Viana

AC Milan must be pig sick of us now. Snared Botman last year, rolled up to take their golden boy this year.

I don't disagree. There's little pros and cons like Mount being younger but Maddison coming off a better season. I think the key is always not to build your budgets on the backs of what others are doing. Market rate plays a factor, undeniably, but we do have Szoboszlai in reserve there who again is younger, which can even help with FFP.

I have Nord at present - is it the best on the market or nah? (Apologies mods if this is not allowable chat feel free to edit).

No dice sadly.

So daft you can't watch this in the US.

Berlusconi must be looking like a rotisserie chicken right now, spinning in his grave.

I'll never understand why he doesn't wait, but then perhaps the comedy of him getting the numbers wrong is the appeal.

I think increasingly it boils down to this; Maddison is proven in the Premier League, Szoboszlai is the more long-term option given he's younger.

He said 'I don't like it, but I'll have to go along with it'.

Soz Milanista, you seem sound.

This stinks of Spurs trying to pressure Brentford into lowering their demand for Raya. Can’t see it myself.

Remember that wet wipe 'journalist' who was saying Botman would never choose us over Milan? What's he saying?

See, it's funny, I felt like I didn't see Smith's legs had gone properly until year three when we were back up. Prior to that he was relatively mobile, he just couldn't read the play effectively enough to get there. Mind you, I don't know if it says more for the Championship of that era or the team we had that fucking Alan Smith could play central midfield and a team still get promoted.

Sky basically ditching traditional journalism in favour of “personalities” and one time fees for Ornstein and the like on their panel shows. Horrible for those cut loose, but not a huge surprise.

Be funny as fuck if he signed now.

For me, he was the first moment I saw a glimmer of our potential. No disrespect to Tripps, Botman, or even Bruno, but for me he’s shown the kind of quality I’ve never seen before.

Thing with Hendrick is always - what is he? Came through as a 10 of sorts at Derby, then Burnley turned him into this weird vague midfielder that plays anywhere.

Would be curious to hear the thoughts of @TeddySAFC as it relates to replacing Diallo. It doesn't seem like he's coming back and if he does it'll be late in the window. Big player to try and replace and it doesn't sound like the intention is to splash big right now.

Look I’m all for banter, but Jeff Hendrick is only walking into Sunderland’s midfield if a chronic illness sweeps the squad.

This was an interesting point to raise, and after consulting understat, he got 7 in open play last year, with 40 of his 69 chances created in open play.

I agree with that. I had no say in Ashley, I had no say in this. When Steve Bruce was in charge I didn't see a path to us being sold at all. If we did I thought it would be some chancer. Still stand by the fact that when it went through I was actually overjoyed with relief at being rid of him rather than enticed by PIF.

If he favors Spurs even slightly then we shouldn't bother trying. We've built a lovely little core here and I wouldn't want to mess it up with people that see brighter lights elsewhere. I don't blame him for being drawn to them either FWIW. We've had a great 18 months, but Spurs have been in a Champions League final relatively recently and it looks increasingly likely he'll be the set-up man for Kane and Son. That's before you even consider the pull of a rich young man living in London. We don't need to be desperate when chasing players, and truthfully, dragging players here was what got us into bother previously.

Jokes aside. The roster is pretty solid. I think Balogun offers a bit of quality the rest of the striking pool lacks right now. If they can find a consistent partner for Chris Richards (Josh Wynder is probably 18 months away from being in that discussion) then the team starts to look like one that can cause problems at the World Cup, and that's before factoring in any players that may enter the fray as precocious teenagers.

Well played. Good game.

Strong performance from the USA. Makes you wonder how good they'd be if they got a full XI of lads born and raised in England.