Dibden Purlieu Saint

I don't disagree with that.

But surely this should have been agreed prior to talking to the player. NC has worked in banking for a long time, so knows that cash is king, so would not have left negotiations short unless we had not agreed a fee. Agree it could still happen, but considering that NC seems quite stubborn, I can see him refusing to be bullied to pay what he doesn't want to (even if that is not too much for Saints).

I think people are pretty calm to be honest, I think there is just slight frustration that this would be sucha big signing and statement of intent that has been sold to us, but we cannot get the deal done. Cortese isn't a football man, and I do think this is starting to show.

Haha, brilliant.

There has been no evidence that we've met with their club officials, in fact quite the opposite. Plus, I was just speculating, I said 'I wonder'. Are you telling me that there is no chance this would have happened? All I am saying is if we could not afford the player in the first place why would all this take place unless to try to show our ambition in a false light.

Because it has been said many a time that we are difficult to deal with by agents, by not doing things in the 'normal' manner. Couple this with the deals for Jemal, Rosenior, Phillips and Ward. Don't hear about other clubs having these problems do you? I'm just speculating anyway, it just wouldn't surprise me if there are issues in the way we approach transfers. Are you saying that this is not possible, and we do everything by the book?

Why am I clueless? If you can put forward a good argument then it may be accepted.

We never seem to do things the 'right way', which makes me think that a lot of it is just bluster. Before you sign a player, you agree a deal with the club. As the Bologna president said, that never happened. Surely that is the first thing that happens on a player who's price is high, because you need to know that you can afford it.

Well, was too good to be true. Blackpool are refusing to negotiate with Saints, so we're back at step 1. I wonder whether this was to placate the fans that we were looking at decent targets, with the knowledge that it would never be agreed, hence why we were so prepared to smash our wage structure as it was never going to happen. Perhaps similar with the Buttner deal. Just under 2 weeks left for a RW, 2 x CB's and a LB.

Coutinho.

"The Shields Gazette claim that five clubs have matched Adam Johnson's £10m asking price. He had apparently rejected two of those clubs, leaving Sunderland and two others who are both top-eight clubs. Tottenham are thought to be the team in pole position to land Johnson." Could we be one?

Guly was excellent when he went into a more free role, was good on the ball and pulling them all over the place.

That was ****... So, so proud!!

DPS likes this.

By the way, has anyone noticed that Guly in the free role is giving them all sorts of trouble.

Chamberlain outed by the GNEV, quality.

I hope RAMIREZ is watching this!

Don't care about the result now, great game and extremely proud!!

Guly has run his ****ing socks off today.

I have just spunked all over the tv...best clean up.

That is amazing!!!

Blimey, like clockwork isn't he?

Oh well!

This is brilliant, really enjoying this!!

We look very, very good.