S-Clarke

Surely Burnley can do better than relegated NPC players...? He wasn't even that good for Charlton.

I wouldn't have thought Sims, Gape, Gallagher and Reed featured for the academy sides much last season. U21's yeah, but that's coached by a different setup. We're clearly trying to bring in fresh talent from elsewhere as we're aware it has been a bit light, hence the likes of freeman joining. I think the academy is one of the last things you can start to question at our club though.

Why did you change your account Saint Charlie? Seems incredibly sad. Maybe your old alias had been found out? Won't be too long for this one then.

It's not really a surprise to see Leicester being picked off like this. Marhez is next, apparently. I feel for them and totally get how they feel, any inch of success and the 'top' clubs want to bat you back down again. I hope they're able to do what we do and just grow from this summer. A quick browse on the Leicester forums is depressing, obviously a lot of knee-jerk responses, but they shouldn't be feeling as they do after winning the title. Football is so ****ed for us 'also rans'.

Arsenal just hover in the background all the time, watching target after target get snapped up because they don't want to pay the going rate.

Not sure if he did, but Vardy did and Marhez has a £30m one I think.

Kante to Chelsea is almost done, £30m. Medical completed today. Goes to show that not even winning the league and getting CL football can stop players moving to the 'big 4', even if they don't even finish in the top 4 they still have more resources and pulling power. Difficult for any similar sized club to make long-term ground.

It was JWP who signed the 6 year deal, pretty sure VVD was just 5 (i say, just!)

I totally agree with what you say, 100%. I've never quite understood why general fans seem to think that money = success. Being clever, shrewd and diligent usually equals more success and smaller transfer fee's. I don't think Ibe's a bad player, but £15m for him is crazy talk really. I assume it's based on lots of installments/clauses etc.

He sounds like a bit of a tool to be honest!

Have thought the same myself, the posting style and intention to wind people up is still there. Very sad.

What experience can you take from a pre-season game though? They're just for fitness and conditioning, I can't see anything other than that being beneficial to players or manager. He'll get the experience once the season starts proper.

Blind is 'apparently' being lined up as a replacement.

Maybe come back when you're sober, as I cannot work out a word you are saying.

It's a made up rumour, on purpose.

That website makes stuff up, they actually say that. They just generate random rumours for laughs. '' Tired of reading made-up bull**** from tabloid rags and click-bait-riddled websites? Sick of seeing your favourite player being linked with everyone from Real Madrid to your local five-a-side team? Why not just drop the pretenses and revel in stories that you know are untrue? ''

He'd ruin a club like us, too big for his boots, can't imagine him integrating with anyone.

Apart from confirming a players commitment, stopping silly rumors in the lead up to his contract expiry and putting the club in the strongest position. I'd say they mean a fair bit.

Yeah, McCarthy is at Walsall. I think (?) gape is Injured.

"I'm very pleased," he said. "It's been a fantastic move for me since the day I came to this club and I look forward to many more successful years and really pushing forward. "I've enjoyed my football here. I've really enjoyed the club, and the fans have been fantastic with me personally as well, so I couldn't think of any better place to play football and to keep on developing. "The club is always thinking forward and I really want to be a part of that, and I am sure we can go on to achieve even better things." Bertrand explained that seeing Virgil van Dijk, Fraser Forster, James Ward-Prowse and Steven Davis also sign new long-term deals in recent weeks and months had given him further encouragement for the years ahead. "It was massive," he said. "To see all the boys sit down and commit, I knew I wanted to do it from the start too, and thankfully we've got it done. "It's such a good moment, but I'm looking forward to just getting on with the football now and when we come back for pre-season really going again." Read more at http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/20160712-ryan-bertrand-southampton-contract-ambition-3181460.aspx#vmr5lMZmoMlY6FVz.99

Anyone sane would say the same though, but Wenger is a silly old fella who will not be told!

This is also a very good point, people shouting wanting us to spend xxx (we've got all this money left over etc etc) but these contracts are as good as, it's a massive benift to be able to sign this guys to learn term - it's a better use of the finance we have.

Great stuff, another long-term contract handed out to a key first team player.

I wouldn't call JWP a DM, but he's someone who has all the tools - he just needs to find consistency and a position. I see him as a player who can play in front of the DM's. Not necessarily a number 10, but he can mature into someone who can help us retain the ball in the middle. He needs to be more tenacious in the tackle though. Forster Cedric Fonte VVD Bertrand Clasie/Reed/Romeu JWP/PEH/Davis Long/Redmond Tadic/Jay Austin/Long/Jay We are still lacking another attacking option though, but we're sound enough elsewhere (I think)

I've always been a fan of Romeu, I think he's strong, committed and technically excellent. You don't come through Barca's academy not to have serious ability. I was a bit frustrated we didn't see more of him last year as I really think he could be one of the best CM's in this league. He's got all the attributes. Still only 24 too. Then you've got Clasie, JWP, Reed in and around those positions too - we're well stocked in that area once again.