View From The Top

He was a good friend of my late fathers and a really nice bloke.

I know I'm in the minority but I rate him but he wants a move and if I'm honest, I can't see a "better" PL club coming in for him, so Spain/Italy looks the most likely IMHO.

The moron is as strong as ever in Charlie as we head into the new season.

Pickford - Everton -> Chelsea Butland - Stoke -> Everton Forster - Saints -> Stoke I genuinely wouldn't be shocked. Nor if Burnley came a calling if Pope is out for a long period.

Let's be honest, most of us had doubts about Hughes, understandably so. His record at Stoke was decent until his final season but Stoke made the cardinal sin IMHO, of believing they could crack the top 6-8 and chased it making very unlike Stoke signings in the process and paid the price. If we're honest with each other, league campaigns can hardly be worse than the last two seasons. Up until Hughes I was losing the will to live in football terms.

If Jack Butland leaves Stoke then Forster MAY get his move. It's just chatter at the moment but I could see it personally and Stoke could afford it. It could depend on the keeper merry go round spinning in time.

His agent is trying, as is the club. It's via agents gossiping in the NW that I hear bits and bobs. That and from people at Stoke. His wages are proving to be a huge stumbling block, or were last thing I heard. I'm about to disappear on holiday so I doubt it I'll hear anything until I get back and the season will have kicked off by then. Does the loan window close at the same time as the transfer window?

If you think we're selling Lemina to WHU, or even think that there is anything in the story, then you're a fu_cking idiot.

I understand why they did it, although I too thought it odd at the time, but Shane Long's extension? I'll never understand that one. We can't shift FF due to his wages, that's a fact. For once I can't say what I've been told on an open message board, but I know teams have certainly enquired regarding a loan (neither from the PL) and then baulked at what they'd still have to pay in wages AFTER we'd paid 50%.

Dippers, alas, to win the league. Mid-table nothingness for Saints Huddersfield, Cardiff and Boscombe to go down, although Watford will make a good fist of getting relegated.

I might bimble over tomorrow. How much is it?

Anyone who thinks Gallagher is the answer really doesn't know much about football. That said, I'd be delighted if he proved me wrong, but he won't.

The obvious place for a 3rd country border, which has to be in place under WTO rules so we cannot not have one, is down the middle of the Irish Sea. That option is, of course, totally unacceptable to the DUP who currently prop up this shower of sh_it. Tough choices ahead but it's not as if they've not known that from the get go.

Lots of people saying let Long go but the simple truth is that we can't find anyone that wants him as his wages are way too high. Same goes for FF. If we could have shifted them we would have!

He's such a wan_kpuffin it's not even worth entering into discussion with him TBF.

Put the crack pipe away youth.

Strange you say that as I was told today that Saints want him gone but just can't find anyone who wants him, even on subsidised wages (loan) or a reduced fee (sale).

I'd only take him on loan with an option to buy personally and it's utter boll_oxs that we'd pay £20m but it won't stop the usual wa_nk stains bleating.

Just ordered some shorts for the lad. Good spot Jamie.

Ings on loan with a option to buy would appear the safest avenue for the club. I'd been told Davis was going to allowed to go on a free back to Rangers this year as thanks for his service. Any idea why that seems to have changed?

I was told in May that Reed was being "encouraged to secure alternative employment" as the club didn't want to sack him in lieu of previous successes at the club. What that actually means in reality I've no idea.

How and why we lost is subjective and everyone will have their own view about never having a better chance but for me, the whole tournament has been wonderful if you're an older England fan. I'd gone from England home and away to not giving 5 fu_cks as it appeared the players didn't give a toss and nor did a succession of managers. This team, along with Southgate has restored my faith. The team, finally, has a sense of identity and if the young English players, like Foden, are given the chance then the future is brighter than it has been for a very long time. I'll settle for that.

I was offered a freebie place on this event this year in return for a couple of articles but had to decline as it clashed with my classes GCSE exams. I was gutted as it's a great way to see a country. http://www.rideacrossportugal.com/en/home

I rather like Portugal. An interesting country with a rich heritage and away from the southern coast, unspoiled by mass tourism.

Jesus wept. I've read some ill informed, frankly thick as pig sh_it bol_loxs in my time but this is a whole new level of dumb.