View From The Top

Me neither. Redmond's goal at Chelsea was better.

I know a few watch the Bundesliga and Schalke are often one of the live games with them being such a big club. Having seen McKennie I can see how he'd fit into the Saints set up and, personally, would consider him an upgrade on PEH but I'm usually a shocking judge as I thought Vestergaard would be a brilliant signing from BMG!

The Merckx is set up perfectly but the winter Bianchi is a different geometry, more sportive than racing snake, plus the seat post is stuck tight. I may invest in a new winter frame and just strip all the components off the existing one. For saddles I've gone from a Fizik Alinate to a PRO Falcon. Getting it in the ideal position has been a challenge and going out to do a century without getting it dialled in was, literally, a pain in the arse. Did a faster 100km yesterday which meant more time in the drops, which the shoulder complains about, and it felt far more comfortable. Riding on the tops, to alleviate pressure on the shoulder meant too much pressure on my sit bones and with the saddle not in the right position, that meant trouble.

And spent an absolute fortune too.

Great 2nd half. We've come an awful long way since October.

Good bit of business and done early too.

Yep, he jogged about really not giving a f**k.

Plus a 7 figure signing on fee so the rumours say.

Left for money, glory and trophies? No doubt. Acted like an utter c**t to get the move? No chance.

My thoughts too.

Alan Ball was a friend of my late fathers and was one of the nicest fellas you could ever wish to meet but I was always rather starstruck as a lad. Hughie Fisher too, for those old enough to remember him, was a great bloke, also a friend of my dads. Andrew Surman and his wife and friends and neighbours of my sister. He's a good bloke too. Of the non Saints players I've met over the years then Matt Murray is an utter gent and Brian Little, who I got to know quite well as our lads played football together. He's just a dead nice, honest fella. I have, for my sins, spent quite a lot of time at Stoke in recent years and Peter Crouch and Jack Butland and good value. Butland does loads in the community, even when he doesn't have to. He chooses to do it and I admire him for that.

The issue a lot of lower league clubs have is that the more experienced pros have kids settled in schools etc so want the security of a 3 year contract but the clubs are loathe to offer them. I believe the average lower league contract is for 2 years, with a release after 1 year clause built in. It's understandable why some pros won't upsticks. It'll be even more profound this year as clubs, even the skates, tighten their belts further. For example, Port Vale have released all of their academy lads who would have finished Y13 this year. They cannot afford to offer any contracts. They've let coaches go too. Crewe have done something similar as have Walsall too I believe.

Of the teams in the playoffs then Brentford to go up due to it being a new ground. Of the taff teams then Cardiff as it's easier to get to than Swansea. I had hoped it would be Forest as Nottingham is a great place for a beer and, being selfish, easy to get to on the train for me.

Getting a new saddle set up just right is, quite literally, a pain in the arse.

It's not that we haven't spent money, we just haven't spent it wisely. When you have, what? £75m worth of players out on loan? It's pretty clear something has gone very wrong.

That Brooks lad at Boscombe looks a player. Decent replacement for PEH perhaps. I also like Sarr at Watford but he'll be far too expensive.

Bike has been repaired and resprayed in a new livery and I'm back to banging the miles out, albeit a wee bit slower than pre-crash. Insurance paid out for the bike and kit and I'm just awaiting a settlement from the OAP in his SUV who decided overtaking parked cars, taking up my lane, on a downhill bend, was a great idea. Still sore in the shoulder and the collapsed lung and ribs are still getting used to being fully expanded again. Heading into The Peaks tomorrow to test the stamina over the Cat & Fiddle which is always a good indication. I reckon I'm 15% down on pre-crash fitness/power.

If only we hadn't of sold Lemina we'd have stood a chance.

I was under the impression that clubs are free to sign any player out of contract at anytime.

Good to see the spunktrumpets have written the lad off already.

What harm can it do taking him on loan? None. Won't stop the wa_nkspangles moaning though. Liverpool wanted £20m. £20m! No takers so we nip in. That's good business.

Totally this. Fu_cking bunch of fannies whinging and crying with entitlement because we've not magic'd up a 20 a season striker. It's been a good window, could have been better if we'd sold as opposed to loan and got rid of FF but that will be remedied over time. We've a solid squad and will have a solid if unspectacular season.

The impression I get is that our failure to shift a number of high earners on permanent deals instead of loans has seriously ****_ed up some of our intended deals. FF, Carillo, Boufal, Long (although Hughes wanted him to stay), Claise, Davis (same as Long). Their wages must seriously add up.

I'm away at the moment but sent a text to a mate yesterday about Cedric in case there was anything on the rumour mill. The response I got today was "Couple of Italian clubs I think but he wants too much €€". Perhaps Napoli were one of those, but that's just me guessing. I'm pretty sure our failure to shift him and FF, maybe others too, have cost us our striker, who that striker is I've no idea.

Drama queens are in full flow I see.