wallsendlad1952

Maybe it's as a result of our newly created position of a Director of performance. Pfft

He hasn't been the same player he was against the Saints since he was overlooked for the latest Brazil squad. Just a thought but could he be sulking or trying too hard to prove a point?

I can imagine how unimpressed Bruno and Isaak, and even Botman are with the lack of activity, as they realise their chances of playing Champions League football next season have probably been severely reduced by our inexcusable and incompetent amateurism, unless of course, they're tempted away in Janary or the window after that. Could it be a power struggle that's hampered this summers transfer window. It all seems seems to be going tits up since Mandy left.

They were putting all their eggs in one basket in the hope of Guehi being part of a 'dream' centre back pairing with Botman ( who is months away from returning we are led to believe). What if Botman is not the player he was prior to his injury. We won't even have 1/2 a decent centre back partnership then, and have to set about rebuilding the 'rock' that all successful teams are based on.

He was only 6/1 a few weeks ago so the bookies think he is possibly less likely to now.

If a managers performance of his position is as pathetic and ineffective as that of our new D.O.F , he would be sacked. What has Mitchell done to be exempt from the same fate? For a side that is trying to get into the top 4, it will be inexcusable should the window shut, and all we have to show is a free transfer and an inexperienced kid from Sheffield United. ( Hoping the latter makes me eat my hat, but if he does , will it be in the next 2 seasons) What message does it give to our main 3 players ( who were the only ones, it's been widely reported, wanted by teams in the top 6) that they should hang around while we build a team worthy of Champions League, or challenging for it? Is the problem our CEO, Slippery Eales, or Mitchell's ineptitude? Surely he (or they) should have had several names ready when the Number 1 choice was proving difficult. We should have been wary of them knowing what they were doing when Joe Gomez was mentioned in the potential deal involving Anthony Gordon.

It wouldn't surprise me if this negotiation saga goes down to the wire, and then he fails his medical.

If you can believe the latest newspaper reports of what our targets are, Mr Mitchell and Co are hardly earning what I'm sure is a quite colossal wage. It looks more like a consolidate a top 10 position rather than a top 4 or very least top 6 finish, judging by the players they're interested in bringing in. The likes of Gomez or Calvert-Lewin hardly fills you with fervour or confidence that these type of players improve our chances of European competition qualification.

Should we not be successful and get Guehi signed, let's hope we don't sign Gomez in desperation. Even the scousers don't rate him.