S-Clarke

Hi Alps

Saw on another forum that he's demanding upwards of 20k.

Well seeing as we didn't have a bid accepted for CMS it's a silly thing to say. And how are Burnley more ambitions than us? have they signed jack cork? or anyone for that matter? No. (maybe you're being sarcastic??? can't tell on here anymore!)

I think that was what he was looking for tbh. At the likes of QPR, Leicester, WHU etc he'd have been a squad player.

Bad way of looking at it. Ignore his skate connections, and he's a good player. Alot of fans said exactly the same over Viafara when he signed, but I thought he was great for us. Showed real passion too.

Similar level to Sharp IMO - but 3.2m cheaper, and £3.2m free to spend on a CB and a CM.

It's been a rumour on the cards for a few months, but has picked up a bit of momentum today. Someone I spoke to a few weeks back suggested that he met up with some of the staff at the trip in Vegas but I found that seriously hard to believe. Would still be a bit mixed about this signing if I'm totally honest, but if you remove the last 3 years (his association with our fishy friends) out of his career and say we're signing him as a PNE player then we'd all be drooling. He was rated as one of the best centre forwards outside the premiership and he's not too old (24/25 i think?) so he could recapture that form with us...

Was commenting on someones post about George Boyd, their other player that's probably off.

Where would you fit him though? He plays in the same position and in a similar way to Lallana, and he's not going to sign for us when he knows he'll be second fiddle to Adam. (which he would be, as Adam is still a better player) I'm not denying he's a good player, but I just can't see a place for him in our team tbh.

Maybe this is why we pulled away from Sharp? £3.2m on sharp, or £0 for Nugent, who IMO is a similar player (not much difference between them ability wise tbh)

Have heard a few rumblings about this, but I have a feeling it's just come from football-rumours as it's all over there at the moment

Connolly was great for Sunderland at this level, so def. has nothing to prove. As you said, it's only really fitness issues that he needs to put behind him.

+ 1

There is absolutely no evidence that he will sign for Burnley, no speculation, no links and as was the situation on Friday - we were the only club with a bid on the table. where did you actually hear that he is going there?

Great big assumptions.

for christ sake

up to 3.5m according to those ITK.

too true! Didn't he go on loan to walsall last season, then get injured in his first game and got sent back? He's totally busted.

Hammond has def. played championship level before, I believe he was Brightons captain when they were last at this level. and I don't think Barnard has ever played in this league before.

You're spot on DD. The spine is already championship standard and doesn't require massive surgery. Adkins has apparently been quoted in saying that he wants to add to the spine of the team - so they're going to need to be very good to add to what we already have. Hence the links with proven top level championship performers (Cork/Maynard/Sharp) etc. I'm really happy with the state of our club at the moment and I think that the momentum we can take from last year, added to the spirit in the group, can create a good atmosphere. Remember as well - these lads have pretty much been together for 2 years and have been winning regulary for 2 years, 2 trophies in 2 years etc.

He's got great potential, in all the games I've seen him play he's never put a foot wrong.

tbh we only really need 3 additions. I wouldn't be too bothered if we waited until the end of the transfer window for a couple of them, just as long as we get the right guy.

I have to disagree with a couple of these points. You're never going to get a professional football team playing at the same tempo for 90mins, it's impossible. What you find we did most of the time was tactical and was a way to manage the fitness of the squad. For example it's absoloutley pointless to overexert yourselves when you're 2-0 up on 60mins if you have another game mid-week, that's the stage of the game you calm down and become professional. Alot of posters also fail to understand a professional side. It's really not all about sparkling performances every week, it's about getting the job done at the times that is required and we did that. I also have to say it was a tough job for anyone to manage the expectations of this side, and getting us to 92 points after the start we had was a very good achievement. 92 points at any level equals a great season and the squad has obviously been doing something consistently right to reach that point total.

It's from the recent U21 game at St Mary's.

Cheers, always nice to get snippets like this! Breaks up the bickering at least... I've always thought the choice of that pic was quite odd as well. He could have picked himself in a Burnley shirt, in England U21 action....but no, he chose St Mary's as his backdrop. Subtle hints??