the saint in winchester

Schneider IS available! Sneijder leaves Dundee UnitedFootball Posted at 14:08 The Scottish Sun's Robert Thomson is reporting that Rodney Sneijder - the brother of Netherlands international Wesley - is to end his Dundee United career after just one month and one substitute appearance...

Agreed. It should close 31st July to allow managers to focus on the team they will have at least for the first half of the season. To work with a player, set up formations, styles of play etc and then have the player plucked from you 4 weeks later must be soul destroying.

Joleon Lescott is available. £1M bid turned down, but available in the bargain bin.

Juanmi playing then. Ready for the plane to Denmark, I hope!

Jonathan de Guzman. Bournemouth managament flying to Napoli this afternoon for talks. Get Les on the plane too!

A game crying out for the invention of Juanmi. If I were the player and his agent, I would want to see Koeman in the morning to see if it is going to continue like this? He has to start on Thursday!!

I put that comment in as bait and I knew you would bite on it. Year after year, you morosely predict we'll finish 17th and sell our players. Do you not think supporters should support, rather than carp and whinge? I'm not sure you want us to be in the Premier League either!

we used to have all week to prepare for our league games, now we do not no real time to prepare for league games and little recovery time He makes a good point really. It's not about total number of games when you're in Europe, it's the short recovery and preparation time. But hey, we wanted to be in Europe and this is where we are - hoping we can stabilise quickly and get a settled team.

Stek Cedric (RB) Fonte Caulker Martina (LB) Vic Romeu Ward-Prowse (RM) Juanmi (CM) Mane (LM) Pelle

Should be first sub on. Looks lively, can change games.

Yeah, I heard there was some off-field action with one of the players that Jose didn't appreciate. Eva sent to the stands, John Terry taken off at half time. You make the link, guys. #justsaying

Agree that if we were to go for Austin (although I don't think we will) then taking Phillips would be a wise move. We do need a good right-footed midfielder.

Good post, fine explanation. The wealthier clubs can afford this approach.

There's NO way on God's green earth that RK would part with Pelle. Wherever Koeman manages, Pelle plays. End of...

I'm sure it's not. Now that Fonte is deemed cast in stone it has drifted into the pros and cons of PL B teams being helicoptered into the FL. That's how.

The club may surprise us on deadline day with a signing for the No2 position - I'm not ITK. But if a quality GK becomes available on the day ....

Like this. Now a christmas tree formation (4-2-1-2-1). Agree your personnel, and also recognise the dilemma over J-Rod/Tadic. J-Rod needs to get in the box more to play his own game, and Tadic needs to get more involved. The rest of the team picks itself.

Someone frame this post. Alpine could yet be 'satisfied'.

Don't worry, Dr Eva will check him over for us, give him a full workout. Ohhh missus!

11:22 CELTIC HOPE TO KEEP VAN DIJK Southampton are interested indefender Virgil van Dijk and we understand the deal depends on whether Celtic get Champions League football. The SPFL side think they have a much better change of keeping him if he remains in remain in the Champions League - they face Malmo for a place in the group stage next week. We'll be hearing from Celtic boss Ronny Deila after their match against Kilmarnock tonight. --------------------- So is it the player's decision? Is it coming down to what each club can offer?

09:39 SAINTS ON BRINK OF VAN DIJK DEAL Southampton are hopeful of landing Celtic defender Virgil van Dijk even if Ronny Deila’s side reach the Champions League Group stage, writes the Daily Record. The report suggests Ronald Koeman is on the brink of securing a £10m deal for the defender and he hopes the deal will be completed before the September 1. "hopes"? Hardly on the brink then. We are playing a cool hand but they hold the aces.

Do hope Pulis isn't going to do what Brenda did to him ... tell him "I need you, you will get regular games" then as soon as he signs bring in 3 strikers to prevent Rickie lacing his boots.

Liverpool are willing to listen to offers for long-serving Brazilian midfielder Lucas Leiva, 28. (Liverpool Echo)

Actually a shame (for justice) that the ref gave him the yellow because without that, I would have expected the FA Panel to have issued a retrospective red on Monday morning.

Agree. The assault on Targett was one of the worst I have seen, and if Targett hadn't jumped in the air, it would have been a leg breaker. Straight red. Couldn't believe MOTD pundits saying a yellow was right. Then the flailing arm smash on Yoshida. That guy either has to cool it or marked out as a constant offender.