Yorkie

Maybe! But there was cup win-scale rejoicing on here when he signed for Leeds so it shows what we know doesn't it.

If you can't see the logic in our decisions (and the context) then I dunno what to tell you, I don't think any of it is rocket science. Honestly man, I've responded because you've quoted me but I cba to engage with you. If that reflects poorly on me, so be it, but you're just relentless angst and negativity - whether you're right or wrong I just can't be bothered.

Wissa wasn't a panic buy, like. We paid more than we wanted to, but we had him in our sights for weeks. Planning to go into the season with only a rookie and Osula is a banter suggestion; I wonder how that would've gone down after the Isak sale. He was a good signing in theory. Still might be once he's settled in the team. Pain in the arse that he isn't up to scratch immediately, no doubt.

Position it however you like; our supposed obsession with only signing PL players is overblown; A, because it's not even true, we've always signed players from abroad; and B, because everyone with money to burn targets the best talent from lower down the Premier League. All the ESL clubs spent an spent an absolute fortune on domestic players this summer (and continue to).

Our expenditure was 40/60 abroad/PL. Replacing Isak was always going to be impossible and because of PSR eliminating all of our first choice targets - and the Isak saga dragging on until the last couple of days - we were knackered in terms of the search. If Wissa and Woltemade don't work out in the long run it's a colossal shame but I'll always think it pretty forgivable given the miserable circumstances in the summer.

Wonder for how many today will be the straw that broke the camel's back. One so far.

We could've signed anyone and still been worse because Isak left. He was the golden ticket. It was always gonna be a case of managing how much worse we were going to be; PSR and the Isak saga itself was no help where that was concerned, then of course the corporate/exec gaps.

Didn't watch. Disappointed with the result but had low expectations and relieved to get a clean sheet at least. Weekend mental health survival rate: 76%

Can't stand these fixtures this season. Away to a struggling team meaning the outcome of the result depending on whether we win or draw/lose (the latter is usually the same) is pure relief or days of angst. We're away so I'm not confident. Customary draw would be disappointing but not the worst result in the world given how they've picked up.

Loving this stuff, @Ashley17

Thoroughly depressed by the amount of the limited edition gear I'm seeing on Vinted. Knobheads taking the piss out of fellow fans for the sake of 40, 50 quid. Proper cunty behaviour imo.

The Spurs game was nowhere near our worst this season. Sunderland was easily that imo, but West Ham was revolting too. Didn't see Brentford but I assume that completes the set of stinkers; nothing else has come close really.

I think he's got to start either this or PSV. With Murphy knackered we can't just keep flogging Gordon and Barnes until they break.

Wages will be absolutely colossal. City would be really going places if only they wised up on their Prem only policy.

You written him off then? Atm we're a point off CL assuming fifth gets it.

There's obviously some fair question marks over the recruitment but this wasn't an easy task tbf (notwithstanding what Heron said about it being a squad game which is true). FBs, no chance we're improving on Tino and Hall. Likewise Gordon and Barnes at LW. CF obviously not, as it's impossible to improve on literally the best in the league/world. The only obvious opportunities to improve on our so-called best eleven were at RW and goalie. We haven't achieved it in either case but the mitigation re the latter is that a cartel club snatched our first choice target from under our noses. The Elanga signing is the only place the spotlight can justifiably be shined imo. If he doesn't drastically improve then that transfer probably deserves the pelters it's getting. But let's see how he gets on after a few weeks out of the team and with an opportunity now to find form.

I do too. But it does look like an overpay, even if he does. I predict Wissa will bang them and £55m will feel like decent value.

Not likely.

I dunno if it's impossible to justify. We were in a very difficult position because of the Isak saga dragging on until the last days and, to replace him, we needed to find as close to a guarantee as possible. Wissa scored 19 PL goals last season and we paid a premium. Also he's 29 but with half the amount of fixtures at the top level under his belt than most other players that age. I honestly don't think we need to get too hung up on the fee we paid for him, especially when there's so much more to come. Elanga though... yeah, it's becoming harder and harder to see how he is ever worth that much.

I thought he might be rusty yeah, but I didn't expect those levels. I like him a lot and think he'll be good fwiw, and I could care less about the transfer fee, but he was alarmingly poor tonight.

Very surprised by just how shite he's played the last two times I've seen him; certainly wasn't expecting him to look so rusty. We really, really could do without it too because his arrival into the team was supposed to give us an uptick after Woltemade, bless him, clearly needed sitting down. I can't believe he won't come good though. He's got great instincts and forces us up the field. Standard that a guaranteed provider of assists (Murphy) is now injured.

How was it desperately stupid to want a striker who'd scored loads of PL goals the previous season? Those were the exact credentials we needed to replace Isak. Sounds like you are writing him off.

We had to play Karius in the final because Dubravka was cup tied.