S-Clarke

I like Steele, good keeper. I would have said Butland a few weeks back, but I don't think he's ready. I reckon a season for Birmingham will do him the world of good, and as long as we keep our interest fresh we could get ourselves a much more mature player in 12 months or so.

It's just them doing their usual scare mongering. It'll be done when it's done, and that's within the next 48 hours. They've got 2 players agreed and ready to put pen to paper, but can't until Gaston goes. It's in everyone's interest to resolve this. People don't realise that a deal like this for a club of our size is HUGE, we've never, ever erver operated at this level of the market before so there's probably been a little bit of learning required from a few parties...but we'll get there, and it'll have a nice domino effect at the club in terms of our appeal all over Europe.

Not entirely, it's all this ''Southampton way'' thing. They want to develop a formation that goes down through all levels, but it's not just his decision - it's a club decision at all levels apparently.

Would be good signings IMO.

Poor Green. Didn't they just sign him? Never mind. Wouldn't want him, no better than what we have. I'm all for improving the squad, but we already have Davis in that experienced GK role. If we're going to get another keeper I'd rather it was another youngen.

Wasn't told a name I'm afraid. But we had someone watched at Stoke last night, so possibly narrows it down slightly! Although we may have had many matches watched last night...!

The problem is we don't have any alternatives to play there. NA has been asked to develop this formation over the summer, which is why it's migrating through the club at all levels. Looks to be why there is some significant urgency to get proper players for the positions we need to fill. No square pegs etc!

That we've made an approach for a ''Top'' Domestic CB.

Not sure if it's been lost in translation or whatever, but Mayuka is stating on his FB page that he's been told by his agent (which is probably cortese, as this deal was done without any agent involvement) hat he will play at the w/e. Not sure I'd be that comfortable with anyone picking the 11 other than nige - that always ends in disaster! Am hoping it's lost in translation and he's just been told he'll be ''involved''.

We're trying for 2 CB's before the close of play, that's what I've been told. We want 2, but we will sign 1 as a certainty - which looks to be Yoshida. The 2nd one is a bit trickier as it links in with what Nixon said earlier this morning.

To stick up for our management a bit, he did play on the flanks for Burnley during his rise there and he was quite effective, but I'm of the opinion that his position without question is CF. He can do a job on the flanks in the Championship, but he's well out of it in the PL. Let's stick up front and let his touch and movement do all the talking.

He'd have added nothing different to us to be honest. We've got Jay who is in the same bracket as him at the mo. (but a bit better IMO) And the new Mayuka fella adds rapid explosive pace, which he wouldn't have added.

I'm all for evolution, but as other posters have pointed out - because of our rise it's harder to slowly evolve, now we're in the PL we need to make quite drastic changes in certain positions. Notably at the back and in the middle of the park. Players like Hammond, Chaplow and possibly even Fonte have been pushed to one side quicker than probably anticipated when signed, so whilst it's not quite a revolution it's a rapid evolution.

Rodriguez is an exceptionally talented young forward. Unfortunately his start for us has been hindered with the position he plays in, which isn't his fault - I long for the day he's played as a striker. He's terrific technically, has a nice turn of pace and his movement in the box is terrific when you watch him. He's a very clever player who has all the attributes to be a class English centre forward, I've liked the look of him since he made his debut for Burnley, he's got a real feeling of class about him. I'm still absolutely adamant he will become an England international sooner rather than later. Top prospect. That's why we bought him.

Ah, they got there in the end then. They have been faffing around with Huddersfield all summer with rubbish bids. Should be £6m+

From what I can take out of it, Bologna have to pay it out of the fee we give them, as with any normal sell on fee. May be wrong though. They seem right arses to deal with, but anyway with them signing players it's done bar the announcement as far as I'm concerned.

It will happen. (Nice to see me leading the league as well)

They don't exactly fit in with the terms ''excellent'' or ''better than we have''.

Christ, if it's Huth I'll be jumping. Absolute class PL CB. Beast of a player. Stokes defensive success has been built around him, IMO a better and more experienced player than Shawcross. Stoke fans worship the guy, a real warrior of a CB. Puts every part of his body on the line for 90mins. If we get him and Ramirez then the current European ambition has serious foundation

Shawcross has been looked at by us, but as far as I know isn't a viable option due to cost and he wasn't too interested himself. Would only consider moving top club. Man Utd also have a buy-back clause in the contract.

Us We've made them rich.

Owen's agents seem to be panicking...

There's no way any club could come in now anyway, way too late. He's either going to be here on Friday, or still at Bologna.

Seems to be the case. As I said, all the talk about the deal being off...on...off...on has always originated from his tweets. I imagine we've kept constant dialog with Bologna in a much calmer manner that he ever suggested. There will always be hitches in a big deal like this for a club like ours. It would be naive to think it would be a straight forward transfer. The problem with the medium of twitter is that you have someone who can air all the linen and fabricate it to put their club in the better position. That's how I see it anyway.

It's all about the evolution of the squad, some players will continue with us and some will be left by the wayside. It's what happens if you're ambitious and want to keep pushing for the top. There will come a time where players like Lambert are left by the wayside. Billy scored massive goals for us, and I still think he'll play a role this season - but it will be a reduced one. I imagine he'll go out on loan after christmas to get some game time. For £1.5m though, we got our moneys worth as he helped us over the line. Sometimes that happens. Brum did it with Rowen Vine a few years back, scored some big goals as they secured 2nd - but was then left by the way side when they were in the prem.