S-Clarke

I agree, loans are very helpful. I did read a season or so back that the club didn't really like loaning out players, they preferred to look after them in house. But when you get to the level we're at now, it's hard for them to really get a look in....so you risk the situation of them stagnating and not getting any exposure. Loans are not a bad deal at all and more often than not, you see a better player back at the club for it.

It's a fire-sale I tell you.

Good move. Good club, good level of football, good manager and a good squad. Agree with what was said above, massive season for him. Hope it goes well.

I don't really see either position as third or forth choice, we will potentially play a hell of a lot of games this season, so all of our CB's will get some significant game time across all the competitions. He hasn't been bought in here as a starter, but he will get game time.

It was not possible under the terms of the loan.

After Caulker, we still seemingly want ''2 or 3'' more. Another CB and another DM are what its seemingly likley, the 3rd is probably a bonus one if the opportunity comes up. But 2 more additions look quite likely.

I'm not adverse to this signing at all, it adds real depth and quality to the centre back positions - genuine competition. The loan deal makes sense, he's not worth the £8m or so they want for him, and we also have Gardos as a long-term option...so a loan deal to see how he does, whilst covering the Gardos injury, is incredibly sensible. His last 2 clubs have been utter shambles from top to bottom. At Cardiff you had the mentalist chairman and racist management, not exactly an environment to thrive. At QPR you had Redknapp, nuff said. I'd personally read more into his time at Swansea. I see them as a very similar club to ourselves in how we conduct ourselves, coach, play football etc. He was incredibly impressive there and that's why I have the up most confidence that surrounded by quality coaching and very good quality players, he will show a lot more than he has in the last 2 seasons. The guy has great potential, it adds to our home-grown quota and it's a loan - and we're still getting another CB. A very sensible bit of business.

Lallana I'll give you, because he's a jerk. But I don't know a single fan who has a bad word to say about Ox, Theo, Bale. They'd be welcomed back with open arms.

Videoton 1 - 1 BATE Bor FT

You seem to have a fetish for Ukrainians.

To be honest, there isn't a debate to be had. All that needs to be said to anyone questioning the position of the club this summer is the following line: 5 Years ago I was walking to St Mary's for an evening game to watch a L1 promotion clash with Brighton, which ended 0-0. 5 Years on and I'm going to be walking to St Mary's for an evening game against Vitesse in the Uefa Europa League. For a club to travel that far, in such a short space of time kind of suggests that we've been doing the right thing every year. Les Reed has been part of that from the start, I have no idea why people have any doubts in him. He's been terrific for us, top to bottom.

It's the Champions league qualifiers......thus Midtylland would fall into the Europa Qualifying round, with a lower seed than us. 1 result down (of course, if it stays that way). If Midtylland win, then we have to put up with APOEL with a higher co-ef in the Europa league.

People also fail to forget that Stoke have lost Begovic, Moses and N'Zonzi and haven't replaced as yet. Those are 3 important players.

Looks like we're in that time of pre-season lads. The mentalists are out, give it a few weeks and they'll drift off again.

The problem people have with him is that he is so adamant that all is bad, nothing will go right, we're all going to die. His assumptions become fact in his mind, and as has been proven for the last 259259259259259 summers....his assumptions are always wrong. I get the point of accepting peoples point of view, but have you seen some of the abuse and names he puts out there if someone has their own view he doesn't agree with? The bloke is very tiring, and comes into his own at this time of year it has to be said. Although I see him more of a comedy act these days.

MK Dons were promoted to the NPC.

Fair point, he's clearly capable of embarrassing himself with no one else's assistance.

Lol.

Talking THFC @TalkingTHFC #thfc Diário De Notícias report Tottenham Hotspur winger Erik Lamela is 'very close' to joining FC Porto on loan. pic.twitter.com/leW7iXT5YU Follow Talking THFC @TalkingTHFC #thfc Portuguese sources understand Erik Lamela is unhappy in London and Porto will have a €7.5M option to buy. pic.twitter.com/SAt0ih4xGJ Well, that's £30m down the drain.

I 'think' Sako is out of contract, his wage demands have held up any deal until now though (it was reported he wanted upwards of 80k p/w). I can't see WBA paying those, so he's obviously lowered his demands!

Swansea got the better brother.

'If' this is their 'marque' signing that they've been on about, then Stoke fans have every right to feel a bit miffed.

If you look at the past seasons, you will almost always see that the middle period of the transfer window is often the quietest. You get a few early ones through the door at the start of the window, and then it's a game of poker - up until the last few weeks of August anyway. Silly to think nothing is happening, as we are probably incredibly busy trying to put things in place. It's not like FM where you can just table a bid and have a response with in a few seconds, in some situations it can take weeks. And if that means we get our prefered target - on our terms - then I'm not bothered. Overpaying and panicking to just get things done isn't the way to go. If some of the people on here ran a football club then they'd be in L2 and in receivership.

If I was a Stoke fan, after being liked with Konopolyika, Shaqiri, yarmolenko, Moses and ending up with Iffelay I'd feel rather deflated. Very much in the same mold as Elia, promised a lot, but has never delivered really. Injuries haven't helped, as he's had a few bad ones over the years. But it's a bit of a risk, not a ''big name'' signing in my eyes.

They have been after him for a while, or a similar type of pacy striker. He's a good player, nothing more, nothing less. But the honeymoon is over for MP. He was given a bit of slack last season, but I imagine expectations will be very big next year. Outside of the top 4 = total failure.