I think he's referring to the quality of the produce, not the price, you curmudgeonly old goat.

Liverpool have just signed Philip Deggen from Borussia Dortmund, obviously on a free. Any Dortmund fans I've spoken to have said that he has talent but is regarded as being too lazy. Anyone capable of shedding more light on him?

We're also interested in Andrea Dossena who is a decent left-back from Udinese.

According to the rumours section of nufc.com, since the beginning of April we've been linked with:

Aaron Lennon,
Aaron Ramsey,
Abdeslan Ouaddou,
Achilles Emana,
Aidan McGeady,
Allan McGregor,
Amara Diane,
Andy Johnson,
Anthony Gardner,
Anton Ferdinand,
Arda Turan,
Aristote Lusinga,
Artur Boruc,
Bafetimbi Gomis,
Brian Howard,
Bruno Alves,
Carlos Cuellar,
Christoph Metzelder,
Darren Bent,
Deco,
Diego Forlan,
Djibril Cisse,
Edgar Davids,
Eidur Gudjohnsen,
Eren Derdiyok,
Fernando Amorebieta,
Giles Barnes,
Hugo Campagnaro,
Ivica Olic,
Jean II Makoun,
Jermaine Pennant,
Jimmy Briand,
Joaquin,
John Arne Riise,
Jonny Evans,
Juan Carlos Mariño Márquez,
Justin Hoyte,
Kevin Nolan,
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar,
Leighton Baines,
Lisandro Lopez,
Luis Antonio Valencia,
Luis Boa Morte,
Luis Fabiano,
Loka Modric,
Mamadou Sakho,
Mario Gomez,
Mauro Zarate,
Mbarek Boussoufa,
Medy Eltio,
Michael Dawson,
Miguel Veloso,
Moutinho,
Nelson,
Nicky Shorey,
Oscar Cardozo,
Paul Scharner,
Peter Crouch,
Richard Dunne,
Rui Patricio,
Scott Brown,
Simon Vukcevic,
Stephane M'Bia,
Stephane Sessegnon,
Steve Sidwell,
Steven Davis,
Steven Pienaar,
Tal Ben Haim,
Thierry Henry,
Tomas Ujfalusi,
Vassilios Torosidis, and
Zoltan Gera.

Which would at least give the car park attendant a tough time if they all decided to turn up on the same day.

Rumoured on their way out:

Alan Smith (Middlesbrough or Rangers)
Charles N'Zogbia (Spurs (p/ex with Lennon) or Arsenal)
Damien Duff (Blackburn, Portsmouth, Celtic or Sunderland)
Emre (Galatasaray)
Habib Beye (West Brom or Wigan)
James Milner (Liverpool (p/ex with Riise), Middlesbrough, Reading, Aston Villa, Man City or Blackburn)
Michael Owen (Liverpool, JEF United, Everton or Tottenham)
Obafemi Martins (Arsenal)
Stephen Carr (Everton, West Ham or Celtic)
Steve Harper (Liverpool)
Steve Taylor (West Ham, Spurs or Liverpool)

None of which I really believe, but it'd be nice if Boro signed Alan Smith. I'd probably spend the rest of my life laughing my fucking head off if we get but a single penny for him in transfer fee.

The top list is clearly incomplete, it omits:

Quique Flores (as Keegan's number two),
Walter Samuel,
Uche,
Xavi, and
Yaya Toure.

Now you have the complete set.

Surely Newcastle are interested in Ronaldinho, no?

His list already had two "R"s.

EIM wrote:

QUOTE:
I think he's referring to the quality of the produce, not the price, you curmudgeonly old goat.

The "corner shop/street market" analogy breaks down without price being a factor, surely?

QUOTE:
Rumoured on their way out:

Alan Smith (Middlesbrough or Rangers)

That clubs are not only willing to employ Alan Smith but actively pursue his signing to the extent of being prepared to pay a fee for him is mystifying.

Surely he is one of the most proven failures in recent top flight English football history?

Attention Cardiff fans – you are about to sign our player of the season, Miguel Comminges, a fine right-back and Guadeloupe international. I’ve lost count of how many times our player of the season has left before the Pledge has even settled on his trophy, but it must be about four times. I can’t count very high, see. The bad news for Cardiff fans is that when our players of the season depart, they usually struggle and swiftly slip back into lower league anonimity. Recent examples: Sam Parkin (Ipswich – Luton – Division Four), Rhys Evans (Blackpool – Millwall – Unattached), Frank Talia (Sheffield United – Wycombe – Unattached) and Steve Mildenhall (Notts County – Oldham – Grimsby – Yeovil). It says a lot that our player of the season is frequently the goalkeeper.

In other news, King Mob may be interested to learn that one of his favourite players, bearded defender Chris Blackburn, has signed for Aldershot.

Comminges was saying he was signing for us a few weeks ago but the club stayed schtum on it. I really think you might have started a thread dedicated to his potential transfer called "Comminges and goings" though.

What is Tom Heaton like? I presume you would know more about him than a Man U supporter?

Fred Keenor wrote:

QUOTE:
Comminges was saying he was signing for us a few weeks ago but the club stayed schtum on it.

I think that was a "Comminges me plea".

Heaton started brightly for us, but he made a few costly errors and was eventually dropped and went back to Man Utd. He was pretty busy though, as we were absolutely dire that season and eventually got relegated. I suppose if you're having to deal with 20 shots a game you're going to make a few fuck-ups. His kicking was a bit suspect, but that was three years ago, so he might have practiced.

Swindon reckon Comminges said in January that he would sign a new deal, but when the time came his agent said that he would be signing for Cardiff. When Ridsdale said that they hadn't made any plans to sign anyone we all chuckled, but it seems that it's going ahead now anyway. Most Swindon fans are unimpressed, but I don't blame him for wanting to play at a higher level and earning more cash.

I don't have the confidence to start new threads these days. Not now you can see exactly how many people have looked at it and opted not to reply. Such a sensitive boy.

QUOTE:
Wednesday have released Lee Bullen (too old), Ronnie Wallwork (too shit, god knows why we signed him the first place), Burton O'Brien (who would be an excellent signing for a club in the third division, and a not bad one in the second), and Rob Burch (whatever). Plus three youth teamers.

Bullen has signed for Falkirk. Shame about BoB, I've always liked him.

There's supposed to be more on the way out, hopefully including Lunt and Gilbert (although I think they both have a year left on their contracts). The big ones to keep for us would be the defensive three of Beevers, Spurr and Wood, although I suspect the first two of them may well go if there's any sort of decent offer for them.

Buying, we could really do with a non-injury prone striker and some more midfielders. McAllister has done really well at the end of the season to try to fill the Whelan gap, but he's still young and it's asking a bit much to expect him to do it all season.

Of the loanees, I'm not that fussed about any of them. There are rumours that Laws wants to sign Songo'o, but I think I'd prefer Slusarski.

A lot will depend on whether a takeover will go through or if we get a chairman. I suspect the answer to both of those questions will be no.

seamus coleman has to be the most sligo name ever. He's probably a sheep farmer on the side.

QUOTE:
The "corner shop/street market" analogy breaks down without price being a factor, surely?

My local shop is a rip.