Legod Third Coming

We lost those games though... Let's hope Saturday was no portent.

The bloke is nothing other than professional. In my view he's not part of a league winning side, but nothing against him as a fella and his attitude which appears first class.

Do we need a striker?

Years ago this might be how it worked, but there will be no 'high' valuations now. The market is dead and we are about the only club with money. The valuations won't fall as time ticks by. Because those clubs need money now not in four weeks' time. In my view this is very simple. We either need player A or we don't. If we do, buy him. If we don't why were we in for him? We are a top top side. We need only the best players who can make us better - who can deliver us a guaranteed league title. Are the hundreds of such players available? Probably not. So buy the ones we need now to allow time for them to hit the season running. We are a Chelsea in this situation. We will overpay because we can. This is just life. Of course there will be haggling, there always is. But we make an offer then negotiate. Why the wait? What do you think will happen while we wait? (And the same people who laud this softly, softly approach will be the same ones moaning like buggery if we get to September and are mid-table...)

What are we waiting for? If we have a player we need, we need him. If not, let's not bother. But this we could have x player for x amount or y player for y amount is all cobblers. We should surely be buying players to win the league. Pardew has a list of players he wants, so buy them. And buy them soon so they are not still bedding in during October... No other club is in the position we are. We have never been in this position before and some of you need to wise up to it.

Not what I said at all. If we know who we want buy them. Oh sorry, are Chelsea in danger of going bust or do they have a trophy cabinet full of silverware...

So you wait six games into the season to save what £100k?? And the games that slip by in the interim? What cost them??

Everyone is available.

Exactly. If you know who they are, ask a price and pay it. Simples. Anything else is just wasting time - and if we don't hit the ground running then we'll all be blaming these transfer delays....

Agreed, this season our chances of promotion are much better than last. This is a FACT. Last season I backed us to win the league at 150/1. This year, the best odds available are 5/2. That is all the evidence you need.

Sorry Barry. Either he knows who he wants or he doesn't. If he does, buy them now. We are not a club laundering money for a gun runner. We are a club on a sound footing looking to win this league, and the next league. Patience ten days from the first game is just wasting time...

Nonsense. We're talking about piffling amounts of money - as above, we're not in for Kaka on £130k a week. Clubs are desperate for cash. All this hanging around haggling over a couple of hundred grand (over several years) does is hand an advantage to our opponents. Come the end of the season, I don't want us saying that we missed out because our central midfield was a holding player light of league-winning. And it is. So buy one. Paul Wotton played against Sutton. Think on that my friend. Because that is genuine madness when really talented players are out there with their agents angling for a move....

Cakewalk

I don't like this fecking about. If we have identified a player and he will help us win the league, BUY him. We are the only club with money. Let's not look at 'value' or 'worth'. If we can't decide if a player is worth it, he isn't. Buy the best now, win the league at a canter and then buy again to win the next league. If a club don't want to sell, make them an offer they cannot refuse. We're talking about trifling amounts of money here - we're not in for Kaka, or Robben. If there's a couple of hundred grand in it, what fecking difference does it make? Winning the league is the imperative.

Mmmm, when you put it like that... And I guess I do have my 12/1 Holland to play with with... The big problem of course, is knowing what financial state I'll be in at the time if things start to go pear-shaped...!

No, Starspangledbanner to win the July Cup at 4/1. THAT is a licence to print money...

Why are we buying all these grey players?

Now there, the bet is half-time draw full-time win...

I would settle for losing the first game 7-1.

For me, the value bets in there are Brighton (6s) and Notts County (9s) but even then, the prices are ridiculous. This is an eight month race and the biggest price is 40/1.... Bloody hell a horse finished second in the Derby at 100/1. Oh and if Holland win today, I will at least have a few quid to play up.

Not really - I expect us to go up, this is just a debate about 'value'. And we're not a value betting proposition. I still fully expect that we will go up, if not win the league.

Well, I'm a punter first and Saints fan second (sorry to all those with red and white in their blood), and the prices are bonkers. Put it this way, we were 13/2 to win the JPT when I backed us - and that was with the same squad and the likelihood of us drawing plenty of poor teams in the early rounds, which we did!! Anything can happen during 8 months of a league campaign. So 13/2 to win eight games but 5/2 to win 30 games against all comers in the league, home and away... I fully expect us to go up, but odds on??? I just hope this pricing is reflected in my Ladbrokes shares!

Many people would say avoiding relegation is a success...

If bookies are to be believed. 11/4 to win the league before a ball has been kicked? 10/11 for promotion? Either we are nailed on, or some lumpy bets have been placed. Let's hope it's the former!!

Seriously - I don't want to sound poncy but we had the Chateaubriand between two of us and it was pretty much the best beef I've tasted. That red was not the best on the menu but I had to have a bottle and it was right up my street! The ambience was good - yep I would recommend it. I can't remember what prices were like, as I bunged it on ex's... But next time your meet up is planned let me know - any excuse to come back! (I was up for the GGs, beautiful racecourse Chester - and plenty of crumpet in evidence). Pretty much perfect evening!