Sheaf Saint

I realise I'm a bit hungover after going to a wedding yesterday, but for the life of me I can't think which one you're on about.

Yeah true, but it still limits options when you have a player on your books who you can't select to play or afford to replace until he's gone. I firmly believe the transfer window should close before the season starts to stop this happening.

I think you mean 'thank non-denominational fictional deity'

And yet if that had been in the middle of the pitch and didn't lead to a shooting chance, the ref would have given a FK for an accidental handball and nobody would have any complaints. But because it created a shooting chance, it gets waved away and the goal is given. In what alternative reality does that make any sense?

Bearing in mind that "the difference in valuation is too large" is almost word for word what was being reported about Villa and THB, I would think/hope this is all just part of the negotiation and we are still confident of getting it done. There's surely no way we would have loaned out JQ if we weren't 99% certain of securing a deal for our top target to replace THB. But if we really have given up on this guy then I hope we do have a realistic alternative lined up. Going into the season with Stephens and Wood as two of our only three options at CB would be negligence in the extreme.

His version of Murder on the Orient Express is even worse.

That only applies to potential penalty decisions. In all other situations, handball is handball regardless of how unintentional it is. The decision to award that goal was ridiculous. Edit - OK so they just highlighted this on MOTD and confirmed that the law was followed to the letter, but as Shay Given pointed out, it didn't seem that unintentional from HM. Hands in an unnatural position and moved towards the ball. That the laws allow that goal to stand is utter nonsense.

Expected him to go this summer. Naively started to think maybe we might be able to keep hold of him after all when Villa's offers were so far below our asking price, but I guess it was inevitable they would finally match it. Just wish it could have been sorted quicker so we could have signed a replacement earlier, rather than have to go into the season with him still our player but unavailable to play. But that's a more general gripe I have with the overlap of the transfer window and the start of the season. I wish the FA would address that so clubs don't have to be put in this position in future. Good luck Taylor. Thanks for your efforts at Saints.

In a similar vein... Already a hauntingly emotional song and video, but when you know the story behind it (was written by her mum but she never got round to recording it before she died, and Martha couldn't be there because she gave birth prematurely while touring in the UK), it hits even harder.

You would have a good point, except for the fact that both of the crunching tackles on Leo in the first 15 mins at Watford incurred yellow cards and that there were two or three questionable tackles on him by Millwall out on the wing in the first half yesterday that we didn't even get a FK for. Other than that, spot on 👍

We've needed a CB like that ever since Fonte left. That was nearly ten years ago.

Great to see Fellows being sent up to do the fist pump with the fans - really pleased he's got that monkey off his back. After a shocking first 15 mins or so, that was an absolute joy to watch. Great debut from Keven, two very good goals for Cyle, Azaz looking at his unplayable best. So much to like about that performance.

And Burnley. Already above two of the teams people were tipping to be in the battle for autos, having started with a -4 handicap. Marvellous.

Mubama deliberately missed it to let Fellows get the credit 😉