S-Clarke

Let's be honest, 2 years ago I think most would have accepted £4m - or even Buttons - for him. He was very much in the Hoedt category at that point. So to get this level of fee 2 years later seems good, even more so given that he has 1 year left. Would have liked 18m ish, but the ball isn't really in our court on this one. He has certainly redeemed himself though, but I'll never be massively comfortable with him.

As much as I'd like some experience, the description of any Vestergaard replacement by Martin and Ralph last night was......''A player on his second, or third contract. Someone who can develop and learn with us, and in two or 3 years may get a move elsewhere'' Not sure how concrete the Nat Philips stories are, but he ticks a lot of boxes on those regards. Don't know a great deal about him as a player though, I'll be honest.

Surpised it's at that level, I thought we'd have held out for more. Maybe we've just decided to go with it, get it done and then we can move in on our target. Certainly not ideal to have this hanging over on the eve of the season though. We've had one of our 'selling of the crown jewels' summers! Let's just hope the reinvestment works out. Be interested to see how we reinvest the Vestergaard fee, I'd try and split that across two positions if I can - get an extra CM and a new CB. I'm not worried about losing Vestgaard particularly, as he was part of one of the worst ever PL defences and has been a bit of a dodgy buy bar 9 purple months. The worry I have is the depth of quality and experience at CB. But I'm sure that will be addressed...just not in time for Saturday.

I did expect this to happen, it has an inevitable feel about it. Closer to 18m the better, but we are in line to make a loss on this one - as we bought him for £20m believe it or not. For what it's worth I'm not sure he's suited to the way Ralph likes to play, in fact a lot of the players he inherted haven't been. It's a slow process but he's slowly being able to bring in the right style of player to fit his game plan. We don't play too high a line, but we are still high enough for him to be hugely exposed against pace. Alongside Bednarek we had two CB profiles, who whilst experienced, just did not fit the style of play. The only benefit Vestegraard brought us in the sense of our 'game' was his switch and passing from the back, but to be honest we shouldn't be relying on just a centre back to be able to do that. His experience will be a loss, for sure, but I think we can use this opportunity to bring a player much, much more suited to the style of play Ralph wants.

No questions about that - only stadium question was relating to the moving of the away fans.

I think part of the problem with signing a new GK is the wages that Fraser and McCarthy are already on, unless we have a buyer for one of those it just isn't going to happen. You can't realistically have 3 goalkeepers earning upwards of 50k p/w at a club like ours, it's a bit insane. So as others have alluded to, the goal keeping position is one for next year. And I'm fairly sure it will be addressed and will probably be one of the first signings of the next window. We'll have much more wage space to play with without Fraser on the books. Let's just hope we stick to 'one' this season and see how they get on. If what is in front of them performs better, hopefully they'll have less hitting their goal.

Absolutley. In the circumstances they are in and with the hands they've been dealt, they're doing a bloody great job in my opinion.

Looks like he'll play going by the chatter from up there. He's been kept clear of the pre-season games so he's got the best chance of this one I think Expect Richarlison to be on the bench. Maybe we'll see Vestergaard straight in alongside Bednarek?

The Dell was great, one of those unique football grounds which builds a great atmosphere. I don't have as many memories there as some of our more experienced fans though. But one of the biggest regrets about St Mary's is the lack of atmosphere, it does feel a little flat at times. But we had to move - the club had to grow and I think 32k fits us fairly nicely as a fan base. One of my personal best memories at St Mary's is when we beat Coventry so comprehensively to get ourselves promoted, the ground was rocking. It was followed quite closely by the Walsall game the year before! PL years - for me, the best game and best atmosphere was Southampton 3 - 2 Liverpool (when Mane hit the brace) The ground was physically shaking from underneath me when Mane scored in the 88th min or whatever it was, I'm sure I've still got the bruise on my leg from almost falling down a row!

We've still got Diallo, who is getting better - good player. And, surprised to me tbh. We've seemingly signed Jon Jo Shelvey

They might be keeping their cards close to their chest, but it doesn't sound like we are actively pursing any specific positions. They all seemed quite happy with the depth. The only thing mentioned is that they may look at signing a player for the B team who could then cover the first team if required. If Vestergaard leaves, that changes and they reiterated that they will reinvest in a replacement.

To be honest I think every penny has been reinvested, we've covered the Perreud transfer and the Armstrong transfer with the Ings, Lemina and Gunn sales. There's probably about £30m 'up front' all in there. Don't forget the other elements that come out of transfers such as signing on fees. I think we've done what they said we'd do - reinvested what we get. There is probably a little bit left for contingency and to keep 'dry' for another day.

Close! There was a stadium question, it was about the placement of the away fans. Rather bizarrely the club did an active piece of work looking at the options for that, and the stand they choose was the Kingsland rather than the Chapel - and obviously because of Segregation they couldn't put them in the Kingsland (no shit). £5m it would cost to do the works required etc. It was pretty much put to bed, if the stadium was built again it would be looked at. Doesn't seem like it will ever change.

Not a great deal learnt from that really. JWP not going to Villa, very categoric in that. No chance. That's been put to bed. Ings happened very quickly, good deal for the club financially. It was a win win for all. We wouldn't have been able to sign Armstrong without selling Ings etc No noises of Vestergaard leaving, as of today he's still there, still training, part of the squad and they expect him to be part of the squad. If a bid comes in they'll look at it, if he's still not planning on staying. If he's sold we will reinvest. Happy with the goalkeeper situation - both on good contracts, not looking at doing anything at all with that position. (as expected). Not particularly looking at any other additions. They all seem happy with the depth, the cover and the options in the squad. If there is another it will probably be a B Team type player who could come into the first team if required. Little bit on the stadium - moving of the away fans. It's been looked at, £5m cost quoted - police apparently put the stoppers on it. They were looking at sticking the away fans in the Kingsland. Still not sure why the Chapel wasn't considered to be honest, that would have helped with the segregation. But yeah, that's not happening. Ownership - They don't get involved, they let them get on with it. As we all knew. No investment, no financial input - as expected. They are still actyivley looking for that investment, whether that's with Gao or in replacement of Gao. All investment queries seem to be directed through Toby and Martin, those are the guys running with the search - Gao has taken a back seat (As he does with everything). Loan was taken out to cover for the losses, which it has already covered over 50% of (40m loss last year). Financially not a terrible position, we shouldn't be too worried...but there wasn't much more beyond that. The tone was basically - we will get what we can for players who leave, we are able to reinvest that - but we will reinvest in younger players who will provide more of a sell on value in later years. Our budget doesn't allow us to go and buy those ready made players.

He was actually part of the U17 Euro winning squad in 2014, and the U20 World cup in 2017.

Made up gossip I'd have thought. Felt like a pie-in-the-sky rumour as soon as I saw it. Our focus now needs to be on a defensive utility player.

I think the deal has been hanging on the completion of the Ings sale, we possibly tried to get it done before but we couldn't make it close to watch Blackburn wanted without a sale. As soon as we sold Ings this was pretty much done and dusted, there was never a risk of him going elsewhere as I think he was set on coming here. I can't say that I've ever seen him live, but just watching some of the videos you'd be mistaken for thinking it's Ings. Similar sort of height, similar movement, similar pest-type attributes of the front press. He seems absolutely perfect for us in that sense. He's obviously not going to be an Ings replacement from the off, but Ralph develops players and I wouldn't be surprised to see him reach those levels at some stage in his career.

This thread has been ruined by the usual sniping. Back on topic, I think this is a clever signing. We have clearly needed some physicality up top - we haven't had that since Pele left, that's not promoting a constant 'get it in the box approach' but having someone to build around and someone who can hold the ball up to bring others into play is sorely missed in this side. Adams can kinda do it...but that's not really his forte. It also gives you the option to throw on a massive striker at the end of games if you're chasing it and actually have a chance to make an impact, rather than bringing on N'Lundulu. A huge upgrade on L'Nlundulu, who in essence he is replacing.

£5m for Obafemi would be crazy, and that's an extra £5m in the pot to go towards a goalie....

I'm fairly sure it's done to be honest, don't see any reason to worry. I think he's held out for us in light of the other interest, which has put others off.

He was a machine last year. You'd turn on soccer Saturday and it would always be 'Blackburn have scored, Armstrong has the opener' - it was like the Lambert days when he scored for us every week. I think he's a cracking player from what I've seen, the most Ings-like replacement we could probably get.

If i'm honest, I think Villa were used in this situation. He was speaking to Arsenal about a new contract and in comes a bid from Villa, which would have definitely included a pay rise for the player based on what he was currently on at Arsenal. So I imagine that pushed his agents to get Arsenal to lift their offer a little more, and low and behold the Villa bid goes no where and he signs the new contract at Arsenal on better wages than they originally offered. That's the murky world of agents for you.

I think as a fan base we have been massively patient with Redmond. He has been the cause of enormous frustration from the Puel days up until today, he's been here along time and has waivered from absolute crap, to decent, to crap, to decent, to absolute crap. He hasn't' developed or evolved as a player, he was on the fringes of the England team when he joined but he's never been as far away as he is today - hence why he was looking at Jamaica. He's a very limited football player and that's why his career has stagnated, not because of what fans are saying about him on a football forum.

My hunch is that Armstrong is setting the pace here, I think he wants to join us. Fairly sure the other interest would have ramped up before now otherwise.

I'd give them Long as well, maybe shave 250k off the price. Seriously though, I think Armstrong looks such a similar player to Ings when you watch him. An absolute pest. Good age as well, and for less than £15m up front I say we've got exactly the deal we wanted. Blackburn were pushing for upwards of £20m as they are entitled to do, but I'm glad we stood our ground here and only paid what we felt was fair going rate. If Obafemi is included then it does explain why we're looking at that Chelsea kid as well. I think other clubs have been discouraged as he seems set on coming here, that's what I feel anyway.