buster.

Hopefully we'll soon be talking more about Aribo than Johnston.

Lafferty at Buriram United That will work

Somewhat surprisingly, St.Joseph's will go into the game against us next week undefeated in their last four European matches and on the back of what seems to be their first ever European competition win. Thu 29/06/17 UEL St Joseph's 0 - 4 AEL View events More info Thu 06/07/17 UEL AEL 6 - 0 St Joseph's View events More info Thu 28/06/18 UEL B36 1 - 1 St Joseph's View events More info Thu 05/07/18 UEL St Joseph's 1 - 1P B36 View events More info Thu 27/06/19 UEL Prishtina 1 - 1 St Joseph's View events More info Tue 02/07/19 UEL St Joseph's 2 - 0 Prishtina Like the League season, we'll begin the European campaign on plastic. At this stage of the season, it won't be anything fancy but it'd be encouraging if we could put the tie to bed before the second leg.

Defoe has a contract with Bournemouth. Sturridge should struggle to get a really big money contract anywhere unless it's weighted towards a pay for play clause. Anyone wanting to part with say 60K per week for Sturridge deserves all that is (not) coming.

Both articles carry quotes from the players and journalists don't tend to make those up unless it's Boris Johnson and he was sacked for it, by The Times IIRC.

Read the newspaper you mentioned in your post.

Maybe it's more Wallace and Miller.

Aye, but always bearing in mind that most of the saved wages aren't yet saved and in some cases (loans) will only be partly saved and in others will involve pay-offs that can be balanced against any incoming fees. Summer 2020 is when quite a few contracts are due to expire.

The Newcastle link is probably opportunistic clickbait, 2+2=5. EPL clubs have tended to go for foreign experience of late,...... but if Lampard was to do well at Chelsea it might make a chairman or two to seriously consider Gerrard, if we make a good start to the season....2 if's and a might = long odds.

Hypothetically, Mr Mash would be torn between trying to do a number on us (remove our manager as we approach a new season with recruitment nearly done) and writing us a cheque for millions in compensation. If SG was to get a call from an EPL club, it would certainly give him a decision to make. I reckon from his POV, an optimistic management pathway is Rangers, EPL club (middle to bottom), Liverpool. I'd hope that he'd see such a pathway as an apprenticeship that is in his best interests to complete, or in other words, he needs to successfully finish the job he has started with Rangers...but this is professional football and it seldom works that way. Another factor is if SG himself believes that he is getting sufficient backing to bridge the gap and win the title. One big plus is that Rodgers has gone and a lesser manager is in charge. The summer transfer window is next-up.

It'd be like putting a relatively large amount of cash onto a 33/1 outsider. We all know what would happen.

Perhaps, but IMO getting the lad ready for our first team is priority and the 3 year contract is already ticking.

How much would Pickford, Maguire and Walker cost today ?

Good to see we got McPake to sign an extension. He now needs first team football, even if this season, it means going on loan.

The alternative BBC................Biscuits, Boobs & Compo

Looks like priority is to get players in so as to hit the proverbial ground running then look to offload/loan/pay-off players as other teams look to sort out their squads. European group stage money is a long way a way but would come in very handy.

As things stand, a centre-half and a centre forward are still required. Given our plethora of wide players, I'd forget Kent and channel the finance into the above.

I think back to the Flanagan tackle against Hearts at the end of last season, from which Kamara immediately fed the ball through for Defoe to score. Perhaps this (ball winning/move ball quickly) is the way Aribo will best create.

Too many players I don't know about yet to give a starting XI. Plenty to think about with a big squad which will have to be reduced. A plethora of wide players and we still seem to be after Kent Will be interesting to see what formation SG goes with and how adaptable he is, dependent on the game/situation. We certainly have the personnel to go from one shape to another.

Occupational hazard

Is it SG launching a bid or The Sun re-launching the now customary and established sure-fire clickbait story on Skrtel to Rangers ? An experienced centre-back to put beside Goldson does makes sense. However, I don't think it wise to go into the season looking to regularly rotate the central defence. It didn't work out very well for us last season. Pick the best combination and stick with it.

Most of the Toon Army hate Ashley and have done for years. Ashley doesn't care aslong as most of them keep spending their cash at the club.

It was or at least it seems a long time ago when social media had any real relevance regards the politics of the retail deal and surrounding issues. It's now bumping along at it's own pace in courts and we are in a position of frustration, almost resignation. Back in the day, the friction that was very apparent within the fanbase was a negative force until eventually most saw the light. This is nothing other than pathetic comedy

Weird Memory lapse ? It's one of the stock ironic lines you use since I pointed towards corporations for being X, Y and Z No problem Captain, keep em coming !

Not upset, I was laughing that a self proclaimed Captain of Industry feels the need to do so #Corporations