the saint in winchester

I thought we had an agreement with Liverpool that the price for Minamino would be £10M. Not an exercisable option admittedly. Of course, now Sevilla have declared an interest the price may rise. But they are offering €10M, so we can beat that offer. For me: * Minamino - up to £15M * Walcott on a free (but I'd look into that Ryan Kent suggestion if his wages are significantly less) * RB * LB Sell Ings, Redmond.

Forster Stephens Vest Salisu Bertrand Romeu JWP Minamino Armstrong Adams Ings Quote

Why change now? Because they are not working any longer. Our playbook is in the public domain. Other sides gen up and know about our passing along the back line, then the long diagonal to the far end of the pitch. They know they can stay compact, strength in numbers, and we can't break through the rear 7 players. They know as we like to pass out from the back, GK to defender, we are vulnerable to being pressed ourselves. That's why we need to come up with NEW strategies and our old strategies are being combatted.

Everything there sounds unlikely * getting to the final * beating Utd * scoring a late goal * final appearance by Ings? * Jankewitz being at Wembley?

I'm surprised we aren't dipping into the free agent market to cover KWP's absence. https://www.transfermarkt.com/spieler/vertragslosespieler/statistik/1/plus//galerie/0?ausrichtung=alle&spielerposition_id=5&land_id=alle&altersklasse=&wettbewerb_id=alle&seit=alle&yt0=Show Aside from Cuco Martina, I see Eric Lichaj there. Experience in championship.

Preference would be Kayne Ramsey, a genuine RB. Second choice : Stephens. Reluctant option : move JWP as a stand-in.

I was venting to my son earlier about this pass it round the CB nonsense that is inflicting this pain on ourselves. He sent me this video that explains the theory. https://youtu.be/nBnczPnBBdY I tend to feel if The Athletic can explain it in such detail and it's a published practice, then the cat's out the bag and we can't persist with it.

Control the controllables! We had 95 minutes to score more than one goal. Don't let it come down to one (or two today) bad VAR decision(s). We should have scored more than one goal and then the VAR decision wouldn't have dictated the result. Ralph had a poor game today, and he needs to coach better the players he has. We seem to be focused on VAR and strength of the squad. We can do more than we are currently doing.

Be interesting to see how Ralph plays his cards this weekend, with Redders, Armstrong, Djenepo and Minamino all fit (AFAIK). Which two start, and which two go to the bench? Personally, I see Armstrong and Minamino as our BEST two, but maybe there's a case for leaving some gems on the bench to play aces late in the game.

The article says "the Italians value him at £15M now.." So, if they really expect that, then out of our price range. But if that's pie in the sky, and he's available for £5M, sure, as he plays LM, would be a good option to challenge NR.

If playing Fraser means we won't have a shot to defend, I'm all for it. But Ralph keeps saying Macca is his #1 so I expect Macca to be back. But I'd give Fraser games. You don't have to nominate one keeper over another. Just look on it as they are competing for the shirt, as with any other position.

Exactly. Make it Bamford and Harrison and as many other Leeds players as we can entice. They are all fit and oven-ready for Ralph's system.

I think we can take both of these with a pinch of salt. Simunovic, the article acknowledges, will likely go to Germany. And Musa, this is a re-hash of an old link to when he was out of favour at Leicester and we enquired, but went for Adams. It's that old. Journalists seem to think if you have enquired at any time previously, then you must still be interested. Not.

Keeping it on transfers, the issue for me on Deadline Day and the days leading up to it, was who we were targeting. We were chasing after squad players at Premier League clubs even when their clubs had said they were NOT available for loan. Why weren't we looking at Championship and even League One for players who WOULD have jumped at the chance to join us. Instead, we kept ringing up asking if MU and Liverpool had changed their mind. Surely we could afford to spend £1M on a player and develop them. In future, please, look at lower leagues for gems, not PL players on £50k a week who don't even want to join us.

Agree. We can sit picking the bones out of last night and crying into our beer. The Leicester score was a massive shock and we were at full strength. Last night we were half a team of decent players and a lot of young lads. We'd all love to have internationals on the bench, but we just can't. At full strength we may still have lost, but not by that scoreline. We may struggle for a few games but hopefully we'll pick it up again in a few games time.

I have to admit that I thought it was a bit of that too, when it happened. So you don't want me to leave then? Watch this.... But I've mellowed today. Have to believe it was just youthful exhuberance. Would like to hear his own comments, but expect Ralph has told him to say nothing. Reports suggest Ralph says it's all Janko's fault. But I take that as reporters putting a slant on Ralph's comments that were not there from Ralph. But … he did basically suspend Gunn and Valery after the Leicester game. Time will tell.

Haha, like that. Quote of the day.

That's a thought. I'd forgotten Theo is technically on loan. We could do with asking Everton to make him a free transfer, but I recall they are paying 50% of his wages, so we probably don't want to pay it all. This could be limiting.

I hear what you say about him being a midfielder, but if he would accept being a utility player with us, then I would go in for him. We have to be a more attractive option than WBA, who apparently are 'leading the chase' for his loan. I can see the chase for Williams at MU ending in frustration, so I'd sooner get in the player that is actually available. Bird in the hand and all that.

Always welcome respectful fans of other teams, and Babyblue seems a good egg. All we know so far is that Ings wants to see what other options may be available to him, so he doesn't want to sign the contract extension until the end of the season. If he is after CL football, then he needs a top 4 side. He was with Liverpool and couldn't get back into their side after injury. Then we came in to bring him back to his local area. If he wants more money, then other clubs will be able to outbid us, we accept that. Often its those clubs who have delusions of grandeur and are prepared to spend big. West Ham are usually the club we all use in that space. So, Ings needs to be sure on his priorities. We can offer him a regular starting place, a top of our budget salary, a coaching role to evolve into one day. We accept we are unlikely to make top 6 and it would be unusual to win silverware. But he is valued here and can be a club legend. If he really decides to move on, then we would hope he would go for a side where he gets a semi-regular place. Leicester would be a good option, if he can accept being sub to Vardy at this stage and hopefully his successor after that. I also think Man City need a decent striker. Aguero looks to be off in the summer. Jesus is well out of form. Ings could get a place there and at a decent wage. Man Utd, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal don't need him, IMHO. We're hoping he doesn't really want to go to West Ham, or Everton as they're no better than us and just pay more. I guess we're not going to rock the boat until the summer, but then a decision needs to be made. We can't let Ings run the contract down to zero and then walk away for free. @Babyblue, if your team's offer could include Barnes. Maddison and one of the FB's, we'd like the sound of your offer.

Pep .. and Arteta .. Hubba Hubba - I love a Mediterranean girl, me

Agree. I wouldn't consider any bid under £40M at this stage. Tottenham's reputation for low ball offers suggest any bid won't be anywhere near that.

I start with the view that if Ings was fully committed to staying with us long term, he wouldn't be interested in a release clause. It suggests he has one eye on the exit door already. I guess that's the modern player. "I want salary rises and contract extensions, but not to be tied down and held to the length of the contract." That's player power these days.

Yes, move them to either wing (Kingsland or Itchen). Home side (us) should have both goal ends. I know this has come up before, and I can't remember the argument that said the away fans had to stay. We should be looking to maximise all our advantages, including home support all game. Newcastle put away fans up in the gods!

Fraser hasn't yet been tested in the two games. First, Liverpool fancy-danned around the penalty area and didn't test him. Then ;last night, the opposition was lower level and didn't have enough to attack. The jury is out for me. He needs to be making regular saves and commanding his area, so we know where his level is now.