Badger

Impossible to tell from the youtube clips but I thought at 6'4" he looks reasonable in the air, has a useful first touch, and showed a couple of decent flicks on and passes. Looks quite mobile, probably moreso than Lambert, but RL more than compensated for that with speed of thought. So hopeful his 'link up' play etc is good. That said, he won't get the same space in PL as in Holland. As someone said earlier, we have to trust RK's judgement. No doubt our recruitment team are also aware of him.

Plus most of the names mentioned in the article have the World Cup to consider at the moment. A slight distraction, which perhaps Hummels for example is prioritising over transfer speculation ( AL take note).

Agree. Note also the interview with MS as translated on here, where his preference is playing alongside Cork.

A key factor here, as for our season ahead generally, will be the squad available at the start of the season. I can't see JWP being a first choice CM ahead of MS or Cork , with VW playing a more defensive role. This assumes Koeman does not bring in any other Dutch midfielders. Perhaps the question for the club is if they take a chance to release Cork to enable JWP to progress further. Personally I'd not take the risk.

Ideally need to bring a couple of qualty signings in to demonstrate to AL/DL etc that the ambition did not not leave the club with MP. That of course assumes their minds have not already been made up, which I suspect may be the case. Then it is simply up to the club to say "no - not selling".

Now on Metro: http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/21/tottenham-to-make-15million-transfer-offer-for-southampton-ace-dejan-lovren-4770456/ Simple answer Les, "F**K OFF !!!". £20M from Barcelona or he stays.

If we are going to sell then anywhere but Liverpool or Spurs...

Hector Moreno linked again, albeit casual interest in a story re Poch http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2664020/Tottenham-enter-chase-Mexico-defender-Hector-Moreno-tabs-Argentinas-Marcos-Rojos.html Perhaps he'll want to link up with MP again. If we'd been interested I'd have expected this to happen under MP's watch rather than now.

Wonder if Barcelona had the gall to offer £26m of that up front, and the rest on the never never for spurious add-ons.

FF is one of the more insightful posters on here whose opinion I enjoy reading, if not always in agreement with it. I also have some of the Hagiology books in my book case so appreciate the hard work he and his colleagues have put into this as a labour of love in their own spare time.. If they make a quid or two out of it - probably nowhere near the level the detractors expect - then it is thoroughly deserved. The level of spite shown in some of the posts, no doubt motivated by pitiful envy, is sad to find amongst fellow Saints fans ,and disappointing . For the record I have never met FF and would not recognise him in the street. Keep up the good work FF.

Hideous.

And accommodate Rooney and Wellbeck. Once this is done see how many places are up for grabs.

Both of whom we've been linked with.

Unbelievable isn't it how the Dutch, Germans, French continually produce teams that are relatively successful and even entertaining to watch, but we've just stood still with the same mediocrity for forty years. Of course we did break that mold with our 'golden generation' of Beckham, Owen et al during which time we won the square root of f^ck all, timidly going out at quarter final stages on penalties. Again players consumed by their own image and reputations rather than motivated to perform.

Sorry, but the "Suarez was the difference" cliche, is an easy excuse to trot out, the sort of banal rubbish from Townsend and the ITV pundits. In truth, England as ever at a major tournament were all huff, puff, and devoid of any real plan or initiative. Watching that tonight reminded me of a phrase someone used on here a couple of weeks ago "all fart, and no sh!t".

... but not Tottenham

I can't see this happening as he'll probably want CL football.

..or perhaps not.

I previously saw a figure of £6m in one article, but if true then we'll no doubt find better value abroad. I think Forster at celtic was also mentioned around £6m.

Same rationale as used by simpletons who used to phone Solent suggesting Benali be made manager...("he bleeds red and white").

£26M ? Depends how it is structured. In my view either all paid up front, or bugger off. This is an England international at the top of his game, the c^nts are trying to buy, not a bloody sofa from a Littlewoods catalogue on the 'never never'.

Don't suppose they'd want a Pablo Dani O in part exchange by any chance ?

Does seem a bit too 'management motivational speak' and little substance on occasion. Still think its a shame John Williams was not involved.

Marshall on last season's form would be excellent, and of course proven in the EPL (which Fraser Forster, previously linked, is not.). Gut reaction though is that we're more likely to bring a GK from the continent, Netherlands or Germany in particular. If looking to build for the future, McCarthy at Reading has looked a good prospect, estimated at £3m in press reports when linked to Swansea.

Thought he'd gone back to the skates, or possibly joined 'arry at QPR. I remember reading something about his move to one of them and thinking what a waste of a career.