Minhosa

Would have been my first choice so I'm well happy if this is true. Makes sense:- - It'll bring him on as a pro and as a person. - He has the balls to have a go at people, regardless of age/ability. It also probably means that Sam will build the side around him in future years which, to me, makes sense. He's a natural leader. I'd be willing to bet he's attracted alot of attention during this window from 'bigger' clubs (See Mourinho's comments last year praising him and SAF is a fan apparently) and this may be part of the deal to keep him here and move forwards with him involved rather than buggering off. Good work Sam.

He doesn't have a club now. He's available on a bosman. Oh didn't realise. Even better.

I'll be well happy if we sign him and he can add to the squad building process. Even if he is just 'ok', every club has players that aren't world beaters but can step in and do a job when the first team regulars are injured/suspended/rested - even Chelsea/Man Utd. Good news this and the trial makes 100% sense. Both parties get to check each other out. Also, the trial would indicate that his club are happy to sell, the fee probably won't be big and, with any luck, he won't be on huge wages.

Thats a bit simplistic in fairness. Maybe Sam hasn't seen enough of him to cement his opinion. Maybe Duscher wants to see what he's joining, the area, facilities etc - perhaps its a mutual thing. Who knows? One thing is for sure, we've got a thin squad and if he's got a bit of quality that Sam feels can be teased out then he'll add to the numbers to keep us going when some of the squad go off to the ANC in the winter. I was always a fan of Acuna and he was that kind of squad player (for me, a bit underused but there you go) if Duscher can come in and do a job then I'm all for it. Butt hasn't got long left playing at the top level in my opinion so, perhaps, Duscher is his natural replacement?

Didn't Duscher have a bad injury around the time Man Utd were interested in him? Or have I just imagined that?

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned, I haven't had time to scroll the entire thread, but in the London papers tonight N'Zogbia is being linked with a move to either West Ham or Bolton.

Surely it's just a coincidence that the fat man himself been in hospital?

It wouldn't be BUT when you think of the cost (in terms of a small fee and his massive wages) - thats a whole lot of cash for 12 goals, especially when you think of people like Benni Macarthy, Kevin Doyle, Dirk Kuyt and even Berbatov who all scored 12 or more league goals last season (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/top_scorers/default.stm) I doubt any of them are on anything near the kind of package Raul would demand. I'd either like to see us sign a true superstar with his best years ahead of him (i.e: someone like a Tevez) or just stick to Sam's current approach. Wouldn't it be nice to have a normal summer with a bunch of very good first team/squad players coming through the door, getting rid of some shite and build from there? I'd quite like the new regime to recognise that they don't have to do the whole big name signing thing to win people over or make unnecessary statements.

Not sure Mourinho would want to sell though. He's always talked about 2 top quality players for each position. After Ashley Cole, what are their other left back options should Bridge leave? Anyone know?

Can we have a 'don't look if you're not interested' thread please? Cock.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/6264562.stm Looked a decent enough player in the past. Gotta be a decent acquisition for nothing?

At the bottom of that article, the "In's & Out's" bring a smile to my face. Have to say, I'm liking his craic and if his performance thus far on the transfer front is anything to go by, he'll do for me. He seems to have a way with the press and, dare I say it, his charisma is Keegan like. For a net spend of £1.7m we're looking a far stronger side already. Lots of time for comings and goings yet though.

Cheers.

Well we failed to score a single goal over two legs and barely even created a half-chance in the Stade Velodrome. Didn't we maul them at home but fail to convert our chances? OR am I getting totally confused with my Uefa games?

Is Jansen a left back Isegrim?

Is it just me or weren't Marseille a bit fragile at the back when we played them in the UEFA? I don't remember anyone (other than Drogba) standing out for them, especially at the back? Is my mind playing tricks?

They've just signed Ribery too - you know that right?

Thought to be 12m Euro up front, raising to 15m Euro depending on future success. Not exactly cheap for someone whose contract runs out next year. It also means that Makaay is going to be put up for sale now... More than I thought Isegrim. That said, he is quality and proven in their domestic league. What do you make of Makaay? Do you rate him?

I like the look of their buys so far. Luca Toni will fit in well over there.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/6241770.stm Shame. If money was no object, I'd have liked to see him join us. The fee is undisclosed, so I'd guess it's not huge. I'm surprised he didn't want to chance his arm outside of Germany.

He's just been interviewed on SSN confirming both us and Bolton were in for him but he wants to spend another year in the SPL. He'll be off next year he reckons.

Given that they need the cover (with the Saha injury and the ageing Solksjaer) I would have thought they would take the hit on the £3.5m and let him go on a free in a couple of years? Especially after they've been blowing their dollars all over Portgual and Germany this summer.

last year of contract,next year he leaves for nowt....................................i think Cheers, hadn't realised that. I might have imagined this........but didn't he get quoted in the national press a few weeks ago saying he wanted to stay at Man Utd for the rest of his career, sign a new contract etc etc?

Why would Man Utd want sell him though? Especially given that Saha is out for a while, Solksjaer isn't exactly reliable (or a spring chicken)? Granted, they're bound to have a new Striker coming in but I still don't understand why they'd want rid of Smith? Perhaps its a sweetener in preparation for a deal involving Owen?

September, December and April all look decent months to me.