David Kelly

I think trust is the key word. For whatever reason (discipline or inability to carry out instructions maybe) Rafa doesn't trust him. Unless he feels that he can coach him to the point that he will have that trust, I don't think he'll stay.

If that's true there's no way they'll be getting anywhere near £30m for Pickford. If they get offered half that they'll take it gladly.

I know Mitro didn't set the world alight last season but he's already played in the top league in three countries as well as international football. For all that Abraham looks a prospect, I'd have more faith in Mitro than him at this stage. And I don't have enough faith in Mitro.

I don't understand Abraham at all. An unproven striker at top level is not what we need at all for me. If we end up with him and someone else proven who's going to be ahead of him in the pecking order then fair enough but if we'd be bringing him in to play a lot then I don't get it.

Woakes has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Massive blow that.

Aye I feel the same but would have said the same about Woakes 18 month ago.

Bowling didn't look great this morning and there must be a fair chance that Woakes is going to miss a large portion of the tournament going off after two overs with a side strain. Was a curious decision to play Ball instead of Rashid and Roy looks woefully out of nick. Could need three chances for the next game.

Went to see the new pirates last night. I've not bothered with the last two but this wasn't too bad.

The Clark one definitely. I think Dummett was to blame for the other one (was it not Bristol?). The reaction of both of them after suggested to me that Darlow had shouted but Dummett didn't listen and fucked it up.

Doesn't detract from chasing but it may detract from being able to afford someone. That's the only time I'd have a problem with it. Other than the fact that I've never thought of Reina as a particularly good keeper in the first place. Not that I've seen a great deal of him.

Liked the look of him whenever I saw him player. I'm not a big fan of signing players who just got their teams relegated but I would say that if he'd been with them all season they probably wouldn't have been.

Personally I like Darlow but a mate of mine was telling me that he went to watch one of the U23 games that Elliot played in and he was constantly screaming at the defence in front of him. I think that was why he got in for the last few games and potentially why Rafa wants a new keeper. I'm of the same opinion as Fish though in that I don't think a new keeper (certainly not the type we can sign at the moment) will massively improve us. Certainly not as much as having a good number 10/left winger/left back would.

He doesn't know that the main street in the town is Northumberland Street and not Northumberland Road though apparently.

Been re watching the Wire recently. Game of Thrones is my favourite series ever but the Wire is the best that fit's bot HF and Wolfy's criteria.

Breakfast club is on some American channel now. Why do I love a film that has Emilio Estebaz dancing like me father coz he's smoked a bit weed?

Aye the ECB are cunts

Stokes and then Wood at the end superb for England today

Seen a bit SF taking their bairns to school coming through Wallsend this morning. Some quite hideous sights also mind but that's the norm round here.

Only ever seen him a couple of times for Portugal. Seems to have been linked to Arsenal for the last decade. If Wenger has decided against him he's probably the sort of midfield monster they have been crying out for for years.

I don't see how £40m for a defensive midfielder makes sense we need four or five new starters. It might make sense for a striker but I still don't see us spending it.

That's why he's my favourite Bond right there.

Wouldn't fancy relying on him, Gayle and Mitro as our strikeforce next season. Looks like he could be a good player though.

Well that could be said of any signing. I'm guessing they won't be paying him that much more than others would be prepared to pay though.

You're missing my point. I'm not in any way having a go at Mitrovic or claiming he is the reason we were relegated. But the transfer policy that we have had up to the point of Rafa being allowed more freedom, was to sign young unproven players who will hopefully have a sell on value that can make us money. That coupled with poor coaching (though I'm not at all convinced McClaren was a poor coach) and motivation (largely brought about by the poor recruitment policy which lead to the poorly constructed squad) is what took us down. But if we'd adjusted that recruitment policy and signed someone like Defoe who is proven and has experience and was what the squad needed, we would have been, imo, in a much better position to stay up. We would probably have a player with no sell on value but we would have already reaped far greater financial benefits anyway. I'm not convinced King is near to the same quality as Defoe because of a six month purple patch. We saw with Cisse how a striker can go on a good run and never be able to recapture that form. And Cisse's record outside his incredible form when he first arrived is far better than King's has ever been. Again it's a risk to bank on King as much as it is to sign Defoe. Carroll and Sturridge both have injury records that make them as big a risk as Defoe even at his age and I'd say Sturridge has had a questionable attitude even when he's been at much bigger clubs than Bournemouth. I think he'd be a terrible signing for him despite his undoubted talent. Batshuayi I agree would be a better lower cost, lower risk option if they could get him. If Chelsea are willing to let him go out on loan he'd be a great option for them (or us) if they could get him.

Lallas is a surprisingly good commentator on Fox Sport. Much prefer to watch European games on there than BT with the likes of Owen on the mic.