ponsaelius

Between two Championship clubs it must be a record? I'm surprised a PL team hasn't come in for him.

He was rumoured to PSG for more than that in January. I think £35-40 mill is very reasonable fee based on his performances over the last 3 years.

I think it's a bargain in the current market tbh

The group therapy of this thread as we all gradually talk ourselves round is lovely.

Long game and out of his hands it is probably the best in the league. Ball playing ability in possession and short passing game, which often seen as desirable for the biggest clubs to build from the back, not as good. He'd have had a move from Everton if it was.

He's bit like Pickford. His long passing is good. Short passing and ability on the ball not as good (Raya was an upgrade on that) but still a lot better than Pope on that front.

We are often determined to get long term signings that are top targets to avoid wasting money. I think overall this is the right policy but I also think this inflexibility is taken to extremes and means that we let the pursuit of perfect be the enemy of good (enough). This is quick a pivot away from this strategy and I don't mind it. It's a pricey loan fee, and a high wage player in to raise the floor ahead of a grueling CL campaign where our #1 is injury prone and our backup is approaching 37. I think it'll end up looking like a shrewd move - particularly if we now secure other players in key positions.

I'm at ease with it tbh. It tides us over at keeper. IMO he is an upgrade on Dubravka and offers us a slightly different option for games. Just gasping for some proper signings in other positions now.

His value might drop slightly but it's worth also remembering he'll be around £12 million further down in terms of amortisation.

If his house is already up for rent then he's surely already gone?

Get yourself over for the real thing

He is definitely better than Dubravka who will be 37 before the season is out. Once Trafford was out it was mooted we just wouldn't bother with a keeper. Personally I'd rather Ramsdale in on the right deal than no keeper signing at all. I think he was a good player for Arsenal personally - just Raya was better.

We're clearly not bothering with a proper keeper signing now Trafford has gone elsewhere (hopefully that means spending elsewhere instead). In that case I'd personally rather have him in our squad than Dubravka. It's more the optics of this deal in light of all our other business. And the fact as to why we don't have any other potential goalkeeper signings at all once Trafford pied us off.

Seems a panic buy to me. Rather than a long term replacement for Pope, somebody of a similar sort of level, doesn't really raise things short term nor secure a permanent solution. Six keepers on the books

True like. I can only presume we're led entirely by targets we specifically want on our list and agents inviting interest - without ever considering the market specifics and timing that will make it very unlikely for a club willing to sell for a reasonable price. Other times you're pushing at open doors with deals - and we seem to have completely lost the ability to spot when this is the case.

That's always the issue particularly as you get towards the end of the window. You're relying on dominoes falling into place and clubs needing replacements. Most PL clubs are simply too savvy to sell given the risk of relegation and the financial doom that brings.

I really think we're completely sleepwalking on a major CB crisis and the succession planning is awful there. Botman cannot be relied upon physically. Burn and Schar are 33 and probably have one season left in them. Krafth and Lascelles also past 30 and are not up to it. We need 2 CB signings in the next 12 months. If you can't get a 'top' target then you need to get one from a shelf down anyway and go for more of a punt on potential because we're going to need more anyway very soon.

The entire narrative would change if we made another couple of strong signings TBF. We really weren't that far off a very good side. That's what is frustrating about the whole thing.

Sesko has been playing in the CL for years. I'd have full confidence in him hitting stride in Europe. The slog of league football might be more difficult. I think it might not be as smooth a ride as it was for Isak. Which is why you'd like to also have a proven PL forward signed too - like we had with Wilson at the time when we signed Isak

He looked miles off it to me at Celtic but I had a feeling we were going to keep him around as emergency depth in CL given his club grown status. Makes me mildly more hopeful we're actually going to sign a midfielder. Naive fool.

They're aaful

Don't think you could really replace him like for like, but certainly 'in the aggregate' if you ended up with two strikers and more creative quality in midfield which is absolutely achievable with an 150+ sale. We just do not have the capability, time or options on the market to do so.

Turned on for the shootout. Happy for them

Yeah I actually agree with you here. You have to mentally be able to separate them as different sports to embrace it. I think how invested I am in football in general, and how much I consume, makes this much harder for me. There are lots of other women's sports I will happily watch. Mind I would say the standard of a Northern League game remains streets ahead of the very top level of the women's game. Not that you should compare them at all but since you made that point. I should definitely get along to watch NUFC at some point. I think having a team to actually support would definitely help me - as I am pretty indifferent to England in forms anyway.

Here's my admission. I am all for lasses footy at all levels. Think it's great to see the progress it has made in recent years and it's brilliant to hear about young girls getting into sport. But I have to admit I have not watched a single minute of this tournament and when I do watch women's footy it I find it almost unwatchable. I will happily watch the Northern Alliance but have never been to a live women's game of any form even NUFC.