UpweySaint

True we are over inflated with centre midfielders but Armstrong can play wide too apparently ... Anyway nice to know we are watching good players

"Sky Sports understands several Premier League and Championship clubs are tracking Dundee United star Stuart Armstrong. The likes of Southampton, Burnley and Wigan are all keeping tabs on the Scotland Under 21 international captain." Well repped and seems like a decent fit. Being Dundee Utd imagine the price would be realistic too. If Gauld went for £3 mil plus add ons Armstrong won't be too different I would guess.

I like your wishful thinking. A very good player who could play up top, behind the striker or wide right. Again I would imagine he is beyond our financial reach both in terms of fee and wages. Unless of course he has some sort of agreement with Al Ain to release him for a set fee and he is prepared to drop his wages to have another crack at the premier league. Very unlikely mind!

We do have Stephens and McCarthy in the development squad who can both deputise at right back. If Koeman thinks they are good enough I would always rather see one of our own come through. Only difference for me is I have seen a fair bit more of Byram than the other two.

Not great news but could be media posturing. We leak we are no longer interested (perhaps suggesting other targets) to get Leeds to drop the price. Or, simply, the Echo may be wrong. I hope!

Hope this goes through. Despite Leeds being in a funny state it may be a decent move for Sharp (who is, despite questions over footballing ability, without doubt a top bloke) as I imagine he will get a lot of game time and it is close to his Sheffield roots. From our point of view hopefully it means they may be more willing to deal with us for Byram. Would love him as a signing. A similar player to Chambers and ticks the young English box!

Fair point but I guess for some, myself included, it is more the case of thinking we could have got more for the money. As it goes I have always liked Long and, despite the fee, am relatively happy with the signing (even if it isn't the most exciting) and rather trust the judgement of Roko and the recruitment team (who have often got more right than wrong).

As someone born in 1991 I can empathise. I certainly feel, though the best often left, the financial kilter was not as far gone prior to the 'sky' days. A title challenge, perhaps not. Establishing ourselves amongst the likes of the Spurs and Evertons of this world? Who knows. That is honestly it, we are dealing with massively hypothetical scenarios. The 'bigger' clubs all had to start somewhere. Sadly your assessment is realistic, if perhaps a tad pessimistic. I would agree with you about expectation but disagree about ambition. I don't think the fans, or the board, are foolish enough to believe we can go toe to toe with the big boys on their terms but we do have a plan, an idea about how we might be able to compete in sporting terms despite lacking the financial muscle of other sides.

About to post this one myself. The first paragraph sums it up for a lot of us ... in a different time it could have been the start of something brilliant and I imagine the writer speaks for most of us who, at some point over the summer, have thought "what the point of all this is if a team is dismantled as soon as it threatens to smash the glass ceiling." Seems like a fairly reasonable assessment of our chances but let's hope Roko has a couple more surprises up his sleeve.

Chuck him on ignore pal, does the trick. He's entitled to his own opinions of course but it can get rather repetitive.

The implications are clear but is that not a risk of making any new signing? It is part of football, it is a squad game. A new player comes in it us up to you to prove you are a better candidate for the position.

I'm worried they are going to find out he's not been painted with ronseal.

Wow dog with bone ...

Cheers, interesting read as it goes! Insights from those actually in and around talent recruitment and youth coaching are often fascinating

Fair enough, looks like a decent enough deal for us on the face of it, looking forward to seeing how he adapts to the premier league.

Usual question about a twitter source, any idea if he is credible?

I agree we are a sideways move and see Bony going onto bigger things than us but should we sign the likes of Rojo, Gardin, Redmond and Byram I think it shows more ambition than Swansea and we may be seen as a better option with forward momentum. Certainly not saying it is likely but stranger things have happened in football. Ings added to the other four on the list would be incredible! It would really show we mean business and, I think, we would have a far better squad than last year.

Head says they should win comfortably, I would guess at 2-0. Heart says we will win 2-1 with after going one down with the first Pelle volleying in a Tadic deep cross just after half time winner scored by Fonte getting above Dejan for a corner in the 90th and heading into the bottom corner. Living the dream eh!

Has Afellay not joined Olympiakos?

I'm having no luck with any of the links provided above, or with other usual sources. Any radio commentary or text commentary that does not require a saintsplayer subscription?

Don't blame Nigel too much for not playing him, his first season he had off the field issues, injuries and was always going to need time to settle. Disappointed he saw so little game time last season but may be related to a falling out with Poch as somebody alluded to earlier. Expect to see much more from him too but see him as likely to play deeper than AL did.

You missed the boat there. He told Viking off for using the term then backtracked admitting he may have jumped the gun a little after reflecting on peoples views. You seem rather confused ... As it goes I made a point about the context of the terms used earlier. I don't mind people using terms so long as they are not deliberately trying to be derogatory based on race (which, despite not knowing Viking all that way, doubt he was doing). Anyway blue line and move on.... Have an opinion on Ramirez scotty?

Cheers ART!

Can have three players over the age of 21 as it is a replacement for the old ressie leagues - so expect to see fringe players short of game time or those recovering from long-term injury in need of match fitness. Not sure if the designated three includes keepers ... where is MLG when you need him?

Top post. We all make mistakes and it is great to see somebody showing some humility. You are correct though, of course it can be seen as offensive and we should consider what we say and why, but in this case it was perhaps rather harmless.