in and around us in the table. Also, guaranteed goal against us at SMS if he's at either

Unless the deal with Lazio is almost done and dusted, I find it really odd that the agent would say this, especially when he has put it out there that he wants a PL job (Everton, Swansea links) You can read so much into it I guess... Good - something is actually happening and attention is being diverted Bad - agent knows all about Saints from Ronald days and has steered FDB away from us?

I find it hard to get my head round De Boer not even being on the shortlist. To me, on paper at least he seems to tick all the boxes - great pedigree as a player, has achieved a bit as a manager but plenty to prove, someone the current squad should respect in the same ilk as Koeman, is available, would also appear to be the option that offers the most continuation from Koeman. Unless that is it, they want to move away from what Koeman did, not sure why you would though.

For me, this would be much more difficult to accept than Poch leaving. RK going to a club that finished significantly lower than us is something I never saw coming and would demonstrate that despite all of the continuous progression, we aren't anywhere near the attractive prospect we'd like to think we are. Respect for Koeman would be low as well - not because he had chased mega money (we'd all do that in his situation) - but because of his constant assertion that he will be here for his three year contract, even up until two weeks ago, only to jump ship. Like most, if Koeman refused a new contract, left next summer and joined Barca, I would have no problem with that at all. Hanging on to that fact that right now, these rumours are exactly that, from the Mirror, bookies and a few dutch journalists

Thanks for that helpful, patronising advice, but I won't be doing that. Great if you can. Surely this is what happens when you support something? You care about it, worry about things happening to it that would be detrimental, even if you have no influence on it.

https://twitter.com/timdewit This guy reporting Koeman's agent is on his way to Liverpool as we speak. Odds dropping every minute on most betting sites. At what do we start panicking/does Les drag himself out of his comfy chair for a meeting?

We were very poor with a diamond formation against Australia. Think Vardy could even find himself on the bench. Will be interesting to see where Roy picks Rooney - he'll surely start, but who misses out? Alli has been superb just behind Kane, would Roy want to break that up. So will he be out wide - you'd think (hope) not.

Nothing particularly concerning in what he says, positive in fact. But the fact that this video is there at all is odd for me - why do this? Just get your business done in private and then announce it when it's all sorted. I'm still very hopeful that Koeman will sign a new deal, but equally, I can see why people see this video as a bit of PR that is either setting us up for bad news ("Well it was all going well and then RK and his lawyers ruined it...") or a bizarre attempt to put pressure on Koeman (very unprofessional if it is this). I hope far too much is being read into it, but this is football we're talking about at the end of the day...

I'm not beating the drum for Rooney to start - for me, a midfield three of Dier, Wilshere (if he proves his sharpness) and Alli would be the best option. Was merely an observation that a number of people were suggesting Rooney can't play in midfield and in fact, he had a crucial role in the cup final. You could argue he also showed great leadership after they conceded - picking up the ball, beating four men and crossing for the equalizer. At the end of the day, Rooney has scored goals regularly throughout his England career, leading him to become all time top scorer. You can say he has never delivered in a major tournament, but tell me a player who has during the same period? Basically no-one. He's always been the best we have. He should be in the squad as captain, having captained the team through a comfortable (albeit) straightforward qualifying campaign. Whether he starts is a different story but it Roy decides, as he almost certainly will, to find a spot for him I won't be arguing too much. With Wilshere looking unfit, Henderson being generally not very good and Delph a pointless spot in the 26, a midfield of Dier and Alli (who can play well when he's not in the more advanced midfield role as well) with Rooney in front of them might be the best option.

A lot Rooney smashing on here and don't necessarily disagree, but the commentator was absolutely right about his performance in the cup final. he was excellent. Without his run and cross they would have lost the cup.

I wonder if he's happy? Can't tell from those quotes

Good. Given that it will be extremely beneficial for us to go straight into group stages (no early pre-season, no chance of c**king up qualifying!), i guess we're all supporting United on Saturday then. Never sits well with me, but needs must

Right, so now that United have leapfrogged us and we're 6th, we currently need to qualilfy for the Europa? And if United go on to win the FA Cup, we will be in group stages automatically and the qualifying slot for the Europa will go to West Ham in 7th?

Townsend, Janmaat and Wijnaldum for me. Possibly Ayew who has shown a bit despite Villa being dreadful I know Wijnaldum has been up and down, but he still managed 11 goals in a relegated team - think he'd be great in a midfield that had Wanyama sitting behind him (big if that we keep Vic of course).

This is a squad that has been built over two years - if Wilshere was fit he was always going to be picked and having not got into the squad over the course of this season, Noble was never going to get in there now. On top of that IMO, when playing well, Wilshere is better than Noble - remember his last game for England when he was excellent and showed what he can do if on his game

Nobody loathes him - can't speak for everyone (although I'm about too) i think a big part of the criticism and moaning surrounding JWP is that we all have such high hopes for what he could do. He looks like he should be a great players and his technical ability is very good, so we're all willing him to kick on and become a top player. Right now, he's not quite doing it and he doesnt impact the game enough - a player of his ability should be able to demand the ball, get it down and move the team forward but too often in games, he doesnt do it. That's where he needs to focus next season IMO as you can't rely on set pieces as your only major contribution when you play where he does. But great news to get him tied down long term - he could still develop into a top, top player I think (hope)