Lighthouse

The difference being, that was quite obviously the case. I think we only signed Gabbi because of the combined injuries and form of Austin, Long and JRod. Don't be surprised to see one of them leave in summer and "not replaced FFS Les!"

Absolutely. Just like when we sold Shaw and failed to keep Toby, then replaced them with garbage.

As anal as he is, MLG does have a point; this isn't 'must win' just another 3 points to be gained.

Can't see them being any higher than Fonte's wages. I don't know how big signing on fees are these days but for a man with fitness issues who's been out of contract for a while, I can't see it being extortionate.

According to one of those Italian journos, he was demanding half of that. In reality, he can demand whatever he wants, he isn't going to get much more than £50k off anyone with his recent history. He will go to the highest bidder.

Seems to want about €60kpw, which I'm sure Les can negotiate down to about €70kpw. Would fit within our wage structure.

If he's half decent I'd give him 18 months on reasonable wages. He'd still be 2 years younger than Fonte by the end of it and it would be good to have some continuity in defence going into next season, assuming Bertrand and Virgil might also leave.

I'm trying to figure out how many teams are going down. I've been reliably told by some on here, we're as good as down. Leicester and Bompey are in similarly poor form, so surely they go down too. Palace just got battered by Sunderland and Hull beat Liverpool. Boro lost 3-1 at home to West Ham, so they've got to come down too. Swansea beat us last week, so they're staying up. Watford, have just won 2 in a row, so they're staying up but before they lost 6 out of 8, which is similar form to us, so they're going down. As far as I can work out, Sunderland, Swansea, Watford and Hull are definitely safe and we're going down with Watford, Palace, Bompey, Leicester and Boro.

Never thought I'd be dreading playing Sunderland this season. My team: Jellyfish U23 defenders Sideways passing midfielders 'Its in the car park' strikers

There wouldn't be a bidding war. If a release clause is met, they have to accept. E.g. If a player has a £30m clause and someone bids that, another club could bid 50, 60, 70 million or whatever they want but the selling club still has to accept the other £30m bid. Hence there's no point in bidding higher and everyone would just bid the release clause.

Hull have not turned a corner. They've won one league game in 3 months and twice since the end of August. Swansea have won a couple of games in a row but still leak goals like a sive. 4 against Arsenal, West Ham and Palace, 5 at Spurs, 3 against Bompey, Boro, WBA etc...

35 will almost certainly be enough this season. Even if it isn't, 40 points is 3 wins, 4 draws and 8 defeats. To put that in context, this coming weekend in 04/05 we were drawing 2-2 with Everton after that injury time Bent goal. We then got another 14 points in the remainder of the season playing Bernard, Davenport, Jackobsson, Delap and an aging Claus in defence. I'd take our current options over that lot.

Agreed. I've always defended the club and our transfer policy (in the main, there were a few WTF signings) but there was absolutely no need to sell Fonte at all. Forget 'having replacements lined up', we shouldn't have sold him until a replacement was signed, sealed and on the OS holding a scarf in front of the Itchen stand.

I'd sell or release Martina, Long, Clasie and JWP. Bertrand and Virgil would depend entirely on whether they'd stay for an affordable contract. I'd go back to 4-2-3-1 and find a new manager who plays that system. Not a clue who I'd sign, I've rarely seen or heard of half the players we sign. Fonte will need replacing and please, my kingdom for a midfielder who is over 5'9" and can either kick or run in a forwards direction. Starting 11 Forster Cedric - Virgil - Yoshi - Bertrand Hojbjerg - Romeu J Rod - Boufal - Tadic Gabi/Austin

No he didn't. Between the end of October and mid April, he only scored in one game. We do miss him but there is much more to it than this. Long and Tadic were both playing a lot better, plus we had Pelle and better tactics.

Van Dijk hasn't been shot guys, he's not a horse. I agree we need to replace Fonte but talking as if we're playing the rest of the season with JS and FG is a bit dramatic.

Because they're chucking silly amounts of money at loaning a distinctly average player.

Not sure I approve of deadline day without Natalie Sawyer.

It's going to be pretty close, looking at our results since about 7.30pm this evening. Looking like we will have a relegation play off with Arsenal. Congrats to Palace on securing the title though.

Baring any last minute ins and outs I'd go with... Forster Cedric - Yoshi - Gardos - Bertrand Hojbjerg - Romeu - Davis Redmond - Barry - Boufal Incidentally, when was the last time we did a double over the Hammers? Edit: Actually that's what I'd expect Puel to go with but with Stephens in for Gardos. I personally would go with: Forster Cedric - Yoshi - Gardos - Bertrand Hojbjerg - Romeu Redmond - Boufal - Tadic Barry

Benvenuti!

No mention of ear lobes, Skacel, petting zoos or Carsten Janker, though.

No point in getting rid of him before the end of the season, unless we have someone obviously better lined up. Nothing to lose really, after the cup final, the rest of the season is a bit of a dud TBH.

*sigh* ...

Never in a million years are 2 of the bottom 4 getting 40 points this year. 35 will be enough to stay up.