STM

Aye it was me. Although admittedly I'd prefer Tomori, I reckon he's got a few more air miles on him for his age. Also, if we signed tomori, the anti-anglo brigade wouldn't make a peep.... all because we would be signing him from Milan. Both Kilman and Tomori are good defenders and it's no surprise that we are looking at them.

Spot on. Absolutely insane how easy people make it sound.

It depends what DCL is thinking. If he's decided he's not signing a new contract then Everton basically have to sell. Even 15m is semi-transformative to their funding of players, which they need. He might be tempted to stay at Everton, if so, they might chance keeping him. Huge risk on their part. They can't really let him go for nothing next summer.

I've already outlined why a fee of 20/25m isn't much these days and spread across 5 years isn't going to kill us, especially with Callum Wilsons likely exit factored in. The mental gymnastics, as far as I can tell, is coming from those who refused to trust our transfer team.

Absolutely not.

I was going to make this post. Schar played on the left of a pair when Lascelles came in and Schar was excellent. Its very much over-done.

Yeah, I just think it's a very small gamble. Financially it won't cost a lot.

Aye but your last paragraph has been debunked. He has been a very good player. He played 38 games last season. We've had a season of bad injuries, whether the club is culpable or not, do you not think they are trying to fix that or that they might know a touch more about sporting medicine that you?

Yes but surely you see the error in that judgement? If we sign a clearly shit player and he turns out to be shite, fair cop but if we sign someone who is universally rated as a quality player, you can't then go mental if it doesn't work out? Especially when there isn't a successfull club in history who hasn't a list of dud transfers. It doesn't half feel like we narrow the field, just to make damn sure we have something to whinge about. Our transfers so far have been excellent. Very little credit on this forum mind.

This is Tyldesley right? Remind me is it yay or nay? I'll be honest... I like Clive.

You know what's cute... you remember my name. Love you Ronny. 😍

Yes but how many with your captain hindsight cap off? Botman is a unbelievable player, who had no injury record to speak of, you really holding that against them? Tonali, even if we lose a year on him, was heralded as an absolutely insane capture. If he turns out shite, its very difficult for them to have seen that coming. Targett was perhaps a safe signing that they probably already regret but at that time the landscape was different. Barnes is a good player but yes, I agree, it may look like we went for a player in the wrong position. You've missed the only obvious bad signing: Chris Wood. Who still served a purpose and we got a fair wedge back.

Also, there's a good reason why all of our early deals seem "uninspiring" we are almost certainly getting some of the less glamorous business done early doors before we get a PSR boost after this month+ the possibility of player sales.

Let's say we sign DCL for 20m (last year of his contract). He gets a 5 year deal. That's 5÷20= 4m per year towards our PSR commitments. We are likely to get something like 10m for Wilson, meaning (with DCL first payment removed) we've added 6m to our initial PSR coffers (because I believe we've paid our Wilson commitments?). 6m might seem like peanuts, but it's likely the first payment on another deal, let's say Pedro Neto etc. The likelihood is that we will end up replacing Wilson for someone younger and its unlikely to cost us anything for the first couple of years. DCL was absolutely class 3 years ago, so it's a gamble but it's not an expensive one.

And I wish more were like this. I'm always wrong and I'm always prepared to admit it. The world's a better place when people don't double down. It surprise a few people but scouts aren't just some schmucks who turn up, watch a game and decide "he's a good player", their who lives are dedicated in finding who's got what skill and for which club they might suit. It's so complex. (Not aimed at you) Kilman is Wolves Captain FFS, does anybody realise what level of personality and ability it takes to get to this level in football. Its honestly a matter of days before its revealed that the likes Man United etc were also sniffing around him. Mind I'm not sure I'm making the best argument there.

While I understand where you are coming from, the amount of times I've heard people, who are supposed to know who they are talking about, wax lyrical about a foreign player who's signed for an English club and they've done fuck all in this country. It always gets forgotten about.

Ironically I'm watching Ronaldo here and he's gone. His brain is doing things that his body can't anymore. It's slightly sad. That said, he's put more effort and contribution in than Harry Kane.

I do love me an ageing CB who continues to defy his age. The Italians produce loads of them.

I must say, Pepe is absolutely unreal. At his age, he still looks sprightly and churning out good performances.

Honestly, I need a rest from this place. So many bad takes its frightening. I'm always honest, I've never paid to much attention to Kilman, but I'm smart enough to know that when there is noise around a player being good, it's often accurate. Put an I on the end of his name and say we are signing him for Napoli, the same people are making different comments. It's absolutely embarrassing.

He's also best mates with Antonio.

That is sooooooo West Ham.

Some absolute whoppers in here mind.... and yes it's because I disagree with your opinion. Our record in the transfer market is fantastic, especially the players we've signed from these shores. I don't want us to sign foreign players just to appease a few FM wannabees who think they have the foreign market sussed. Eddie has forgotten more about football than most (including me) will ever even understand in their lifetime. That doesn't mean to say you aren't entitled to an opinion, it just means that you are likely wrong.

Always rated DCL as a player. His injuries have cost him a few years. It's up to Howe to once again prove the naysayers wrong and reshape him. I haven't clicked the Torygraph article, so could someone explain the financial side?

Pleased this non-saga is done quickly.