Cronky

Goalkeeper isn't the most glamourous position, and the value of a top-class one is probably under-rated. It can make a big difference. Looking back, there have been occasions when a good keeper has almost won his team the league - Schmeichel at Man U, Schmeichel Jnr at Leicester, Southall at Everton, Shilton at Notts Forest. Not saying that's going to happen here of course, but on the orthodoxy that a team is strong from the back forwards and the middle outwards, this could be a very important signing. We seem to have been chasing a number of keepers, so Eddie has clearly identified this as a significant area that needed strengthening. This lad now has a bit of experience behind him and looks ready to step up a gear.

Dubs hasn't been the same since his last injury. Nowhere near as confident. I'm a bit sad for him, because he's been a good signing overall, and kept us up when he first signed. The fulsome praise from those Burnley fans is very encouraging.

Only going by clips but Gouiri looks good. Looks to me a better bet than Ekitike, in fact.

This lad was always a bit of a gamble, so I'm not too disappointed. If it means we go for Diaby instead, then great.

Thank you for an interesting post. The only part I'd really dispute is the idea that we are finance driven, rather than looking at building a cohesive and contented squad, if I've understood you correctly. All the indications are that Eddie Howe does a lot of research into a player's character, and building a happy dressing room is a big part of his thinking. I see no sign that Howe is not working in harmony with the people running the club. We did spend a lot of money in January, but it was money well spent, and well targeted from the footballing point of view. We were ripped off for Chris Wood, but we badly needed a striker and the decision was correct. Otherwise, I think we had value for money.

Having any parent as an agent has always struck me as a bad idea. An agent has to be professional and realistic if they're doing their job properly.

This applies to TV coverage of all sports really. It's when they decide to show the brief highlights of a game, and they insist on showing off their wonderful artistry and technical prowess by putting a sequence together where the action flits between all sorts of different angles and viewpoints, with close-ups and wider angles squeezed in. Yes, it may look great, but you don't get any idea of how a goal / try / run has been scored. I haven't watched Sports Personality of the Year since they started doing that.

I'm looking forward to seeing this lad given a chance in the first team. We've had players do well in loan spells, but this lad seems to have actually transformed the side. If he's good enough, he's old enough.

A bit slow, possibly, but he looks quite decent on the ball for a CB.

The might Wyn was the first. He really was brilliant in the air. Best of all time though was Tony Green.

Yes, basically. I think with those two we've established the players' willingness to sign and the clubs' willingness to sell. We're in pole position and I expect those transfers to go through. Our enthusiasm and the long-standing nature of our interest might well have been a factor in persuading the players. Our main problem is landing players who have the option of a CL club. That will be difficult. The third player where we seem to have had a long-standing interest and the competition doesn't seem to be too fierce is Osimhen. We seem to be up against Arsenal. Probably wishful thinking on my part, but he would be a great signing.

Likes a sliding tackle, doesn't he? I like the steely glare. He seems a strong-minded, decisive personality, which is important in a CB, and impressive in one that young. I think I can see why Howe wants him.

If we show we're still keen despite the injury, it might speed things up.

That's a very interesting post, thank you. If Nunez can provide you with more of a physical presence down the middle while fitting in with the pace with which you play, then I can imagine things working out. Against Real - a game where I felt you were still unlucky to lose - someone like Nunez might have made the difference. Incidentally, I don't think Mane and Salah will be nearly as effective in other teams with a different style. They're over-selling themselves a bit.

If other clubs are trying to rip us off, then this seems a good move. Targett did look vulnerable against the better teams, but generally he did a good job for us and is certainly the best LB at the club.

Interesting podcast about NUFC and FFP. An hour long but well worth listening to in its entirety. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCTaI-qezgU

I really, really like the look of this player. He looks well suited to the Premiership and us in particular. On current prices, I don't think £85m is a rip-off. Even if we can somehow win the battle with Arsenal (showing him a video of our last home game would help), I can't believe that only two clubs are in for him.

Got to bear in mind that the World Cup and Euro final tournaments consist mainly of knock-out rounds, if a team is going to go all the way to win. Luck is going to play a part.

re Sturridge - I can remember reading at the time that there was a suspicion at Liverpool that he wasn't the most resilient when it came to dealing with injuries. Over-reluctant to take any risks for the sake of the team, and rather self-protective. There's a pattern to many players' careers whereby they reach a certain level, and then things become more challenging because opponents have sussed them out a bit. I just wonder whether Sturridge had the appetite for that challenge. Sometimes it's about facing up to your limitations and making the best of things. I think that's happening with Dele Alli.

Yeah, the treatment of injuries and the science behind physical preparation has improved immensely. Also, younger players in the top teams face more difficulty in establishing themselves. That could mean that some of them don't get over-played, and reap the benefits later. Examples of the reverse are Rooney and Wilshere. I watched a bit of the tennis yesterday, with Nadal at 36, outpacing a good 25 year old opponent in Zverev. Who knows what's possible in the future.

It would be interesting to know. I suspect he was one of those that couldn't cope with success.

I assume this is from the Rheims Chairman. It does sound like many have read too much into it. I heard it as ' we've done our bit, it's now up to the player and his advisers', not, 'there's a problem in persuading the player to sign'. I think this is going to go through very soon. We wouldn't have gone to the trouble of negotiating the fee in detail with the club, without an indication from the player that he wanted to sign. If the player is still hoping for other options at this late stage, then maybe we should look elsewhere.

Who was a better player than he's usually given credit for. But let's not fight. Better times are ahead.

I've just watched a YT video which raised the issue of whether he was 'ready for the top level'. It included his unsuccessful involvements in play as well, but if anything, I now feel more confident about this lad. I think it's a characteristic of a lot of these gangly, long-legged players that their first touch isn't great, but they have decent technique once they have the ball under their control. He also seemed quite determined, stronger than I'd first thought, and able to spot and deliver to a team mate in a good position. I'm a bit disappointed that we've not gone for a player that's further along their learning curve, but clearly Howe has spotted something and sees the potential to coach him to the top level.

I suspect he already has. He looks a very good player, but not within our reach at the moment. I don't think the club will (or should) go down the route of overcoming a player's reluctance by giving them an inflated salary. Apart from anything else, there now seems to be some extra enthusiasm behind enforcing FFP.