STM

Wor lass likes Joelinton. Why wouldn't she? Reckon Tonali gets bonus points for a) having lush hair and b) being Italian.

Some fair points, I'd definitely argue that he's right in the middle of the Venn diagram for getting a good price but also being expendable. Let's take our other two, Murphy and Miggy.... We might get 30m, top end, for Miggy (probably more like 25) but we'd lose our first choice RW, a player who will happily play a squad role, someone who fits into the system seamlessly and has a decent fitness record. In truth, I'd certainly be tempted by selling Miggy provided we get another top RW. Then Murphy, top end, 20m? (From someone like Forest?) But more likely 16m. The reality is that I don't rate Murphy highly as a player at all but we would never replace him for that money. He's as happy as Larry playing a squad role for us. 12 months time, he might have a different view.

Never change Adam P... No seriously, change.

Sorry for the condescension. Genuinely. It's harder to shift shite players, simple as that really. Dummett has hie uses, none of which will be on a football pitch, aside an early FA/league cup match.

Honest to God. The idea of a fully fit and firing Maxi in our line up is mouth watering and I hope I'm proved wrong.

Scott Carson says hi. It might be amazing for you to learn but some players are more sellable than others... I'm sure there's some kid on a Dortmund forum going crackers about selling Bellingham for 110m before some shite on their bench that never gets a game. It seems an odd criticism of our ownership that they aren't getting rid of the shite quick enough considering the transformation of our squad.

You know why we've kept Dummett though right? And what kind of wages he's on? And the off field contributions he makes etc? Unless you think Eddie's team building, unity stuff is hocus pocus?

Relevance?

I was going to leave it... but I can't help myself. Why is any criticism turned into "oh you think he's a lazy French cunt"? My view of Maxi is that once you get him fit (rare) then up to speed (takes half a dozen games) he's absolutely electric, terrifying for defenders and absolute asset to the side but how long should I wait for that? It's easy to say well "he's started x games" or had "x amount of appearances" or "he's been available for x amount and wasn't played" but even in the times he was on the pitch he was either knackered, hobbling about, returning from injury or my favourite "doesn't suit being a substitute" . I mean, what am I waiting for? someone to turn up with a magic wand and produce a Maxi that is a) fit b) injury free c) stays that way for 20+ games? Let's call a spade a spade, as much as we would like it to happen, it won't. He will always be the mercurial winger who gives you amazing moments and fond memories but he's never going to be reliable. I haven't even touched onto his place in our set up, which at best is questionable. Is he even first choice anymore? Does the team have to accommodate him? Does he press enough for Howe? Does he track back enough? Then there is his contract situation, rumour has it he wants a pay rise, on what basis? Because it can't be contribution to the team? Do the club want to do that? 40m for someone without many question marks over his head is a no brainer. As far I'm aware, taking in that amount of money would help our FFP situation out alot.

If Saudi offer 40m+ for Maxi, you take it. Its too much money for an unreliable player. If massively helps our FFP. We can replace him and set ourselves up nicely for other windows.

I'm absolutely convinced he's on a list somewhere, as a longer term target but it makes zero sense right now and probably makes even less sense going forward. He's more likely to get in Chelseas midfield than ours.

Champion, got the Kleenex and the XY on ice.

I really like Gallagher, I think Howe would make a real player out of him but..... Wheres he getting in our team? I'm not sure he's better than Willock and I wouldn't trust him to do what Longstaff can do.

We have had a comment from the player.

I doubt Dan Ashworth is surprised by this development. Its just nice to see us attempting to get this calibre of player.

Canny watch

I totally agree. Value is very much abroad but then so is the risk. However I would also say that it works two ways. Don't be surprised if we are given 15m for Lascelles. 40m for Andersen won't look so bad on that basis.

I'm shocked that anyone thinks that's a high price for a quality CB, certainly one playing for a PL club. It's 2023. We've just seen Brentford shell out 23m for Collins. On that basis, 40m on Andersen who was universally praised seems fair enough.

I think it's entirely possible we are now into a selling phase of the window. We have so much shite to shift that it's natural to assume the club is busy trying to offload wages and fringe players. Once we have a clear picture of space in the squad + financial wriggle room, we will go again. I'm certainly of the opinion that we might end up with only 1 or 2 more. I think it's depending on outgoings. For example, if West Ham come in for Lascelles, does that free up space to move for a CB? If we can loan out Lewis can we move on a LB. Frasers wages are quite big, I'm sure all of these thing are part of a big puzzle.

Yep. I'm convinced our next signing will be someone daft like Cancelo or Raphinha. Totally beyond what we thought we would get and someone we've only been slightly linked with.

I've never been so cynical towards transfer rumours as I am this window. So far nobody has been correct on anything (until Tonali was virtually wrapped up). Why should we believe any of this shit?

That might be because, I don't know.... he hasnt even arrived yet? When we signed Botman, we did a "agreement in principle", then we got all the content later. If rumours are correct, he's flying in tommorow and there will be more Tonali content than you can possible masturbate too.

A thread for chants and people get to express them in their own voices, what an incredible idea.

I'd argue that both Anderson and Gordon could be added to that list in an injury crisis (I've said before I think Gordon will end up a central player). Also Howe now has the option to play Bruno and Tonali as a pair, meaning he could bring Isak in as a number 10. We have options in midfield now. Had to be a RW as a priority and a couple of defenders to compete.

Francesco Coco