sushimonster85

Jota? The guy who went over from Celtic. Tore up the SPL, not that thats saying much.

Said it before, but assuming we don't have a wild injury crisis again in the second half of the season I think we have the squad for top 7, maybe even scrape into the top 6. Once Barnes is back Almiron won't be playing every game.

No mention of it being a loan, so potentially looking at a full on transfer. They recall him from Forest, we buy him.

When I see everyone taking for granted that Bruno will be here next season with no CL in the season he turns 27.....

Put me in the wait till Summer camp as well. Honestly think we will finish in the top 7 a (7th to be exact) which should be Europa assuming Liverpool win the league cup. It will get worse before it gets better. Expect the bedwetter to be out in full force by the end of Jan as I think there's a decent chance we could start Feb as low as 11th. But with (hopefully) close to a full squad from Feb onwards, and fewer games, I back us to go on a decent enough run to climb up to 7th. Re-group in the Summer when the FFP burden will have be lightened further, and go big in the Summer window.

I worry that the other shoe that drops here is with no CL Bruno is way more likely to have his head turned if a Madrid, PSG or City come in for him and match his release clause.

Seem to remember reading that it's pretty much us or Juve for him. Unless he fancies a bottom half scrap with a Palace or Everton.

Kalvin Phillips talks to begin soon according to Luke Edwards.

We're not selling Longstaff anytime soon. Until the academy really starts producing consistently we will need Longstaff around for homegrown rule reasons in European competitions.

To be fair to Howe, it's way easier to rotate when the only aim is to not get relegated. Rafa seasons we never really looked in any danger of relegation in the second half of seasons.

Eddie Howe isn't getting sacked this season. Or in the Summer. Anyone who thinks he is hasn't been paying attention to what the clubs been trying to warn us about all season re this season being much more difficult than last. If we are in the same boat this time next year with no (or an easier) European competition to worry about then he comes under pressure.

Jesus Christ. Go to bed, lads. It's nearly Xmas.

People say this type of stuff but, even with as much as we've spent, we've also shown we're not going to irresponsibly spend cash on a whim. Last season everyone was itching for us to do big business in Jan in order to push on for the top 4, but we didn't. Top 4 was never seen as the plan that early, and the decision makers at the club weren't about to put us in a sticky spot FFP wise chasing that. We signed Gordon as it was a deal that was there to be done, but even that was done more with an eye to this current season than chasing 4th last season. Sure, I thought results may be a little more evenly spread between home and away than they are at the moment. But we all knew there was going to be a drop off with more games. We all (I'm assuming) saw the stats about average league drop off for a side their first season in the CL. Ashworth and Eales said themselves in the Amazon doc that this season will be harder. By the end of Jan most of our injured lads will be back. Top 4 is likely a pipe dream, but I don't think it was ever the realistic target this season. The squad we have is good enough for top 7 this season. And that will be seen as enough. Likely evens us out on the 5 year plan that's probably in place. Honestly think we will only do anything big if there's a deal to be done for a big target that we don't feel will be there in the Summer.

I know the bedwetters will be out in full force if we do lose to the mackems, but I have faith in the ownership/decision makers. Honestly think Eddie only starts to come under real pressure from above if we continue to spend in the Summer (which we will), and find ourselves in a similar position this time next season. Which is highly unlikely. Team should be stronger, with more depth. Let's be honest, we won't be in CL. Potentially Europa or Conference, both of which would allow us to rotate in the group way more than a CL campaign does.

Not sure an elderly mad man from Naples is familiar with fog on the tyne lol. Imagine that's a hint at a London club.

We only have 4 games in Jan. Only 3 league games, though we can't exactly put out a weaker side in the cup. We do need a couple bodies, but if we can get some lads back fit that should be enough to finish in the top 6/7. Anyone who thinks we have a shot at top 4 anymore is (sadly) delusional. But the current squad, with a couple extra (CM and another forward), should be good for 6th.

Can tell a transfer window is coming up when Barca start trying to use their favourite media outlets to flog all the players they don't want.

As well as being a proven PL player capable of goals and assists, Bowen's also English. There's no way West Ham would accept anything less than 75m.

Barcelona link is the daftest one of all. Club who has to sell various parts of their future earnings just to pay existing wages is suddenly going to find 100m+ for Bruno? Only sides I'm really scared of have always been Man City, PSG, and maybe Real Madrid.

Surely free kicks will be Schar?

Wasn't the word always late December/Jan? Imagine if he'd had a setback we'd have heard by now. I'm betting he makes the bench for the Sunderland game.

Think this all depends on how realistically doable they see top 4. With the current lads (assuming no more mental runs with injury) we should be good for at least 6th once we get into the new year and have most of them back. If they want top 4 (and it is looking like it needs to be 4th with us and Man U going out at the group stage this year), we will likely need at least a couple, ideally 3. CM, forward who can play across the line, GK.

Don't get me wrong, it's ok to be excited about Miley's potential. But theres no way of really telling how talented he will be at the moment. He has shown remarable composure for someone his age, but he clearly has the remit of make the easy pass when he has the ball at the moment. Was watching the PSG highlights agains the other night and forgot that, even when not at his best, Tonali was everywhere.

Think it all depends who is available in Jan. Club have shown in previous windows that, if they feel a long term target is available, they will make it happen somehow. I have a feeling Howe's number 1 target is Ramsdale, which I don't see happening in Jan. No way Arsenal will want to do us any favours in terms of structured payments etc.

It's actually a good time to bring in someone to really push Pope/potentially take over. He gets a four month run to establish himself, potentially then stays in till the end of the season. Then they battle it out fair & square over pre-season.