Badger

Yes, the Chris Nichol - Ian Branfoot analogy springs to mind.

Sorry ballsed up image: links from here: Stoke: http://www.footballshirtculture.com/17/18-Kits/stoke-city-2017-2018-macron-home-kit.html

Stoke for next season has a white patch similar to Brighton (as do Dutch club Arnham, plain black on yellow/black stripes both by Macron). Celtic are hoops on the back, and from limited viewing of Newcastle's shirt this appears a full stripe on the reverse. Be interesting to see how many follow the plain backs ruling.

Point is probably that we went on a downward spiral pretty rapidly afterwards, due in part to poor transfer policy and some dubious managerial appointments over the next two seasons.

Why ? What's the history for that? A dog called Rosie ?

Might have been at the personal invitation of Les though, in which case we can rest assured VVD is staying.

Wasn't Imbula linked with us before ? Possibly in 2015. Since we were linked with him he's failed to settle at both Porto and Stoke.Not sure he's a risk worth taking.

Should only change if we can bring in a better option. Like you though, not convinced by Silva, and doubt that those considered a truly better option if available (for example Emery or Tuchel) would be interested, that's assuming the club in the current takeover limbo have the drive and ambition to go for such a manager.

I certainly wouldn't look to replace Puel with Ranieri, nice bloke that he is, he's had his glory and it won't be repeated. Of the non- English working in England, I'm not convinced by Silva, or Jokanovic. Silva is perhaps the obvious and fashionable candidate but its not our style to follow that path. Jokanovic is less well known and despite one or two advocating him on here I wonder if he has the reputation to keep a few of our names happy. The other one, obviously opens up the candidate field to wider speculation. Can only hope this is someone who meets all the criteria of style of play, and will be accepted by the squad quickly in convincing VVD for example that they should give us another season. Don't think our league position warrants changing CP, but if there are issues in the squad over him, then that changes things around. Personally I'd only look to a change if it retains key players we want to hang on to, and we can bring in a stronger candidate than some of those already touted.

Still leaves Jokanovic in the running from the clues given.

Clasie will be dropped next game then.

That'll be £12m in the summer then please.

AFCB now 1-0 up and above us in the table. Cue a mini-meltdown on the mongboard.

Read on the BBC matchday update: Not necessarily a wise move Marten.

Also prone to a sulk at some stage every season it seems. If not with club then with his country.

Trouble is, we've seen isolated good performances and results (WBA away recently) but we then revert to type and serve up dross again soon after, often with a number of changes involving players to have performed well.

An everyday occurrence amongst Staplewood folk. Only headbutting the captain is considered newsworthy.

You may or may not be right, I don't know. But I've previously asked the question, how does their "dislike" raise itself, players or agents making representations to Les Reed, Kelvin as player liaison (or whatever the role is) bringing this to the clubs attention, or does it just fester in the background ?

Expect next season's matchday programme to include a regular feature The Thoughts of Chairman Gao. saintslongmarchon#

Intersting article. http://www.atimes.com/article/chinas-deep-state-behind-english-soccer-investment-push/ Not sure it adds anything new, although the suggestion of 'state sponsored' investment in football is not one I'd read before. The only comment left after the article just refers to money laundering.

I like your targets but do the club have sufficient ambition to go for either ?

11th May tomorrow - isn't this the day the six month exclusivity period expires ? (I think the recent Lander announcement said it commenced 11th November) Perhaps this will be the start of some further developments.

Not necessarily, as it seems Les is teflon coated. Although much depends on ownership as you say.

I think it is more to do with his track record of perceived serial failure at his previous clubs that has led to the doubters rather than the the 'sting'.

Perhaps we're waiting to do a Burley - agree a compensation package from St Ettiene to take him off our hands