Dan Gleebals

Would love to see Isak get his first hattrick today, alongside a really big win, to really kick the season off in style.

I don't have an issue with them holding out for a price. Totally the right thing to do, and so hope we do it when the inevitable comes. I am just fucked off every move is being made public - by them. Totally unacceptable when you consider the fact we have made 4 bids (apparently), albeit not to their liking. They are taking the piss for this reason alone. Time to move on. Q

My thoughts as well. He will get offered a new contract irrespective once our transfers are sorted IMO.

Totally agree. You also have to factor in the number of players out of contract next summer, who could leave. We would need decent money available then to replace them.

I hope this pre season form has not made us think twice about getting in RW ASAP! I really like him, but we need more on the right.

No way Howe will send him away on loan at 17. He will want him at home with his family (like he did not want Miley to go on loan). He has been with the first team squad all summer, so cannot see that changing. Him, Harrison and Miley (2) will stick with the first team squad this season IMO.

They have been taking the piss for a while like. Cannot believe there is not more noise about them.

He might have gone in to say his goodbye's, does it matter either way until its done deal!?

We need to win something and get that monkey off our back, that is all we should really focus on. Fuck everyone else.

I think Schar will get another year. He basically had a season off under bruce and he certainly does not look like slowing up anytime soon. Lascelles I think they will let go on a free. Burn - really note sure, will depend on this season. He will stay if we want him to, and guess he would be backup only with everyone else fit. Tripper - think he is most likely to go this summer. Kraft will be kept on as cover for LB and CB at a push.

Very! I cannot believe there are no takers out there for any of these, even if we give them away. Problem without doubt will be the stupid wages they are on. Suprised Fraser has not gone to Southampton though, thought that would have happended quickly.

Yeah, as good as he is as a defensive signing, I never get to excited about defenders. If we get the RW we need, and him, and can seemingly afford it, that is slightly different - he could return our defense to the 22/23 levels, and then I think we have a chance.

Horrific ground though, especially the away end. Otherwise, I agree.

Completely agree. He is not a starter for me, with everyone available and fit, and don't think he will be this season. It was well documented he played through injury last season, and still produced his best season in terms goals. Yes, some of his performance were not up to scratch but he gives his all and is a credible player to have in the squad and on the bench, assuming he cannot be sold. I would ceratinly upgrade if we can, be equally happy him staying as a squad player this season and see how he gets on. Definitely does not deserve the shite he gets IMHO.

Completely agree on squad depth, it is essential we boost that - we were so exposed last season. I just hope he is given the time and freedom to improve under Eddie, and that our fans give him a chance as well.

My concern is that is he ready to start, even as no.3? I would say no and think he will be under a lot of pressure, which we have no idea if he can handle and even produce under. His stats would suggest he will not score much either, which will add to the pressure. If we get lucky with Isak and even Wilson when he is back fit, and this lad spends some time in the wings developing rather than being chucked in, I think he will have a much easier start to life here and can then hopefully progress.

To be fair, if our defence was as good last season, as it was the year before, we would have finished top 5 at least. Key injuries across the park did not help of course, especially losing pope and botman for large chunks of the season. Getting back to top 2-3 defense would massively help us and signing him would mean we are well set there for years to come. Still want a new RW to complete the balance in the team though.

Think him and Gordon get on really well, so that could be a plus (if he is staying). Only 2 years on contract, but still going to be at least £50M I would have thought, similar to Olise deal maybe. Back four to pick from Schar, Guehi, Botman, Kelly would be pretty impressive.. If this is true, hope we don't spunk the budget in favour of RW - hopefully we have the capacity for both.

Training alongside Isak and Wilson (occassionally) and the input from Howe and team, he could develop into something pretty good IMO. At that money, we don't have much to lose and you would think this is very much a player they like based on data and upside potential.

We now know that Howe takes his time to bed all players in and to be fair, it is clearly the right approach. Chucking Hall into an injury ravaged team who were under the cosh last season might have gone the other way. Not ready, not fit enough, has a couple of stinkers and then he is under massive pressure.

I have nothing against Longstaff, but I really hope so. Willock offers so much more, decent touch, killer passes, drives the ball well and generally is way more unpredictable that Longstaff, which makes him harder to play against. Thknk it will be Willock, Bruno and Joelinton for the first game.

Taking a longer term view, I wonder if we have one eye on next summer already. With so many players contracts expiring, it could be a very expensive window to get that many replacements. You would have thought the likes of Wilson and Tripps will run their contacts down / not be offered a new contract. Schar, Longstaff and Burn will probably get extended. No idea for Lascelles and Kraft but can see both going. They are all first team players (or subs), so to replace that many will require big money. I wonder if we will go with what we have got for this season, and hope injuries are not as bad. Maybe go for one or two players, but not in the Tonali/Isak price range. Then look at things for next summer based on where we finish up and buy based on that.

Of course that will be the outgoing message.

I doubt them finding a replacement first would in anyway be conditional on us getting him, even less do for a low ball fee. Might speed things up I guess as this name just does not want to go away.

Not sure on their net spend, but nothing on that Villa list really excites me for that amount of outlay. They are certainly not messing about. Cannot really see how that lot massively improves them considering who has gone.