Checko

Definitely, and I can see a situation where they alternate starting and subbing each other after 60 mins like Isak and Wilson did for the brief periods where they were both fit.

When we signed Cisse I seem to remember someone from Freiburg, or a German pundit, saying he wasn't very fast but 'fast enough'. For me Cisse was a great instinctive poacher, brilliant at being in the right spot in the penalty box and first time finishes. His general touch, hold up play, dribbling wasn't that good though if I remember. That's why he was so bad when he was put on the RW in his second year (I seem to remember he scored within 15 minutes the first time he was played there and then never did anything of note there ever again). Wissa's played a lot more on the wings and I think generally is more comfortable in all round play/dribbling etc. Looks like in France he was mainly a LW, with occasional CF then when he came to Brentford he split between LW and CF initially and then when he established himself became a CF covering on the wings if necessary.

I agree - If we're a goal or two up I imagine the BFG will replace Wissa for some minutes. If we need a goal I can see him being brought on to play as the second striker with Wissa.

He's got that lean, lithe build where he'll still probably be physically able to start in Ligue 1 at the age of 36.

Hard to rate the window really as so much will depend on how well Woltemade adapts to the PL, which'll probably take a little while, whether Thiaw is a worthy long-term successor to Schar and whether Elanga develops. There's a few players gone who's time at the club was up - Wilson, Kelly, Longstaff, Hayden, Lewis, Targett, Vlachodimos. We've bolstered the squad in areas of need - extra GK cover, new younger RCB, CM, new RW, got 2 strikers in. That said, we have to acknowledge we missed out on our top target in every position and lost our biggest star. Ramsdale's fine as GK competition. Ramsay looks a good signing. I like Elanga but not the classy playmaker I was hoping we'd sign. Good assist numbers last two years, but benefitted from good finishing and taking set penises to pad those numbers. V. likeable & great attitude & work ethic so I think he'll develop. Thiaw - looks to have some good qualities - need to see him play really. Probably a solid signing. Wissa - Signing makes sense even if we overpaid a bit because we were over a barrel and needed someone proven. Woltemade - We'll have to wait and see - he looks an exciting player but how well will what he does translate to the PL? He's only had one really good half season at top level so quite risky. Feels like he'll be brilliant or flop hard. Overall I think the squad's a bit stronger, but given we were in a decent financial position that's the bare minimum we'd expect from the window tbh. I don't know we've brought anyone in that's really elite to take us to the next level. And if we have, it's probably Woltemade, and it was losing an elite player in his position that caused us to sign him. With all Howe's bullishness at the start of the window about us being able to spend and be aggressive (which I suspect was to try to get Isak back on board with the club's ambitions) can't help but feel it's been a bit underwhelming. I'll say 4.5/10. We'll know better in a year or so though when Howe's had a good chance to work with everyone.

Do generally agree though that you usually want your CF to have the mindset that they'll take the responsibility. Though Andy Cole was a pretty decent without taking them tbf.

I'm rather partial to a LB who thunderbastards them, Stuart Pearce or Julian Dicks style.

Of course they do. Basically every footballer at the club will know what it's like to want to move to a bigger team for more money and more chance of career success, they've all been in that situation. Isak wanting to move won't be beyond their comprehension. Obviously the way it all happened was a bit shitty, but everyone in the squad knew he was a top level player in his prime, massively underpaid and could go to a highest level team. They're also perfectly aware a club will try and get rid of them the second they're not deemed useful enough any more.

When I find myself without a striker Woltemade comes to me Pairing him with Wissa, Let it be And in my hour of darkness He is dribbling right in front of me Scoring goals with Wissa Let it be Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be Wissa'n Woltemade Let it be And when the broken-hearted people Living in the Toon agree Eddie has an answer Let it be For though Isak's departed There is still a chance for Champions League, Eddie has an answer Let it be Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be Yeah, Eddie has an answer Let it be Let it be, let it be Let it be, let it be Wissa'n Woltemade Let it be

BTW, just in case anyone's not aware: you don't actually have to get incredibly offended and upset by every single insignificant little thing. And if you do, you go and start writing for The Mag.

I saw a thread that I didn't want to read. So I didn't read it.

Hates-the-Guehis will get his move. Probably sign a pre-contract with Real in January.

Can't sign him until we've made him watch a video of some local giving him life lessons.

My theory is that ETH was spending all his nights in hardcore techno clubs and then couldn't conduct proper training sessions on a comedown.

Dunno, didn't look like he could get away from his marker there

I feel the transfer window should just be one day, last day of July. Everyone can discuss things before, obviously, but then 00:00 on the 31st, for 24 hours, everyone can go crazy and get it all over and done with.

He's got lots of good qualities. Hope he can get some game time to start putting them together.

Should've said £40m!

I want a technically brilliant sexy fucking playmaker.

Being a good team and winning football games is the most important way to combat PSR though. If he's the difference in us getting to the Champions League once in his time here then he's basically paid for himself. Winning games = prize money = sponsorship money = international appeal and fan income. A successful team can keep or charge more for its players. That's how you combat PSR in the long term. Judging transfers on pure profit potential is Brighton behaviour, though even they sign the odd experienced player to fill a short term need eg. Trippier, he's been a PSR cost every year since he's come with no prospect of flipping for a profit, doesn't mean he hasn't been a very valuable signing and absolutely worth it.

I kind of feel the same way: he'll either be outstanding or flop hard. It's a lot of money based on effectively a really good half season in the Bundesliga. Hopefully it's a sign he's improving rapidly at present and give Howe a year of drills and skills with him as we're definitely paying for potential. Seems a really nice lad so fingers crossed. Re: Isak being cold etc. I think he just didn't really like interviews, tends to be a bit more private.

C'mon everyone knows the words 'Woltemade', 'uber' 'Isak', 'in' and 'Toon'. In a few weeks I'm guessing even the dummest cunts out there would be able to pick up 'der'

It's a lot of money but needs must, we need someone reliable to give the BFG time to get up to speed and take some of the pressure off. Ultimately we need goals and to start winning.

Woltemade über Isak, über Isak in der Toon

Fee's not surprising to me, clubs always say they want more than they'd be willing to settle for. Obviously the way he acted has weakened our position a bit, as have the crowd singing that he's a cunt for ages - I mean it's clear bridges were burnt. End of the day it's probably the third largest transfer in history, the largest not by PSG. Isak's a great player: great striker of the ball, good movement, fast, great touch and passer. But he's not a generational talent; he doesn't like the physical side, you can't play it up to him direct and expect him to put an effort in to challenge a CB. He wins very little in the air, he could tend to do bugger all for large swathes of games and he's not the most durable. I don't think he's got the very best poacher instincts either, he always just wants to go to the back post. He'll do very well at Liverpool, they'll get more players up to support him and can rotate him a bit more, we always left him a little isolated . It's sad it's ended like this. Obviously he's ambitious and wants to get to the top but he didn't seem the type to be willing to fuck everyone over, and we've actually got a good squad now as well so it's very frustrating. Still, we got three really good seasons out of him, two CL campaigns, two cup finals and one cup win, then almost doubled our money. It will still go down as a great signing for the club, even if the way it ended is pretty unpleasant. And as outaged as everyone is, no-one would give a fuck about Wissa's behaviour if he was to come here and start scoring.