Badger

If anything they looked to need to regain match practice and fitness yesterday rather than needing a rest. But I expect some of the above will get a run out.

Hadn't heard of him until your post. No idea if he'd have been a good signing or not for Saints but liklihood is we'll never find out as if he's successful at Lille then he'll be a £25m + player when he leaves, unless he falls short of what they require and we pick him up for c £15m as we did Hoedt ! I saw he only joined them this season from Ajax. We really are missing out in our scouting and need to nab players before they end up in Germany, Italy, or even the better clubs in France. Once established there they're out of our price range.

This has been my worry, not just about Romeu but the team in general. The end of season is never really a good time in which to make a judgement often against opponents with nothing to play for especially last season, played out in bizarre circumstances. That said you'd have hoped the same levels of fitness might have been maintained in what was a short break, shorter than the March - restart. How they've come back looking jaded and not a patch on how they finished last season is disappointing. Added to which is the failure to add any players to improve the side.

Perhaps we've nominated Palace as the crap side to 'gift aid' points to this season. Will make a change from West Ham and Burnley.

Don't disagree but can't see us bringing three players in unfortunately.

Quite a signing, but not sure Mourinho has the interpersonal skills to make it work as Eva Carneiro will testify.

Does he mean a share flotation ? Didn't we try that under Rupert the Share ? Look how that ended.

Carillo MKII.

Providing we sell him before he reaches Neil Ruddock proportions that's fine.

Looks like Kelvin's in charge of cones and Dave Watson collecting balls this season.

And invite Boston United to complete the story and route..

Incredible that the buffoon who oversaw the signings holds a role as Technical Director or similar at the FA *, and his apprentice Ross is at Rangers. *remind me what FA stands for again ?

And then the player agree to sign on expiry of the loan rather than just use us a shop window for a season(The 'Toby' rule 2015).

Isn't he the third MF player theyve signed ? Allan and Doucoure before.

The only other side I've read linked with him were Derby so either we've seen something no other EPL club have or he isn't so shit hot.

Agree with your assessment of Boufal and conclusion, but differ on some of the other points you make. We need a DM starter rather than just backup. Might be a step too far simply to put our trust in Smallbone, and moreso Sims and Obafemi. None of us know if we're skint, but we're certainly not flush for cash (though no team outside the big 6 are), and it does seem we have to sell before buying, as much as anything to rid ourselves of wages.

Has worked without a hitch today. Well done Steve, keep up the good work.

Djenpo ? Yes it's a strange sense of optimism that we're not used to.

Fine today so far.

I read somewhere they hadn't, but no idea how reliable that was.

You're probably right, it's a pretty ill thought out comparison.

Saw a couple of articles yesterday, although unable to post the links at the time as ceess to the forum not available (and now unable to find them!): Eintracht Franfurt have turned down a £20m bid suggested from us for Hinterigger Orel Mangala - his club now want c £20m for him and linked elsewhere.

Surprised nothing has been revealed about players from the 'Alehouse' days, the amount those legends used to consume there must be a drunk and disorderly, driving ban, or assault charge among them somewhere.

Koopmeiners would be an impressive signing, and from what I've previously seen and read of him ideal but likely to go to a bigger club. AZ are still in the CL qualifiers so that might influence their willingness to sell. The only other midfielder I saw us tenuously linked with a couple of months ago that stood out was Grillitsch at Hoffenheim (Austrian international), but no further mention so assume that is non-existent.

Pity we couldn't shoehorn Hoedt or Forster into the deal as well then.