The Kraken

I've heard lower figures mentioned too, so who knows. Either way not exactly a huge fee, but a fee nonetheless. I didn't even mention Gazzaniga who came for a fee. So in fact, none of our transfers have been free this summer!

Blatantly incorrect. Palace were due a development fee for Clyne which was thought to be negotiated at £2.5M. We also agreed a fee with Rangers for Davis for them to release his registration, rumoured to be £800K.

Be competitive with who, though? Adkins clearly wants up to 6 players, where are we if we only end up with a third of that amount?

How have we failed to address this? Adkins has consistently said he wants to bring in 1 or 2 players at CB before the start of the season. Its not a failure to address the issue, its a failure to acquire our targets yet. Once again, you've highlighted areas where Adkins said he wanted to bring players in. The Buttner deal fell through, NA has said we're interested in bringing in a winger. We just haven't done it yet. We've been in for Buttner, bought de Ridder, shown interest in Lens, previously shown interest in a few other foreign players. Who thinks we're 2 signings away? Adkins doesn't, he missed out on a left back, said he wanted 1 or 2 GKs, 1 or 2 CBs, and a winger. That's up to 6 players he said he wants, of which we've got 1. By all means, get concerned we haven't brought them in yet, but there's no need to make things up about our aims and intentions and pretend the staff aren't doing anything or don't recognise the problem.

He's being talked about as surplus to requirements and potentially available for £10M. Wages would also surely be an issue. A loan move would be amazing though.

Just to get this back on topic and away from Alpine's seething rage and p*ssing contest with Hypo... Nigel Adkins: Now we're in August I think silly season is about to begin. Sunderland's £12M bid for Steven Fletcher being turned down; Joe Allen for £15M to Liverpool; Jarvis £9M turned down; Dan Agger to Man City for £23M PLUS Adam Johnson. That's what it takes to compete in the top half of the table in this division, and is hopefully a stark reminder for what needs to be spent on proven players. Taking a punt on lower league players will work to an extent; pressing on further is going to cost a lot.

Such as who? For a proven, young attacking player in the PL (who scored 8 goals last season) I'd be surprised if you got change from £10M.

Furthermore, rumours that West Ham have had a £9M bid for Matt Jarvis turned down. Pretty sure they've got money to spend.

I don't rate him at all. So much so that I think that given that his U21 and Olympics appearances are behind him, I reckon he'll sign for a Championship side within 2 years. He hasn't made the necessary impact on Tottenham's first team (13 league games in 5 years) and, now 22, really doesn't have many games under him at all (and most of them at Championship level). And he doesn't seem to have a position, not good enough for a left winger and not aware enough for left back.

As you say, he got 8 goals in the Premier League from wide. He has played for England. And he's still only 24, so plenty of years ahead of him. Unfortunately we live in a world where Shaun Wright-Phillips was sold for more than £20M, where Stuart Downing was sold for £20M, Adam Johnson is currently being offered around at a "cut-price" £10M (presumably cut price to allow for his wages), and where prospects like AOC fetch £15M (without kicking a ball in the top 2 divisions). £6M for a player like Jarvis, unless Wolves were absolutely f*cked financially (which they aren't), is plain unrealistic.

Why do you say West Ham have no cash for transfers? All of their transfers have been undisclosed so there's no way of knowing for sure; but it looks like so far they've spent around £7M or £8M. They were looking at Carroll for a £2M loan fee (which would have taken them up to our level of spending), and God only knows what they are and will be paying in wages. For all the talk of them being financially f*cked, they're certainly not being run like that. They do play some poor football, but they have some good players and Allardyce is a good manager in this division who proved with Blackburn that he can get a poor side to comfortable mid-table. I think West Ham will finish the highest of the promoted sides.

I think poor old Ash is a bit angry and confused, bless him.

You're making yourself look a bit silly, pal.

I don't rate him at all. So much so that I think that given that his U21 and Olympics appearances are behind him, I reckon he'll be playing Championship football within 2 years. He hasn't got anywhere near Tottenham's first team and (13 first team games in 5 years) and, now 22, really doesn't have many games under him at all (and most of them at Championship level).

I'm warming to it. The sheer amount of pictures and loading times are still what I feel lets it down, its all a bit over the top, and unnecessarily cluttered in places. But the navigation is definitely better than the old site, that was shockingly bad for finding older articles. This new site is better and people will get used to it, I just hope the loading times and overuse of photos can be sorted out.

Excellent, another thread where Alpine gets rabidly angry, hostile and irrational.

After bigging up Johnno Quick I completely forgot about his 27 minute cameo Pretty poor all round, really. Although seeing the development side thrash others by similar scores it'll be good for them to start playing in a league with proper competition within their age range. And probably give a much better idea as to whether they're ready for the first team/squad.

There's only 2 of them. What's the story with the other 9?

Another #SaintsFC substitution: Jonathan Forte replaces Sam Hoskins with 63 minutes gone. Here it comes...

Its ok, Johnno Quick is gonna come off the bench and fire 4 goals for a famous comeback victory....

Whoops. GOAL: SUTTON 3-0 SAINTS U21 (IBE 41)

Maybe we should make it so that you're only allowed to discuss things with a positive slant? That might be less offensive to some if any negative posts were just deleted.

The Mo looked dead on his feet, can't see him doing anything. 5K and 10K is too much.

Not necessarily. Bertrand started the Champions League final with Ashley Cole, so di Matteo may see an alternative role for him. Chelsea don't have another left sided defender so they have no proper backup for cole without Bertrand. Can't see him going anywhere, particularly as Cole is not getting any younger and indeed may need to be rested against the lesser teams and for cup games.

Clubs are allowed up to 8 "standard" loans during a season; 4 of those have to be of players under 23 years of age.