RichiBoi11

That can work perfectly fine if the players in their have the right discipline. I think one still needs to take the responsibility and sit deeper though, and it's a lot of work for the two if we play 4231 when Ings and Watkins are fit. I think Douglas Luiz might be a much more important player this season than many might have thought.

It was a genuine typo, but I stand by it

Yeah it's looking very unlikely anyone else comes in, barring a few departures. We've been after a midfielder all summer so I wouldn't be suprised to see us move late for one if we can shit a couple of players out, but without that sort of movement it seems we are done.

Change of manager and he fell out of favour at the end of his time there anyway, so that's probably why there's no real link to them. I do think he will go, but it might be one that's done on deadline day as a last minute loan.

Back at Chelsea in all likelihood. They love inserting buy back clauses nowadays and no doubt in two years time there'll be a new manager that will look at his recvord (if he's done well) and think 'easy transfer, get him back in.

If we signed him I'd assume that's Buendia at 10 then as Bailey would also start.

He's definitely good enough technically to be a premier league player, but I think it's the speed and intensity that's just too much for him. He's been a fantastic servant and I hope he gets a move to somewhere he will be first choice before the window closes.

Yeah he is definitely a very frugal negotiator.

Even if that's not true he only returned to pre season training after having his ankle in a protective boot all summer from the day after the Chelsea game, so unlike other players, he couldn't even do any basic fitness work on his break. Add in a disrupted pre season with cancelled games etc and it's no wonder he's off the pace. Realistically he's probably weeks off being fully match fit and challenging Young.

It'd be harsh to loan Wesley to Club Bruges and then block his chance at regaining form and fitness by sending them Archer as well.

To be fair with Davis' injury record I think at least one of these two will be on the bench every game, unless we bring in another forward, which is very unlikely.

I don't think there's anything wrong with that type of signing, so long as we weren't expecting them to immediately become a first team regular. But I do agree, the higher quality ready made players are also needed. If we signed Sarr for example and moved Nakamba on, I think that would be ok, as Nakamba only played 13 games last season, a similar return for a developmental player like Sarr would be ok. But either way, we need better players ahead of whoever is filling that role in our squad.

This is very disappointing news. Maybe it means we're still after Doucoure though, the fact Sarr has gone for that fee means you won't get ripped off with comparative prices from that league currently.

You can see why the likes of Dortmund were circling before he signed his new deal.

Yeah with Wesley going out on loan and Davis injured I think he'll be kept around until at least January as backup for the first team.

I completely agree, and I'd love to see us make moves for a couple of quality players to improve the first 11, I just get the impression with Smith's comments and the fact focus seems to have shifted on moving players on, that there isn't much more coming in. That said, Dean has always said whenever we are done it's only unless the right deal comes along, so deadline day could be interesting. I have faith in the scouts and Lange now that 'the right deal' is no longer a Borja Baston so hopefully there's still a surprise round the corner for us.

Yeah I agree, I don't see the benefit in selling Luiz now, he's clearly part of Smith's plans after comnig straight back in and starting. It's also why we won't sell El Ghazy despite people wanting him gone, he's currently starting and will be back up for Bailey when he's fit. It's only the bit part players that might be off. If we do bring one more midfielder in then it'll probably be someone to play alongside Luiz and McGinn, but I could also see Smith putting his faith in Sanson for that spot, so I imagine it'll be a quiet end to the window, with maybe one midfielder in if Hourihane departs, but not much more unless a goalkeeper becomes available.

This lad has basically locked the door behind Wesley on his way out. Whether he can make it for us long term is up for debate, but he's shown he's more than capable of taking the Wesley/Davis role in back up of the two main strikers. Also I know his goalscoring for Solihull Moors wasn't great, but that requires context. He may have had little to no service there, or at least, not the right type. All three of his goals were set up by sliding or crossing directly in to his path. If they didn't do that he may not have had many decent chances, but in a side like ours last night, where he does get service, he's shown he's a more than capable finisher.

Why are you bothered? Don't you want her dead?

If you caught Lois on her birthday breakdown episode you'd have a good chance mate.

I'm with Jonah. Fifa is even easier than FM. At least on FM players seem to have their own thoughts, and won't make crazy moves (Like Neymar to Brighton for example) but on Fifa, if you have the cash you can literally sign anyone you want at any club you want. and Transfer negotiations take 30 seconds

Every day truly is a school day

Villa lad? I'm sure I've seen him do an interview previously where he said the one club he would never want to play for is Villa due to being a nose.

If he continues his current goal scoring form then I think you could realistically keep him until next summer and sell him then, as even with 1 year left on his contract you'd at least make your money back on him due to the value his goals will add to his price. Plus football will probably be in a healthier financial position next year which would mean you'd probably have more clubs interested and offering more than you would get this year ironically. I like El Ghazy, and I think he has more than enough to be a valuable squad player this season. But I don't think he's a long term player if we can crack the European bubble. Keep him on his existing deal and evaluate it again next year.

You're not going to win here mate, and I agree with you, he's definitely good enough by far to be a squad player for us, and I'm sure you'd agree, he's only playing because Bailey and Watkins are unavailable currently, but the hatred on here for him is too strong, too many people see so much negative about him that they ignore any positives there may be to him, his game, or his status in our squad.