S-Clarke

No it wouldn't at all, seeing as they're both totally different players who play in completely different positions.

It's all about small steps, and if we're going to turn into this mega club (Which i'm not even going to get into on here) then we'll need the occasional help from a current top 4 club, because they have much better players than we could attract oursevles. That's the whole point. This isn't anything like Falque really, De Bruyne has been proven at international and CL level for a season already. He's top class and well beyond what we could current attract in terms of a full transfer.

An outstanding young player is available on loan, in a position which we are short. If there was a chance and we opted against it our scouts deserve to be sacked for not making the recommendation, it's a no-brainer. Then next season, when we're hopefully a bit more established, we can go out and buy a right winger. If money can be saved this season then I'm all for it. As much as I'm all for this 'Southampton way' and building our own team, you cannot turn up opportunities like this.

Butland Clyne - Davies - Jos - Fox De Bruyne - Morgan - Cork - Lallana Lambert - Rodriguez just dreaming....

No speculation thread is complete without a youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1haDuOz_x4

It would be a bloody stunning signing if it happens.

Burnley striker Jay Rodriguez is expected to snub Sunderland and Aston Villa and seal a switch to Southampton. The newly-promoted Saints have had a £7million bid accepted for the former England U-21 striker, who hit 21 goals in the Championship last season. Sunderland are also showing an interest and new Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is a long-time admirer of the 22-year-old. But talkSPORT understands that Rodriguez will sign a four-year deal with Nigel Adkins' side in the next 48 hours, subject to a successful medical. Rodriguez came through the youth ranks at Burnley and, since making his debut in 2007, has hit 41 goals in 128 appearances.

welsh football then, you know what i mean

More wacky owners in English football, who clearly don't have a clue. What makes this worse is that they already came out and said it wouldn't happen, so to swing that around and actually do it is like lying to the fans. They're probably hated now.

What a boring thread.

Wooosh This is Dave Whelan, who comments on everything and anything.

It's more telling that they've said nothing. The last time there were articles popping up all other place, the Burnley chairman came out and confirmed there were no bids. this Time, nothing. Seriously, there has been a bid accepted. Don't bother wasting your time thinking there hasn't been! The BBC have said so, sky have so, BBC Radio solent have said so, the daily echo have said so,. the Lancashire telegraph have said so. It's just up to him now.

I'm 99% sure that we've had a bid accepted, that's pretty much certain.

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9743881.Saints_make_Butland_enquiry/

I'm kind of getting bored with this, but I'm optimistic that 'no news' is good news in our case. Still think we'll have to wait weeks and weeks for this one though, depends how much we really want it I guess.

Why are you even giving this any credence? It's never, ever, ever going to happen because Norwich aren't rich.

Why are you replying to your own question?

To be fair, he's starting to change his story so much that I'm starting to doubt if he really knows.

I think whoever has told you is pulling your leg, massively. It's so untrue that I'm surprised you even posted it!

That is an hilarious rumour, very good effort. This time of the season drags, but it can bring out some gems like this. Norwich will never offer a player 70k. Fact. and if they could, it would be criminal to offer that to a player like Lambert. (no disrespect to him, but if they have that dosh they can surely attract much more proven players)

This is just paper talk to be honest, plants by agents I'd imagine. From what I understand up in Sunderland, their transfer remit this summer is for 'proven experience', so splashing £7m on an unproven top flight player seems a bit unlikely, even more so when they did it a year ago with Wickham. I remain convinced that we are the only club to have offered credible money over the past 12 months. Jay Rodriguez is of course free to see what's out there, but we've been tracking the guy for a good 12 months now (probably longer) and I doubt we'd be wasting our time if there wasn't a very strong interest from his camp. We will probably still have to bide our time, similar to Jack Cork, but I'm confident we'll get him in the end.

Martin Kelly was in the standby squad though, not Micah. He only has the standby squad to choose from, so his selections from a week or so ago are now starting to look even more silly. Apparently Terry is also on the verge of being out, as he has a 2nd scan to confirm next week.

Gary Cahill is now out injured and is out of the squad. Martin Kelly has been called up as his replaced. Jeez, we're going to get ripped apart this year.

Before ....and after

I can't see him staying at Norwich, he's burnt his bridges there. The club has kind of fallen apart over the summer, good for us though. But seeing as we kind of ''follow'' Norwich in league terms, let's hope this isn't us in a year!