Lallana's Left Peg

Who has said this? They couldn't be more wrong if they tried. He is brilliant at it.

There are zero incentives to developing good young players in the Premier League. Until there is an incentive, the emergence of international tournament winning class of players will not happen.

You're mixing up importance of job with ones that society values. As skills go, it is easier to train someone to be a nurse than it is a Premier League footballer. Thus, they are paid accordingly. No-one said this meant a Premier League footballers profession was more important. Until a teams wages to turnover ratio is near 75/80%, the players are probably underpaid. It's the transfer fees that mean the players lose out in my opinion.

How do you define whether or not someone is overpaid? Premier League footballers are underpaid if you look at the revenue they generate...

I haven't studied the accounts either but that is pretty much the assumption I've taken when you look at our spending. Our legacy debt (including substantial back loaded transfer fees for players already at the club, the training ground, and any loans) has been drastically cut whilst we have also spent money on ensuring the squad remains fed and watered - even if we know we buy worse players than those we sold (though the players have potential to go on and be good). It's a big summer next year because: a) the new TV deal kicks in and we must start spending more on wages to keep our better players for longer (or give us a chance to) b) it is the summer the club have targeted for the past two years to make huge strides in commercial revenue (this also helps with the point above as commercial revenue is the king when it comes to FFP and what you can and can't do assuming you aren't selling players for significant amounts each summer) c) it is a summer where the club does not have to worry about debt and can instead make calculated investments in the squad

As ever, remember when making your travel plans after the game that the local police divert you on a 10min walk away from the stadium (and all the transport options) before you are free to make your own way.

I hope they do.

What is it with people putting their first name or nicknames on the back of their shirts - it has absolutely no impact on me whatsoever yet for some reason I find it highly irritating

I think that because of the following: 1. Hasn't started a game for the club yet. 2. Has only had cameo appearances at the tail end of games. 3. Other players selected of ahead of him in his preferred position (and not the natural position of those players selected ahead of him). Considering his frame there may be good period of acclimatisation required to the Premier League (and for him to go on that special 'diet' Ronaldo and Rafael did at Old Trafford), but that doesn't really explain his sporadic use considering the 'need' he reportedly fulfilled via signing. And you are right, I do think he is below Mane, Rodrguez, Tadic, and Long in the pecking order. I also think he is below JWP and Davis as well. I think he is well down the pecking order. And because of that I think Koeman doesn't fancy him much when as a new signing he is below the pecking order of six other first team players. EDIT: If Clasie is going to play as an AM (or rather, the furthest forward of the midfield three behind Pelle) as suggested then we can add him to the list too.

This lad has hardly got a look in yet despite all manner of squad rotation and different formations we've tried. Looks to have quality on the ball but also looks like a kid playing in a mans league physically speaking. Anyone else think Koeman may not fancy him much?

You also need to take into account wages and sign-on fees. Ayew and Gomis are being paid eye watering amounts from Swansea. Gomis received an £8m signing-on fee from Swansea and Ayew is believed to have the same sort of deal.

To be fair Tottenham proposed the move. Their only issue was that we didn't.

He doesn't sound too bothered about missing out on a move to me.

He was injured but he played in his best position for much of the time he was fit. I agree he can score more goals but I don't think it is something that should be assumed. He is not a natural finisher or a real goal threat in my opinion.

He scored four league goals last season, a strike rate of around 1 in 8. I'd suggest his brace against Norwich was not going to be a regular occurrence.

That is a very pessimistic view. Back before the end of the month I'd say, presuming there haven't been any set backs with his operation and recovery.

It's like watching a winger play in defence. It's both fun and terrifying at the same time. It's probably how his first season in the league will go as well.

Pardew 6/1 favourite for next England Manager

He is told to do that by his Manager at Celtic - it's not an off the cuff surge born from boredom by him. On paper he appears to be a very good signing. My only slight concern is criticism from Celtic fans of his performances in some European games against opposition the calibre of which he'll be facing week-in week-out in the Premier League. But we have to hope that the system he slots into gives him the platform to play well. If we were going to miss out on Toby then this is the player I wanted as the next target. And it will also be fun to have a centre-half who can physically beast some players as well. Who was the last centre half we had that was also mobile and could do that?

Which would make a change from him frothing at the mouth due to other reasons he may or may not be familiar with...

The new TV money means clubs no longer have to sell, but Spurs are miles bigger than us financially. Turnover of £180m vs. our £104m in the latest filed accounts (despite only a few league positions different between us that season) shows they have far more financial clout than us.

Lack of English players no fault of the clubs really - they all got purchased by bigger clubs. Investment has been to make team as good as possible and I suspect that wouldn't be possible had we pursued English players (or players playing in this country). Academy is a bit dry for a few years too.

Where are Derby getting all their money from? £10m spent today on players. Have clubs seen the ease at which QPR had their fine drastically reduced and now decided to spend regardless?

Key for me is 'worth' - given the recent comments from the WBA Chairman I suspect the guaranteed money would be well short of £20m.

We had a better squad second half of last season. EDIT: I should better qualify that - squad was just as good last season but first team was better.