bozman

Blackburn have signed Jayson Leutwiler from Shrewsbury which would appear to rule them out of the chase for Ripley. According to some journalists they were favourites to sign him.

Difficult to read too much in to pre-season games - I think we managed to get 22 different players on the field last night. But my initial impression, on the basis of the 2 games I've seen, is that we are looking similar to the second half of last season i.e. fairly solid at the back but a lack of creativity and goals looks like being a problem. However, I think if that does prove to be the case over the first few games, Shez is probably holding a bit of his budget back and will try to address it before the transfer window closes.

There is an article on the United website which confirms they are putting out an Under 23 team tonight. http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/Reserves-News/2017/Jul/ricky-sbragia-explains-footballing-philosophy-as-reserves-prepare-for-oldham.aspx?newsid=DF044956-8D47-4BA5-BD0E-0CBB96B3936E I wonder how we'll be treating it. Shez didn't seem too impressed with the timing of this one so close to the big kick off, so may choose to field mainly fringe players for most of the game.

As I mentioned in another thread, I think Shez' s quotes in today's Chron rule out Given. He says he has 3 keepers in mind, all of whom have been playing throughout pre-season. That seems to exclude him and probably most free agents (unless we pick one up who's been on trial elsewhere). My money would be on a young loaner from a higher division.

I don't think Given is on the radar. Shez said all 3 potential keepers he is looking at have been playing regularly in pre-season.

Whatever yo think about what they get paid, I think it's shocking that the aren't better educated/advised on how to save/invest the money they make. They should be set for life but a mjority of them are anything but. Apparently 60% of Premier League players go bankrupt after retirement. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/a-reason-to-feel-sorry-for-premier-league-footballers-three-of-five-players-declare-bankruptcy-after-8519908.html

I agree he probably is our most sellable asset but his value (to us) is probably at it's peak now because he only has a year left on his contract. I think £600k (if true) is a good deal for us. He has pace which is a very valuable commodity at this level. I'd prefer to keep him but if selling him allows us to bring in 2 or 3 quality signings, I can definitely see the logic in it.

No, I wouldn't.

Charlton and MK Dons both interested apparently. Can't see us pushing the boat out to compete with them for him.

Very good signing given that he was being watched by a few Chamnpionship clubs when he was on loan last season. Interesting that both clubs have described the deal as being "on undisclosed terms" rather than the usual "undisclosed fee". I wonder if it's just a hefty sell on clause rather than a fee ? I'm sure the fact that Corney is very friendly with the Brighton hierarchy will have helped get the deal over the line.

I think Gordon had relinquished his media duties to concentrate on the Secretary role. I'm sure he could run his eye over a contract having just negotiated a severance package with the BBC. Presumably the club is in the process of recruiting a replacement and Cheeseman has kindly offered to help out in any way be can.

This would make sense. Especially as Ian Cheeseman offered to help the club out in this respect, saying we really need the help at the moment.

It is strange how all the staff recruited are just "helping out with pre-season", yet the players who've signed are on proper contracts.

Yes, that's what they told me too.

He doesn't sound that desperate to me. “Every player wants to play as high as they possibly can and obviously if a ridiculous offer came in then that’s something that everyone has to consider." One thing is for certain. He wouldn't be getting a ridiculous offer from Latics! I'll ask his cousin about it next time I see him because them going full time will certainly make a difference to his situation. He previously said that what he made playing and working in the family business meant that going to a League 1 or 2 club would likely result in a pay cut.

I don't think this is just about the offer we made. I'm sure there would be room for negotiation on that. I'm friends with his cousin and he told me he's not really bothered about playing league football and is quite happy where he is. He is quite heavily involved in the family business, which is very succesful, and he's more interested in that than playing at a higher level. He has turned down a couple of other offers from league clubs in the past.

It's really strange for me. It's never workrd on mobile (which I understand is disabled until they launch their app) but did initially work on the PC. Now, I can log in fine on the PC but the videos won't play.

Given extra time off. Been away with Northern Ireland until mid June.

Probably just waiting for Barry to complete his due dilligence investigations.

The article says he's come in on a short term basis initially but the arrangement could be extended. Sounds like he's here to oversee pre-season fitness. It also says someone else has been identified to come in as assistant manager but the deal has not been finalised yet.

So we're signing Jonathon 'Jon' Macken then?

Shez said several times last season that he wants to play more expansive attacking football, but the situation we were in and the state of the pitch meant that wasn't the best approach at the time. Whilst the Davies signing might signal a more rugged approach, the Gardner signing signals the opposite. I reckon he probably wants a squad that can play both ways. In the back of his mind he'll be thinking that, come January, we'll probably be playing home games on a cabbage patch again.

I'm starting to think Bradford might struggle next season. Their German owners have apparently cut the playing budget quite a bit and they've lost a few of their better players from last season. Rory McArdle signed for Scunthorpe yeterday. Mark Marshall and Billy Clarke have left for Charlton and James Meredith has gone to Millwall. I guess a lot depends on who they replace them with, but the fact that they all turned down new deals must be worrying for them.

That was a complete cock up. It also showed Wimbledon vs. Swindon - both unseeded teams.

Terrible news. You only have to take a quick look at tributes on Twitter to see how well respected he was. People associated with the club from all eras, some who left the club decades ago, expressing their admiration for him.