SAK

Not sure if serious but CL football, massive support, Eddie Howe and staff, a general upward trajectory are all positives in our favour. PSR restricts us, our initial signing strategy were upcoming players abroad (Bruno, Botman, Isak) or highly rated English players (Hall, Gordon and Livra) which is risky. Tonali was the only young established signing, the other being an older Trippier. Now we’re back at the top we seem to be looking at established players (Guehi, Mbeumo) to take us to the next level but we don’t have the finances to match. I’d go back to the old strategy that got us here.

Do valuations go down the longer you wait though. Any quality player (the type we will be after) will have other suitors so is it not a case of pay up or move along?

It’s a bit on the players as well, what idiot would go there knowing Yamal has that position. Go to Barca and have it on your CV and get 5-10 minutes in the odd game as a sub or go to a less prestigious club still playing in the Champions league and who are competitive and play lots of minutes.

@The Prophet I’d consider later being during August before the season kicks off.

I don’t, just putting some thoughts down based on the us waiting till later in the window comments. Just spitballing.

Playing devils advocate, many clubs manage to sign players with contracts that become effective on a given future date of their choosing. What prevents us? We hear we’ll shop in July but doesn’t that feel like we don’t know who we’re after? Wouldn’t you just approach a players agent and gauge their interest, if interested agree terms, sound out his club and get a deal done? This waiting later in the window talk to see which players are left after the big boys are done or who’s desperate to sell is akin to turning up at the supermarket at the end of the day and waiting for the reductions, do we really operate like that?

This way you find out if a players interested before wasting time approaching the club. Once a player indicates he wants to leave then normally the deal gets done.

I’ve lived in London for years, got to defend it, one of the best cities in the world (though for the record I hate Chelsea).

Disagree, Londons better than any place in the UK if you’re poor. So many free attractions (British museum, science museum, Natural history museum ,Tate modern /Tate Britain, The Welcome Collection, and public spaces like the National theatre, The Southbank centre and British Library reading rooms) so you might not have much in the bank but you don’t need to be bored. Countryside and seaside within 60-90 minutes depending where in London you are. Most London boroughs give those on low incomes free/low fee gym and swim membership at their leisure centres. Also it has more opportunities for education, training and job opportunities to pull yourself up.

Not so good.

Hopefully

We’re not winning the World Cup but we’ve got good players. The FA gave Tuchel a target of winning the World Cup. He is going to pick tried and tested players even if they’re over the hill because he’s got to get us qualified and ready in 12 months so can’t go with a major rework. Blame the FA for their short-termism.

😂

What’s with this “England have never lost to African opponents” shit? Shock horror African players make up some of the best players in the world. Enough with this superior attitude shit.

And Senegal score while I was typing..how shit.