Badger

Definitely in the starting line up for L/pool, take out their CB with the tattoos at a corner if you can... Think we will need another CB as we'll have to prepare for the fact this bloke may be suspended from time to time.

I don't think we've been in for him to be honest, which is a shame.

Where's the watch ? Perhaps NC took them with him. Good news, not before time. Just want Cork to sign up as well now* *and a GK, CB, and new striker.

But according to one report this morning we are still some way off in meeting Celtic's valuation of £9m.

You would hope and expect so, but if we see VVD disappearing off the target to join Swansea it will be disappointing.

Fair point, hope you're correct.

Why not stop fannying around with this and make a sensible bid ? Or are we intent on completing this on deadline day ? Exactly.Even if we have a bid accepted we still have the small matter of him agreeing terms, or farting around whilst awaiting a better offer. Biggest concern for me is that while we chase this deal, we lose other more realistic targets.

Must admit, i'd prefer VVD of the two, more potential certainly. It will certainly raise a question as to what the Scouting Dept have been doing.

A Forster howler, from a tame daisycutter of a back pass from Van Dyke.

Just wondering what will happen in the (less than likely) event that Celtic progress in the CL. Does that mean back to the drawing board for Reed & Co for a GK and no VVD ? Good job Reed has a long last of quality players wanting to join us.

As an aside to this, who will be our penalty taker this season ? From the Youtube clips seen, Tadic looks the more reliable out of him & Pelle. Any other options suggested ?

Yes. The fact Yoshida is in the starting line up is evidence of how weak we are in this area, and no doubt this would impact on Fonte who improved immensely with a better CB partnership.As you say the back up options are "thin" (to the point of non existant). Just hope we bring in someone capable / and experienced for the CB, but again leaving it late and perhaps on to options B,C, or D by now. 34 year old cast offs from Inter - bought outright or on loan - do not fill me with confidence.

Perhaps he's replacing Guly as the 'option off the bench' and regular scapegoat.

Paul Went in the 1970's. Went was the skates centre half and highly rated. Lawrie wanted to beef up the defence in c Oct/Nov 1975 and a swap was proposed with Bobby Stokes (who was a squad player/sub at the time). Deal fell through , as Went rejected terms as I recall. Stokes remained with Saints to make history the next May.

Main ITV News at Ten last night.

Although Jos does have some limitations in the Prem, he does seem to bring something to the squad in the dressing room harmony. On balance I think I'd take the risk with Jos over a couple of past it sulking South Americans that Inter are keen to palm off.

Surprised he didn't fit a 'Hillsborough' or '96' into his address as this might have helped win them over.

It seemed a bit of an "and finally .." type feature for minor interest/amusement rather than any serious reporting of news or something different on the topic. Perhaps he has the same agent as Rupert ? Seems Rupert is back in demand for his "rent a quote" pieces on us. Hope he is enjoying the limelight again.

Yes, with Watson's coaching I think this bloke could be a good option.

I've not seen enough of Forster to make the judgement, but if we are spending £8/9m on him then he'll be first choice to start the season. But we have to go with Koeman /Dave Watson's judgement.

Don't know how anyone can see geeting rid of Osvaldo as anything but a positive move, irrespective of who/what comes the other way .

Was there meant to be a board meeting today, with some changes rumoured ? Think this was an ITK post from someone on Sunday/Monday (possibly Guan).

Being generous, this remains to be seen. But its a fair bet that neither Shellotto in particular, amd probably Taider are likely to have featured very high on the original list, if at all.

I did read that Brighton have also lost six players from that team this summer so I don't think we can read too much into this.

Agree, certainly not impressed by description of a 34 yr old Argie CB, or a winger who has failed to impress at Inter or whilst they have previously farmed him out. Taider looked as if he might offer something, although we are well served in the CM area (especially if - big if - Morgan & JC remain)