Badger

Wonder what loan fee might be involved.

Downes has captained the side before as I recall

Providing it’s not us

Can’t wait for the Ratkov first interview which at least one of the cliche lines looks to have been cut off. Unless: ”yeh, as soon as I heard of Southampton’s interest I thought … nah, fuck it.. not going there” Then they came back and I thought nah fuck it … Then again after Lazio had told me to fuck off … fuck it, why not ? at least they want me …”

Good effort, it’s taking shape. But surely the Ratkov ship has sailed, if not been torpedoed. Still think we need a more physical MF operator, but accept it might be unlikely with JWP now coming in.

JWP returning wasn’t on my list of priorities this summer. But I wonder what the internet response (had it been invented) would be to the prospect of 31 year old Alan Ball joining us in December 1976 for £60,000. “Waste of money..” “past it..” etc. Alan Ball he certainly isn’t. But JWP might provide us with something although does seem a bit of a retrograde step in many ways. And doesn’t address the need for a more physical player in MF

Despite the rumour I can’t see THB going to Man Utd. I’d have expected them to be looking at a higher level than a Championship player. They’d probably prefer to be seen to spend £50m on someone from abroad to be more in keeping with their image. But joking aside with the Wilcox factor there perhaps.

Jason Wilcox clearly winning the behind the scenes power battle and exercising his influence. Carrick will be gone by October and the back pages will be full of Lego at Old Trafford.

Think that’s unfair. If you genuinely think that then your selective memory is misleading you. As I recall you couldn’t fault his effort on the pitch, despite whatever limits there were in his game and the shitshow around him. In our relegation season he scored twice at Everton, and I think scored the winner at Chelsea. On the subject of Chelsea didn’t he receive a red card there a couple of seasons before ? Shows he can put his foot in occasionally and he isn’t always the angelic choir boy/‘son in law’ he’s made out to be. Put Zaha in his pocket and wound him up well. I’m not convinced coming back is a great idea. Certainly think he could offer something but main issue is where is he in the pecking order? Jander (assuming he stays) is more of our creative spark in MF, Downes the one to harass the opposition and get things moving (but will inevitably have a couple of suspensions). We need another physical player in MF in my book. Could JWP be an alternative toAzaz on occasion?

Downes apart there’s very little muscle or aggression there. As said elsewhere we need a good DM, and/or a bit more size/height of an enforcer there. A Schneiderlin or Wanyama. The Columbian bloke seemed to match up but wants to stay at Real Betis.

JWP or not, we still need a DM or enforcer out there. JWP doesn’t tick that box. And he isn’t a Jander replacement should he leave.

Definitely ‘ours’ then. We’re the only club he’ll pass a medical with his leg hanging off. No problem

In Aribo’s case probably because he didn’t have offers and somewhere better he wanted to go to. In the real world I don’t expect JWP to give up a years salary at West Ham. But if he really wanted to ‘come home’…

Perhaps JWP will negotiate his own release from West Ham. They clearly don’t want him and presumably don’t want his wages either. He’ll need to give up some of his last year’s salary but if he wants to join us then perhaps something will give. If he doesn’t join us, Nathan J is a big fan at Charlton

So as we thought they have got some £ squirrelled away, and they offer us a paltry £18m plus add ons. Would be good if Fulham come in and stump up a decent figure for him.