KelvinsRightGlove

Turkish, Turkish, where are you? We need our resident Gok Wan to give us the official fashionista's insights. Most importantly, is this acceptable match day attire or will we embarrass Turks if we wear this?

The problem is, these assumptions are based mostly on speculation. Certainly in the case of Damaio. We also don't know the full circumstances of these players, and our other targets I personally find it doubtful (in the overwhelming majority of cases) that clubs have a single target for a given position to strengthen - the DMs linked already this summer, as well as a number is strikers linked too. We're not always aware of all the targets, not too many people saw the Lovren signing coming.just because there is a lack of gossip, doesn't mean there is a lack of activity. I think this has been intensified by a generally slow window across the board, and the domination of the bale/Rooney/Suarez sagas.

Despite what alpine might tell you, no one wants us to sign players late on. Of course in an ideal world all signings would be done prior to the players coming back for pre-season. Sadly, in the real world things just are not that simple, one only needs to look at the amount of transfers at the end of the window to understand this. Saints are not the only team that suffer from this problem.

The best bit is, he keeps saying Cortese won't part with his cash to bring players in. Yet at any given opportunity, he will also tell us Gaston doesn't want to be here, isn't interested and only signed because of the money we threw at him? Seems slightly contradictory to me.

So really this whole thread is pointless? A 'lack of activity' and 'lack of a striker' are two quite different things, surely?

Hang on, Barry, do you not rate the clubs transfer dealings? This is totally new information to me.

Do you think we would sign players the calibre of Wanyama if they were publicly saying the clubs aim is 17th, and anything above that is a bonus? Yes they say top 4 etc, but I highly doubt that is what they actually expect this season. To win big, you have to think big.

For Ron Manager, I imagine you have heard this already, but just in case: New PJ Harvey protest track

For Ron Manager, I imagine you have heard this already, but just in case: New PJ Harvey protest track

Um Serie A, really? It really isnt what it once was. Dilapidated stadiums, ultra violent fans, a pretty big problem with racism - look at the walk-off's that have been going on there, part of the reason Balotelli left Inter was because he was getting racist abuse from the Inter supporters (by comparison for a black player, the EPL must be one of the most appealing prospects), corruption is rife and the wages are significantly smaller.

Do you really think it is just as easy as saying "we need a new striker - let's just go out and get one"? Look at the 3 main saga's this summer - Bale, Rooney & Suarez - all top quality attackers (Bale effectively played "off the striker" last season, given duty to roam - hence him plundering 20-odd goals), at top clubs linked with other top clubs. These things can often take time, as clubs do not want to lose one of the most valuable commodities in football - goals. If Man Utd, Chelsea, Arsenal & Real Madrid are struggling to get their top attacking targets, this can affect the market - and hold up other moves, but mostly it just shows how drawn out these things can take. Yes, we do need a new striker - I don't think anyone has really said otherwise. Yes, it would have been preferable if this was done already. But it is not time to panic, and certainly not time to start pointing fingers. As has been said, every transfer window since summer '09 the squad has been improved - that is certainly the case again this summer. Victor Wanyama looks to be a solid acquistion - adding to an already very strong area of the team, and Lovren is a (just) 24 year old CB with both international and Champions League experience. Ok, so he didn't have the greatest season ever last year, but he is unlikely to be the finished article just yet, and will in my opinion help sure up the defence. At the end of the season, my priorities were to secure Boruc's future, or sign a new keeper - done. Add competition at full-back, with Chambers promotion, and his promising performances in pre-season, I would say - done. I wanted a young DM to provide competition/cover for Morgan/Cork - done with aplomb. A new AM - don't get why everyone on here is obsessed with Wingers, we clearly do not play with wingers in our system, Isgrove is apparently the man for this, so - done. A new striker, to share the burden with Rickie, and give us another dimension if neccessary - Not done yet, but it seems we are working to do this, and there is still plenty of time left - which is of course the busiest time of the window. On top of all this we have also secured the futures of some of our key players (Lallana, Morgan, Rickie), and secured the future of one of the brightest young talents in the country. I cannot for the life of me work out how that can be deemed a bad window?

Cannot wait to see the replies to this. Outstanding work.

Swim Deep's debut album streaming on the NME website here, decent little album. Lots of dreamy brit-pop influences going on, like it: http://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/exclusive-album-stream-swim-deep-where-the-heaven-are-we?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=swimdeep

Been a hectic few weeks (again). Went and saw Elvis Costello and Ray Davies in Hyde Park a few Fridays back. It was part of the British Summer Time series there, and was free due to Elton John pulling out. Must say I had great fun, Elvis was brilliant, and I'm pretty sure I enjoyed Ray Davies even if I can't remember much of him playing. Then was Richard Hawley at Somerset House, stunning. Absolutely brilliant, it was a gorgeous sunny day - and his tunes just hit spot on. Even bumping into my boss didn't ruin it - in fairness she's actually pretty sound, and her fella bought me a cider so I really shouldn't complain. Few days later I was back at Somerset House with the gf for Jessie Ware, seeing as I drag her to all sorts of stuff she probably doesn't care about (she stood through a 3 hour Cure set having never listened to them) I thought I'd balance it out by taking her to see someone she really likes. I have to say I actually really enjoyed it. She's got a great collection of songs, and a cracking voice - plus she is an absolute stunner. This topped off with her infectiously likable character on stage ensured for a very fun evening. The very next day I was back at Somerset House once more (thank christ the weather was amazing that week!) for Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. I have to admit by this point (4th gig in a week) I was feeling a bit jaded, and tempted to sack it off. But, like the trooper I am I soldiered on and put away some ciders (only thing I dislike about Somerset House is that the only lager they serve is Carling) and got into it. First of these 3 shows to have a half decent support band - He's my Brother, She's my Sister. Good fun, bit quirky - think they were Vegas. They also had a pair of absolute stunners amongst their ranks. Thoroughly enjoyable. Ed Sharpe and his band were great. Think I counted around 15 of them on stage - and it was really great fun. There was a real sense of euphoria around the place - it was kind of reminiscent of an Arcade Fire show. Finally, managed to blag my way into The Roundhouse last week for Atoms for Peace - Thom Yorke and Flea's supergroup. Wow. Just wow. Cracking stage set up and lighting made for an impressive spectacle - and as you would expect from a group of such talented musicians, the sound was amazing. Really interesting to see Thom Yorke in this context, the band are a bit dancier and more experimental than Radiohead/his solo stuff - he also isn't chained to his guitar which meant he was free to move around the stage a bit more, including a lot of dancing, which was fun to see. Flea was, as expected, an absolute beast. Smacking the living cr@p out of his bass, and headbanging constantly. Really great stuff. Uff, been a busy few months. Gutted it's a while til the next one now

Yet, according to you, Gaston only came here because we threw money at him? That doesn't quite add up does it?

Fiorentina, inter and arsenal sniffing around gaston. Hardly small fry them lot, are they?

Thanks Steeeeeve, good luck. Seemed a decent enough bloke, wasn't lacking for effort - just not a Premiership player.

Hoping Victor proves this theory wrong for me this year.

Palace and hull I just can't see surviving. Cardiff might, there may well be a shocker out there from a team that hasn't just come up. Newcastle are never too far away from self(/Ashley)-inflicted crisis, and Christ knows what Sunderlands scattergun transfer policy will turn up, might do them well, may be a calamity, time will tell.

I saw some other genius use the quality over quantity line on this thread earlier. Shame most of the foot stamping, toys out of the prammers on here can't grasp this. Interesting to see how many pundits are still tipping Norwich to struggle this season, and Sunderland for that matter. I don't really think such a scattergun approach to signings is all that wise. I mostly agree with your post though, I can't see Norwich going down personally, but I don't think they'll place that highly either. Just middle along. I'm unsure on RVW, I'm always a bit sceptical of players linked with mega money (£20m+ if that counts as mega money) moves to top clubs, only for them to not materialise and a while later end up at a significantly smaller club. No offence to Norwich, but I don't think it's unfair to call them significantly smaller than Man Utd, who were linked with him a while back.

I thought Norwich were now bonafide bad-boys now? How come so many pundits are tipping them to go down?

I'm quality over quantity kind of guy. Luckily, the club seem to take the same approach too.

Who remembers last summer when people were saying how good Reading were going to do because they signed all these quality players before we had signed anyone? The likes of Pavel "Play-for-a-contract" Pogrebnyak and Danny Guthrie were sure to see them shoot up the league and us relegated. Hmmmmm. Sound familiar?

Why you in the Southend training ground?

Not saying he is guilty, but it is certainly baggage he comes with. Until proven innocent, it hangs over him one way or another. I personally also question someone that goes from being a £20m target of champions league clubs, to an £8m signing for a club already all but relegated. Undoubted ability, but for me that raises question marks, like most of those that joined QPR over the past two seasons.