Lallana's Left Peg

That's only just over £10m - easily within our reach presuming we're happy to offset transfer fees against future revenue and are no longer insistent that purchases AND wages must be covered by transfer fees received.

Doubt the delay would be our end.

I have a feeling the price and timing of him leaving Celtic (to whatever club) will be wholly dependent on Celtic's CL status come the last week of August.

I think Wickham could be a half-decent signing for them if he can stay fit. I would imagine he is the Glenn Murray (31) replacement, but he'll do well to replicate his effectiveness and strike rate.

If Fer joins Sunderland he could achieve the magical Premier League relegation 'three-peat'.

Fan matches aren't that popular, you'll easily be able to get a ticket.

When we don't have the ball I think it is, when we have the ball it is more fluid but the principle behind the formation as I see it is to have Mane floating behind Pelle in a far more advanced role than any player may be in a 4-2-3-1. But Davis and Tadic were definitely wide midfielders in a flatter midfield four for a lot of the game. I see it as a 4-4-1-1 more than a 4-2-3-1, as we just wouldn't play Davis on the right like that.

We played it Thursday night and have played it a few times last season (Chelsea away in particular) when we wanted Mane up front when we didn't play three at the back. I believe we'll be seeing it a lot more this season too if Mane keeps this form up.

I would expect a centre-back, and if available, a right-midfielder. If we continue to play 4-4-1-1 this season to get the most out of Mane then we need a right midfielder as the only player we have who can play there (at a stretch) is Davis he isn't too comfortable there.

Steve - I away the weekend of the Watford game but should be about for the West Brom game. Will ask others too if you're short?

Strange decision to start Davis ahead of Gazza. I don't really get it.

He likely won't grow taller but he can work on his core strength and maybe his general size. Without pace nor strength you really do limit your opportunities in the Premier League if you also don't have the agility or skill to give yourself time when you have the ball. JWP is clever at making space to receive the ball, but when he has it he often has to release it before he is closed down as he won't be beating anyone with the ball nor shielding it too well with his frame. I think he is a very good footballer, he needs time. The question is whether he'll get that on the pitch given our progress as a club recently.

Just needs a set position at which he can then influence games. A part of this will be developing his presence on the pitch physically - when you can't beat a man or shield the ball very well you severely limit your opportunities to influence a game with your quality. It'll come, but he needs a position soon.

Whilst fluid formations and playing 'between the lines' are all very important aspects of modern football, we certainly do continue to play systems and work on patterns of play all of which are born out of formations and tactical structure. Mane may drift about but he will always have a starting position and a set of responsibilities both with and without the ball - the question is whether we play in a way to get him the ball more often but sacrifice other parts of our team.

Mane has fast become our most effective forward player. His ability to beat a man (either through skill or nipping in ahead of the defender to nick the ball away) creates a lot of problems for the opposition and he has proved that he can provide as well as score. By playing in a more central position he gets on the ball more and by virtue of his starting position can be more dangerous. However, when he plays there he needs to play off the striker and that changes our shape - we go 4-4-1-1 when we're not playing three at the back. And when we go 4-4-1-1 that creates a bit of a problem in midfield - we don't really have any natural players wide in a midfield four and in previous games we've had Tadic and Davis there. With them unavailable, I don't even know who else could play there. So the simple question is this: Would you play Mane central off Pelle or Jay Rod to get the best out of him but sacrifice the effectiveness of the rest of the team (or rather, the personnel that play in somewhat unnatural positions because of it) or would you play Mane wide which means the rest of our players 'fit' the system better? Of course, you can argue that Mane is just as effective wide, but I am not sure Koeman sees it that way now. EDIT: Of course, I mean conundrum!

I'd have hoped that with only three senior centre backs at the club, and one of them very much a developmental punt, that we are confident of signing a priority centre-back target soon.

Anyone know who we got?

Reminds me of the time Liverpool sold Torres for £50m and purchased Carroll for £35m. And I hope this one works out just as well for them.

Wonder if they'll release a squad list for the Dutch camp - I notice fro the Tadic interview video that many of the U21's are still training with the first team despite all senior players now being back.

Celtic will always sell if the money is right. A friend supports them and he basically said they are hoarding cash waiting for Rangers to come back (at which point they'll then spend to ensure they are better than them) and in the meantime will just spend enough to ensure they win the league each year and invest in young players to develop. Its a sound model.

It's pretty clear in one of the posts above.

Hmm Villa or QPR. Think I'd rather stay in Groningen. Or stab myself in the eye with a rusty nail.

I was wondering what on earth we were doing when we brought him in last season. He appears to be the bubbly enthusiastic member of the coaching staff who is motivating and chatting away to the players - a bit of a departure from the role he was fulfilling at Bolton (Head of the Academy) but he seems to be doing it very well. And, to be honest, it's great to see his reaction when we score. Especially the really enthusiastic hand clap

It's Cuco Martina, a £1m signing from FC Twente to warm the bench while Ryan Bertrand is injured and then watch from the stands when he is back fit.