Lighthouse

Agree largely with that, look at how massively we improved the summer we signed Wanyama and Lovren. Putting Osvaldo aside, we moved from relegation fodder to a solid 8th by signing 2 players.

Grey away kit for Man Utd, so at least that's 3 points on the board already. Never liked or understood putting collars and buttons on football shirts, personally.

Stephens looks nothing like an England player and without significant improvement, never will be. Whilst I wouldn't blame the string of games conceding 3 on Stephens, he certainly played a part in all of that. There's a reason Stone is in the greatest squad in Premier League history, whilst Stephens is the 4th best defender at a club which narrowly avoided relegation and finished below Huddersfield.

Quite a few Everton player would be there on paper, although they aren't much as a team. Pickford, Gylfi, Walcott, Tosun and Bolasie are all candidates.

He's had 2 years to knuckle down and not done it. There's a big difference between those 2 players in that I've never once questioned Tadic's attitude. He has had prolonged period of poor form in the last 2 years but I've always got the impression he was trying and if anything needs to be more selfish and look for a shot instead of a pass more often. Tadic improved because of hard work, better coaching, confidence and the team around him being better. Boufal just spat his dummy out.

If a few fancy dribbles and tricks excite you, head down to Milbrook Rec. on a Saturday morning, there’re load of kids doing it. Boufal isn’t an entertainer, he’s an arrogant show off.

So we can't get Tuchel or Astori... Going to be a boring summer.

When we went we stayed in the Gas Lamp district in a youth hostel, right in the middle of the city, by all the bars and restaurants. Obviously the hostel is not much good for you and your missus but the area was very nice. Further out than that, La Jolla (pron. 'Hoya') is a very nice part of town. Who are you flying with out of interest?

It's a shame Kenya haven't qualified because you are definitely from Kenya and would loved to have seen Kenya playing.

There's a least minging pair of boxers in my laundry basket but they all need washing. He has 14 league goals in 2.5 years and is a perennial sick note. If he could do that in 1 season it would be lovely but he can't. He reminds me of Sturridge and the people on here who said I was an idiot for not wanting him at Saints, because he would score the goals which keep West Brom up.

Forgot Cedric and was thinking Japan hadn't qualified for some reason. Will be interesting to see if any of the outside bets make it into their squads, Boufal probably the most likely.

For those of you who aren't into cricket and F1, we will at least have 3 England games to keep us amused. The opening game is a month today, during which the Russian fans will no doubt kick the living sh*te out of any Saudi Muslims who dare to attend. Saints players likely to appear: Tadic - Serbia play Costa Rica, Switzerland and Brazil Bertrand - England play Tunisia, Panama and Belgium Don't forget to add some ludicrous HCDAJFU about players who will eventually sign for Barcelona for £60m.

Both he and Tadic are firmly in the 'hope he stays but bet he leaves' camp.

He wouldn't be first name on the teamsheet but I'd be happy with him starting. Needs a stronger, more experience partner than what we've got, which is why I'd sell Stephens. Partly because I don't think he's a Premier League standard player and partly because there's not room for 3 inxeperienced CB in the squad. Out of him, Hoedt and Bednarek, I'd lose Jack personally.

I can’t wait for them to hand out those extra points for making defenders tired, perhaps we’ll be top half when they’re added on. These are some of the best defenders in the world for crying out loud, they play against Kane, Lukaku, Hazard, Salah, Aubameyang, Aguero, Jesus and Mané every week. The idea that they have nightmares about Shane Long is laughable.

He also breaks down our own tracks fr too frequently by being offside or through poor control. The other two may offer nothing else but at least they do score goals. I’m genuinely gobsmacked that people continue to defend a 2 goal a season striker. We have struggled for 2 years to score goals and he is a large part of the problem. There are no prizes handed out for work rate and winning throw ins.

He’s a championship quality striker at best, he just chases people and that’s it. His scoring record is absolutely pitiful and has been for most of his career. This is the premier league and what he offers is nowhere near enough.

Oh yeah, sell him obviously.

If it was a straight 50/50 choice, with no, "he’ll never leave, he wants to leave, he’s out of contract, no one will buy him." Etc. Who would you keep for next season? Keep Cédric, Yoshida, Hoedt, Tadic, McC, Romeu, JWP, Lemina, Gabbi, Redmond, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Sims, McQ, Bednarek, Hesketh Leave Clasie, Stephens, Long, Davis, Austin, Boufal, Forster, Pied, Gardos, Targett, Reed

I would only keep Gabbi. Sadly I think he will leave.

Gaston Ramirez played in England for 5 seasons and didn't look anything like a Premier League player by the time he was struggling to get a game at relegation bound Boro. Hoedt and Cedric aren't great but they are better than Targett and McQ. I'm not entirely sure Stephens has improved either.

These are also the fans gloating when their city rivals scored an injury time equaliser against us, because you know, we should see it as an honour that a club with such amazing history wants to tap up our best players in a Blackpool hotel. Obviously when Man City and Chelsea come in for their best players they're fully supportive and definitely don't send death threats to the player's family. So long as they don't win the final and go another year without a trophy, I'm happy.

Actually there are plenty on here who bleat on about it as it we'd sold their own two children. The only reason people say that is because of how poor the replacements have been. Strangely, you don't see people saying that we should never have sold Lovren, Shaw or Lambert because we brought in Toby/Virgil, Bertrand and Pelle. I wont be sad to see Bertrand or anyone else leave, that's 21st century football. I will however be sad if we replace them with absolute dross again.

I’m well aware that Fulham aren’t exactly ‘70s Millwall but there’re always a few idiots who’ve had a few too many.

I wondered who kept nicking it from our church roof.