Sir Joel Inton Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 10 hours ago, Jagten said: This is blatantly not true. Of big spenders we spend the largest % of our total outlay on PL players. I don’t know why anyone would defend this. If you also factor in Howe’s spending habits were similar at Bournemouth, it’s not too difficult to line the dots and realise it’s a Howe preference/policy. The policy Howe has had has worked up to this stage, but we have to be much more versatile and savvy in the market from here. We do not pay enough/have the pulling power to get the “best of the rest” from other PL clubs (see Mbeumo, Cunha, Semenyo, etc.) so we end up fishing in a pool that brings out the Ramseys, Elangas. These players will solidify our position in the top 10 rather than the top 6. We need to be in the market to find the next Semenyo before they become what they are in this league. Our squad is large enough with quality now to take the punts abroad and allow them the “Howe time” to settle in. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibierski Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 9 minutes ago, r0cafella said: Loans aren't the answer. If it means having a defender (s) on bench, then it certainly is a valid answer. We have an insane amount of games coming up, with injuries across the back line and others likely to break down form needing to play every min going. If there’s short term deals to be made to ease burden and keep long term options open, then I’m all for it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibierski Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 That said, just not Diasi because he is horrific. Rather roll out Ashby invisible cloak instead. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r0cafella Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 40 minutes ago, El Prontonise said: You can't discount them though if a good opportunity comes along. What classifies as a good opportunity? the issue with loans for us is we are paying fees and salaries for players we can't amortize so essentially block pathways for other potential players. If we have money and the structure we should be looking to ship out players who arent contributing and bring in players who will. Players who can improve and grow with the club. Given our position, CL is gone so spending what is essentially dead money on temporary fixes makes little sense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r0cafella Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 40 minutes ago, Sibierski said: If it means having a defender (s) on bench, then it certainly is a valid answer. We have an insane amount of games coming up, with injuries across the back line and others likely to break down form needing to play every min going. If there’s short term deals to be made to ease burden and keep long term options open, then I’m all for it. We have too many defenders on the books as is, adding more makes little sense unless we can ship out those who arent contributing. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucasol Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 4 minutes ago, r0cafella said: We have too many defenders on the books as is, adding more makes little sense unless we can ship out those who arent contributing. Krafth was linked with Copenhagen before his injury. If someone offered to take Trippier’s £100k a week wages off the books I’d also be tempted to let him go. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r0cafella Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 3 minutes ago, Nucasol said: Krafth was linked with Copenhagen before his injury. If someone offered to take Trippier’s £100k a week wages off the books I’d also be tempted to let him go. We need to shift the following defenders: JL KT EK SB MT 5 Players who havent contributed anything/much at all this season. Our squad is bloated when you look at it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 If SB is Sven Botman then I think our best hope is he returns and plays well rather than being sold. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r0cafella Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 2 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said: If SB is Sven Botman then I think our best hope is he returns and plays well rather than being sold. It is, and he hasn't contributed much for how long? The issue is he cant be relied upon and we are at a stage where his contract is ticking down. Would you have his as one of say our top 10 earners? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 Just now, r0cafella said: It is, and he hasn't contributed much for how long? The issue is he cant be relied upon and we are at a stage where his contract is ticking down. Would you have his as one of say our top 10 earners? Hard to say, depends on assessment of his fitness. I don't usually take past injuries as a guarantee of future injuries, but then again it's not my money. If fit then I rate him extremely highly. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitley mag Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 Dayaan Methalie probably makes the most sense for January. He can give Hall a rest and cover LCB as well, ticks all the boxes including age profile. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 15 minutes ago, r0cafella said: We need to shift the following defenders: JL KT EK SB MT 5 Players who havent contributed anything/much at all this season. Our squad is bloated when you look at it. Targett’s contract is up in the summer *assuming MT is him and not Thiaw… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 (edited) If there’s 3 buckets, one for players to keep, one for players I would listen to offers for, and one for players I would be pushing out the door and disowning, Botman would be in the middle bucket. There would be a lot of players in that bucket tbh. Edited December 30, 2025 by Kimbo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibierski Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 21 minutes ago, r0cafella said: We need to shift the following defenders: JL KT EK SB MT 5 Players who havent contributed anything/much at all this season. Our squad is bloated when you look at it. You just don’t register them if you can’t get them out. It’s 4 months of the season, it’s better having someone who can contribute and de-register one or two. We have three cups to play for and to claw back in league, taking a £5m-£10m hit in wages is a short term gamble we likely need to make this season, unlike previous. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KennyUtd Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 4 minutes ago, Kimbo said: If there’s 3 buckets, one for players to keep, one for players I would listen to offers for, and one for players I would be pushing out the door and disowning, Botman would be in the middle bucket. There would be a lot of players in that bucket tbh. You're gonna need a bigger bucket... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duo Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 Sneaky bid on Trafford please Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nucasol Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 11 minutes ago, Kimbo said: If there’s 3 buckets, one for players to keep, one for players I would listen to offers for, and one for players I would be pushing out the door and disowning, Botman would be in the middle bucket. There would be a lot of players in that bucket tbh. Had a go at my three buckets, quite interesting as I could move a couple from the “on the fence” bucket to sell dependent on a potential fee. Keep Hall Livramento Thiaw Burn Tonali Bruno Miley Barnes Woltemade Wissa (too early to say) Elanga (too early to say) Ramsey (too early to say) Offload Ramsdale (end of loan) Targett (OoC - out of contract) Lascelles (OoC) Trippier (OoC) Krafth (OoC) Willock Osula Odysseus Ashby (OoC) Gordon (PSR headroom) On the fence Pope Schar (OoC) Botman Joelinton A Murphy J Murphy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki679 Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 Big Joe I reckon would be in the move on bucket. Love the bloke and he's been an absolute warrior for us but I think his time is coming to an end and best that we shift him to Saudi for a well deserved retirement payday and a few quid for us. Elanga and Ramsey I'd be tempted to just shift them for whatever we can get and start over. Not the profile of player we needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astroblack Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 BBC gossip has us linked with Conor Gallagher. Wouldn’t mind that. Robust, gets a goal every now and then. Dream signing would be Kluivert. Can play in midfield or the wings, shoot from outside the box, would suit our style of play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loki679 Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 4 minutes ago, Astroblack said: BBC gossip has us linked with Conor Gallagher. Wouldn’t mind that. Robust, gets a goal every now and then. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anderson Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 33 minutes ago, Nucasol said: Elanga (too early to say) It's fucking not Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 Can't see us doing much in January. Perhaps we'll sign some full back cover. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Optimistic Nut Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 3 hours ago, r0cafella said: Loans aren't the answer. It's worked for Villa. It worked for Man Utd a few years ago when they got Sabitzer and Weghorst just to patch them through to the end of the season. It's poor for PSR I suppose but I don't see the problem in having a couple of squad players each each season on loan. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jagten Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 7 hours ago, Yorkie said: The post I initially quoted said Howe was 'averse to taking a risk on foreign players'. I said that's clearly not true because a significant amount of our budget went on foreign players just as recently as this summer. And I said more balanced/varied (than the myth). There's no denying we like to buy from the PL. So do lots of teams. We are literally #1 in big spenders who buy a lot from the PL. Where’s the relative pull to more balanced and varied there? Howe obviously has a chronic bias and he should be stopped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menace Posted December 30, 2025 Share Posted December 30, 2025 1 hour ago, duo said: Sneaky bid on Trafford please Literally not even an upgrade on what we have Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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