Dman

imo, England have been the better side for the large majority of this series. We've just been rubbish at the big moments and, lets be honest, reckless batting and disgraceful fielding has meant we've never really been able to pull ahead from them. Aus haven't really played all that well, have been without (arguably) their most dangerous bowler and haven't had to work all that hard for their wins. It easily could and maybe even should be 3-0 England. I'm all for being aggressive, playing on the front foot, but sometimes you need to sense when there is danger and when to ride out the storm (Duckett swinging at absolutely everything 30 mins before COP in bowler friendly conditions springs to mind). Someone needs to have a word because the batting has been out right braindead for most of this series.

He might be a decent coach on the training ground (i.e sticking out cones, putting on drills & sessions), he's a decent bloke so the players liked him, but what Ralph needed was someone to bounce idea's off. Being tactically astute to support him and be his right hand man. Selles isn't that and I don't think he will be. It was noticeable how isolated Ralph looked on the sideline after Rohl departed. It looked like he didn't trust any of the the coaches given to him, which probably lead to his downfall.

I can't see Swansea selling anyone to us. We've burned a few bridges playing hardball over peanuts.

bring back "we don't buy success, we breed it"

Agree. Throwing Ballard in as our main striker would not only be reckless and stupid, but it would also be incredibly damaging for him as well.

Everyone who's played along side him has improved - that's no coincidence. He's a proper leader and in tat respect we've not managed to replace him. The exact sort of player you need for a gruling championship season. I'd snap his hand off to have him back. I don't think he'd be a regular starter, but would be invaluable to have around the club.

Looks a sensible replacement for Lavia. Him, Downes and 1 other (preferably a little older with more experience) would be 3 solid CM/DM options.

By all accounts Martin is just as stubborn in his philosophy.. He's just not been good enough to get tested in the PL yet, but if he does, it could easily get just as messy.

WHY WOULD JOE SHIELS LEAVE CITY!!! (with one eye on fucking off at the earliest possible point) FOR A HUGE PROMOTION (and payrise) IF WE WERE A MESS OF A CLUB!!! All Hail king Rassmus

Big clubs playing at the highest level can demand more for their players than a struggling championship clubs, shock horror. Lavia was a solid player for a really shit relegated side, in his first season as a professional player. He's by no means proven himself yet. He'll get there, I'm absolutely sure of it. He'll be a superstar, but clubs are paying for potential at the minute. Is he ready for a big 6 side? Hard to say right now, I think he'd be suited more to a West Ham / Brighton, where he if he has another solid PL season, then he's proven himself and probably goes for £50m+.. imo. Like Hypo, I think we'll drop our pants and he'll go for £40-£45m later in the window.

We're not Liverpool, we're not even a PL side anymore. That comparison is ridiculous.

With a bit of luck Smallbone wont even be in the starting 11, let alone captain.

Whilst I agree, I just don't think he's worth the risk to clubs at £50m. He's Absolutely worth it, FWIW, but I think clubs will look elsewhere for 'better value'. You're paying a premium for potential. We all know he's got it, but will bigger clubs risk it? We've shot ourselves in the foot with relegation, another season in the PL and his starting value would have been £50m

At what point do think we'll drop our pants and sell him for 40 million? I reckon it'll be a week or 2 before the window closes. He's not playing in the championship and he's not going for £50m, like JWP and Tino wont either.

Leeds with Farke, clearly. The bloke has 2 championship promotions under his belt. The other 2 are huge risks who've achieved very little in the past.

Guessing you didn't watch him upon his return in January. Jan or Stephens for me.

you'd imagine that Napoli is a bit of a iconic place for most Argies given how Diego is an icon there

Would be a big fan of this. Downes is a fantastic player. Good enough for the PL imo.

FWIW - I've not at any point said we should have accepted any offers we've currently received. This has spun off on a massive tangent off the back of a comment from Smirking_saint, saying he's not jealous of Leicester because they're losing their best players, to which I pointed out so are we (eventually). He then started going on about rolling over etc. The point i'm making is (as above) - we're hamstrung at the minute until we can shift a few (unless we're willing to gamble on bringing some in without some going out)

This is essentially the point i'm making. IMO, we either need to gamble on bringing players in now and letting negotiations run on into the window (with the risk being we might not sell), or accept we need to start to bring players in now and off load those who want out. At the minute, Martin is trying to work with and install a new philosophy with a squad that (likely) 60% of wont be around next season. All the while transfer rivals (Leicester) are stealing ground brining in players whom we should absolutely we looking at.

Agreed...

What on earth are you rambling on about. Who has said we need to initiate a 'rushed fire sale'? Like I said, there's a fine line between holding your ground and demanding (lets be honest above market value) top whack for your players and accepting a little less to get them out the door quicker, so you don't miss out on targets. Having an extra £5m in your bank account is no good when you've lost all your other targets to promotion rivals and have a gaping hole in your midfield. As it happens, I've no issue with us selling every single player in our squad if we needed to, but with every day that goes by, we're missing out of potential targets.

watch the video footage - neither umpire we're looking and we're making their way to start the next over.

This is kind of my point though... We'd have 50m in the bank but a gaping hole in our midfield... or we'd end up spunking a load on some dross, like we did with Big Paul.

As I said in a previous post, there is a fine line between playing hard ball and accepting something a little less if it speeds up the process of getting players out, so you can get players in. Like Tino, if players are willing to stay and play in the championship, then play hardball, but for others, Lavia, ABK, KWP, Salisu etc. You're best moving them on as quickly as you can so you don't miss out on targets. Would you rather be in Leicesters position, where they are building the core of a championship squad a week into pre-season or us, where its likely all of our big outgoings will be towards the back end of the window...? Again, something I touched on earlier.. I'd be giving players / agents a deadline for offer(s) to come in, or they stay.