Lighthouse

I wouldn't want to live in a Europe where a man like Putin had nukes and we didn't. You only have to look at how much respect he has for Ukrainian sovereignty and their fair and independent elections. I doubt landing craft full of Russian tanks would be turning up on the beaches of East Anglia any time soon, but there are enough TU-95s hovering around the edges of our airspace for me to think we need a big weapon. Was it FDR who said, "tread softly and carry a big stick"? The problem with a nuclear deterrent is that the time to produre one is fair greater than the actual warning that you might need one. It's not about countering the threat we face now, it's about being ready for any eventuality.

Sadly, with the likes of China and Russia having nukes, we need our own deterrent to be taken seriously when it comes to military affairs. Yes it's useless against the likes of ISIS but that was never the point.

Might get a couple of the training tees, could do with some new stuff to wear in the gym anyway. Might as well show the pride. Doubt I'll bother with either shirt, neither is anything special and I quite like last years home shirt. Plus I've only worn it about 5 times.

We had some Ukrainian kid who was banging them in for the reserves but couldn't get a permit. Ended up loaning him to Ireland and all sorts.

And just let them leave on free transfers and have nothing to buy new players with?

Does 'goal scoring #10' really fit a 4-3-3, if that is indeed CP's preferred formation? I'd have thought the main striker would be supported by the traditional numbers 8, 7 and 11 as we wouldn't really play with one 'in the hole'.

That was in response to SuperSaint (I think) and backed up by a couple of others. As for the players you've just mentioned, you've doubled up on some of them. For example, I think Juanmi was brought in as an extra option as Gaston wasn't working. Then we brought in Austin, who could be seen as a replacement for Pelle or Juanmi/Gaston. We can't replace all three of them, look at how big our squad would be. Long, Tadic, Austin, J Rod, Redmond and replacements for Pelle, Gaston and Juanmi. That's 8 players fighting over 3 places (in a 4-3-3), it's not going to happen. It will be those 5, plus one IMO. Stek was only ever a short term plug whilst Forster was injured. We don't need 2 more 'keepers, that's for sure. We were talking about attacking players. Someone to replace Kelvin is pretty much a given (not Shay) I'd have thought.

Actually, I have to disagree. I'd say Redmond is a far better wide player than Wanyama. Like I said, I think we're after one more attacking player. Saying PEH is a downgrade on VW is a bit presumptuous as we haven't seen him play yet and Victor was hardly perfect last season. Pierre not getting sent off 3 times would be a good start. Wanyama, Pelle and Mané out, PEH, Redmond and one more in. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

If we were to assume that team I posted was our first choice 11, in a 4-3-3 then we have a second choice 11 something like: New GK - Martina, Yoshi, Gardos, Targett - Clasie, JWP, Reed - New attacker, J Rod, Redmond Okay, if we were to put that team out in the Prem it would struggle but it does show that we have decent depth across the pitch, with youth players making up the additional numbers. We might get another midfield/attacking option on top to make it 3 more on top of what we've got but I really can't see any more than that. Those of you thinking we will have 3 or 4 players on top of last years squad, we just wont. That squad was big enough for a Europa League campaign anyway.

Then you will be disappointed, we aren't signing another 6 players. At the moment we have a match day squad, something like: Forster - Cedric, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand - Hojbjerg, Romeu, Davis - Tadic, Austin, Long Subs: Gazza, Yoshi, Martina, Clasie, JWP, J Rod, Redmond Plus, Gardos, Reed and Targett as extra options. As I said, I think we will see another 'keeper and attacking player and look towards the likes of Hesketh, Seager and Gallagher to try and make an impact. There isn't room for another 6 players.

I think you've made a false assumption there, our squad last season was about the right size. Lets suppose a typical 18 from last season of: Forster - Martina, Fonte, VVD, Bertrand - Wanyama, Clasie - Mané, Davis, Tadic - Long Subs: Stek, Cedric, Yoshi, Romeu, JWP, Austin, Pelle That still leaves J Rod, Gardos, Gazza, Reed and Targett not even making the bench, when all are fit. You could perhaps assume J Rod and Austin to be '1 player' based on their fitness but there isn't room there for another 3 senior, first team players. I think it's more a case of replacing the departures. Stek - Was only here because of FF's injury, wont be replaced. Davis - Still needs replacing Mané - Redmond. Many wont like it but I think that's the plan. Pelle - Suspect Austin was signed with this in mind. Wanyama - Hojbjerg Basically we need a 'keeper and I think we may look to find one more attacking/creative option. That's probably it unless someone else leaves.

As long as it isn't Djuricic...

There's loads I can't get my head around. The infinite nothingness beyond the edges of the universe, or indeed how anything can be infinite when you really think about it. Mind boggling.

Children shouldn't be taught religion. If I have anyone one day I won't bring them up following any belief system, then when they are 18 they can make up their own minds. Supposing one of them is right, going to Hell because you made a wrong decision as an adult is one thing. Going to Hell because your parents brainwashed you into the wrong beliefs as a child is quite another. I think this should be the law, although it is of course completely unenforceable.

I'd take it. Even at inflated prices £50m for a CB is mental.

I wouldn't read all that much into Kelvin staying here. He has never good enough for West Ham's first team and would have just ended up warming the bench for the rest of his career. Saints were clearly going places with the takeover and it was probably the best move for his career. I'm glad he stayed but to me it doesn't scream 'get him on the banner'.

I wouldn't want them either. Lallana has also had one decent season at this level, Lovren 6 months and Lambert was over the hill when he left.

There isn't great talent, there is mediocre talent which isn't worth the nonsense he brings with him. He had one decent season at City but more recently looked hopeless at Liverpool.

He's already on a pretty decent wage and will be 34 when his contract runs out, that's getting pretty old by Premier League standards and I'd hope we have a replacement by them. You got to be joking about him worrying for his families security. He takes home more money each week than most of us would in a year, the bloke is a multi millionaire. I think we should let him see out his last 2 years, give him a testimonial at the end and say thank you for your service.

I think having a picture of Ted and Lawrie as managers would fit in better, given that Ted was a fairly average player and last played for us 63 years ago. Is there one of the two of them lifting the FA Cup together somewhere in the archives? I wouldn't have Kelvin personally. I know he has been here a while but was never anything other than a lower league 'keeper and has been largely dreadful at this level.

He's still got 2 years.

We could have quite simply loaned him out. Even if we had been paying half his wages, it would have been better than just paying up 2 years of his contract. There would have been a compromise, I reckon we paid him about half of what was left. There's nothing at all to be gained by just paying him everything up front; it just doesn't make sense.

Bloody stupendous!

I wouldn't say we necessarily needed a brick sh*thouse in midfield. We did pretty well with Cork and Morgan, Oakley and Svensson, etc. Man Utd won the treble with Roy Keane and he's only 5'10", a midget according to most girls on tinder. If Romeu can impose himself on midfield a bit more, he could form a decent partnership with Hø and Clasie is a decent option to have.

Bolllocks, looks nothing like him! Seriously though I wouldn't recognise a young Ted Bates, that picture could be from the 1930s.