Mazzy

What I like about this game is that I think we are going to have to miss multiple big chances on goal to actually lose. We will get chances against this City team we just need to limit their chances because they will 100% score there's almost no stopping that but we need to take our chances when they come. Looking at last week I think we'll manage to do that.

Well that's that then. Glad to see it confirmed MANDATORY. We can close the Transfer Rumour thread now and open the long awaited Premier League Title Race thread instead.

If he's having his medical today any normal club would see him officially announced tomorrow but with us it'll probably be next Thursday. Although, with it technically being a loan perhaps it'll be a quicker turnaround than we've been used to.

Loan (£3M fee) with an obligation to buy for £28M is the last rumour (the last hour or so) but before that plenty of people saying £28M permanent move with 6yr deal.

Suspect list: Burn Murphy Ritchie In that order.

I imagine we'll have spoken to the player about his position and where he expects to play when he joins the club so that's not a worry for me. The fact he's clearly a versatile player is probably one of the reasons we're willing to pay what we are. Also, he's only 18, even if he's mainly played CM, if the player is willing it wouldn't be hard to mould him into a LB. Only got to look at Joelinton to see how a change of positon can do wonders for a player.

We don't HAVE to register Anderson and Miley but if we did they would count as club home grown and then we would be able to register 25 is that right? So that would leave one space for Hall in the 25?

We can sign him to work in the fanzone as a clown.

Seems like a 9/10 once Hall comes in. Ideally Fraser, Hendrick and Hayden would be gone but hopefully that happens in the last couple of days. Ideally we've not blown everything and still have something left to give in January in case of emergency/to push on if we're still in all competitions.

3 minutes or so isn't long enough of these Pre Match Training videos, need to see more. The sooner we're playing midweek matches the better, Saturday to Saturday is a long old time.

We would be ofcourse yes, but how livid would we be if selling Miley was preceded by the signing of 25 of the worlds best young footballers in the space of 2 transfer windows.

And that can come inside and cover CM and could play as LWB. Easy decision for Ashworth and Howe when this opportunity came up I would imagine.

We need to start some sort of Eddie Howe Press Conference Bingo. This is up there in the Top 5 things most likely to happen. Along with someone asking if he's seen that Tonali has been to Wetherspoons and the seaside.

Wouldn't even entertain a buy back clause. Unless ofcourse they're meaning "first refusal" if we were to sell him, in which case that would be fine.

Can't see this happening before Saturdays game but would be nice to have it tied up in time for Monday so he can get a full week of training in with the team and go straight into the matchday sqaud against Liverpool The crazy thing is, looking at that bench against Villa, I'm not sure who would drop out for him, probably Targett, but that seems unfair if Hall has only had a week or so with the team compared to Targetts full pre season. And that's without Willock back yet. There's going to be some big established names who don't even make the bench this year in certain games.

Sell on clauses mean nothing if we don't sell him. No reason to think he'll be leaving any time soon so don't think its an issue.

It's the other way round for me strangely. Neither of them should be starters but I'd be more concerned seeing Targett in that team against City at the weekend than if Lascelles was in there for Schar.

No, obviously Botman and Schar is the superior pairing but... Botman - Lascelles Burn - Schar That's pretty equal I would say.

I think if you asked Howe he would say yes we're done, but I imagine like always there's a small chance we get soemthing VERY late in the window if it's too good to pass up on. Hall would be the last piece of the TWO STARTING ELEVENS of equal quality jigsaw.

The most frustrating thing in all this is if we could just shift Fraser, Hendrick and Hayden. Regardless of how much we actually get in for them (if anything) this deal for Hall could probably be done quite easily with them all off the wage bill.

But differences being rumoured in the Hall saga. Some saying loan with 15M obligation, which seems quite low and others saying 30M up front for him permanently. I wouldn't be surprised to see this drag out until the last couple of days.

I'm looking forward to seeing some International football at St James's again, that's all I'm thinking about. The fact it's Saudi Arabia is by the by and I'd be going to watch it at those prices even if it was Lichtenstein vs Malta. People like to have something to be outraged about but I don't think this is worth it tbh.

Maguire not going to West Ham anymore. Says he wants to cry at Man Utd instead. Anyone think West Ham could be tempted to go for Lascelles? Not ideal ofcourse but would free up some cash to get a CB and LB in.

Yes but has he been in one of the many establishments and seen the sights, sounds and smells they have on offer. He's clearly a man of culture.

If that's true and we do actually want him then I don't see why we haven't done it already. A quick Google find that's Barcelona have first refusal to sign him and they have a 40% sell on with him so perhaps not quite that straight forward to get done. His squad number at Real Betis is #33. Seems like it's meant to be if he's going to be Burns replacement.