Pez1974

He looked good on Saturday. A relatively short cameo can be misleading, but that was a tight game, that we needed to see out, against a 'smart' midfield, and I thought we looked stronger when he came on. Surely we have to start him on Saturday? We need a win, but the bigger picture is that he can play the next 6 games, and we'll know whether he is 1 of the "2 midfielders we need in the summer", or whether he will need that loan into the Championship next season. Literally, he could save us £25m-£30m if he looks the part. We could also then rotate McGinn, Luiz and Ramsey (and Marv), as they are looking knackered, and we have a lot of games over the next few weeks.

We've always had 2 issues with Keinan - injuries and goals contributions. I don't think he'll ever be prolific, he's not that type of player, and is probably too old now to develop a lot more, but he does contribute when on the pitch - just perhaps not enough for where we want to be. There are certain players who struggle when not match-fit and to stay that way, need to play. He's never had a run in a team - but now he has, he is fit and consistent. The problem is, I suspect he'll never get that here - so I just hope he makes the most of this, and gets the move he deserves. And we get the cash we want to upgrade in other areas.

Yes - but look at the players in the England squad who did a season or 2 in the Championship. Yes - they quality isn't the same, but I would argue that top of the Championship and lower end of the Prem isn't a massive jump.

Yes - and I know your comment was positive, so this isn't a critique of that. But he will be playing with the likes of Countinho, Buendia, Digne and Cash - players who will carve out chances for him. He isn't a player who will carve out his own chances every game, which I suspect was the issue at Moors (well, that and his youth) - I just hope he's a player who will convert the chances our better players create. My concern is we seem to be dependant on Watkins to be that 'presence' up front - can Archer do that, or will he need to play in a 2?

On current form, I agree. For a lot of last season he looked much better, and hit the bar/post, got VAR'd or something cost him quite a few goals. I think he's got a higher ceiling than he's showing right now - he needs serious coaching. But the things you can't coach - pace, stamina, attitude - are all very good in my opinion.

Nope. Want to progress. But major surgery on the squad will probably mean another transition year, and we'll continue to stall. And we appear to be just about compliant with FFP, so we may need to create a bit of breathing space. Another year of Jacob Ramsey progressing should be a huge plus point. Another year of some of the youngsters should given us options, and be a huge plus point. A full pre-season on top of the 6-month loan experience for Coutinho will be a huge plus point. Sort out a system, with both full backs prepared and in from the start will be a huge plus point. Add a high quality CM to make that crucial area work properly - we could fly. Look at who Leicester added before their title winning season - Kante. Yes, they also added Robert Huth, Fuchs and Okazawa - but Kante turned them from relegation fodder to champions. That won't happen here, but adding a midfielder can get more than a European place - if it's the right one.

Assuming we sign Coutinho - it is my view that GK (with Steer having done well at Luton until injury by all accounts), defence (could be upgraded, but not crucial) and attack (assuming no major outgoings) at all OK - and it's the midfield that needs sorting this summer. Ramsey (J) is a potential super-star in the making - so either McGinn, Luiz or both need a major upgrade. Suspect it will be Luiz, and he could be off (more money in the coffers), although I would be tempted to cash in on McGinn if Luiz would sign a new contract, largely as he's 4 years younger and has a higher ceiling in my view. Add the U23s who have been out on loan, and/or are making strides around Bodymoor and the England youth teams - we have a proper squad developing. We have to start using these guys, or they are wasted (Carney, Iroegbunam, Kessler, Archer, JPB, Ramsey (A), Barry, Azaz, Raikhy). I suspect we have to get Chisrene, Swinkels, Bogarde, O'Reilly, Burchill, etc out on loan next year, to be ready for the following season - meaning that the defence is getting reinforcements soon in particular, and Young (A) can do 1 more year as back-up. So , I don't think we need an awful lot of spend this summer - maybe £60m combined on Coutinho and a CM (DCM), plus any bargains and youth players we see. Sell Luiz/McGinn (£25m/£40m?), Targett (£15m?), El Ghazi (£5?), Trez (£8m?), Guilbert (£5m?), Davis (£5m), Wesley (£5m) - that's a net income! Could maybe add Traore (£10m), Steer (£5m - depending on the young GKs) and Sanson (£10m) to that, and it would make little difference - not sure I wold though, especially Sanson.

Yes, this. Clubs will always take the loan fee into account with an 'option' as it's guaranteed. So - £18m-£20m? Can't complain.

I think the whole "don't boo Maguire, he gets upset" thing shows just how important Mings is in that England camp - Coady too. So many players (and people) have no backbone, and can't take it when things aren't perfect for them. (I am not condoning abuse, but it is a fact of life, especially on social media). Take the dogs abuse Mings took at Leeds - he just laughed it off, and revelled in the 3-0 victory. That's a strong leader, which England need. Not he whiny lot. (And if someone could add the gif of Mings laughing at the Bluenoses abusing him, that would be apt and lovely)

Lees - 18 off 104 balls! Imagine him and Sibley opening the batting together! 49-0 at stumps on day 1, having chosen to bat. England could finish a days play without losing a wicket, and could still be deemed to have 'lost' every session.

I know you've recanted. And I know everyone has said Cahill. But can I just give a shout out for Kent Neilsen against Inter. And the fact that he gobbed out a lake's worth of spit live on TV.

Can you explain why Bamford didn't get a goal then?

It was weird, and as you point out, others did it. And there was a fair few people (mainly their players) slipping over on the pitch. I am in the 'he doesn't make a mistake very game' camp, and this isn't an attempt to deflect a shit pass - but it did appear as if the pitch wasn't player quite right, and it took players 20 minutes to figure it out. I think Leeds would be very wise to get someone as 'shit' as Ty in their defence - they were all over the place, and he really does organise ours well. The camera focused on him a few times, particularly during the first half - and when he wasn't holding his leg - he was pointing and shouting instructions to others. Our leader and captain.

Personally, because I was referring to where clubs are being used to "sports wash" either money or a regime. I don't count Egypt or a US billionaire as falling into this category. I personally have no issue with the Man City ownership. If we were still owned by Xia, I would be looking at it differently. There was a really interesting set of comments by Matthew Syed - link below - on Abramovich from years ago. This hits the nail on the head. You also get the pleasure of watching Jim White make himself look like a complete knob - basically "yeah the guy was really bad and did bad things, but it helped football in the premier league, so it's OK" type argument.

Confident he'll stay. I suspect the issue is wages - but he will have known that when he joined. He's clearly loving his football, he's back in the Brazil team and has seen how crap things can be when at Barcelona. He can join, be our top earner on a 'paltry' £150k a week (obviously I've made that up) - and feel the love and adoration of the crowd every week, having a team in part built around him. Plus he gets to live in Barnt Green.

It could. First - we might 'like' the Saudi's now, but things change (we went from being on the Soviet Union's 'side' in WW2, straight into the Cold War). There is an element of trade (oil, weapons, etc) in the government decision making, but there is also the element of stability in the region. Like them or not - Saudi Arabia are seen as a stabilising power in the region overall. And second - and perhaps more importantly from the Premier League perspective - it's always easier to do something again. This is a huge step against a powerful and rich individual. Whatever happens to Chelsea, making it happen a second time is always easier, as everyone has the path to follow clearly marked out. I agree that it is unlikely to happen - but perhaps this step changes a few things. Buying a PL club suddenly comes with a risk that will make headlines around the world, rather than be a simple act of sports washing we have seen up until now. One can hope.

It seems Abromovich was putting in £90m a year (increased loan) to fund the clubs operations. No new contracts, no sales, no purchases, no new tickets - they've got a huge problem. They could lose 3 of their better defenders in one go, and can't buy anyone to replace them. It could see an Administration, down the line so he loses all of his money and new owners can pick up the pieces, but I suspect there is a lot of legal wrangling here - which is why I suspect it's taken 2 weeks to get to this point - because the government had to be able to prove it was right before it acted. Personally, this is great, and the chance to take a big step on cleaning up football. Hope it does.

1) it's probably rubbish clickbait 2) what Rich said. There will be a loan fee, and if a purchase price has been agreed, it will take account of the loan fee - as well as other factors (like relegation, and the difference between an option and obligation to buy). 3) players often get payments in the case of a transfer, which will affect the price too - hence the fuss and "making a transfer request". Targett seems to have pushed for this, so might therefore forego any payment from us - again affecting the fee.

When a striker makes a bad error - its a wasted chance. When its a defender - it can lead to a goal against. Technically, Coutinho made 2 or 3 'bad errors' on Saturday, as he should've had a hattrick. Instead he got MotM. Mings makes errors. So does everyone. But he is the lifeblood of the defensive unit, and we are so much poorer when he isn't in the team. I would even go as far to suggest that others make fewer errors when he is playing, as he is sorting them out. And he appears to be an outstanding human being - and I love him at my club.

I love Watkins. Don't know if he's been figured out by teams, is just having a tough season, or his head has been turned. If he isn't going to make the next step, then this summer might be his optimal value, and it's time for him to go. Ings - more likely to be the back-up striker we keep than Watkins. Archer - keep. Nurture. Davis - don't know. He can clearly do a job, but I suspect where we want to be is beyond his level. Wesley - Go. And good luck.

Couldn't agree more. It's a numbers game. We are signing these youngsters for £100k and upwards - but if a handful make it in the Premier League - the overall annual cost of recruitment of (say) a couple of £m a year is dwarfed by the savings. Jacob Ramsey has a value of £13.5m on Jacob Ramsey - Player profile 21/22 | Transfermarkt The reality is much higher with so much more to come. Without him, the club would be looking for another £30m player. Good scouting at academy level is transformative, providing you have a manager who knows how to use them.

We really are monsters at the U18 level now. Love the fact that we're picking up players, and on balance - £0.5m to Derby feels OK. Hopefully this guy goes on and becomes awesome for us, but it doesn't feel like we're picking over the carcass of a struggling club completely with the deal. I really do feel sorry for their supporters.

He has a chance to join a club that is (unfortunately) probably going to make huge strides over the next few seasons. He probably reckons he can get a decent move if he performs well, and I suspect this will happen. No matter what we all seem to think about their owners - he's a footballer playing for a club and their fans, and hopes to get a big pay rise out of it. For him and his family - fair play. Go be the next Wayne Bridge. Simply - we don't need him anymore. Whether he lacks the bottle to fight; has been told he can go as he's now 3rd choice (Young on the bench makes sense from a versatility perspective) or whatever - it doesn't matter. And one thing to remember - if he is unhappy or desperate to play, and this is the main reason we let him go, then this is no bad thing. We let Martinez go to Argentina when we could have stopped him - and he's just signed a new deal. At the end of the day, the club are their employers, and some benevolence (within certain parameters) will probably make us a more attractive proposition to potential new signings. Rewards aren't always immediate.

We tend to get stuff done early in the window, so I am expecting a quiet day today except for a few outgoings (mainly or all loans) for fringe players. (Yes, that means you Matt Targett). But this guy has been at the AFCON, so it would make some sense to wait for either until he's back in the country (they got eliminated last Wednesday evening), or until the very last minute so to not waste money on salaries for a month when he isn't available, or in case he got injured.

In the Summer, we were happy enough (at least I thought we were) with Targett, and Young as his deputy. In January, we've signed a player for £25m, on whom the fan base seems unanimous that it is an upgrade, we still have Young, and we now have only 17 games left all season. But Targett cannot leave as it leaves us short at LB? I understand not wanting to given Newcastle any help. But I am 10000% sure that this decision has been made for AVFC, whilst taking into account the players wishes also. I can understand wanting to have loads of players in the squad - but we are already seeing Carney get unsettled (apparently) due to lack of opportunities. At some point the kids have to be given a chance. And we haven't unlimited wealth. Reminder - no one knows the deal. We signed Ings - no one knew. We signed Chambers - apart from 1 bloke on twitter, no-one knew. Don't believe the bullshit - and wait for the facts.