Baird of the land

Because we were on the fringes of Europa league places and yes I thought with ambition we could aim for Europa league place, which is what the board claim is their ambition. Dropping down to 12 would be a massive backwards step. It could be a temporary one or a permanent one who knows but it still is one.

12th would be a massive step backwards IMO.

Seems a bit shambolic. As others have said given the strength in midfield it was a rather strange loan in the first place.

Shaw stuff seems BS to me. He may not have the most healthy diet at 18 but he never showed a lack of stamina or fitness for us. Wouldn't be surprised if Van Gaal's special training regime caused hamstring injury.

Always seemed a bizarre rumour anyhow as it isn't a position we need someone in.

Well the Forest and Reading fans i know suggest he's not developed from where he was at league one. Clumsy but with a knack for getting goals.

Right now of those we've been linked with i'd happily accept getting Redmond and not lose anyone from the squad other than Jos.

I have long been in favour of a squad salary cap across Europe to address the financial distortion that has occurred.

Agree with all you said, but equally think England won't do anything unless something is done to force min no British players in a starting xi in prem.

I have no issue with colback/Delph inclusions, though I do think cork is better than both. England needed a proper defensive midfielder at wc, especially if they are going to carry on trying to play 4-2-3-1 or some such variant.

Hoping we go in for Holtby who seems to be on the way out of Spurs, if his quotes on BBC Sportsday are to be believed.

fantastic news.

I'm happy for Chambers, though the news makes me unhappy as just further poking of the sore wound that was the idiocy of the sale.

Arsenal's extra games(champ league and charity shield) have been a help i'm sure but 2/3 impressive centre back displays for Saints would have interested Hodgson considering how weak England are at centre back. I'm sure they were well aware as us about Chambers performances last season, just the fact there were a number of right backs(Walker, Johnson, Flanaghan, etc) meant he was down pecking order. Don't think fact they left him as Captain of U19 rather than promoting to U21 means anything. If Arsenal get up to full strength he may have less starts, who can tell what will happen performance and injury wise.

I think potentially he may have been if he'd been playing CB for us this season. That versatility, coupled with mature performances he is putting in at such a young age is likely what is driving Hodgson to have close look at him. Happy for the lad, even if i'm staggered at whoever okayed the sale at our end.

Agree i'd be happy with that line-up. Also i'd prefer Cork to Wanyama for many games because of the fluency he adds to the midfield.

Anything other than that future being at Saints is going to leave me extremely cheesed off. This has already been by far worst window in my lifetime, don't want to countenance us losing another of our great players and this time for peanuts.

Would be a good move for Jos. He's been a good servant but right now he's unlikely to play and with the likes of Jack Stephens should be ready top step up as 4th choice centre back for us.

Makes me even more annoyed that we sold him early and cheap, to see him waltzing into England squad.

I'd be bemused if we loaned him out given how short of creative attacking options we are.

Really hoping its stupid paper talk. I'd be happy if the transfer window shut now, even if we do need an extra body up top as at least then i'd know one of our better players Cork would be staying put.

Didn't seem in the slightest bit deliberate imo.

I'm not a particular fan of Long but i agree completely with the rest about going back to 4-2-3-1 and building from the back.

Utterly nuts IMO.

Going to be a tough game. Handy that they had to play ET, even if it wasn't exactly their first xi. I'd love a win but would take a draw. Forster, Clyne, Yoshida,Fonte, Bertrand, Cork, Wanyama, Morgan, Davis, Tadic, Pelle