deep blue

Oh, and his language ability bodes well.

Thanks inarsenewerust and sebastian for your great contributions. I'm excited at this signing, if it comes off. It's a risk, sure, but i particularly like the reputation of his good decision-making on the pitch, and his character looks spot on - v professional. I get the feeling he will be willing to learn and to apply himself

Do any ITKs have any clue at all? I think we all need a bit of encouragement.

Didn't Shearer start off as a CB at Southampton, too?

Kasper is a Prem winner; Butland isn't. No comparison.

Honouring their contracts.

I absolutely agree that it was a great opportunity to see if some way could be found of playing them together. If that could happen then 2 such lethal, but different, goal scorers playing together should strike fear into any opposition.

I seem to remember, about a year ago, Vardy being criticised by the pundits for keeping too far forward throughout one of the England games, only to find out that he had been instructed to keep very high up so as to inhibit the ability of the opposing defenders to move out in support of their attack. Who knows, perhaps the same instruction was given to him last night. In any event, I agree with you on the plus points and I think he did as well as could be expected in the circumstances. In particular the several occasions when he challenged and robbed defenders, doing it as a solo act. Had any of our other "attacking players" shown the same gumption then their defence could have had a much more uncomfortable evening. Also, the infrequency of our midfielders pushing up to add support in the box was embarrassing.

Would you place that much confidence in the judgement of the German management, though, given their abject performance?

I think we simply have no English midfielders of any quality at the moment, which is why we select dross (Dier is as he sounds, Henderson is just not international class, L-C looks promising but was disappointing this evening). Vardy suffers from this, having no service that he can profit from. I think it's this that will prevent us getting to the later stages of the competition.

Best post on this thread.

I realise it is extremely likely, but you state it so assertively, as a fact, when things might have changed. Just to clarify, did he tell you this personally, and very recently?

The experience of Drinkwater may have been chastening, could have given him pause for thought. Who knows what's in the mind of Mahrez. The only concrete thing we know is that he withdrew his transfer request, but we assume that was for purely cynical reasons, so it means nothing.

Just 2 minor points of difference. With the squad we're assembling I'd not put it beyond us to aim for Champs League (OK, maybe optimistic, but it's certainly the owners' ambition). Secondly, there'd be no dressing room problem if Mahrez were relegated from the squad; this couldn't carry on indefinitely, but it might bring his head round to reality and apply himself. He is on a contract, after all, which he was very willing to sign. However, I accept that almost certainly he's gone so we have to move on. Changing the subject, what could have been had we had a transfer window 2 years ago like this one is shaping out, especially if we'd been able to persuade Kante to stay for another year. He was sensational today for France.

I don't agree that he needs to leave. I imagine that part of his frustration has been playing within a team where he has to have defensive duties and where so often he gets the ball without options to help him. The prospects for next season are very different if our new signings step up to the mark. An attacking RB to give him support and (probably) reduce his defensive duties, both that same RB and Maddison to give promise of better service and support, and a better defence so that Mahrez & Vardy don't have to look back and see our defence giving away stupid goals ( which must be demotivating). Add to that the realistic expectation that we will not be flirting with relegation again but will be challenging for European places. There are genuine reasons for him to be enthusiastic about staying with us. Another opinion trotted out on here (not by Gerard) is that Mahrez is only worth what suitors are willing to pay. This would be true if we were trying to get rid of him, but not in the current situation where we don't want to sell. He is worth what we are prepared to accept for him. The ball is in our court as he is under contract. I accept the argument that it is not a good idea to keep an unhappy player, but that is the prerogative of our owners to decide. It is not beyond the bounds of possibility that they could bring him round to the idea of staying by recruiting well (we have started well in that) and by offering him an improved contract. If this didn't work then he can be demoted if he had a strop, which would be an unhappy situation but possibly within the owners' gift given their riches, and it might shock him into a reality check and change his mentality for the better.