PlymouthGeordie

Our problem in midfield is the drop off from Joelinton and Bruno to Longstaff is probably the biggest drop off in the league. We don't have that in most other positions now bar maybe ASM and Pope (if Dubravka goes). We're not a top 6 team/squad yet though so it is unrealistic to expect our squad players to be of the same quality as our first 11 all over the pitch. I do think a CM/DM has to be the priority though and I'd be disappointed if we didn't manage to at least address that with a loan player.

Anything else now is a bonus. We do need a winger and CM (preferably a DM) but I think we'll most likely get a loan from Chelsea and possibly be done for the window. I do agree with Optimistic Nut though, if we are to do another "big" deal we could do a lot worse than Harrison, Maddison or someone else established in the league. Our two big signings (Botman and Isak) could take a while to bed in so it would be nice to get someone that we know will hit the ground running.

Loan makes no sense. Has to be a permanent deal for at least 6-8 million. Darlow isn't a good enough number 2.

Yeah I missed Dummett tbf. His body just isn't up to it anymore.

Definitely a red card. Murphy, Wood and Ritchie have been awful though.

As much as I want Paqueta, striker is the priority and the club appear to have delivered on that front. I'm with you though, I'm not going to let a good deal completed by another team (if it goes that far) take the gloss off a major coup for us.

What a signing this will be.

Wowzers.

As do I. So let's just draw a line under it ?

"None of it matters" even though it just disproved your whole narrative ? I'll let it go because people are getting triggered for some reason. I hope he signs, no idea if he will but let's hope it gets done.

Brighton denied it because at the point he let out his catchphrase nothing had been agreed between Chelsea and Brighton. Chelsea upped their offer by 10m which got the deal agreed. There is zero chance Brighton would've released their statement if at that point in time the deal had been agreed.

He wasn't right. He said "here we go" 2 days ago and no sign of a medical or anything. Instead we've since had Hope, Burt, Edwards, Ryder, Mark Douglas, Sky, Waugh, the Watford correspondent at the Athletic and our own manager all say a deal hasn't been agreed. The excuses being made for Romano are ridiculous.

I wonder if this could trigger movement with Diaby.

It was tongue in cheek. As in if the deal was agreed as per Fab he'd have absolutely been pictured arriving at the stadium/training ground for a medical by now.

Bit odd he's not on his way up for the medical given everything was agreed 24 hours ago...

All conjecture on your part.

How can you chalk it up to Fab? Even Downie has just said we've put a new bid in, why would we do that if we've already agreed a deal as per Fab?

People are taking Romano at face value, no? He's not on his way for a medical. Hope, Edwards, Burt, Ryder and now our manager have confirmed nothing is finalised yet. It isn't a big deal, I just find the rush to defend Romano and slate Edwards at all costs bizarre.

This is the most pointless discussion ever. But blinded by your dislike of Luke Edwards, you're trusting Fab over our manager. Either way, if/when he signs, let's hope he fulfils his potential.

No, I'm taking the word of a high ranking club employee, who is on the record as saying nothing is agreed yet. There is only one way that can be framed. It probably will get agreed in the coming days, but Edwards will still have been right. Regardless, it doesn't matter. We'll probably sign the kid so let's hope he turns out to be a player.

Not when it isn't done, no. And if he was having a medical there would be pictures of him at the ground arriving for his medical as there were with Botman, Pope etc. People hate Edwards so they're not applying any logic to the situation. Regardless of his past hit rate, on this occasion he was right and Romano was wrong. Howe has just confirmed it.

Sorry, but you're framing it to your liking but what you're saying isn't true. Our manager has just confirmed the deal isn't agreed, that is all there is to it. You're essentially saying you trust Romano over Howe which is crazy.

Edwards was right. People don't like it but he was.

Really? I wouldn't take any of the defenders they have on their books over ours. I'd then expect Bruno, Joelinton and Wilson all to make their first 11.

Top 8 or top 10 will be defined by which team avoids injury to key players. If Wilson or ASM get lengthy injuries we won't be finishing top 8. Likewise with Harrison and Rodrigo for Leeds or Rice and Bowen for West Ham etc. Our squad is better than Leeds imo but there really isn't much in it squad wise between us, West Ham, Leicester, Villa and maybe even Man Utd. So much will depend on who can keep their best players fit.