TRon

It's why we need to be able to spend on the squad to drive real success. That's what puts bums on seats once you get past the diehard support base and shoots you into the superleage echelons. It's also why the cartel have worked so hard to make sure we can't spend on the team. Go build a new training ground or a conference suite and you're fine.

Unfortunately these rules were brought in specifically to stop us spending so they are working exactly as intended.

It was impressive while it lasted.

This is what I'm wondering as well. Mitchell has been brought in to scout out future stars, but we can't really do much with a handful of Osulas. Eddie's not going to start them for one. Are we going to be buying any ready to go players?

Fulham are a funny side as we found out down there. Not really that polished, but a combination of some pace and power, with a manager who lets them loose with it, means they will pose plenty of threat. You'd like to think we'll win it though.

His posts are tongue in cheek, not really meant to be taken seriously.

People were moaning he had done nowt when he'd been barely here a fortnight, it was inevitable there would be an inquest if we did nowt in January. Despite us already saying before the window we would probably wait until the summer to make big moves.

Miggy will tear it up in that league. For all their ambition, their level is still way below the PL so I reckon he'll score plenty of goals, might be even more of a success than when he was there as a younger player. He'll be battle hardened after playing here so long.

Duran is also only 21 so was always going to command a higher fee. Still a lot to pay for someone who's having his first good season but he does look a good player.

Felt like the Jon Dahl Tomasson signing under Dalglish. Right player, wrong time and manager.

He was one of our top players under Rafa, and had a great season where we qualified for the CL. I think he stayed a season too long and it's probably cost us a replacement, so my effusing eulogies are probably tempered by that.

He's gone to Hartlepool so not sure about that.

Was about to say this. As long as we are challenging for CL, no one is going to be unhappy. If we finish well I expect us to do some significant business in the summer, that should be more than enough to keep our few top performers onside, especially if we make CL.

Bye and good luck.

It might be his salary, probably on the high end for a full back. Plus he's 29 so no resale value. Good defender though, would definitely do a sterling job for a lower or mid-tier PL club.

Iraola looks destined for a big club anyway. My money is on him ending up at Spurs. Whether he's better than Howe only time will tell, but he won the head to head pretty comprehensively. Howe will need to sort them out in the return fixture.

Not arsed anyway. He's only just turned 26 so he's a squad player for us at a decent age. I still reckon he's a lot better than he's performed so far. He was great in the cup win against Chelsea.

Some of the same ones shedding a tear would be throwing telly's out the window.

I mean, Howe pretty much said it even before the window opened. The priority was on keeping the players we've got. The decent ones I assume.

He'd be a very good LB for a promoted side, he is a pretty decent full back at PL level.

He's worth what other teams will pay for him ultimately. You'd like to think you can get more than £12m for him, but there isn't exactly a stampede for his signature. If we got £15m for him I'd be more than happy. People tend to way overvalue our players because they are fond of them. We had them on here claiming we were going to get £20m+ for a 33 year old Trippier a year ago. The only real test is the transfer market. We can make up all sorts of imaginary scenarios but until the bids come in, that's all it is.

I think the Saudi ship has sailed. Other clubs seem to have milked it far more effectively than us.

It helps that the Reubens are on board as they do actually have local connections. But the limitations of FFP/PSR do mean that PIF themselves have no incentive to break any rules or invest huge amounts in a hurry, they can quite happily just treat the whole thing as an investment.

Technically Joelinton is not really a top level midfielder, but you could argue his wrecking ball physicality more than makes up for it. Teams must hate playing against him.