Raconteur

It will be this - perhaps a “loan fee”, covering the wages and signing him permanently on a free next summer. Everybody’s happy.

Zinchenko, Bruno and Joelinton would be an incredible midfield three. Am I the only one who thinks Jesus would be brought in as RW (and Wilson backup) as opposed to an out and out striker…?

Outrageous

Especially since he went on to play for one of the biggest clubs in the world where he won a CL medal (and a runners up CL medal)…

Funny, my mind went straight to Michel Preud’Homme who was Belgium’s keeper for most of the 80s and 90s. Brilliant keeper

I thought you meant the 16yo Portuguese kid…

Doesn’t Peter Kenyon being involved means the deal won’t ever be completed?

One of our best players plays for the mackems. Enough said EDIT: We’re in a group with France, Denmark and Tunisia. I’d be lumping on going pointless and possibly even goalless.

Im delighted we qualified but there’s no arguing with the bold. We’re awful at the moment, and little prospect of not being awful in Qatar…

I never doubted you Arnie,

From The Guardian’s coverage; This is the work of goalkeeper coach John Crawley, who developed both Ryan and Redmayne at club level in Australia and worked wonders with Redmayne at Sydney FC, especially in 2019 when Sydney won the grand final penalty shootout against Perth Glory.

Keeper, captain, best player - no pressure on Redmayne

I should be offended but we’re so goddamned awful…

I’m wondering if a lot of our board are too young to remember Maldini as a player. In some ways he is similar to what Shearer was for us, except whilst Shearer was the premier English striker of his time, Maldini is in the top three defenders of all time (number one for me). Chuck in the family dynasty - if Maldini has chosen Botman as The Man to buy, you’d think the lad would go to Italy in a trice. Unsurprised Milan fans might be bitter losing a quality player to an “oil money” club, but frankly, after 14 years of getting shafted in the transfer market, it’s easy to let those insults slide off!

My feelings are the exact opposite - I'm certain their looking to upgrade Burn before Schar. BDB slotted in and did very well, but he's by no means a top 6-8 defender. That's not to say an upgrade to Schar won't happen, just that I think Eddie will look to upgrade Burn first.

Gotta say my first reaction to watching that vid was we need to get HBA back and on the juice. A front line of ASM, Ekitike and HBA would be pure sex.

Homecoming for Darlow too, please

My maths says it would work out to be 25m each player - considering Henderson, Ekitike, Raphina, every striker cost more than that... yeah! A lot more. Outgoings might add up to perhaps 30m, raising the average to only 30m.

I can’t speak for anyone else, but my loathing of Everton began about two seconds after Rafa was floated as manager - the Toffee fans went mental and I, like I’m sure a few others here, sort of wanted Everton to do well, but after he left and Lampard was appointed, the desire to see your lot go down was like fire…

I think Targett is going to end up being one of the players Eddie was saying we’d be sad to say goodbye to - he’s been absolutely outstanding and If be happy for him to stay, but the fact they gave Dummett another contract and talk of Lodi suggests Targett will be going back to Villa.

The through ball to Wilson was indeed sexy, if a touch heavy, but what impressed me was that he had the confidence to even try it. Can’t remember much more than a side-footed pass or thunderbastard shot from him forever…

Tarkowski in, Lascelles out is a no brainer

I've got a very strong suspicion Tarkowski is a done deal and they're waiting until the end of the season to announce it - particularly awkward given his final game for Burnley will be at home against us

Tassotti Baresi Costacurta Maldini Cafu Nesta Stam Maldini I’ll take the 80s defence, thanks

We made five changes ourselves in January and all five slotted into the team very well (Wood’s goal return notwithstanding). Purchasing six more in summer wouldn’t be that much of a stretch. Three of those five January signings might be getting replaced this summer anyway, and even listing our absolute best eleven, we could easily find six holes that need replacing before we aim for Top 6 and putting *ENORMOUS* emphasis on the FA Cup.