sushimonster85

Love the optimism, but we're not close to that yet. That's £100m initial outlay and likely £200k+ a week.

Would love it to happen, but really can't see it. Didn't the Shakhtar president say he valued him at £100m? Not saying that's what he'd eventually go for, but I can see it being north of £50m, which I don't see us paying for someone relatively unestablished.

Given this was supposedly on the verge of being done in the Summer would be shocked if it doesn't happen in Jan.

Yeah, was at the Palace game. No lack of effort from Wood, but we just can't play in the same way with him up there.

Not accusing Wilson of anything, but I do wonder if Howe feels like Wilson will (consciously or sub-consciously) have his head elsewhere for this game, with his first (and likely only) World Cup a week away. When you're as injury prone as Wilson is there must be something in the back of his head that would make him second guess every run/sprint on Sunday.

Gutted for Joe. But it least means we can play him v Palace and Chelsea, then get him primed to destroy the second half of the season.

Believe he said it was 3 more games (not sure it that's tied to a certain number of mins per game to count) he needed to get the extension in the Summer. Handy as, out of those 5 2023 expiries he would be the only one I can see being part of the squad for another year or 2.

I think the only potential mitigating factor in Jan may be our proximity to the European places. If they feel there is a chance to get into the top 6 this season (probably a season or two earlier than they anticipated), I can see them shopping for a more top level, established type signing in an effort to get us over the line. Not saying they're going to do something daft like sign Hazard, but can see them potentially trying to make another 'Trippier' style signing. Someone they know can come in and make an immediate impact.

I would be shocked if they don't pull the trigger on Karius on a long term deal in Jan. Only think I can see getting in the way is if he has an offer to be number 1 somewhere else. As for the rest of Jan. If you asked me a couple months ago I'd have said priority would be a wide forward/winger, then ideally a CDM. The form of Almiron (with ASM and Isak both to still come back in) means I'd actually say a CM is now priority. Question is do we go for a defensive player and give Bruno licence to push higher up the pitch, or for someone like Maddison, which would likely mean having Bruno play in that deep lying '6' role.

Yeah, they look a slightly different prospect now Gerrard is gone. Can see a draw.

Think Trossard is a decent compromise on having a real go in Jan if we're still around the European spots without breaking the bank whilst we continue to get our FFP ducks in a row. Could see it happening if he is only £25m.

There's swallowing your pride, then there's switching from PSG to Aston Villa... Not saying he won't have to consider dropping to a team just below that elite level before long. But I suspect that's more likely to be someone like Spurs or Man Utd than Aston Villa in what's shaping up to be a relegation dog fight.

Had a similar feeling these past few days. We may have the best defence records in the league, but Everton's isn't bad at all (only conceded 11), Coady and Tarkowski really seem to have shored them up. Got a feeling it may be a bit of dud 0-0, or 1-0 either way. Wouldn't be shocked at all if they nicked one on the break then just sat an absorbed pressure. Like a rerun of the Bournemouth game.

As a person, he seems alright enough (for a Tory). I think he and Gerrard wind a lot of folks up as they're handed opportunities a lot of other young coaches wouldn't get based purely on who they are. Fair play to Lampard though, he does seem to set his side up tactically himself, as opposed to Gerrard who lets other people deal with that.

So long as it's relatively tasteful, I can be bough off with the promise of larger transfer kitties/more for wages.

Honestly think Bowen would be more likely than Rice.

Least it means we won't have to worry about if/how Wilson and Isak can play together...

The big South American teams (Brazil especially) will often play friendly fixtures in Europe. With 90% of their squad playing in Europe they know its far easier for them to turn up to friendlies if its on their doorstep. I imagine the Brazilian fans feel about as hyped for international friendlies as we do, so don't really care. Back in the early 2000's the Brazilian national side almost had entirely different squads for friendlies vs competitive internationals as so many of the big stars playing in Europe would pull out of friendlies rather than travelling half way round the world and back in the space of 5 days.

Stone cold, man.

Will be interested to see what happens when Wilson is fit. Does Isak drop to the bench, does Wilson start on the bench, or does Isak play wide and Almiron comes out?

8 for me. A very solid 8. Made Targett permanent, which is solid. Signed one of the most highly rated young CB's in Europe (from under the noses of Milan no less). Didn't think it at first, but these opening games have proven that Pope is an upgrade on Dubravka. Then capped it off by demolishing our transfer record to sign a 22 year old footballing unicorn of a striker, who early indications suggest will take to the PL like a duck to water. Also, even captain happy Luke Edwards suggests we will look to be active in Jan.

Judging by how upset West Ham fans are by this I'd say this lad is the long term successor to Trippier, and not just here to add depth in the short term.

Can't tell if serious or dumb?

But it's better to do it in 12 months, more commercial revenue. And this way you're doing it for a number of players, not just one. Stuff like that can cause resentment, and suddenly this supposedly fantastic dressing room attitude we have starts to turn.