derry

One big plus with Long, he was brought up as a kid playing Gaelic sports, football and hurling, very physical fast sports where body checks, shoulder charges are happening all the time. That makes him such a hand full as he is strong and physical as well as fast, so enjoys mixing it.

Wollscheid won't be a loan. He says if he is going to leave Bayer it will have to be a permanent transfer. I'd take him, good player and right age.

I believe after Cortese left, Pochettino told his favourites that the dream was over, he was off and they should do the same. Agents and tapping up did the rest. Adam knew he could double his money before the end of the season. The club did well to sell them for silly money.

Doesn't bother me who he picks because that's the real world. He has to get results I don't. I just prefer Ramirez to Davis.

Not for me. A safe player but I prefer Tadic/Ramirez. Maybe Koeman rates him, we'll see who he picks. How he decides to play Long will have a big bearing on the formation.

Immaculate English is a major plus.

Saints didn't mismanage the squad. They made the best of a bad job, That group and the coaches were on their way soon after Cortese left. Adam knew he was doubling his money before the season was over. If those players had been forced to stay we would probably be relegated.

It's all about the blend. I am mightily impressed with Koeman's thinking. He seems to have filled the gaps well. The proof is how quickly they settle in to playing with each other. I think Long's signing could prove a masterstroke more for his effect on the team than his goal count. Looking forward to Sunday now. I think we will be better because the core of the side were already on their way in their minds.

Looked very solid when he came on last Saturday.

I think his Irish accent might count against that.

Duncan the boy has been a high tempo pain in the arse for lots of sides for years. I am really pleased we have signed him. Tadic and Ramirez will love playing with him, the missing link for Pelle to flourish. Plays like an angry wasp.

I think we can safely say we have. MS may have to come to terms with the real possibility nobody wants him unless it's on the cheap. Nobody goes cheap here. His France dream down the swannee as well. Best of luck with that Morgan, we're moving on with or without you.

For me. Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand, Taidir, Wanyama, Ramirez, Long, Tadic, Pelle. 4-2-3-1. We are supposed to be fodder for Liverpool so we might as well go for them.

There is the small matter of somebody bidding enough money. It's not happened yet and unless it does he won't be going anywhere. Maybe other clubs don't rate him that highly after all.

Lambert saying that he doesn't know if Vlaar will still be at Villa after Sept 1st but he is a good professional preparing for Sat game.

Isn't that a fact.

The club did say on transfer costs including salaries. It looks like they are still spending.

Why did Lallana, Shaw, Lovren and Lambert leave? Because Pochettino informed his favourites after Cortese left that the dream was over, he was leaving and they would be better off doing the same. Agents and tapping did the rest. Before the season was over Lallana knew he could at least double his money by going to Liverpool, the others the same. It had nothing to do with asset stripping or poor management, it was disloyalty and greed of a whole group of staff. The club faced with the problem at least made the clubs pay through the nose. A couple more could have gone but circumstances worked against them. Arsenal vacillated and Spurs couldn't/wouldn't pay. So there has been no viable bid for Schneiderlin yet. Rodriguez is injured and Spurs can't put a viable bid in. Chambers went because Wenger liked him and his versatility and made us an offer for a backup that was too good to turn down. With the group gone it is easier to deal with the Schneiderlin situation in isolation, especially in the absence of an acceptable bid.

I think a lot of people are missing the point. Koeman is obviously a team man, to him the blend is all important. It has been obvious from day one that he picks his teams so that the players complement each other with their strengths and weaknesses. Long if he comes is such a player, he gives us the fast aggressive runner in the channels that we lacked. I bet Rodgers will be a lot more attentive if he signs in time as he is just the sort of player to massively upset their back four. As for the fee a snip compared with Lallana's grossly over valued £25m, nonetheless overpriced but that's what we have to pay to top off the team. It's not all about his goals, it's what he opens up for other goal scorers, Pelle, Tadic and Ramirez.

If Long comes I can see us playing 4-2-3-1 with Wanyama and Taidir in front of the back four and Ramirez, Long and Tadic behind Pelle. That is if Schneiderlin is still suffering from Cranium Posterium or Cranium Localum, take your pick.

Very careful, no turning. Looks like still a long way to go.

The difference is wages Man C over £200m, Saints £52m says it all.

This has been confirmed. It happened in January. He was never going to stay once Cortese left.

This problem was started when Cortese left and his mate decided to go too. The favourites made a pact, now all but him have gone. It looks certain that all were tapped up. We really had to offload them. This crisis with Schneiderlin is being pushed from outside, to get the player on the cheap. A £10m bid is ridiculous. He is not for sale unless a huge bid is made. Spurs won't do that. As far as I'm concerned he'd be better advised to play and entice a huge bid, otherwise he won't be sold, not be paid and disappear from international football.

Looking for his head apparently,