NickG

Have a listen to RK post match, think he said JWP is first choice when on the field as Tadic missed one.

It was probably the most ridiculous obviously wrong thread ever, a classic

Has Terry ever played against anyone half decent? I am sure I read on here that Mane was one of the worst players ever to play for saints, no ability, and fee we paid was a joke?

No, my preference, if we are able to somehow control these things is for Liverpool to lose their replay. We go on an amazing run, results go our way and we make the champions league. I will leave you to dream of Lallana and Lovren running around Wembley holding the F A Cup. Sorry I'm not a good enough saints fan for you, but sure I will be ok.

We don't. I don't want Brendan and Stevie having their Wembley day.

Do you know of any guidelines from the FA as to what exceptional circumstances are? Guess the club may have done idea, and if there is truth in this story they feel there is a possibility our circumstances are deemed exceptional. Exceptional means unusual, uncommon. Is it common for a team to lose its first choice keeper suddenly , for 12 months, outside of a window? I suggest not, therefore it could be as simple as that. Who knows but there is nothing I can see in those rules which means they have to do as you say.

Credited you with being able to follow a mature reasoned view. I gave you the benefit of the doubt if you want to stand by your "proof" as a reason that you used it in the passed. However, you have now been told why it is offensive to people and asked not to use it. You may have found some history of the word with one meaning but many here know it as an insult to the disabled, so now knowing the words history, and it does upset people effected by its deeper meaning continued use would be low. I agree about "spaz"

Turkish, I'm sure you are intelligent enough to balance your previous research and any pleasure you gain from using the word "mong" against angelman's personal experience and this explanation from the BBC and come to a sensible conclusion. This insult clearly does have a history linked with putting down those with disabilities. You maybe genuine when saying you weren't aware of that, fair enough, but be big enough to accept some see it as insulting to a particular part of our community, respect them and give it up. If it genuinely is just a mild insult there are million of others you can use which don't have the same history and wont be seen as an immature insult to disabilities

Wow, Batman never ceases to amaze with his lack of football knowledge. A "poor player" ffs. A couple of years ago when you were convinced we would be relegated did you think we would be using a player so poor that he starts up front for Italy and scores against England, yep a poor player by any standards. Amazing we have done so well with so many poor players. Batman also thinks we were ripped off with the Mane signing. We are about to have our best ever premier season. Pelle has played practically every minute of it. He maybe feeling the long season, or pressure of the lack of goals but he has been huge part of our season. Think some should work harder at hiding their ignorance and show more appreciation and respect.

Nor Antonio Conte, strange. Sure you know better than Koeman and Conte though.

Confused. You said would be surprised if we stay up. You moan about the standard of our players, JwP, long, Tadic, Pelle, etc But we are far exceeding your expectations, and players are still not good enough???

Not that it really matters, and think we should agree to disagree, but 13/14 La Liga 12 games, 908 mins Copa del rey 6 games, 453 mins Champions league 4 games, 308 mins Eredivisie 4 games, 360 mins JCS 1 game, 90 mins Total 27 games, 2119 mins 14/15 Prem 18 games, 1550 mins League cup 2 games, 18 mins Total 20 games, 1568 mins Yes was often only a squad player but stop kidding yourself we took some inexperienced youngster and tried him on a bigger stage. Maybe his games for us proved he is a first team player, but think being a first team player in the world cup, or playing 90 mins against Real Madrid gave him some big game tests, although obviously not Stoke, Hull, Burnley etc where he has proven he can cope in really big games, lol! You point of missing game time this season due to injury surely isn't a positive factor for increasing his value?

Sorry don't really see this... I appreciate he was often used as a sub, but he played more minutes for a better side, in a better league last season than so far this. I am biaised towards us but can't see how fact that had only played for the La Liga champions and champions league finalists, Spanish cup semi finalist ( losing to Real Madrid) kept his price down....but now after 16 odd games for team who are going to finish 5/6/7th in poorer league , knocked out of cup in 4th round by palace, pushes it up dramatically?!!! Before joining us he had played 40 odd times for his country, was a starter in the world cup, played 3 group games of champions league, half the final, etc. So just not true to say he is much more proven now. His profile isn't that high elsewhere...when pundits or other fans talk about our defensive record he tends to be the last of the back 5 mentioned. He was linked elsewhere before us... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/arsenal-transfer-news-rumours-toby-4082173 http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/tottenham-plot-transfer-toby-alderweireld-3658949 http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/liverpool-fc-transfer-gossip-lfc-7328354 http://talksport.com/football/defender-available-so-why-arent-man-united-moving-him-140828110564 Not knocking the player, just genuinely confused why his value would have risen over what was agreed in the summer.

High buy out clauses make sense, club and player get more if activated. Toby is, according to many on here, destined to go to one of top sides for huge money. In summer is was widely known that he was available, and was linked to many top clubs. But he chose us? His club were happy to commit to a low fee and even agreed to pay penalties if they didn't see it through. I would have thought we would have been pleased to take him on a straight loan. Players values rise, but he hasn't improved , moved on hugely, only played few games, and as said before, not youngster breaking through. I could understand his club wanting him back, as in effect they would be buying top player for a couple of million. But any other club, that could have had him last season, have to outbid us by a couple of million to negate the clause. But there again did the fees for Lallana and Lovren make sense?! My personal gut feeling is I would not be surprised if returns to his parent club or goes elsewhere but most likely will be he stays here.

I know. But common view is that was a very low price. They didn't have to agree it, if they could have agreed a higher fee with us, or anyone else, surely they would have done. So why, after only 1550 minutes (about 16/17 cplete games) has his price rocketed? He came he as a full international, played a significant amount for La Liga top side including champs league final - hardly young unknown. I honestly don't understand how his team's valuation could vary so much in such a short time.

So why did they agree the lower price for him 16 odd games ago?

I disagree, to write off his potential to match Lallana is folly. Remember when Lallana was his age, with the benefit of being settled and stable at the same club for years, Lallana was scoring at a similar rate to Mane is....but in league 1. Mane has settled into a new country, had an injury and time away with his country and still done well. The problem Lallana has is his pace, and is not likely to get quicker. Mane has natural pace bug is still, at times, raw. He has more potential to improve than Lallana. Good start, still room for improvement....

Batman thought fee we paid was a joke, so maybe some would cut their losses and bite their hand off for £7m? Personally think if he leaves will be for very healthy profit.

Or maybe they should have worked harder at school and then wouldn't be so stressed at finding extra £5 or whatever

Pretty impressive.. League 1 squad, full internationals; Schneiderlin Fonte Lambert Jaidi Lallana Connolly Ox-C

Think its safe to say its been a success. When we have a season as good as this it would be likely that it evidences a successful transfer policy, but when you have so many departures and widely tipped to struggle (did you?) Then its not even grey area. You say we did well cos of old timers, well one of your old timers not even been here two years?! Four players don't make a squad. You say we are weak where we recruited most. I disagree. Out of the back 5, 3 starters are new and one back up. A major change. We have best defense in league. Hardly hit or miss! Think some people have unrealistic expectations for signings, not understandimg what they add to squad, that players take time to settle, have varying form. All this summers signings have played an important role.

Think you have confused what is, in your opinion, likely to happen, with inevitable! We don't know what's going to happen but there are several points that go against your "inevitable". He isn't a player who has suddenly made good, when he came to us he was 25 years old, played at every international level, about 40 times for senior team. He played 13 times for the La Liga champions, plus champions league including final. He was used mainly as sub but played a lot more minutes last season than this...for a better side. In the summer either these other clubs weren't interested in him or not willing to pay what we did. Now after 16 odd games they all want to pay even more? Didn't he turn down spurs? Haven't spurs signed one, nearly two CBs? He spoke about one of reasons he signed was Koeman. Since then he has enjoyed a successful season with him. He wanted to come in summer when we were tipped for relegation. Now, 16 performances later, when we have improved more than him, we are not good enough? His club agreed the best fee they thought they could get in the summer. Due to reported buy out clause his value would have to have risen more than £1.5m in 16 games for that fee to no longer be the going price. He has said being wanted & first team is very important to him. He has said he wants to stay. He clearly has good link with Fonte. Koeman has said he wants him to stay. A lot of rumours don't turn into bids let alone signings, In summary, I don't know whether he will stay, wouldn't be surprised either way. My gut feeling is a little more likely to stay than go.

Trouble is, now I've put that thought in your head, every time they post their snipes, backing each other up, you will always picture Stadler and Waldorf now!

Lol, on your own? I wondered what would happen to Stadler and Waldorf when one got banned!

Don't know if its just a phrase, but "biggest problem"? We have scored 7th most goals in the premier league, when being a defensively set up side. Only one less than Liverpool that great attacking side with Lallana, Sterling, Sturbridge, Coutinhio, Lambert, Balatelli, Gerrard etc. Maybe area with room for improvement! After being tipped for relegation yesterday we beat our record for wins. Only negative I have today is Forster.