Lallana's Left Peg

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.

I don't mind a high percentage sell on clause in the deal, for two reasons: 1. If it is to be used then it means he has been a big hit. 2. In all recent transfers where a sell on clause has existed the selling club just increase the fee that needs to be paid because of it, rather than take the hit themselves (Liverpool with Sterling, for example), so I don't think it will mean Saints will miss out on much. The only exception to this will be release clauses in the contract but I don't think Saints get involved in that sort of thing.

I said at the time that his knee buckled and it would be ligament damage - hope it isn't too bad.

Levy drives a hard bargain when selling any player. It means he finds it hard to shift players until the back end of the window. He also doesn't spend much money until he has shipped players out. It results in an absolute cluster**** at the end of every transfer window for Spurs. For all the extra income he garners from his negotiating when selling players, he loses any gains by having to purchase substandard players at the back end of the window. Spurs

Spurs

A few years ago I believe the stats showed that less goals were conceded by teams that had zonal marking. The types of goals that were conceded from zonal marking highlighted it's issues but the stats showed that fewer goals were conceded when compared to man marking. I think that has changed now though. Like most things that become popular, football then finds a way of overcoming / exploiting it and then we move onto the next thing.

I think it is just a matter of probability - that Management think there is less chance of conceding a goal from all men back even if the ball gets recycled back into the box after clearing it than if we had a man upfield and two of the opposition defenders covering him. They probably think the chances of scoring from a break from a corner are remote. On corners, I would always offer a man to go short as a decoy - more often than not it drags two men out to cover (meaning the opposition lose a defender in the box) or if they only take one it preoccupies another defender in the box who is detailed to run out if the corner is taken short.

I do. And he'd be amongst lots of footballers in being the same. It was the same when he left Celtic.

I think his agent has convinced Vic that a move to Spurs is a good idea and Vic is acting on instruction rather than through any deep desire to leave Southampton for Spurs.

I don't know what Wanyama's personal wishes are. I do know how his agent behaves. Based on how I know his agent behaves, it wouldn't surprise me to see him agitate his client for a move regardless of his clients happiness.

I think his agent is acting in the best interests of himself and what he thinks is best for Wanyama - regardless of whether Wanyama is happy or not.

Whilst I am not in any way protecting Vic's role in all this (after all, he is a grown man and do what he wants) I think it is fair to say he is very much led by his agent (unless that agent has changed when he joined us) so with his agent agitating for a move I am going to guess that the club have more issues with him than Wanyama.

I agree, they don't. But none of them will be top half or pushing for Europe like Saints want to. So we're still short.

August Update Sam Gallagher (MK Dons, Championship, Season-Long) Has featured plenty for MK Dons, but by no means an automatic starter. Yet to score. Jack Stephens (Middlesbrough, Championship, Season-Long) Has made just two appearances for Middlesbrough, both in the League Cup (two wins). However, was taken off at HT in the win at Burton Albion. Jordan Turnbull (Swindon Town, League 1, Season-Long) Has played in all Swindon's game in August. Swindon currently sit 8th in the league and went out of the League Cup at home to Exeter. Has picked up two bookings.