qwertyell

Shocking from McCarthy. Speculative effort from 30 yards straight through his hands. Second goal he's conceded this week that was his fault. If signing Gunn was to put pressure on McCarthy to maintain his standards, the early signs suggest he's not coping very well. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

That was easy. Back three caught square, not for the first time. Bendarek easily outpaced and the cross for a tap in from Hermann who also easily left Hoedt for dead. I'd call them worrying signs, but we've been staring at them dumbfounded for a year and still seemingly have no clue how to address them. Maybe five at the back isn't enough. Perhaps six, or seven... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

I just hope Shane Long isn't starting again. He's played a worrying amount in pre season for a team not trying to get relegated. If Hughes sees him as a starter, we're in for a shocker of a season. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Good thing we don't play with wingers and most of our players can't go quicker than walking pace then... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Ziyech watch: he's handed in a transfer request and Tadic has been given his squad number... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

From what I've seen previously, he's not spectacular, but he's extremely competent: he saves the ones you'd expect your keeper to save, and does everything calmly, without much fuss. Reminds me a little of Van Der Sar. Very reliable. He won't let us down - and who knows how good he might become in time. You could argue, with cash being tight, that we had greater priorities to address than goalkeeper this summer, but long term I think Gunn will prove a cracking investment. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Has he massively underperformed, though? He's 22. Having your breakout season at 22 after a couple of up and down years learning the ropes isn't exactly uncommon in even the very best players' career histories. I think Palace - or whoever gets him - will be picking up a gem. It might not work out, of course; no transfer is ever a certain success. But a Schalke fan told me he'd been offered to us and we'd turned him down, so I'm definitely interested in seeing how this one plays out. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Nothing like Ravel Morrison. Meyer's commitment and professionalism have never been in doubt - it says something that Schalke kept selecting him in a key role all season in spite of knowing he was leaving at the end of it; and he had he best ever season, helping his team to second in the Bundesliga. His "bad attitude", as far as I can tell, is that old school Mattheus, Moeller, Effenberg, Kahn attitude of thinking extremely highly of himself and not being shy about vocalising his opinion to teammates and staff. Perhaps in modern day, right on Germany that's no longer seen as such a good thing, but it was certainly embraced in the past. I'm sure his reputation has not been helped by seemingly having a toxic agent farming him around aggressively with ridiculous demands, making few friends along the way, but there's a super player, just 22, capped 4 times by the national team, to be picked up by someone willing to take a chance. He'll be sold for a big fee at some point in his career. I remember him absolutely running rings around his England u21 counterpart in the Euros two years ago. The comparison in quality was stark. But, you know, he's quite good at corners and did well with his GCSEs, so I guess we're lucky to have him... Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Jesus, are we still playing the "if Austin stays fit" bargaining game? He hasn't started more than 14 games in a season for 4 years. At 29, he's not getting fitter - in fact he looks slower and more out of shape than ever. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

So, conceding every match, creating nothing from open play, having no midfield, and utterly reliant on set pieces? Cool. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

As opposed to not even being named in the 25 man squad of a Premier League side? Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Unless we had a deal lined up for, say, Loftus-Cheek for a similar amount, what would be the point in even considering that? Not sure £25m gets you a decent Championship midfielder today. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

You'd think he'd wait for the match to be over. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

I think he asked to return to City early. With the signing of Mahrez, he probably knows his place in the pecking order is under serious threat. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

If his song isn't to the tune of La Bamba, I don't know what's happening to the world. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

A combination of Stoke wanting a lot of money for him and Butland's stock having dropped after a pretty mediocre season. He hasn't looked the same keeper since he broke his ankle. A lot more hesitant coming out/dominating his area. Something's not quite right. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

According to the Telegraph, £20m plus add-ons for Ings is the price. Comical. Hopefully that counts us out of the running. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Roll the dice on Marcus Edwards? Huge potential, just needs a bit of guidance to get his attitude in check. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Leipzig have agreed a fee for Lookman, last I heard. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

3-3, 3-2, 0-3 - whatever work Hughes is doing on the defence is going decidedly Stoke-y. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Would be depressingly crappy end to what has been a relatively positive transfer window thus far. Danny Ings? Fudge that. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

It's going to be bloody Ings, isn't it? Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

Morocco were weak garbage at the world cup yet still weren't interested in taking Boufal with them, even as an "impact substitute". Which kind of suggests it's not just us who think he's a waste of space in spite of his obvious talent. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

He scored 6 in 12 under Puel. It was his injury lay off after the Spurs game that killed all momentum - by the time he'd returned, the team were phoning in performances with nothing to play for and no desire to go the extra mile for a manager they didn't believe in. By all means, connect Gabbiadini's struggles with Pellegrino's reign of total ineptitude, but I don't think Puel carries much blame at all. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk

I think Sims is still young enough that he's exempt from having to be named in the 25. But your suggested list - whether right or wrong - does emphasise how bloated our squad is and how the second half of this transfer window is probably going to focus almost entirely on shipping players out. I'd be surprised if McQueen was retained over Targett. More than happy to lose Clasie and Davis - if Reed's going be part of the squad and Slattery (who wouldn't count towards the 25) the next youth to be given a taste, the midfield is well stocked. I doubt Hesketh has a future at our level as well. If we can shift Long too, that frees up a few spaces should there be any money left to bring in some new less crap blood. Sent from my F3311 using Tapatalk