The Prophet

Without reading it, I'm guessing the Hope article is similar to the Athletic's, buy dramatised by the usual tabloid bells and whistles?

I'm hoping we go a bit more direct for this one, similar to last season. Even without Solanke, they have lot of quality up to and we can't be playing risky passes in our own half. They'll try and overload our defensive third which should leave plenty of space in behind for Isak and Gordon. 2-2.

So the list was Tosin, Guehi, Tapsoba and Thiaw.

While I completely understand disappointment with the transfer window, surely now is the time to get behind the lads, particularly after Howe's comments yesterday. After all isn't that the whole idea of attending? It's Sunday 2PM, so it'll probably be subdued regardless.

Again, poor window and a blip for incoming recruitment, which has largely been very good. All we can ask if that lessons are taken on board and it isn't repeated. I find the catastrophizing a bit over the top though. We're still an attractive, ambitious project and all of our best players aren't suddenly going to leave. Yes, I think we could be vulnerable to selling one of them next summer, but I'd have thought that regardless. We're still more than capable of top six and an enjoyable season. Granted we're now vulnerable to injury than we needed to be.

Didn't Ornstein pretty much debunk the Gordon stuff? He said Liverpool made an "arms length enquiry" that was rejected

Got a whole season to enjoy first, but next summer feels like crunch time. Loads of players our of contract. Obviously some will be offered a new deal, but we may need cash in the bank or a sizeable sale to restock the squad.

Good post.

I'm still digesting it all really, but undoubtedly a poor window. It feels like there's a couple of things at play: 1) PSR. PSR is not only limiting our transfer spend, but our mentality too. Rather than be bold or innovative, we've become incredibly risk adverse, placing a handicap on the pool of targets we're willing to bid on in fear of buying a dud. 2) Executive upheaval. Staveley leaving and Mitchell being appointed has definitely caused disruption of sorts. It might not be sinister, but it felt chaotic and had a reactive feel to things. 3) An inability to shift players. Fair enough, it was a slow market, but to still have all of Targett, Trippier, Longstaff, Almiron and Wilson on the books when we were allegedly willing to listen to offers for all of them is a poor showing and is unhelpful from a PSR perspective. Usually I struggle to grumble with our incoming transfer business, but this was undoubtedly a blip and the narrative of the window will only put the pressure on Mitchell and Eales moving forward. I fully expect the former to start to implement changes in the coming months, along with a PR campaign including new contracts and a stadium announcement from the latter.

Shall I fire up a "rate the window" thread then?

I think we could see an overhaul of the recruitment department in the next couple of weeks.

There's some superb takes on here tonight.

They'll be asking themselves some tough questions.

We're still good enough.

Fair. When does that close?

Mad Lewis and Hayden are still at the club.

PIF are ruthless though, they don't tolerate second best.

Did we sack this off then?

Howe undoubtedly loves a white lie in his press conferences. It's not to say everything he says is rubbish, but I struggle to take him at face value.

I don't think they'll get toxic, but I agree it does feel like a big game in terns of the mood music

Edwards contradicting Hope re Guehi.