Badger

Does this mean it will ease Gao's transfer of funds to the club ? If so, I'm all for it. Or is that a euphemism for money launderers?

I think the doom stems from an inability to score at one end of the pitch, and a weakness in goal that is always likely to concede (if the opposition manage a single shot on target). These traits have been recognised over a number of games, last season and this without being addressed.

Just hope it's not with us....

I have wondered the same, but if Cortese wasn't happy working under KL, I'd be surprised if he readily accepts a role with the current owners. He'd be under greater scrutiny under the Gao's than with the Liebherrs.

Think we'd settle for his performances at 6 or 7 out of 10, at the moment they don't reach that scale.

Weren't we the first team Inter played after he was sacked at Inter Milan last season ? Bet he has a sense of foreboding ahead of next weeks fixture.

Seem to recall similar being written whilst we laboured under Steve Wigley from September through to end November in 2004.

Sacking Puel wasn't necessarily the wrong decision, although question remains over the selection of his successor. At the time my view was that we should only get rid if we had someone better lined up (almost signed, sealed and to be delivered the next day) such as Tuchel. Don't blame him for giving us a wide berth, but in his absence it appears Les did what Les does best, dither and scrape around for who might be available after giving the previous one the boot, and hope we all acclaim it as an amazing bit of recruitment.

Don't disagree with you, but it's a pretty damning verdict that we're having this discussion less than a fortnight after the last window closed.

It must have been you that wrote the summary of the pre-match GK ritual last season drawing attention to Watson's constant preening of his locks. Most telling thing is probably who Koeman didn't want to take with him, Dave Watson, FF, & JWP. Christ, he even signed Martina again. Strange how Steklenburg looked an inspired GK last season at the Everton.

He goes through the motions, or just stoops slightly outstretching an arm with a facial expression to say ' oh, I couldn't do anything about that...' Every other club seems to find a f^cker who can...

Yesterday was an utter turd of a performance, the worst I've seen for years, even compared to last season. Reminded me of the days of the hapless Wigley. From the first minute Watford were allowed to take the initiative. Too may issues to address throughout the team - Forster (not sure you could blame him for the goals, but whenever its on target there's a high probability of conceding. Seeing him dive is like timber being felled). Betrand looks a shadow of himself. Midfield - no bite, Gabbiadini is isolated seemingly playing the match in a parallel universe from any creative player. Redmond - sh!t again, Tadic and Boufal - nothing more to add over what has been written by many on here. JWP - the enigma continues. Seeing the Keegan era shirts is wonderful, but it does build expectations as I am expecting to see the commitment of Nick Holmes and David Armstrong, not to mention the guile of and skill of Ball etc. When Redmond gets on the ball, my old mind reverts to looks like Danny Wallace.... but Redmond isn't a fraction of the player Danny Wallace was, never mind Rodney. Atmosphere again poor, although difficult after such a dire performance.Noticed dozens of Chinese students spending much of the game filming it and taking selfies. hope at least one of them can tell Nelly on Facebook, Twitter or wherever that "this is sh!t".

I wasn't convinced he was the answer, but on yesterday's showing he certainly had a team set up, and players knowing their role and performing efficiently as a team. Compared to our shambles.

Wasn't this something Pellegrino was meant to bring in ?

In truth, the problem is probably above the coaching staff, with Reed and the constraints he has to work with by the owners. I wonder what Mr 80% , and Nelly, make of this, or how they are monitoring it, if at all ? Are they really relying on Les to report back? With the 'ownership'issue now resolved (we are told) you'd hope there is more of a solid platform to operate from.

This really does look like 'battle of the duds' doesn't it ? Trouble is neither Reed or Jordan will wan't to admit, 'well actually, Pelligrino (or DE Boer) wasn't our first choice as he was lured by Southampton(or Palace..)'

Not if Forster plays it hasn't.

Much truth in the above. For the money we have frittered away in compensation, and after yesterday may have to again sooner than anyone would have imagined if that persists, we would have been better off stumping up and keeping Koeman. As for Eric Black, we were recently told "the players love him". Perhaps it's all too lapse and cosy on the training ground.

He'll be too knackered to play for us at the weekend then, won't he?

BBC Gossip yesterday linked a story that Benitez would be interested in the West Ham job should it become available. He'd be going from a club who begrudge spending money signing players to one that publicly talk up wanting to sign everyone.

They certainly have been since he joined us. I know his reputation, but other than Sunderland (EFL), and a good shot against Boro, there has been little to justify this. I think QPR fans used to make the same statements as above about him. Someone on here threw that name at us when we signed him (might have been you) and I thought 'hope not', but it does seem we are blighted with 'fancy Dan's'/show ponies in not recapturing their form or living up to their reputations on joining.

How's Big Adam's Cantonese or Mandarin coming along ?

Did well in so far as the only players to exit were those we were happy to see go, although I'm not convinced by Gallagher going on loan as he might have been able to have added something different for our attack.We have been left light in that department. Of the incoming players, Lemina looks promising and glad we've got another CB which has been needed since Fonte left. Hoedt looks promising from what I've read but time will tell. Annoyances for me are not making up our glaring shortcomings upfront with either another striker or better AM, and not bringing in another better GK either as first choice or greater competition ahead of the perpetually injured McCarthy. Extending the contract of FF defies belief after last season. Jury's out on the selection of the manager, but seems an upgrade, just that he will have to work with the tools he's given just as Puel had to. Wonder if we were sleeping when Krychowiak came available, or if it is that we simply don't want to consider loans. It doesn't appear a particularly imaginative window and recruitment from Les Reed but in his defence we don't know the financial restrictions he was working under from above, especially with the uncertainty of Gao's investment. General view 6/10.

From the little I've read, the GK seems reasonable but apart from that his stand out player lat season was a 20 year old midfielder on loan from Real Madrid and it appears they want to hang onto him.

Just googled him, and he's now linked with a move to Olympiacos in Greece.