Lush Vlad

My thoughts on it exactly. I think it was more the suggestion that we might start to play with a link man between the midfield and attack. It is what many think has been lacking in certain games, myself included. But then again, the money involved seemed steep and I'm not sure £60m on him would have been the best use of our limited funds. Especially when we have positions in the current starting XI that need addressing more urgently. Just to echo what everyone else has said. If you want to join Chelsea, then good luck. I don't think any club needs that kind of personality in their squad.

Proper shat the bed here. Could/should have been 3 or 4 up. But wide open this half and that goal has been coming.

If McAtee could improve his finishing and final ball. Then he would be far more than a bit part player at City. He has usually impressed when I’ve seen him for City and he looks like the best player on the pitch tonight. Until he gets near the box. Should have a couple of goals and assists.

The crowd don’t really get into it, do they?

He really is Mr LinkedIn. He seems like a nice enough fella in lots of ways. But his schtick is unbearable.

Guessing an owners and trainers badge

Fair

I tell you what. Absolutely sound. Not a ‘typical footballer’ at all. Seemed genuinely interested, asking about our bets, football, where you from etc.

Schteve McClaren and Bryan Ferry?

I guess they could view it like Tino and Hall. Not an obvious position of need that needs upgrading right away and we have other areas that need addressing far more urgently IMO. But if the deal is there to be done. At a price they’re happy with and it also means we get in there before others. Then I can understand it. I do agree that £30-40m for a keeper when we need to strengthen 3-4 outfield positions is steep. Especially if we do have a limited budget that won’t stretch too far. I also don’t think it is a ‘snip’ like plenty of others. Who think it’s a low risk, can’t lose kind of deal.

See, I'm not as sold on him being England's number one or the fact that it would even mean anything other than we don't have loads of decent keeper options. He's yet to prove it at this level and also show his quality when not playing behind an ultra conservative team and defence. We often play quite an expansive and open game in comparison. But as I mentioned, the club have clearly been sweet on him for a while. They will have done far more extensive scouting than me watching the odd Burnley game or highlights It also is worth remembering he is very young, which I do keep forgetting somehow. So in theory, he should only improve from here.

He's definitely not 6ft 6". Think it's been mentioned a few times on here that keepers and clubs seem to get creative with their heights Very good with his feet and looks calm as you like. Nowhere near as commanding as Pope or as aggressive off his line, crosses are his weakness, even. Although I'd say he's much more active than Dubravka with the sweeping up. Not seen much of him this season, mind and probably not fair to judge him on his Prem season. As he was very young and playing in that suicidal setup under Kompnay. But he made loads of howlers. I think £30-40m seems steep and it's the English premium at play, yet again. But if the club want him and think he is only going to improve, then who cares. I didn't realise he is still only 22. A baby in keeper terms.

I’m sure it will be viewed as an over-pay. But I think he would be a great signing. Rapid, plays off both feet, takes set pieces, chips in with goals and assists. Like others. I would rather we sign this mythical, more technical player from abroad for less money. But I think he would fit in well here.

Still the case.

I’d love us to sign McAtee. Think he’d offer some versatility too. Which I get the impression Howe is a fan of. Most coaches would be, TBF.

I’m not as down on Elanga as others on here. Rapid, can play off both feet, takes set pieces, decent numbers in a team that aren’t renowned for their attacking prowess (scored 10 less than us and joint lowest scorers in the top 10). But like Mbeumo, if he were to leave. He’d cost daft money and more than likely be after huge wages, too. I’d rather him over Semenyo (overrated) and Madueke (egg). But there’s no value or juice in any of the 4 mentioned here and looking abroad or a punt on someone younger or the Champo might be the way to go. May as well stick with our own juice on the right hand side.

He was talking a lot of sense there. But that fella who is dressed in clobber that can only be described as a fusion of Royal Ascot meets Beamer on finance, whole house decor is grey, new build 2 bed in Essex, favorite restaurant is Miller & Carter. Always looks so impressed with himself.

100%. Numbers wise we don't look too bad. But when you look at how many genuine options we have, where you'd be happy for them to start or play a good chunk of games over a season or that Howe regularly relies on. We only really have what, 15-16 players that are good enough?

If he was a plug and play type, that regularly got minutes at the end of games, with the odd start chucked in. I'd have no issue. But it has become quite apparent that he is out of favour, he doesn't really fit in the system that well these days, either. Plus, he also needs a run of games to get his form up. He isn't a super sub type or someone that comes on after 60-70 mins and performs really well and helps us see the game out. I can't think of loads of players like that, TBF. Off the top of my head, Endo at Liverpool plays that role a lot. When factoring all of that in, it doesn't make sense to keep him. The last game I can remember him starting was at home to Bromley and he genuinely looked worse than a lot of their players.

I check here semi-regularly. Just 5-10 pages with maybe one rumour if you're lucky. "Just a spare crumb of transfer news, please."

Only done it the once, Brugge away. Absolutely mental and a great laugh. Keen to get to another, for sure.

Should have been sent off and all. Still can’t believe people thought it was good defending against Isak. Clearly goes through him from behind to win the ball. Ballard over Burn, FFS

Touch and passing were rubbish, missed some sitters. He just seemed to be snatching at everything and maybe he was because of the pressure of that game. Not sure, I just thought he looked crap on the night.

Only one game. But I thought he was atrocious in the second leg against the mackems. I'm not against signing young'ish players from the Championship, mind. Plenty have had success with that in recent seasons.