Cizzler

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KeG_i8CWE8

If you mean Suarez would placate their fans then no I don't think so. Bale is this summer's must-have toy for the super clubs. The perception is that Suarez is a tainted star being run out of a country for disgracing himself (again). Their public images couldn't be more different. If however you mean they could serve the same purpose within the Real side, I don't think Bale will play up front for Real the way he did for Spurs this season and the way Suarez inevitably would. I meant from a purely footballing perspective. The disparity in speculated value between Bale and Suarez is ridiculous. Bale only started being considered 'the third best in the world' when he was moved to play behind the striker - so although he is more naturally versatile than Suarez, that's where he will be playing/ should be playing.

Couldn't Suarez serve the same purpose for almost a third of the price? Why is there a speculated £70 million pounds worth of difference between those two players?

No thanks to Dempsey. Yes to Wijnaldum. Although as the original rumour has even less credence than the initial Belhanda/ Kiyotake stories, I'm filing it under 'highly unlikely'.

Why? They play a 3-5-2 with wingbacks. So the only position he could play in their formation is behind the strikers... He's still incredibly young and it would be a massive ask for him to 1) get in their first team ahead of their current midfielders (like Abdi, McGugan and their own hot prospect, Sean Murray) and 2) positively affect Championship games from that position as, obviously, it's a hugely physical league. I don't think he should be loaned out. Perhaps sometimes we have been guilty of not utilising the loan system to full affect (Would Clark and Albrighton have benefited?). But I also don't agree with the assumption that farming a player out (especially this early in his career!) automatically will 'make him a better player'. Perhaps on FM, but not in real life. I agree with the poster who suggested that Gardner, Carruthers and Johnson etc are the type of players we should be loaning out. Players whose development is clearly stalled by not playing first team football. Grealish is still only 18!

Phil Jones - approx. £16.5 million Chris Smalling - approx £12 million (with add ons) Caulker - approx £8 million I think Cardiff have got a fair price and I think they've got a better deal than Tottenham here.

I took exactly the opposite opinion away from today's friendly. In my opinion, Donacien, understandably, looked very raw and his passing was off. Obviously a prospect but he's not better than Clark at the moment.

Yup, Mat Kendrick tweeted that Herd limped off down the tunnel. Ahhh, annoying to pick up another knock. Hope it's not serious for Herd! Thanks for the update. Listening to the stream and haven't heard Woodward comment - although the sound does keep cutting out...

So did Donacien replace Herd because he was injured?

Bacuna at right back, I assume. Still no sign of Bennett, Albrighton, Bowery, Okore or Tonev then. Hopefully see some of them at the weekend.

Latest reports from Bucharest suggest that the Chiriches deal has been cancelled as they are annoyed Spurs tried to rush through the deal?! I think it would be silly to let Caulker go. If he does leave, and this Chiriches deal doesn't come off, Spurs will probably be starting Zeki Fryers at centre back on the opening day of the season

Vertonghen is currently injured. Kaboul and Dawson have been plagued by injuries their whole careers. Chiriches has obviously been bought as Caulker's replacement, and that seems a little bizarre. Why would you replace a 21 year old product of your academy, who has already been capped by England, with an unproven centre back? EDIT: Although he does look fantastic in that youtube video

Cardiff heavily linked with Caulker. He definitely needs first-team football and he is unlikely to get that at Tottenham next season, so a loan would make more sense... but the media are speculating it's an £8.5 million bid. Personally, I think he's a promising player and I'd be a bit miffed if he ended up there.

I'd take Winston Reid and Seb Bassong over Shawcross too.

I agree that his international recognition is irrelevant. It does not further this debate and I should not have brought it up. You've enhanced the point I was initially trying to make, so thanks. I was being overly defensive of him when I compared him to Mellberg and Laursen but if he stays fit and improves on his performances last season, he'll be a great asset.

What the... I don't even... Wow. I must be thinking of the wrong guy. Knight and Vlaar are probably on a par in terms of ability Then why is one getting into the Netherlands squad and the other playing in a mid-table Championship side? A gif of Zat from Bolton's pre-season game the other night.

Do you actually believe what you have written? For instance, if you could, would you swap Vlaar for Knight? Genuinely interested. I think Zat Knight is one of the most error-prone defenders to ever play in the Premiership, let alone play for us.

Bumped, as I wanted to input on a tangent in the Transfer Speculation thread about Ron Vlaar without going drastically off topic. It's just I can't understand some of the criticism Vlaar gets on here. It was not coincidence our horrific run occurred when he was injured. His leadership was integral during the run in (remember he went to straight to Baker after the own goal at Reading, and made sure Baker's head did not go), he scored two screamers but more importantly I think he's also a good defender. Okay, he's not as good as McGrath (who is?) and he made a couple of mistakes stepping up from an inferior league - but judging by his comments in the media about 'expecting more from himself' I believe he will address this. Laursen's initial season at Villa wasn't memorable and I think with a solid partner next to Vlaar (hopefully that's Okore!) we will see a centre back that can rightfully be compared to both Laursen and Mellberg.

Moved on to make way for all those free Udinese players I expect. Actually he moved to be closer to his family, in Middlesbrough - http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/10579522.Hogg___I_left_because_I_need_to_look_after_my_family_/?ref=rss

Outs: Dunne Holman Lichaj Williams (as mentioned, to Bristol City) Marshall Makoun (officially finalised this summer anyway) - Bannan expected to join Blackburn shortly.

I read a fairly interesting article the other day about the flux of Dutch players who left the Eredivise 'too early' to join English academies. Here's a link (http://www.benefoot.net/young-talents-are-better-off-in-the-eredivisie-than-chasing-the-premier-league-dream) if you wanna scan over it. Seems to be happening increasingly. I remember when the Danish fans were speaking in the Helenius thread about their country's top prospects - they were mostly littered around Europe. Perhaps its worth looking at Valon Berisha (20) - who had a successful trial with us at 15 but turned us down to remain at Egersund in Norway. He quickly broke into their first team and has since represented Norway 10 times and become a key player at RB Salzburg.

Not sure why billionaires would get into the Premier League at this late stage, the return on investment is low these days because they have to complete against the likes of Chelsea, Man Utd & Man City. Better off investing in Italy where you can probably still buy the title. Did Abramovich/ Abu Dhabi buy Chelsea/ Man City expecting a return on their investments? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny6EX9VxaqE

Nobody. Just poor Jack by himself.

Wasn't he on trial with us at one point, Andy?

SGS mentioned in the Academy thread that Drennan is having surgery on his foot.