Badger

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.

Bjorn Engels. Linked with Arsenal and Stoke in recent weeks, before Stoke signed Wimmer. http://dailycannon.com/2017/08/arsenal-make-concrete-offer-for-bjorn-engels-says-agent/

Yes, this is disappointing, I was hoping that he and Gallagher would get some opportunities this season. Perhaps farming players out is one of the consequences of our early exit from the League Cup. Or perhaps Les thinks it'll stand us in good stead next season if they've got some experience of the Championship.

Ox to Liverpool: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41098529 £40m. Hope we're in for a %.

Wimmer is another left sided CB though, so can't see we'd go for him and Hoedt. I think it was one or other, and we've made our choice.

Understand the point you are making but worth remembering they are playing two leagues below us. The other thing, which in my view is a poor reflection of things, is that the Premiership clubs seemingly don't want to encourage the traditional support of boozed up young men having a good day out, but expand the 'family' club,... and embrace local residents, or give an entire stand over to the LGBT community.

... yes, but little confidence that they will. When you see Redmond getting an opportunity its similar to watching Tadic take a penalty, you hope , but wonder if it's best to look away now.

Don't forget the goalkeeping ritual... someone posted a summary of that last season, in which they described it in detail complete with how often Watson stopped to adjust his blond locks. I remember the good old days when the warm up was done in a 5 a side hall, and the first glimpse of the payers was at 2.55 when 10 would charge onto the pitch looking pumped up followed by what seemed a minute later by John McGrath with his shorts tucked up around his loins looking like he was wearing only a pair of black 'Y fronts' , but sleeves rolled up, giving the impression he wanted to rip the opposition centre forward limb from limb. Can't see many of our pampered millionaires getting away with their sub-standard attitude with a few like John in the team.

I have wondered if a season long loan to a top European side with an option to buy (at an extortionate price) might be a facesaving way out of this for all parties. VD f^cks off to play on a 'bigger stage', and we get rid of of what is looking like a horoughly toxic c^nt for the squad this season (only a slight variation on Ralph & Les's 'he's not for sale this window'). Alternatively loan him to Celtic in lieu of their % when we do sell him. There you go Virgil take your bun or pony tail (whatever you want to call it) and stupid little beard to play at Hamilton & Ross County again for a season and think about how lucky you've been over the last two seasons. Bertrand I believe could have been replaceable had we had the time to do it. Sorry but I've lost confidence in the Black Box magicking up quality at short notice, and Reed to negotiate a quick deal.

We've watched it at St Mary's and my son observed how woeful it has been, before adding when we used to watch Lambert in the pre-match ritual it was a question of which side he would score in as opposed to will it even be on target.Same could be said for a few of our players then, even in L1, but now it fills you with dread that some of them may even get in a goalscoring position during the match. Thread yesterday about the poor atmosphere etc at matches, perhaps many witnessing the pre-match spectacle have lost the will by the time the match starts for real.

Maybe another increase on VD's price.

See we had another Fraser fumble yesterday, spilling a cross he looked to have gathered whilst under no particular pressure from a Huddersfield player. Hardly a game passes without some mishap or other. Got away with it yesterday. Despite this he remains a regular selection without being challenged. Big mistake not upgrading in the GK dept this summer, even if only a more reliable deputy to compete for the position.

.. and we haven't improved our options at the other end in goal. But in defence of Reed, there could be a significant difference in what they can see needs improving, and what finances, restrictions from on high, permit them to put in place. We don't know the true picture of this, but it is an area where I'm inclined to give LR and Jock apprentice some benefit of the doubt.

It seems a bit of a hangover from last season to be honest, especially the frustration at performances and lack of goalscoring at home, which has continued. Many hoped removing Puel would be a fresh start, and galvanising effect, but the new MP hasn't yet hit the mark. Its a two way thing though, perhaps the team mustering a goal occasionally from open play might help.