angelman

Mayuka - what is the general consensus? Is he ever going to make the grade? With him and Gallagher, I do think we are vulnerable up top, esp with JRod being injured (and maybe off), as at present I don't think that they can do the job. We have Pelle and Long, who does more than be an out and out striker. Mané can play left/right/centre.

Agree with this, especially the last sentence about the new board. They could have done better to allay the fears of a meltdown, and still they could do better for a few players (like Cork). But as they seem to have handled this, they should be able to handle anything else that comes their way, as I cannot think that it will be ever as bad as what we have faced this summer. They have, as of 1st September, come out looking OK. They certainly seem to have backed the manager, spent some money and gone and got his targets. That we are £30m up from player sales, is fine with me, and if it goes to pay off this or that, then that is entirely sensible. Some other observations.... Not a great fan of loans, but if there is an agreement of a loan and option to buy, then that is so much better. Try them out. Makes sure both sides are happy. With the mass rebuild, I can see why we have done it with two potentially great players, while not having to pay out £17m or so in transfer fees straight off. The squad is small (smallest in the league if you go with this: http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/premier-league/startseite/wettbewerb/GB1). This might be a problem, but it does seem that some of the signings are very versatile and are able to play in multiple positions. I am slightly concerned about our forwards. I can see more pressure on JRod being signed but guess 4 months is quite a long time, and a lot can change. Guess the same applies to MS. But the biggest thing this summer has shown up, is the reinforcement of my dislike for football. I look at the way some of our players behave, and I look at the transfer dealings of say Man Utd and just have to shake my head. I'll retreat into my little hole and just carry on with Saints. I find it sad that our English core might not be there this season, as I was immensely proud of all the English/British players we fielded. Fair enough really, it will take time to rebuild it and bring it through and part of me says sod it, why should we improve the squads of other teams - although that is part of the academy's role.

I am reading the papers and find it amazing that all these journalists and ex-players are saying how inspired it is of Hull to have captured the loan signing of Gaston. Why? These people have hardly been effusive about him while he was at Saints (actually, I don't think that they ever mentioned him last season), but all of a sudden he is top quality. They seem to ignore the reason why, with I think the smallest squad in the league, have sent him out on loan. They seem to ignore his record from last season. Maybe they just see that he played a few minutes in the WC alongside Dracula and therefore has to be some sort of super star. They may turn out to be right, but on past performances, they are writing utter rubbish. REDKNAPP: Hull signed match- winners in Gaston Ramirez and Hatem Ben Arfa. Match-winner??

Come Sep 1st, I think we might be a striker light. But otherwise, no complaints and I have faith in the manager.

Rubbish. We are finishing top 4. I don't think Hull will. HTH

I would say it was tactical. Announce it and then maybe the world and their agent thinks that we have players spare and that they can move.

Out of interest, did he score the first goal or was it Pelle's? I'll have to look at this "own goal" but I can see why it was accredited to him - would reinforce that he is too good for little old Saints.

OK, so we know that the wages saved is a plus. The minus is his creativity, although that has to be quantified as we hardly ever saw it. So, is there anyone in the academy who can play the bit part role that Gaston does, and actually benefit from it? Is it Reed? McQueen? Isgrove? Anyone else? If we are to develop as a team, then surly it would be better if these kids benefited from the short time on the pitch that Gaston might have occupied. Is Gaston really far superior in the creativity department to anyone in the academy? And his creativity? Quantifying things a bit, t he difference in the midfield from last year to this, is most obviously Lallana vs Tadic. Then there is a different playing style, one that is RK's. Gaston doesn't really come into it. Why people think that RK and/or the Club don't know what they are doing, including the subject of midfield creativity, is a mystery. RK seems to have identified targets and the Club has gone and got them.

Always find it interesting the indignation that comes out when bit part players leave. And a bit part player he has undoubtedly been. Adkins used him quite well.....12/13.....Squad: 28, Starting eleven: 20, Substituted in: 6, On the bench: 2, Suspended: 0, Injured: 4....total minutes 1699 (out of a possible 3420)....5 goals 3 assists Poch used not very often!!!.....13/14....Squad: 23, Starting eleven: 3, Substituted in: 15, On the bench: 5, Suspended: 0, Injured: 4....total minutes 526....1 goal 3 assists Given his cost & wages, this is a dreadful return. If the reported £60k per week was being paid, I would certainly want a lot more. We can wait and wait and wait until this great potential is revealed, but we have others available who we don't have to wait on. It also seems that the board have cleared out a lot of the higher earners from the last era of the club. Maybe the esteemed ex Chief Exec wasn't overly prudent. Maybe he needed to be overly generous to get people to come and the status of Southampton up and noticed, which it has.

Mane confirmed

HERE IT COMES

I am rather hoping that they are teasing us and going to pull a rabbit out of the hat (one we don't know about).

Presuming Mane will sign, but not announced yet. Hope not tempting fate.

Ah yes, heard that as well. Might as well give his wage to Morgan. But can Hull really afford that if reports are to be believed that they are paying £3m and his wages - that would be £6m for the year!! Or is he taking a wage cut?

He was quoted when signing that it was €2m a year + €1m signing on fee. €2m @ £1:€1.25 = about £30k per week

Well, he seems to have upset some with a post but think it was only Celtic supporters

Long is an Irish international? And really, what did Ramirez do in the WC apart from try and defend Dracula after he took a chunk out of that Italian? Don't get me wrong, there is nothing more than I would like for him to stay and make a real impact. But he hasn't over the past 2 years. We all know he has talent, but I think we can also agree that he might not be suited to PL.

We've been waiting 2 years for him to show what he has. Why do you think he will suddenly show us what he is missing. And remember, never in the whole of his career has he ever played a full 90 minutes for 4 games in a row

Well if you knew anything about football then you would realise that transfer fees aren't everything.

So what does his future hold? All a bit quiet recently. Having seen some of Howard's mistakes against Chelsea and Robles being very inexperienced, maybe Everton should take him

OMG, how many times do we have to go through this. Very basic but..... Long £12m, 4 years at say £40k = £20.320m (or £5m per season) Welbeck £16m at say £100k for 4 years = £36.8m (or £9.2m a season - of course if it is a 3 year deal, then that would be £10.5m a year)

Yes.

what good business have Hull done?

Falcao on £346,000 a week. £346k!!!!!!!!!!! F*****************ck me the footballing world is mad.