ErwinK1961

5 points from City, Everton and Utd is a great return. However, we've really got to get into the habit of winning these sorts of games - if we can do that then we're on for a very decent season next year. Would be great to have a dominant comfortable home win... please! I don't expect Ralph will muck around too much with the lineup, perhaps Smallbone and Long/Obafemi to come in.

Saved me typing it. A midfield of JWP, Romeu, Reed, Smallbone (and Jankewitz) is asking for trouble over a 38 games season.

I hope not. We needed a midfielder prior to PEH being sold, if he goes and we don’t replace him that would be bizarre. Propping up one of the most important positions in Ralph’s system with untested youth players is a recipe for disaster.

Don’t think he was on the bench either today

No Salisu for Valladolid today against Barca - is he injured?

I think it’s more likely we’ll win at old Trafford than it is us picking up 6 points from our two home games.

I assume nothings happened today, so this may rumble on into the summer

Is that officially more than Andy Johnson/Crystal Palace in 2005?? it’s a foul to Villa - plus Fernandes screaming like he’s been two footed - cheating. Unfortunately for Villa that’s when you know you’re doomed.

Oh dear.

So according to that article, we've been interested since the start of the year - surely if we've been interested that long, we would have sounded out the WP situation and know whether it's worth pursuing or not. As you say, with Disasi talks going cold, would suggest we're focusing on Salisu - lets hope it's because we've had positive feedback on a WP.

If all the previous stories are true, in that he was holding out for a Prem move, then hopefully this should be fairly straightforward. Better money, more exposure and the chance to move to a top English club if he performs well for 2-3 years.

Can't see them stumping up the cash to afford him unfortunately - though just read they will bid £15m - surely we won't sell for £15m FFS? Unless they have any CB/RB's they want to chuck into the mix. Would much prefer he went there.

The third third kit as the home kit (without the hideous gold sponsor) would have be excellent. I don't dislike the red one though and the sponsor isn't that offensive.

Is that the Italian boy?

1) surely they weren’t going to pay £26m in January 2) if they were, why the fck would we not let that go ahead

Ah knew it was something like that. Tunisian not Turkish, sort of close... looks like we may have dodged a bullet there looking at his career since 2011!

I thought his name was Amar Jamal, but googled it and nothing’s coming up! Think he was Turkish? I’m sure he was over here for talk’s as he (and presumably his agent) walked out in front of my car near Oxford street.

FFS Trousers, you've done it now.

Javier De Pedro

Amen. I wonder which promoted team it will be this year that spends £100m that everyone gets in a flap about. Two years ago it was Fulham, it was Villa this season, Leeds maybe?

Clearly haven't got a pot to p*ss in if we're haggling over that.

Could it be a negotiating tactic from our end? E.g. you're not having another handout from us Celtic, either pay up or move on.. I hope so anyway, the thought of having 3 back-up quality GK's vying for the number 1 shirt is far from inspiring.

Has anyone watched a fair amount of Ntcham or know what type of CM he is? I had a quick look on the (ever reliable) Youtube and some highlights. Seems a neat passer of the ball, bit of skill, seems to pop up on the edge of the box and score a few goals. Didn't strike me as much of a ball winner/interceptor or particularly combative. Whilst I'm not a big PEH fan, when he does go I think we'll miss that energy in the middle and it will need to be replaced (hopefully with someone that can do that AND pass forwards). Just interested to see if Ntcham is that type of player?

I guess the only person that will know what DI's true career aspirations are would be DI himself. He looks as fit now as he's ever been in his career, which he deserves tremendous amount of credit for - but so does our medical team (and I'm fairly sure he's said this himself in the past too). He's back 'home' and is thriving in this environment. He starts every game when he's fit and fit's the system and Ralph's tactics down to the ground. I can't imagine he's being paid pittance here either (£70-80k a week?). Maybe I'm being a bit naive, but I'm not as worried about him leaving as I have been others in the past. With all the struggles he's had in recent years (not his fault), I'd like to think he would stay where it's working for him. A 2 year contract extension would go down nicely.

It's hard to know what RH's thoughts are on KWP - seemed to want to persist with Valery, until it became untenable with his terrible performances. Perhaps money is that tight that RH wanted to give Valery every opportunity to show he can step up? Or perhaps we're 'playing it cool' to try and show Spurs we're not that desperate to sign him, to try and keep the price down? I hope we have a maximum price in mind and walk away if Levy gets greedy. I'm sure there must be a similar standard players in Europe somewhere that we can pick up for a reasonable cost. That being said, it we can get KWP and enough money to buy Salisu for e.g., in exchange for PEH, that's probably not a bad result.