I think the issue then comes in trying to claim they're legitimately independent. Should Newcastle come wanting their share via the courts etc. But I'm only speculating.

6 mill for Gestede wasn't a good deal at the time, no. That he flopped after is irrelevant, that can happen. Wrong club, wrong manager, injury luck etc. At the time we should have been getting more for him.

A signed agreement would invalidate our attempts to avoid the Newcastle chunk. The suggestion is it technically happens as a totally separate deal. You'd think there will be a gentleman's agreement though. The issue is then whether the player actually agrees terms with us though...that wouldn't be Southampton's fault. If this is the plan I hope we are being clever about it, otherwise we could just end up losing a few million in an attempt to cheat Newcastle out of a million or so.

Villa watch can stfu. It's not expensive, it's cheap. And only possible at that price because of his contract.

If nobody paying enough for him now is a sign they don't really want him, clubs looking to get him for free want him even less if anything. The same at best.

Swansea boss thinks they were unfortunate in defeat and really dominant. Clearly TM passed him his 'possession is the only thing that matters in football' pipe before the game because they didn't deserve a thing. They were awful.

I sincerely hope we don't base the sale of our best player on whether it's getting boring.

Tbh, it's bizarre that those conversations haven't already taken place. We have to stop running in this lethargic decision making manner.

Apparently the u23s got tonked in a pre season game against Burnley u23s, 6-2. I expect having all of their best players busy with the first team didn't help, although the Burnley write up (which didn't even know who any of our scorers were, just called them 'the attacker') suggested some of theirs were with their first team too.

He has bulked up a bit, which will stand him in good stead. He is still slim, but no longer so scrawny he looks like a stiff breeze would knock him over.

Where on the site do you find bets like that btw?

A couple bookies now offering 10-1, highest I saw before the game was 8-1. Some free bet offers to be had too if you're a new customer.

And from memory he seemed to be at a bit of a stretch to get on it. He could have scored, but Rothwell is the one who should have scored.

Damn, I'd have put a fiver on that for sure. Don't think he will do it but at 1000 to 1 totally worth a gambit.

And as a 24 year old at times.

Oh yeh one good result changes everything 🤫

Which I don't think Diaz expected. Tbh I'm unable to decide whether that is what he was trying to do. A chip was an odd way to do it. If you're gonna do the lob, aim it at the goal.

He would be, if he didn't have a horrendous injury record for a young player. I hope I'm wrong because he looked excellent when he came on today.

Nyambe you fucking warrior

Superb ball from Butterworth, should have been a goal.

Well they're not going to aim there when a man is lying down covering most of that area. I think that's the idea, deterrent rather than blockage. Then they have to aim over the wall and the keeper has a better idea of where it's going. (I'm not agreeing with it btw)

Butterworth had some turn of pace on him there. Shame he is made of glass.

Nearly got your wish.

Even by his standards, yes. Gally off for Davenport, Buckley shoved up front when he looked knackered. A bit later gives up on that and takes Buckley off for Butterworth presumably so we can keep with the pressing game. Then swaps an attacker for a defender, presumably giving up on that so we can shore up and soak the pressure.

As I read that, he gave away that stupid free kick...I blame you.