Trout-Tickler

Thanks for that, your info is always greatfully received. I'll be honest, I thought that in having the medical a deal was pretty much complete. Why bother with one if your not serious about signing the player?

Good show Jose though whoever bought that vase in the background should be taken out and shot, hideous!

Interesting link though it is only the Star. Fits our usual profile, young and good enough to have earned a couple of German caps. At £4M might be worth a punt?

Hope he remembers to wear a hat in Portugal. Who'll close the deals if he gets sunstroke?

Look after the pennies and the pounds look after themselves!

If we can't sign (as you put it) 'decent quality players' after our highest ever finish in the Prem why on earth would they move to us next season when (call me pessimistic if you want) we won't finish as high? With reference to the need for a cb and striker I agree but for me this been the case since the end of last season and well before we lost Lovren and Lambert. At present we've not replaced either and the fact that we haven't must set alarm bells ringing. Although we had a tough run of fixtures during December/New Year last season our poor form was in part down to our lack of squad depth. This hasn't improved and could be argued to be worse. If we sign only 1 cb and 1 striker problems with squad depth are going to arise again IMO.

With the exception of outgoings of course.

:lol:

The boards plan all along?

Can't disagree with most of this tbf. The transfer policy this summer has been pathetically reactive instead of proactive. What happened to all the bull Reed was feeding us about having identified targets before the season ended? At the moment seems to be a case of deep pockets but short arms.

Don't know about that, there's a number of options for next seasons scapegoat.

What's happened to our mantra of only signing players who're better than what we've already got?

Fair point, should run a poll to find next seasons scapegoat.

Swap one get one free? Underwhelming if true.

If you were cynical in your thinking you'd say it's because it's the cheap option.

Has a passing resemblance to Lovren. Any one know if he's any good? Who's Saintswebs resident expert on Slovenianian football?

Think he had 1 assist, not certain though.

Interesting post but I would highlight that you say 'if' the system of players contracts were to change, for me its only a matter of time. My understanding (and from talking to people who work in employment law) of the current system is that it doesn't fit with current EU employment legislation. All it's going to take is a player willing to take the case through the European Courts, another Jean Marc Bosman if you will, and the current system will collapse. Players will then be able to give notice / pay up their contracts and move to another club when they want, essentially like 'normal' employees. Should be interesting if if comes about. Another point I don't understand is why no clubs have challenged the transfer window system. This is a clearly a restriction of free trade and must surely be illegal under EU law. Again it's going to need a club to carry the baton but once again if one was too the transfer windows should surely collapse.

According to Wiki, Okazaki scored 15 goals in 33 apps for Mainz last season. Good record for Japan scoring 39 goals in 79 apps.

Agree, though I have my doubts as to whether he'll be happy to play second fiddle to Targett. Surely going to be our 1st choice LB next season.

Lot of money for them but fair play. Wonder if having first refusal on Barkley sometime in the future is part of the deal?

What's his injury situation? Was under the impression he was a bit of a sick-note?

This is the thing that really gets me going. I've no reason to doubt K Billy's Supersound's post that the current stance towards Morgan and J-Rod has been prompted by the fans dismay at the selling of Chambers. Considering this, it begs the question what did the board think we were going to make of it? Crack open bottles of champagne and dance merrily down the street? To then think that Morgan and J-Rod could then be sold just days after that and we still wouldn't mind is beyond belief. To be honest we'd be better off with the Marx brothers in charge. Never was the phrase 'Couldn't organise a ****-up in brewery' more apt than when being used to describe our board.