ponsaelius

The fact Howe is even commenting on it directly suggests to me it is done.

3 games

Romano is a grafter.

Ando7 and the tap in merchant on the money, Luke Edwards in the mud? This is why we love the game.

God that endorphin hit when I loaded up the forum just there.

Honestly love murky forum ITKs who post cryptic bullshit that people lap up. I don't even care if they're playing a game or not or whether it's got a hint of truth. Just pure internet heritage.

Fair point. However in sprinting your body is fine tuned to do one thing and that's run in a straight line for 10-20 seconds. That's it. Football involves so many other elements of constant movement, different physical stresses on the body and needs much longer term stamina. I can't remember ever seeing any footballer be Haaland's height and build but also have that acceleration and pace. Forwards his size usually have moderate pace at best and have to compensate by using their height aerially or through technical ability with the ball. While those with pace to burn are usually much smaller with a lower centre of gravity. I've never seen anybody with his combination of attributes in football. It's highly unusual.

I know we obviously have our value metrics etc but I find it strange went up to 42 million for Maddison but not anywhere near that for Harrison. No doubt in my mind who the better player is (Maddison) but equally I think Harrison would be a better fit tactically and personality wise for what we need and what Howe wants for the team. The more I've seen us play and the way Harrison has started the season - I think he'd have fitted in like a glove and given us great balance. We should have gone in with a proper offer much earlier on in the window. I don't think they'll even consider selling now.

I’m eternally baffled by Haaland. I don’t understand how somebody who is 6ft5 and built like he is can also have that kind of pace and acceleration. It’s unnatural - like somebody has made a player's attributes on a video game.

He's Santa Claus and Messi rolled into one and some people advocate for his sale ffs.

Difference in squad depth and 5 subs will murder us here.

The only thing keeping me sane is that we have a load of games coming up.

Feel like shit just want a new signing

According to their forum yes - by Jan.

Can definitely see the club aiming to sign directly from South America in the future.

£20 million probably is a fair offer to be honest which reflects his current value as a bit of a gamble. But it's not one that will make them sell considering the windfall they'll get from Dennis and Sarr who were always going to leave. JP is clearly the one they wanted to keep for at least another season. This is the point. We keep targeting the players that the clubs don't want to play ball with at this stage - so you then need to offer 30-50% more to make them sell. Which we obviously won't do because it then doesn't represent value for us. Round and round we go.

It was well reported we enquired about the first two and were quoted sums we weren't willing to pay. Just because it didn't get to bidding stage doesn't mean we didn't try and sign them. Sesko we were clearly interested in given that we met his agent. None of those clubs have ultimately sold those players and I'm not sure they will (I don't count the Sesko to Leipzig next year as a real transfer - the corp have kept him in house). Gordon is another one for me. We went in for him well after they'd got the windfall for Richarlison (and Kean). Might have had a better chance earlier on. But generally I don't think they intend to sell him unless the offer is ridiculous (which might be what they're going to get from Chelsea).

Not even Maddison I was thinking of. I don't think the asking price was actually unreasonable for a player of his quality. That was more a lowball offer for a player who actually might have been a goer. I was more meaning the likes of Diaby, Harrison, Sesko, JP etc. They're all from clubs who don't need to sell or had already sold players they had expected to go this summer. We're repeatedly targeting the players who clubs don't want to sell because they've already had big player turnover or just don't want to sell at this stage of their value arc (unless the bid is way over and above). I think that's half the reason we're falling short repeatedly. We seem to be bluntly targeting the precise profile of player we want rather than actually playing the market where potential deals are there to be had.

No chance it is happening if Sarr is off to Palace like. We keep going for players that clubs just won't sell unless the offer is ridiculous.

It will be an honour to see him in the gold and black

Will be an honour to see us step away after disagreeing with their valuation

I am getting fed up of us going for players that clubs are unwilling to sell like. This appears to have happened literally just after they flogged Dennis.

The general opinion of Watford fans seems to be that he's better, with greater potential, than both Sarr and Dennis.

It's obviously difficult for us to attract somebody who can be first choice because of cost (Isak for eg) but it's clearly going to also be difficult to find a young player to compete with Wilson who knows they're not going to be first choice. Obviously we know Wilson gets injured but a young player can't bank on that. Somebody like Ramos for example would be clearly first choice if he went to Wolves or Brighton. Would he be here? That will play in decision making. We're dealing with a very narrow profile and pool of players there IMO.

His profile is similar to Ekitike and Ramos. Young forward with potential who do a job in other positions.