Sheaf Saint

Barnsley?

Seems they are resigned to Gakpo leaving then, just a question of us coming to an agreement on the fee (if, as most outlets are reporting, we are the frontrunners to sign him). At this stage, it's getting far too late for clubs and agents to start the process of negotiating personal terms so you'd think the only transfers that will happen now are ones where this has already been settled and it's just the clubs agreeing the sale price.

Been living in Sheffield since 2004, and haven't been to SMS for a few years but I do try and get to at least a couple of away games per season. I had a ST for the season before I moved, so I joined this forum (well, its predecessor Saintsforever) not long after moving so I could stay connected with other fans.

Point proved

Interesting. We wouldn't have got to the stage of placing a bid if we hadn't got some strong indication from the player/agent that he would be willing to come. I very much expect we will be back in with an increased bid if that's the case.

At least we had the excuse of early red cards in both our 9-0 games. Bournemouth managed it with 11 men still on the pitch at FT.

Well at least it won't be Richarlison anymore. And it also finally puts to bed the rumours of them signing Che. I've not bothered looking on GOT yet, but I imagine they will be seriously underwhelmed by this signing. He's not the standard of player that their fans will think a club if their size should be signing. The big question is: will he prove to be any better than Salomon Rondon?

Form is temporary; class is permanent. Although the career of Dele Alli would appear to discredit that theory.

Why don't you start a new thread for each tie as they are drawn? I'm sure Lighthouse would love that.

Would seem to make sense. SSN now reporting that Everton are expected to table a bid for Garner. If true then I would expect him to choose them over us cos they can offer more money, just as much game time (their MF was gash last season so he would instantly improve it), and he wouldn't even need to move home. Looks like we're going all in for AMN instead then.

Indeed. SR don't seem the sort of owners to make a knee-jerk managerial appointment based on nothing more than someone's reputation as a player, which, let's face it, is the only reason FL has been given any of his management jobs so far.

Maybe this would be an unusual situation where as a parent club we would actually want our loaned out player to be allowed to play against us? 😉

If, as has been suggested, his prime motive is to move back closer to his family, then he will have to accept a pay cut to do that.

Or Coventry perhaps? Although I gather the cost of their pitch repairs might impact on their ability to make any more signings in this window!

To those who made the trip - How did Valery do at LB? I know it's hard to judge against L1 opposition but did he do OK? Could he provide adequate cover on either side until Perraud and Tino are fit again?

Valery at LB? Really?

All depends if we can offer more dollar I guess. Money talks. My sis-in-law told me about a conversation she had with my nephew's agent when he was about to turn pro a couple of years ago. He asked her what his motives were - whether he wanted to play regularly and really achieve his potential or if he was happy to just get paid to sit on someone's bench somewhere. Apparently he told her that at least half of his clients didn't care where they played, didn't care if they could get CL football and didn't care if they ever won any trophies, they just want the best possible financial package he can negotiate for them. PL is where the real money is. If we can offer Ramos a significant pay increase and no other PL teams want him, there's a good chance he will come IMO.

231 pages so far. Is this a new record for a SW transfer window thread?

The tactic of getting KWP down into the corner and laying it back to JWP in space to ping in a cross is definitely something we have worked on in training. It paid dividends for us away at Spurs last season (twice) and we have tried it a few times already this season. Watch the highlights of Saturday's game and watch how KWP and JWP celebrate with each other when Che scored his second.

Some said the same about Vesty going to Leicester last summer. He turned out to be a disaster for them, as most of us expected.

KWP and Perraud to compete for LB slot, Aarons to be first choice RB until Tino is fit. Works for me.

He's been a mainstay in a defence that has conceded 60+ goals in each of the last 3 seasons. He's slow, weak in the air, and is usually oblivious of the runs that attackers are making because he's ball-watching most of the time. We looked so much better defensively yesterday with ABK in his place. At no point did Leicester break our lines (except for a very poor sideways pass from Lavia) and get a clear chance. I really hope we never have to see him starting regularly ever again.

We've just moved above Chelsea on goals scored. Not a sentence I expected to be typing any time soon.