CSA96

Mine arrived this morning.

You surprise me.

The only way I'd even begin contemplating a £25m offer is if it had Flynn Downes coming the other way on a permanent basis. Otherwise it's an immediate no. I think if they get to £35m (assuming they do a straight up cash offer) I would consider that fair enough, if it were to be accepted.

He was the top midfielder in the division for interceptions and interceptions per appearance (iirc) so I suspect that's where this is coming from... Definitely a very combative midfielder who then keeps it simple and gives it to other people, which tbh, we might need based on the showing at Reading where people just managed to run through us at times.

Conor Gallagher is prime for West Ham's ownership 'ooh, a cast-off from one of the big shiny clubs!'

If that’s true, sounds like it’ll be difficult to get him out of Leicester unless he decides he’s had enough and tells them he plans to go.

Makes sense, given RM is a bit of a self-confessed Pep pervert. That's straight out of the Guardiola approach to attacking from wide areas: narrow full backs, wide wingers, underlapping runs and cut backs to the penalty spot for midfielders to rush onto.

As friendlies go, that was pretty enjoyable. We are going to play some beautiful football at times and we are also going to concede some infuriating counter-attack goals. But it's nice to see the manager is clearly getting his plan across and is changing the style of play. Let's hope he can shift the attitude and culture too.

We probably shouldn't be too surprised, but interesting to hear it from someone who is a recently retired player and someone who was the captain of a successful Norwich side (relative to the club's status) for several years.

He should benefit from us having a system with one actual, proper No 10 too. Rather than the two split 10s that Ralph used.

Reading 1-4 Saints Aribo 76'

More changes on 71 mins... On: Bree, Charles, Lavia, Aribo, Djenepo, Adams Off: Livramento, Stephens, Smallbone, Ward-Prowse, Alcaraz, Armstrong

Yep. Instead of overlaps, Martin looks for underlaps to load the box up. Means the wingers pull further wide and the likes of KWP go inside and look to create space/pull defenders around. It's why he likes Manning presumably (a LB who used to play CM).

And? He’s now in his final season before becoming a free agent… so this is their final chance to cash in. Norwich financially can’t really justify letting him walk out for free He’s also said he’ll be leaving and won’t renew his deal: https://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/23554558.norwich-city-max-aarons-ready-next-step-summer/

Daily Mail reporting that if we sell Livramento we will use some of the money to try to buy Max Aarons from Norwich City.

Third kit leaked after the programme cover for the Bournemouth friendly was uploaded too early...

Apparently Besiktas found an issue in the medical and then requested to put a clause in Lyanco's contract to mitigate against the injury - which he, quite rightly, refused. A bit cheeky, if true, and could see why is would fuck him off and kill the deal. http://sportwitness.co.uk/southampton-exit-becoming-mess-player-refused-contract-clause-negotiations-still-ongoing/

Thought today's press conference interesting when RM made a point of elaborating and highlighting that he was appreciative that the ownership completed the deals for Manning and Charles 'when we reached a point where we had to move' - sounds like we have irons in the fire but are having to stall things because we need to get people moving out of the club first. RM said a few times that the squad is huge and even training the group is troublesome - especially when he wants to integrate academy lads - and he seems to be very aware that having a large squad is a recipe for continuing disharmony behind the scenes. Presumably we reached a stage where Manning's camp and Man City were going to have to push things along with another club and so Solak had to sign off on just getting them in immediately to avoid losing out. Makes sense, given Manning was a free agent but still missed the first week or so of preseason.

It’s totally off. Flying back to England apparently.

The problem with his medical being that they couldn't find any sign of a brain, presumably?

Abu is a U21 squad signing, as the club made clear at the time. So far they've signed a 27 YO left back and spent £10.5m (£15m poss) on a Lavia replacement with similar pedigree and age profile.

Yeah, that's not unfair. Would've been far more interested to see a piece where Wilcox sat down with some of the beat reporters or with a panel.