benjii

If you were an uber billionaire why would you buy WBA and not Villa?

As a central midfielder? Yeah, I would say marginal, if at all.

James Milner is decent and versatile. But he is not worth anything near £200k per week. Absolute idiocy. Is he a better central midfielder than Jack Cork? Doubt it. Liverpool are going to continue providing laughs for a few seasons methinks.

I do find Dyke's ejaculations pretty hypocritical. The FA will have known for decades that FIFA is corrupt but has done precisely nothing about it. Just because a couple of legal authorities have now stepped in we seem to be desperate to assert a moral highround. We may not have given or taken any bribes overtly but we've been culpable by association and silent compliance.

Journalist: I hear Arsenal are interested in signing you. That must be exciting? Victor: Of course, they are a great team. But I am a Southampton player and I am happy etc... * * * How else would you expect a player from a club who never finished in the top 4 to answer that? "No, I would not like to play for Arsenal. Boring, boring Arsenal." "As a massive Spurs fan, I can say that I will never sign for the Gooooners". The only other way to answer that is with some disengenous fluff about loving Southampton and being happy to stay here for the rest of your career..... As long as he is professional on the pitch and in the way he conducts himself (ie. he is not saying things which are openly crtical of the club) I have no problem with players answering questions like that truthfully. If he wouldn't rather double his money at Arsenal and have a much better chance of winning some major trophies then it would be a bit odd. It's also a bit odd if fans don't realise that and would rather listen to deceiftul Lallana-isms. To be honest, I would be surprised if there is any serious interest from Arsenal at this stage anyway.

Is his wife, Fanny, there?

If I've understood your post correctly..... let's say we get knocked out in the "round of 32" (perfectly realistic, I would say, if a tad pessimistic), so we progress through our group in second winning two matches, drawing two and losing two. That makes us: £934,000 (base fee for group) + £144,000 x 2 (group match wins) + £72,000 x 2 (group match draws) + £144,000 (group runner up) + £144,000 (round of 32 defeat) = £1,654,000 Not mega money but still useful. And that is just the prize money from UEFA, right? Some of that will be offset with travel costs etc but presumably more will also be added on top with match-day revenue and additional commercial sales. Are TV payments included in those figures or, more likely I would've thought, they are on top so we would get some more ££ from that as well? We should make at least a couple of million with the prospect of more if we manage to do better. Pays a reasonable player's wages for a year!

Not making plans for the qualifying rounds. We will stroll through that so I will save my time for more important games.

I was touting Januzaj earlier in the thread. Yes please.

Only one of those since 2005-06. Since Man City become flush with cash and Arsenal made a fortune with their property deals they've won a League Cup. They've been in decline since about 1990, with a brief bump of cup success between 2004 and 2006. They had a suprisingly good league performance last year, carried by the rarity of a world-class player signed for a bargain, whilst Chelsea and United were in transition but even then they won feck-all. If you disagree that they are destined for continued decline then I would be delighted to hear when you next expect them to win the league or if you think they will consistently qualify for the Champions League. I would argue that a player joining Liverpool from Southampton has a marginally better chance of winning a domestic cup but that's about it (although financially it may be attractive).

Sorry mate but I think, in footballing terms, it is a minor upgrade, if any upgrade at all. If Kevin Friend refereed that match properly I expect we would have finished above them with the additional reversal in momentum. I can't see Liverpool finishing in the Top 4 any time soon and I would suggest they will struggle over the next few years as their best players (Sterling, Coutinho) leave. They do not shop in the market for Hazards, Agueros, Sanchezs and I can't see them finishing above the current top 4 unless one of those implodes. I would expect Man City and Man Utd to be stronger next season, if anything. Chelsea will be fine unless Abramovich suffers some sort of personal catastrophe and Arsenal are probably too sensible to implode (although when Wenger eventually leaves they could have a difficult transition, like Man U, which opens the door for a season or two). They've won one major honour in the last ten seasons. Ok, that's one more major honour than us but it's no reason to expect them to win anything in the remainder of Clyne's career. Obviously they have a much more prestigious history and few clubs rival their trophy cabinet but as a player in the here-and-now, so what? Financially, it may be a major upgrade and - if so - fair enough if he wants that.

I agree on the GK point but not so sure about your other point. Assuming Clyne and Morgan go we will definitely be bringing in two replacements, plus at least one GK. We will sign another striker. We will sign Toby or another CB. We will sign at least one winger or number 10. So a minimum of six (unless Clyne or Morgan stay). Not so sure why you're adamant it will be less and six is near enough eight as not to merit such a stroppy reply (although I know that's your style). I think Saint Fan Cam is probably pretty accurate with his predictions.

I saw him in Hamburg in the season before last. He was gash and looked unfit and overweight.

I think Rowe has been injured for ages so it's sad for him. Sinclair, IMO would never realistically have had a first team chance. Seager and Gallagher are ahead of him as forwards and Sims is rated as a better prospect in the wide role. Good luck to all of them.

Yeah, what an absolute budgie!

Don't think Forster had anything to do with it really. We only scored four goals in our last eight away games. That's rubbish. QPR scored more away goals this season than we did and only six teams scored less.

I don't like to complain after an excellent season but we really should've finished fifth. Too few goals away from home this half season. Mind you, Kevin Friend has had a big say in us being seventh not sixth!

I might get one to store warm drinks in on a short-term basis.

Shame about Morgan but Steven Davis has scored against City for us twice so I have full faith in him opening his account for this season on Sunday. Although it would be good if Mane could get a couple just in case he doesn't. And Pelle. And one from Long just to be sure. And JWP. And I don't think Fonte has one this season.

Ralf's speech prompted me to stop watching. The guy may bring a lot to the party in some form or another but his public speaking is anodyne in the extreme. As an aside, would it be too difficult for someone to help the players dress properly? If it's black-tie then wear a ****ing bow-tie for goodness sake. As for the blue monstrosity presenting the award earlier... Standards, people. Standards.

I've never understood why on earth clubs hold these before the final league match. Any ideas? Have it afterwards and let everyone get on the lash. Actually, I think I've just answered my own question.....

Yes but inevitably that team will be poorly managed and have no playing identity whatsoever. Fair play to Targett - quick rise through the ranks for him. The coaches must rate him. Can't believe Jenkinson is still U21, he seems to have been around for ages.

Not so concerned with Morgan leaving now Jay Rod is confirmed as staying and it sounds as though Clyne also is (assuming there aren't any unexpected departures yet to be mooted!). I think Wanyama will attract interest but not sure it will be at the level we can't refuse this summer. As others have said though, if Morgan goes I want him going to Arsenal, Man City (I actually think he would be perfect for them) or abroad, not to Spurs or Liverpool who we can realistically endeavour to finish above. £25million in should pay for Clasie and Austin. Then it's just a case of adding a number 10 (Djuricic, perhaps, or maybe even promoting Hesketh/McQueen), a GK, and a centre back or two depending on what happens with Toby and Gardos. I don't think Gardos is likely to get many opportunities so if someone is willing to pay a decent fee we should look to replace him with a defender who can also cover RB IMO. I expect we will also sign Vilhenna (not sure precisely what Koeman's plans for him are though) but it should be pretty cheap. We should be able to conduct our business for a net spend around £20million or so with only one player leaving which is pretty good. I don't see why we can't do even better next season if we recruit well. I think the top 4 will generally be stronger (and will be the same as this year) but Spurs and Liverpool face a testing season IMO and the teams below us, absent Swansea, are pretty cack.

Final Score on Saturday were speculating whether we would be able to hold onto Mane, Bertrand and Clyne. Bertrand FFS - signed him four months ago! As for Clyne, according to Garth Crooks he would be "worth £10million of anyone's money". FFS - £10million?! Yeah, let's sell him for £7million less than Chambers. Pin headed, fat arsed, supercillious tosser.

I agree, we should be positive. Just scored a hatful and we're unlikely to grind out a 0-0. City'a strength is attach but they are susceptible at the back and centre mid. Hopefully Morgan can come in for Davis, otherwise unchanged.