STM

Did he actually ever start on the right for Reims? From what I've see he played as part of a pair of strikers or on the left of a front 3.

From what I've seen, he's what Obertan wishes he was.

I said that he is followed by Ornstein, not that Ornstein had tweeted anything.

Best part for me is that he covers two key positions.

Followed by Ornstein (who is extremely reliable)for what it's worth. Says an agreement is close. Looks like we could have our first signing.

Slow news day if people are talking about Tarkowski and Lingard again.

We didn't strike gold, well we did but only in Eddie Howe, who turned decent PL players into brilliant ones. It will be a common trend with Howe, who will continue to get the best out of players. Also watch how many players don't look as good once they leave. If we have learned anything from the MA era, it's to not pigeon hole ourselves with silly rules about who we should and shouldn't sign. It's about the individual and what they bring to the table. I'd take Eriksen, is he too old? Is he a cast off?

Ake would absolutely be on Howes radar, especially if we can't get Botman but we wouldn't be paying a Botman fee for him. A loan with an obligation of 20/25m would be a canny deal. He's a good player but won't be at the top of Eddie's list.

Hope seems to think we will make 3x30m (estimate) signings. Which is short hand for saying we will be looking to sign 3 quality players in the Bruno bracket. From the players we have been linked with, I'd suggest our main targets are Botman, Lodi and Diaby. I imagine that Henderson and Etikike will be dependant on what we can do with outgoings and shuffling the pack. The striker one confuses me somewhat. I'm still not convinced that we are dead set on signing a big money striker. I suspect Nunez is out of reach. DCL and Toney are probably below that calibre that we would ideally like. I can see a scenario where we sign Ekitike who can cover as striker and kick the striker situation down the road for 6/12 months. To be honest, it would be entirely understandable. I don't want us pissing money away on players who the club see as "meh" just to satisfy the fan base. Yes we need a 3rd option for when Wilson is inevitably injured, could ASM, Joelinton or Diaby if he signs cover for the time being? I suspect these questions are being asked.

The Saudis banished OBL because he wanted to fight against the U.S because they were using SA as a staging area for their war against Iraq during the first gulf War. So no, they didn't fund 9/11, not even in a roundabout way. The last thing the Saudis want is make an enemy of the West and the last thing the West should do is make enemies of the Saudis. We are in a marriage of convience and it isn't changing any time soon.

Newcastle acting like big boys, never thought I'd see the day. Reet Dan, busy summer ahead.

Does Henderson open his gob? He's a better keeper than Dubravka then. If we pay 15m for him, hes going to be our number 1. Sell Dubravka if that's the case and get Ben Foster in as number 2.

We've been seriously linked with too many players, in too many positions for us to only sign 2 players.

Players like Gayle, you pretty much have to give away for nowt, if you want a championship club to give him a decent wage. Again, he'd be a no brainer for the likes of Sunderland.

Can't wait to smash either of these next year.

We would get at least what we paid for Burn, for Lascelles. He's younger and our captain, and despite what some believe, a PL CB. Hayden we will be lucky to get 4m for. He's a good championship CM in every sense. So we could get 20m for both of them, if we are lucky. Lascelles isn't worth selling, as he would need replacing and therefore we wouldn't gain anything financially.

There can't have been THAT many Liverpool fans who turned up without tickets or knowingly had fake tickets for it to have caused such a logistical issue. There's clear images of turnstiles being closed, fans being hemmed in, tear gas being used, which can only point to a conclusion that authorities are responsible. Its also their responsibility to plan for every contingency, which they clearly didn't.

I think it's fairly clear that club are intentionally playing down the amount they have to spend. Even if the original budget was 60m, as some journalists would lead us to believe, once we have sold a couple of players that budget could immediately end up at 85m. Also, something that hasn't been factored in, is the amount of wages we are going to be saving on soon. Ritchie, Hayden, Clark, Fernandez, Gayle, Darlow, Manquillo is going to save us 1/4 of a million every week. Add Almiron or Murphy or Lascelles and that's even more. Having a massively reduced wage budget will give us plenty of rope in the market, when trying to get the balance correct between transfer fees and future wages. I'd be shocked it we don't spend more than 100m in this window. The targets which have been suggested are going to take, at least, that amount. Estimates Henderson : Loan with a future fee or transfer with installments based on appearances etc. Renan Lodi: 25m Botman: 38m Diaby: 40m Those 3 take us to 100m and that's without a striker, which is our priority.

Which is fair enough, but we have had goals given against us because our player has touched the ball.

What happens before Fabinho is irrelevant though. Fabinho slides in and deflects the ball into Benzemas path. I suppose you could argue that Fabinhos was a deflection from a real pass but that would be an incredible interpretation.

Of course he's allowed to wish them well. It's his cozy relationship to ex club which should worry Villa fans. He's using them as a stepping stone. If Shearer did it for us, I would think it was mint but I wouldn't if I was the fan of the club he managed.

No matter how well Villa have done in the transfer window, they are going nowhere while their manager is still acting like a fan boy of another club. The only club he really cares about. If I was a Villa fan, I'd be vomiting.

In an odd way, signing Bruno has stopped us signing Paqueta. Midfield has almost gone to the back of the list because Bruno has come in and the rest of them have been performing, including the Brazilian tank that is Joelinton. It's a deal I could see revisted in January or next summer but I can't see us touching a CM for 40m when we have 4 other positions that need filled. I'd like to think we can start tapping him up for the following season because he certainly fits the bill.

I think it's just 2 games back to back stiffy. Gives Eddie a chance to give the whole squad crucial minutes a week before the season kicks off. He's not exactly the sort of manager who likes to give players 45 minutes. He wants an intense work out. Alot of fans will go to both anyway, if the tickets are cheap enough.