ponsaelius

It's not just that your position in a team/ squad dynamic is much clearer in the summer - but on a personal level the logistics are totally different. In the summer it's a lot easier to make a big life decision like that. Kids can finish up school and move over summer holidays, you've got time to sort everything out logistically in terms of moving house etc. Moving in January means you're straight over there and into a matchday squad. And like I say - you're 6 months further into a contract so there's more incentive to secure the next big one.

I'd say it's quite different to move in the summer as opposed to in the middle of a season, tbh. Plus you're another 6 months into a contract.

Only 2 more years. He'll be sold within 12 months imo.

Considering our penchant for 'long termism' in the transfer market I could still see us signing Trafford and loaning him straight back out for a year, tbh. It was always slightly uncomfortable a signing given we have a first choice in Pope and no European football to share game time. However it's possibly more likey we've decided to kick the can down the road for a year and invest in other positions instead.

I'm a dyed in the wool Spain hater but I have to say this side is far more fun to watch than they usually are.

I would have died

The thing with Mikautadze is he already had a big move last summer when Ajax bought him for big money (certainly for that level). I'd love to know why that didn't work out.

Damn it. Georgia are the most fun team ever.

I saw that Atlanta have just got 23 million euros for Thiago Almada. Would be lovely if they could come back in for a reunion.

We've been tentatively linked to a few free agent shitey goalkeepers to be number 3. This is effectively the same I'd hope, but rather than a free transfer we pay 5 million or so - but actually it's just offset against an inflated fee for Anderson.

Was watching this the other day funnily enough, for about the fourth time. Know absolutely nothing about baseball but it's probably one of my favourite films.

Can we please make some exciting signings from next month as this has been a load of shite so far mind

Between psr and var football is a bag of fucking wank

Just seen what Delaney was ruled offside for dear me

I mean it doesn't take much. I can't be arsed to check but his 14 goals/assists was probably more than any Man United player last season.

He'll probably tear it up there like.

Depressing state of affairs this mind

That's basically what is happening. None of these deals are actually swap deals as such.

Surely there's no chance they'd do that? They'd certainly value Pedro far higher.

The manager brought him on massively last season? Even if you ignore the fact Chelsea are bigger than Brighton and will offer more wages, it's obvious why he'd go there.

I used to watch every Swiss tournament game because my ex was from there. I feel like I got quite a good view into their overall national football psyche as a result. It's basically a watered down version of England with less hype. Last 16 is their equivalent of our quarter final losses, and with the same repeated penalty trauma. Like I say maybe the France game was a turning point.

Winning knockout games is not something Switzerland do though, even though they've beaten big sides in qualifying and matched big teams in group stages. I suppose they did finally get that off their backs against France - but they followed it up with that horror show against Portugal in 2022 to return to type. So while on form it seems a 50/50 game I'd still always favour the more historically larger side over them.

Both England and Italy have lucked out really being on this side of the draw given the respective performances. England have probably been marginally better but we had a very weak group IMO. Switzerland obviously a harder last 16 tie than Georgia but still feel like Spain have been essentially punished for winning the group.