MrBlack

Unless he wants to leave because he wants guaranteed first team football, I'd definitely keep him. Doesnt strike me as someone that isn't up for a fight though, or someone that would throw his toys out the pram. Can see him and Cash sharing duties all season long. If they both have great seasons, neither of them making horrific mistakes then we'll have a headache trying to keep them both next season, but this season, being as tightly packed as the fixture list is, we need two first team players for every position ideally. We're not going to get that but sacrificing a player in the only position where we seem to genuinely have it would be madness.

Thought we already had? But give me an excuse, and I'll take it...

Cash puns belong in the cash thread surely... i will resist. Praying that there is another signing imminent that had totally blindsided the media, would make me very happy as an indicator that there could be others. If its Watkins/Wilson I'd be fine with either but would point to a concerning lack of other viable rumours, given both signings would have been leaked all over the news long before they happened.

At least they didn't leave it hanging too long. Imagine the meltdown if there's a dual announcement.... fingers crossed. Welcome Matty, may you improve our leaky defence/midfield and help us going forwards.

Ooo, such a tease.

Agreed I was just saying how it would work in the off chance we got them all

Watkins on the wing, Wilson first choice, Samatta backup. Wesley, when he returns, ousts samatta and maybe Wilson also. I dont see watkins as a striker if we sign him, but tbh I don't see us signing him if we get Wilson

Assumes there are clubs wanting to loan the types of player we're after though. Loans aren't that common for players capable of delivering in the PL. Maybe the current market has made it more likely, but surely the loan route would be a last resort if the players we want to sign aren't gettable. International break may have put a hold on some things, we may be in the 5th round of negotiations for some players. There'll come a time when we have to bite the bullet on something, and loans may be the option when that time comes.

Shame that your first like was for slating a current player but sadly its true. Davis cannot finish. He's got potential to be a good player, but if he doesn't learn to score (not even sure that can be taught), then being a worse Emile Heskey is not a great footballing cv.

Maybe he did his career the wrong way round. Went for the pay day early on, and now looking to end it playing first team football on a lower salary?

Without the injury history I would be all for this. With the injury history, combined with our bad luck, I feel like it is a waste of money with no long term benefit. If he joins and stays injury free, he'll be better than what we have for not a huge amount of cash so can see why it's tempting

Well my first signing prediction was way off. Only ~3 weeks later than I guessed (assuming Cash happens today or tomorrow). As for total spend... I'm sticking with my 120m. Hoping the signing of a player we don't desperately need indicates there is money to spend. If Guilbert or Elmo leave then that argument falls flat as it just indicates we're buying a replacement before we sell. In terms of total number, I'm also sticking with 6... for the same reason above.

It is madness to think our signings will happen in order of priority, way too many variables for that to be the case. Sadly there are always plenty of irrational thoughts out there. Speaking of, I choose to look at it this way...If they're willing to spend this much in a position we're not struggling in, there must be billions to spend!

The lack of movement is clearly down to the market being in a place it has never been before. Demand vs supply dictates price. Clubs are rejecting offers they see as below their asking price, expecting that someone else will stump up the cash, or they'll stay. If that doesn't happen, then the only way moves are happening this season is if the buying/ selling club adjust their valuation of a player to match the other or if a player kicks up a fuss and demands a transfer. If teams have their own siginings in mind but need to sell before they buy, they'll be the first ones to blink when it comes to adjusting their valuation of a player they're selling. The reverse is true for a team that needs players without having to sell (as is largely the case for most PL teams). Chelsea are an exception of sorts, but even they jave demonstrated this by spunking way over the perceived odds on a couple of signings. They probably also had some deals "pre agreed" for when their ban was listed The closer it gets to season start, the more pressure there is for one team to bend. I predict a lot of action very late in the window, especially if the first few games have gone poorly (doesn't just apply to villa)

Current expectation based on no signings and absolutely no clue as to who we are even interested in leaves me predicting a season of more of the same at present. A season of familiarity with the league, more understanding between the existing players and the improvement shown post lockdown are tempered by the small squad size and increased frequency of games. Our relative squad size of viable first team players compared with others towards the bottom of the league is a worry. Whilst other teams around us may not have strengthened much, I can't see past a season of struggle where it will be a toss up whether we survive or not. 3-4 quality first team signings before the window closes (ideally 2 before the season starts) and I'll revise my expectations.

Where have we shown this? Dubious rumours from clickbait tabloids? Biased links from a sky news corporation that makes millions off the bets that get placed on the back of it? Twitter ITKs that actually know nothing? Or was this poorly disguised sarcasm that went straight over my head?

Sky reporting us and Newcastle are in talks with Bournemouth over Callum Wilson... sorry if already posted. Benrahma and Wilson both left out of Brentford team today

How does one eat a proverbial hat?

Good shout. Tbh, I don't give a rat's arse about the kit. That smile on Jack's face though...

Doesn't look "English". I'd say more French.

Funniest reply ever

Fingers crossed...also that (if he gets on) he doesnt get injured through the inevitable kicking he'll get from the minnows of international football looking to make a name for themselves.

Truly ridiculous from Southgate. Grealish should have replaced Rashford, and someone more defensively minded should have replaced Winks (potentially Maitland-Niles if we dont have any other defensive minders central midfielders available). By first picking AMN shows that he had either got the structure of his squad wrong in the first place (something he'd never admit to) or just proves that he is blindly ignoring Grealish and spouting pure lies in his reasons for not picking him. Don't expect to see Jack get any game time given the above, Southgate has bowed to pressure in selecting him, will need more pressure from bad performances of his preferred players to get any game time.

I said a few hundred pages ago that I'd only start getting concerned (or at least voicing my concern) when we're without a signing two weeks before the season starts. Would be disappointed and surprised if we don't sign anyone this week. Can't comment on likelihood given the way some of our signings came out of nowhere last season. Not sure if we'll be targeting current internationals but the country football this week and next would presumably hinder any such signings. Let's see how this week goes...

To extend this. Day 2 arrives (where demand is expected to be similar or identical to day 1), and you stock up on exactly the same volume of cake. Have you learnt your lesson from day 1?