samjp26

I don't think you can take pre-season results too seriously, personally I'd like a CB, LB, Striker and a winger - as would most - but I guess if Lambert believes he can work with what he has now then we should wait and see what today's result is. If Warnock hasn't even got into the squad then at least we know both him and Hutton are 110% not in Lambert's plans, so maybe we will see at least a LB brought in before the window closes as it's not exactly Lambert's fault if Warnock can't be sold, and I'd assume Randy could spare another 3 or 4 million quid to bring somebody in that Lambert wants.

In that case, good luck Lichaj, our defence is the weakest part of the team but hey who knows what Lambert can pull off if he really is a tactical mastermind!

I wish Warnock would get focused and pull up his socks, unfortunately that would probably lead to him falling over. At least after today's game, against one of the poorest squads now in the Prem, we can get an idea of whether what we've got is good enough and whether we can see anybody else coming in / if Lambert genuinely is happy to work with what he has. (I'm trying to be positive here)

I'm pretty sure we can afford a bigger net spend than £6.5m (based on what SSN have our transfers at), still hoping for a left back and a striker this window, Defoe i'd actually take based on his proven Premier League experience which is something we're lacking in most departments, plus he has a point to prove so we may be able to get a decent season from him. Surely Bent isn't going anywhere, as I doubt Lerner is that stupid and he must realise that he's our only player left of any major worth both financially and as a player. Would hardly show the backing of Lambert that we all expect either.

That really was some goal. Holman looked good until he went off (and scored a goal but for a defender's outstretched elbow). And back on topic, this business with Makoun going to Rennes has really got my hopes up for Brahimi (without there being a factual reason for this). I'd assume Rennes wanting Makoun on loan for a year is a temporary solution for the likely departure of M'Vila rather than a return for giving us Brahimi

Johnson would be a great marquee signing for us I reckon, isn't really his fault that he hasn't managed to crack the Man City 1st team with the players they have and I think he'd be a key player for most Prem teams - could see him going Tottenham or Liverpool though

i think this is precisely the case... i would guess that Lambert was told that there is a lot of deadwood to shift and if he can move it then he can have all the money recouped to spend on new players... unfortunately for us, the deadwood are mostly ageing cloggers who carry no transfer value which is why i think Randy will supply him with a little extra if needed... i genuinely believe that we are desperately trying to get rid of Hutton and Warnock before we can sign replacements and that explains our lack of recent activity Doesn't really make any sense - I doubt Lambert would have taken the job if it was on a "signings can only be made if you personally manage to flog this hit list of players we do not want any more" basis. I'm pretty sure the whole remove the deadwood crap was meant to happen last year, but we ended up signing the likes of Hutton. If these so called dead wood players staying at the club means we can't sign the calibre of players we need (if any more signings at all), then we're just going to be in the same position until their contracts run out. No progression.

ITK time traveller?!

Oriol Romeu - not sure if he's quite ready for the Prem on a game to game basis just yet though. Wouldn't be possible unless Barca agreed as they have first choice to buy him back if Chelsea decide to sell him, funny how Barca get these clauses in so if anybody they sell becomes good they can have them back On the other hand I can't believe Lukaku has gone to the Baggies on loan, one player that I would've liked to see us loan out of choice rather than not being able to buy anybody else. .

No more signings this window, maybe one signing in January, an 12th place finish with the table looking something like: 1 Man United 2 Man City 3 Chelsea 4 Arsenal 5 Liverpool 6 Tottenham 7 Newcastle 8 Everton 9 Sunderland 10 QPR 11 Swansea 12 Villa

Why should we HAVE to loan players? A club of our stature should be able to bring in players permanently, we aren't a League One feeder club, I'm sure there are players out there that would like to play for a long-standing Premier League club.

Really think we should be in for Lukaku now, hes firmly stated that he wants away on loan if Chelsea aren't going to give him first team action this season, and with him having a point to prove, combined with his potential, I think he'd be a great signing and we probably wouldn't even have to pay a loan fee.

Just signed up to the league

I'd assume that he's back at City now?

What a legend LOL

I guess we must be in for somebody else, because surely he wouldn't of been approached if we were on a strict sell to buy policy. Our expectations as fans have been severely lowered, you'd think the club would reach our new expectations but no they even go about business in a unprofessional manner. :|

Still shocks me that Collins is only 28

Fulham have made a bid to loan Lukaku from Chelsea, i'd rather we try put a bid in for him if we're after a target man

Any decent Youtube stuff of this Joe Bennett fella?

Welbeck leaving United = no chance, look how long it took him to get into the starting 11

Carroll is young, and slow. High re-sale value? He was purchased by Liverpool for £35m and they now want £20m back, that's a £15m loss within the space of a year, and if it stoops to £15m well thats a £20m loss. I'm not saying we should re-sign Carew btw, I'm no idiot, but if we really want a 'target man' over 6ft with power, opting for an over-priced Carroll is ludicrous. Before the season he just had I wouldn't have expected anybody to have paid £10m for him and I was baffled when I saw Liverpool had signed him on SSN.

Thought i'd bring up some stats of another tall, strong striker who is a familiar face and we could even sign for free. Let us compare his stats to those of Carroll: Carew (@ Aston Villa) - 2007-2011, 113 Apps and 37 Goals Carew (@ Stoke + WHU) - 2011+, 29 Apps and 3 Goals Carroll (@ Newcastle) - 2006-2011, 80 Apps and 31 Goals Carroll (@ Liverpool) - 2011+, 42 Apps and 6 Goals Can't remember what Carew cost us at first unless it was just a swap for Baros? Either way, with Carroll touted at approx £15-20m, it is safe to say there are much better options available for such a price, i'd probably even take Carew at 32 years of age for free and spend the dosh elsewhere.

Opted for the Baggies over Arsenal? :?

Can't see Lowton being number 34 either, KEA will probably take number 4 if Makoun doesn't return I guess

I'd be a bit peeved if we spend £20m on Carroll, especially with his reported 80k a week wages. When we spent a similar sum on Bent, we knew he was a proven goalscorer which made it all worthwhile, Carroll on the other hand hasn't really done a thing to earn such a fee and its Liverpools fault for spending a shitload on him in the first place. For £20m and 80k a week of the wage budget I'm pretty sure we could get one if not two players that have far greater quality, it just doesn't seem logical, especially after apparent wage crisis.