Badger

who ?

Compromise: One paced refreshing work horse, before the era of idle prima donnas ( and foreign mercenaries) who was lucky to play in the PL , BUT TOOK HIS CHANCE WELL. whatever else is said, he scored some vital goals when we needed them.

Put like that I'd certainly like to see Fonte stay. Forren - we have yet to see him , I wonder if MP believes he is up to being let loose in the Prem at all Stephens -probably not ready ? Yoshida - personally I don't share the obsession with him, often error prone So have to pin our hopes on Lovren.

IF this is the case : we've -reportedly - offered £2m more than Cardiff are prepared to pay, so if NC walks away from the deal Celtic might have to consider a lower offer. Perhaps Celtic might want to consider 'easing' the deal through, and coughing up the agent's cut. But then we all know what is said about jocks parting with money ( even Irish ones).

They'd take him in a heart beat. Or then again perhaps they wouldn't.

Good. Ah, the famous 'horses head' trick, works again.

It is not an unreasonable question being asked by the OP, irrespective of the motives for asking it (whether he is a Saint or Skate). From the evidence of last season I have doubts about MP, and whether he really is such an exciting young coach or does represent a 'step up'. After the 'new manager syndrome' etc ,a win ratio of 25% is pretty poor, average at best, although this is papered over by the fact three of the wins were impressive ones against high profile sides. Of course the immediate defence, and justified to a point, is that this was with someone else's squad, and he needs time to get his own players in, (or at least those that Cortese and Reed give him during his own time here, depending on who you believe). This season, no excuses then. Yes, give the bloke a chance, but I think he will fall short of the 'European dream' if that is the target set for him.

Realisation that perhaps we might be his best meal ticket , albeit one he's not overly excited about at the moment.

Good signing for them if it comes off.

Agree in principle but, the one we want from Italy does not want our generous offer of money, as he sees his ambitions as greater than us. The one so far mentioned from Spain - Banega- has gone quiet.

Ditto. I often buy home and away for my sons, at Christmas & birthdays, but told them at the start of last season we would not be getting either, and if we are served up with a 'red abortion' again we will also be boycotting the shirts again. To be fair they also thought the shirts ' un-Saints like' and were not particularly bothered.

But that should not be a problem, when you have the charismatic "master of manipulation" doing the deals, and selling the "project" to them should it ?

So Naingollan we're offering too much money, and he won't join. Wanyama, not being offered enough, in his eyes. Shame, but b0ll0cks to them. Pleased that Osvaldo wants to be elsewhere though, as he looks a certainty to cause ructions in the dressing room.

How do you see this breakdown on a post ?

I know he would regularly be mercilessly slated on here, or on Saintsforever, but I always thought him quite an interesting poster, who would put forward a good case for his own view (even if others disagreed.). Okay, the De Pedro saga, mihght have riled a few people, but I never understood the level of flak he received, if for the posts alone.

Wasn't he at his most active around the time of the Paul Allen takeover, c2007 ?

"...and just look at this f^cking watch they've given me..."

Simple & outstanding.

Ottery indeed is a jolly good fellow. I have never met him, but have exchanged some pleasantries with him on the board not only about Saints, but also football in the Gloucestershire - Devon region. He too realises there is more to sporting life in the West Country than racing with tar barrels through Ottery St Mary, or Cheeserolling in Gloucestershire.

Actually "they" didn't as the possibility of us signing KK was not even speculated on, it would have been considered too far fetched.

The deal 'appears' to have gone far too public for how we previously liked to tie things up. In the past couple of seasons this might have killed it off. But as we are now playing with the big boys, and their agents, perhaps even NC will have to accept we are no longer in a position to dictate the rules.(Perhaps he will realise he is not the "master of manipulation" as some claimed). Alternatively, perhaps we will delve further into negotiations elsewhere, interesting that the topic of Naingollan emerged again yesterday, and the Banega camp appear to be very quiet.

He looks like a heap of trouble, we should stay well clear. If we can splash £20m then Lamela would be a better option, although of course Roma don't want to lose him.

I thought this was a potential big 4 player we were tracking ?

Is that Yoshida on the art of defending against Italy by any chance ?

Where in Bournemouth was that then ?