ponsaelius

That was so bad

Get Phil Airey on ffs

Can't believe I'm gonna be absolutely spannered tomorrow now for this ffs.

Except when we literally played them 2 months ago and beat them through an intense high press.

Manquillo inj? Noticed he's not been in either the last two teams. Unless he's on the way oot.

It's a load of drivel.

Mahrez went for £30 million to same club. Obviously a better player but he's 33 this season ffs. We've been had. By ourselves somehow.

Other than the free agents (who obviously got huge signing on fees undoubtedly) it's the most undervalued of all the moves to Saudi League this summer in terms of transfer fee IMO.

Al-Hilal signed Malcom for 60 million euros the other day. Same age and long since gave up on playing in a serious league.

It's an apologetically low fee to avoid scrutiny imo. 40 million euros would have been about right.

Definitely undersold at that price. Barely anymore than we paid for the fucker.

I've previously suggested Eze as somebody I'd love to sign this summer because of his ability and versatility but tbh we're pretty stocked in midfield now and in terms of when playing wide he's generally more left sided.

They're hardly going to be selling the likes of Gabriel, Moreira etc who they've literally just signed though. Nor likely other youngsters they've either signed last summer like Casadei or brought through like Hall. They've signed lots of young players as assets, which makes up a large part of their US party, and they'll be trimming the squad down mostly by farming them out. The pre-season tour will largely be an exercise in Poch deciding who he wants around, and who isn't ready yet. But that doesn't mean selling the players in question necessarily - it just means who will be sticking around this season in a smaller squad. And I don't think this process or the existing size of their tour squad would do anything in terms of stopping them make a first XI signing like Caicedo for example.

Not really any different to what I've said tbf. The ones they're selling are those that are left at home anyway. Most of it from now will be picking which of the kids/new signings they're keeping around, and which are going out on loan. Other than maybe Gallagher I'm not sure they'll sell many more. I know we've been linked with Lewis Hall, but I'd still be surprised if they sell him rather than loan out at this stage of his career tbh. Especially as it's not like he can't also play other positions.

Not sure they do tbh, they've already cleared loads bringing the average age right down. Mostly it'll be younger players going out on loan from this point rather than many more sales from the actual squad they've took with them to the US. Only position they do need to sell on is left back, as they currently have four.

It was widely reported by journalists at both ends, so yes, there is no reason to not.

It is widely reported that we did get £15 million for Wood.

Yes in the old ballroom towards the car park. Think there was already consent to use for a similar use, but now Stack have taken it on and submitted amended plans.

True. Makes sense, I suppose any link in that direction would be very one way in terms as a way to loan players out. I've heard many academy players are averse to going to the NL on loan, which always felt a bit of a shame. There's loads of players who have made successful careers by going out on loan to non league clubs at a young age (Pickford being the North East one which comes to mind). Obviously you want the right environment for them - which I why I think a direct partnership could facilitate that.

We were probably hoping there was an outside chance of him stepping up to Championship level and us squeezing a transfer fee at some point - as he'd played a lot of footy successfully in good 3rd tier clubs up until his injury last year (85 games for Plymouth and Wigan across two seasons, going up as champions with the latter). Now I'd imagine he goes on a free at the end of the season.

Cool. Sort of explains why Westendorf went there now. Got to say I'd prefer it if we made a more formal link with Gateshead. I don't think there is a much difference in standard between the NL and the Norn Irish league and the proximity is so much closer that players don't even have to move and can even bounce between both clubs pretty freely.

I still think he's probably better suited as the deepest midfielder than as one of the number 8s, and that will end up being where he plays with Bruno further forward.

Am I the only one that doesn't really give a fuck about Bruce? I had checked out so much by the point he was in charge that he barely registers any feelings at all.

Bruce thread was locked so could only think to put it in here

Ye correct. They're also doing a similar more permanent one in the Spanish City in Whitley.