Chris27687

I can't imagine we're going to let an inspirational figure leave for any amount of money really. Lots of the players have been in a similar boat to Jose, just on the outskirts of the national team and now getting a chance. He really should stay past his playing career as an example of what is possible here - if we want any chance of players not jumping at the first chance to go to Liverpool/Arsenal/UTD etc...

You are mental if you would not take him in a heartbeat. If we could somehow become a Barca and Real finishing school for the likes of Morata and Jese - we would probably be winning the league.

Urges is the wrong word, implies is better. Buyer beware etc...

Tello would be a great signing - can't really see it happening though.

Cost be a ton, that Pellegrini shout.

They've now removed the hilarious banner featuring their targets they were 'definitely. going to get.

It certainly makes our play a bit more varied having another formation - it worked well for Puel at Nice so hopefully it will do the same here - would seem we need a really dangerous AMC to make it work - hopefully they are signing Ziyech while they are at Twente! Having 4-4-2 Diamond, 4-3-3 & 4-2-3-1 will make us much harder to play against. I would assume, generally speaking; - 4-4-2 Diamond used at home against weaker opponents - 4-3-3 away against weaker teams - 4-2-3-1 against the better teams where we need to keep it a bit more compact.

The teams which really tend to struggle are the ones that come up or the ones that have to integrate 5 new first team players into the squad. Leicester went on a great run at the start of the season, well whole season, due to them finishing the season well and basically keeping the whole squad. We basically have the same team only Mane is really missing and we ended the season well, so i think these hard first 4/5 games are coming at he best time as all those teams are either integrating a lot of players or have no defenders (Arsenal).

Rough values on Transfermarkt. http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/youri-tielemans/profil/spieler/249565 - £11.9m http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/dennis-praet/profil/spieler/129588 - £7.65m http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/samuel-bastien/profil/spieler/289510 - £680k

Agreed, but i wasn't saying its a negative thing we don't spend big. It really doesn't equal success, it just shows your not particularly well organised and don't know what you want - in recent years united have obviously been the best at doing this (Fellaini, Rojo, Depay, ADM, Schweni etc.). Part of me is looking forward to seeing Everton and West Ham dump money on dross after they lose their top tier targets and feel the need to prove that they'll spend the money (Aranautovic and Moussa Sissoko for £50m Bargin!).

0% chance we spend £30m on Benteke - probably going to West Ham after they fail with all their other striker options. We are probably 3-4 years away, if we keep progressing, from being able to spend £30m on a player.

He's an ambitious manager - hopefully the appeal of pulling messi out of retirement for 1 last tournament and winning the World Cup is enough to pull him away. Then we can all laugh.

It's quite interesting that more clubs don't do it like this - is it simply a precedent that has now been set and agents and clubs just follow along with it when dealing with saints? What's quite interesting is that this year there has been a lot less ITK stuff from the usual suspects - wonder if they have been told to keep quiet to help with this.

Excellent news, now extend Tadic and Cedric!

Hahaha. Not sure wants funnier, them paying £35m or them not even being able to sign Moussa Sissoko...

This is not going to end well for Chelsea.

You don't tend to start too many of your summer signings straight away anyway - so it's not like he would be missed, seems that other teams would be less likely to take the risk.

Great post. It's quite interesting to see the effect of Koeman on the youth and clear to see why Les & Co where not keen on that approach. In order to survive and thrive we have to take a more long term approach and develop players - we don't have enough pull (Financial or Size) to attract the very best so we have to develop players or buy people past their best that can still do a job. The second way which a lot of the bottom half prem teams do and it is pretty risky imo. Whilst it is a little bit Arsenal/Tottenham this approach and won't work at the very top level - we certainly can still win trophies (Europa League, League Cup - maybe FA Cup) with this approach and play in Europe, and i'm pretty sure that would make everyone pretty happy here.

Everyone else seems to be struggling at the moment which is nice to see, fills me with a lot of confidence about the season to come. If we do get a shiny new AMC (Ziyech etc.) i'd be really happy, but if it's just a back-up right back and then have Cuco as back-up back-up (On the bench for some euro, league cup, and prem games) i think we'll be fine next season. Kapusta for 5m euros seems like a pretty good deal if they don't want to spend too much.

It was quite obviously a ploy to generate traffic for their website.

If Austin and JRod are fit then goals won't be an issue. If not; Long Tadic Davies Redmond should be enough to keep us out of too much danger.

He's a left back isn't he?

Get the **** in!!!!

Clyne back to St Mary's for £8m? Would take him in a heart beat.

Good luck & thanks for the 2 years!