austsaint

Spot on Clarkey. If the fee being paid was less we would be hailing this as a Kevin Phillips type signing, given that the Hernandez push was never likely to work out. Long is the ideal type of player to feed off a lump like Pelle.

If we start with JWP and Isgrove the games up. Got to be Taider and Gaston.

I want him to do well - I have a feeling we will have to wait a year or so for JWP's future as a top line Prem player to be decided, one way or the other.

I probably am being harsh on the lad MLG - he comes across as such a likeable, articulate fellow too. But having watched him closely since that debut against Man City, I just cannot see the progression in his game - with Shaw (obvious now), Chambers, Reed and even Stephens you can see potential progressing but with JWP I see a Simon Gillett with a better dead ball delivery.

I cannot see the stardom predictions other do. Certainly a great goal last night - his first for the club at senior level. Delivers a good dead ball and corner. On the flipside, does not have a lot of pace; is not a great tackler; most of his passes are sideways or backwards and seems to be easily brushed off the ball. I will be happy to be proven wrong but at the moment as he enters his third season for Saints the hype is greater than the performance.

Oh I see. Obviously RB is not as good as Shaw - my point is that on what I've seen of Matt Targett he is not good enough (yet) to be playing in the Prem therefore Bertrand is a necessary pick up, whether Rojo comes or not.

And our first choice lb is who Hypo? Rojo?

I'm liking the new you, Glasgow. Keep up the transformation; let's hope this LB called Ryan goes better than the one named Dickson. I think he will. No way is Targett ready for the big time, week in week out.

Looking less likely though - Rojo I mean? You know your wine - sounds like you've been to Mendoza.

It is a good read. My only question is why has a similar thing not happening at clubs like Everton with Stones, Barkley, Coleman etc

Well let's hope it's in-the-know journalism - Dutch centric it might be, but they all sound like quality replacements. If Koeman was not the new manager I would be worried about a form of asset stripping going on but the hopeful thing to believe is that RK is happy to take the big money and build his own side of happy campers.

Yes, but when you reflect on what the Club has done in the last five years; factor in the Cortese mantra and latterly the Pochettino effect, the unraveling of the best VI was always going to happen. It's quite possible that Koeman has worked out who is/was nailed on to the Cortese/MP "vision" and decided the way ahead is a clean out of those who want out and a quality core of players to replace them free of the previous buzz. And then there's the massive fees and wages being dangled by the big end of town. Like many, I'm holding fire on the Board and KL until closer to kick off/end of transfer window.

Been a while since Mr Pelle signed. What about Connie Booth from Fawlty Towers?

Apart from Shaw, I think Chambers is the best youngster the Club has brought through for ages (though Reed's time is coming) - however, Clyne is a high quality specialist right back who has to get the nod, and I hope RK resists the temptation to play him at LB too often. Where that leaves CC I'm not too sure but I hope he gets plenty of minutes on the pitch as well.

I'm in the minority group believing that JWP would be nothing like a good enough replacement for Morgan. If/when Morgan goes, and if he isn't replaced by a new arrival, then the consolation for me is that Harrison Reed is very likely to step up to the level needed.

My only reservation with Vlaar replacing Lovren - now that Lovren's exit looks done and dusted - is he 5 - 6 years older. In the WC games I saw he was colossal; also showed a great eye for a pass out of defence, and seemed to be left footed but comfortable with his right.

Out here in Oz, Liverpool are currently "on the Telly" v PNE in a pre-season game; was it shown on Sky over there? Ricky L. is playing (well), no sign of Lallana yet.

Osvaldo...cited

Forren...unsighted

Jhon Viafara...dyslexic

For the little you can take from five minutes of highlights in a pre-season opener against weak opposition, the following things stood out. Reed looked composed and busy in centrefield; I'd be surprised if he doesn't make an impression this year. Mayuka looked good; great touch; smart lay offs and real pace. Targett certainly has a genuine left foot and showed deft touch

Small point - Boruc is 33, isn't he? No need to age him prematurely.

more importantly - is Shaw going to be replaced by a specialist LB? Or are we going to d ick around by using Clyne out of position (to our detriment) or hope that Targett is a) ready or b) good enough.

What about Vlaar being unveiled. Return of the two Ronnies.

Yet Shaw is a rare, exceptional talent with the physical development to match his skill, which means we not only got away without an experienced LB but had a special player right from the off. Hard to see that happening with Targett, Gallagher, Reed and even JWP. Too much reliance on the kids could be a strategy to regret.