Badger

Why ? Thought he looked good in the Euro's and would bring some tenacity and experience to us. Potentially a good signing if true, but another 'one for the future', or back up for KWP now ?

Only place I've seen him linked is on here, so don't get your hopes up.

Not so sure the loan fee would have been the issue so much as the wages if reports are true. Possibly the spend or possibly the dressing room effect of having a 'back up' earning close to, or even more than, some of our established first teamers. Whether this is right or not will be shown by what we do as an alternative. If that £2m is put to a good permanent signing then fine, if we start the season without adequate back up for FB's (Valery and Djenpo) then it might prove to be 'penny wise and pound foolish' (as one of my older relatives used to say).

West Ham and Norwich before he joined Saints.

Pleased for him, hope they go on to win it.

Slight tangent, but isn't that 'Woy' bottom right above the Barcelona players ? Another example of a manager without a distinguished playing career, although he obviously later moved in some more elevated circles.

Might depend on any agreement we have with him for bids over a specified amount. Even without any clauses though this is Saints we're talking of, not sure if the current set up (Semmens, Crocker, whoever) have the resolve to brazen it out and get a good deal. In my view it should be upwards of £50m given the likely transfer market this summer and amounts touted (someone else made a good point about Buendia at £33m) but suspect Saints board will cave in at £35/40m leaving little time to replace.

Rather like Boufal we will recall his one or two good games over a season or two in assessing him and whether he warrants a new contract or not. I suspect this thread will still be running, or another one of similar title with the same question posed, this time next year.

Couldn't fault him for wanting to join a club showing ambition (such as Villa) rather than staying at our rudderless ship. But I'll regard him a c^nt if he goes to Tottenham.

Ralph relying on the recruitment team getting deals done. Having options we're interested in is a long way from getting the deals signed and sealed. Anyone know who is responsible for closing deals now ? An area we seem to fall short in for whatever reason.

Not sure you can read too much into this, the Cardiff match was before the story of the Villa bid was leaked, or made it to the press/media, but we don't really know when the (presumably first) bid was made. It's still quite possible that there have been some rumblings/discussions in the background involving JWP/ his agent and the club. The other unknown in all this is anything in JWP's contract regarding releasing him, or notifying of any bids.

Have either shown enough to warrant a contract extension ?

In which case it will depend on whether we , Watford, or another are better placed at the time to afford him ie who we have sold by then.

Surely Ralph has seen enough of him to know he's crap and has to be sent off out on loan again, assuming no one wants to buy him

Defensive coach ?? FFS - I thought your post was a piss take but have now seen the other thread. Must be a place for Ali Dia somewhere, fitness or strikers coach.

See he took the ball away from someone wearing our No9 shirt reasonably easily at 0.31, was that Nlundulu ?

Has anyone said how the 'vaccine passport' would be implemented and work ? When booking tickets do I have to register a 'passport number', or just tick a box confirming that I will abide by the club's terms and conditions incl the vaccine ? Or are the stewards going to ask to inspect your phone, or proof of the jabs before admission ? Not against this measure by any means, even if it does upset the misguided civil liberties brigade, but not sure it will be effectively managed.

What happened to the 'banging head against a brick wall emoji ?'. Haven't seen it for years but immediately sprang to mind on reading this.

Glad he's gone at last, waste of talent. Feel sorry for Schneiderlin who'll probably end up having to cover for him whenever Lem isn't in the mood for it.

That's his goal until 2023 done with then, underlining the fact we'd be best to offload him now

Or a ready made song. in the case of Stuart Armstrong he clearly ticked both boxes.

Will now be put to a far sterner test though. But I agree with you. Whenever someone has said we should look at their manager, I've always said we should be looking at their Head of Recruitment and his team instead. On the subject of which, whatever happened to our proposed Head of Recruitment ? It was talked about and then said he was at another club until the end of the season but no one has come in. I can't even recall if it was the 2019-20 season or season before now , but we're still waiting. No idea who our 'head' is now, is it the ex-Everton & Sunderland character with a fairly mixed track record ?

Any ratings on the 'tottyscope' ie how does their Doris rate, and can anyone uncover instagram photos of her with jugs on display ? This will add or detract from the approval rating of potential signing.

You forgot the important "Skacel factor" when waiting on negotiations to be complete enabling some comedian to ask the inevitable question.

I'd agree with you generally although I think the youtube clip of Carillo was fairly damning and supported the view we were signing a donkey.