Dusic

He didn't start a PL game until Boxing Day! It was clear to seemingly everyone part from you that we signed Edozie as a promising player to be part of the first team squad, add an option and to develop him over the long term. He had barely played any senior minutes in his whole career FFS. He wasn't signed to come in and be an immediate starting XI player hence not starting in league for so long. I think signing Orsic was in theory to improve the goal threat of the team, as none of the established forward players like Moi, Stu, Adams, Arma, Djenepo, Walcott etc were doing it. You can add Edozie to the list for sure as part of the group but clearly Orsic wasn't signed in January because Edozie hadn't scored in his 3 PL starts to that point!

Be interesting to see what we end up with in the GK department. I reckon Baz, Lis, McNamara. Surely McCarthy won't put up with being a backup at this level?

Reality is that in the first few games players will start who are later sold. As always most transfers happen in the last few weeks of the window and as a Championship team that will leave us open to losing good players. But also means we should have a strong side for the first few even if we havent made many signings. The squad that goes on the Goztepe trip, and specifically who doesn't, will be interesting...

Yeah, cameos of the bench starting his first PL game on Boxing Day. Like I said, I don't think anyone expected him to come in and be a regular starter. Lets hope he has a good season, I expect him to and anyone who has already written him off is taking a risk because he is obviously talented and still so young! Not much more to say on it than that really.

Or its a sign that Jason Wilcox has recruited a player that he knows extremely well and thinks will be well suited to our needs. A player who is well versed in the style we will be adopting and has senior Intl experience.

Edozie, like Larios, was clearly not signed to go straight into our starting XI and make an immediate impact. Anyone who thinks otherwise either hugely misinterpreted that or is pretending otherwise to fit whatever point they are making. I don't think he was in the squad to start with and then took a while to even come off the bench. When he did it was imediately clear that he is a very talented dribbler with tight control, a good first touch and an ability to beat players 1 vs 1. Pretty much all his apps, in a poor team lacking attacking cohesion showed these attributes. IMO he could be very good next season if he can add end product in the way that Tella, who had lookwd woefully short of that in the PL, managed to do at Burnley. I think being in a team that has more of the ball will suit him and I am still glad we signed him as there is clearly big talent there. Learning on the job in a poor PL team is a tough gig and anyone who has already written him off as a failure is being pretty short sighted. If you think every signing is brought in to make an immediate impact then you must have totally missed our operating model for a number of years.

Don't see it this way myself. They have the best academy, lots of players who are clearly very good but have no real pathway to regular football at City. We have the ex City Academy Manager as our DoF, a manager who plays a style these players are trained in and a stated aim of giving players like those mentioned an opportunity to play first team football because we can't afford to sign players of that quality once they are proven. This summer we are dealing with interest from at least Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea in Lavia who we will make a significant profit on having come from the same route. I get why some people might clamour for more experience, although our recent more experienced signings (Orsic, Onuachu, DCC, Aribo etc) have been much worse than the young players, but not sure what makes it "dodgy, weird and worrying"? Its supply and demand and using a market we have strong knowledge of.

Yes, we already 'lost' AMN and its certain two out of JWP, Lavia and Diallo will go plus not impossible all 3 do.

He also doesn't really fit their style particularly. Under Martin he had something ridiculous like the 2nd best pass completion % in the whole of Europe, so for a ball oriented style seems well suited and young enough to develop further. He is a big West Ham fan so would be a big step for him to leave after just a year but hopefully he values regular minutes under a Manager he knows gets the best from him.

Supposedly Besiktas have offered €4m for Lynaco whilst Saints want closer to €8m. Would be amazed if they have actually offered a straight €4m fee for him. If so, surely rip their hand off for it. I had imagined he would end up leaving on loan so any kind of permanent deal would be good for us.

Nobody will pay that, its not a realistic fee. But they could still pay a substantial fee for him. Its highly likely they would still be able to make a profit in a couple of years even if they spent £30m on him. They have already dropped £30m on Joao Pedro and want Kudus from Ajax who is valued at £40m or so and their most connected reporter has said a couple of times they are very much interested in Livramento, so would imagine they know the likely costs involved. Just saying...one to watch until they sign another RB, especially if Tino's main thing is about playing time.

A new signing. Has to be someone who will play the vast majority of minutes, so most likely a CB or CM. Of the existing players who have a higher liklihood of staying only Stephens and Bednarek are realistic shouts IMO.

I think Brighton are the ones to watch with Livramento. They wanted him before, are keen now and unlike Chelsea and Newcastle he would be a starter. Last season they had no first choice RB, Lamptey is on his way out and Veltman is a versatile player who can play elsewhere. Seeing as they will have Europe he would get plenty of games, fits their profile and they aren't short of cash either.

Would say in the summer the talent ID was largely good. We signed some very good players like Lavia and ABK and clearly identified Gakpo, Ramos, Colwill and Hojlund too before they became much more widely revered. Not sure on the roles and responsibilities but maybe its too simplistic to say Shields did a poor job if his role was to identify the players and then pass it to the owners/Semmens to actually get deals done? Takes a good structure to get things done and noticeable that when Russell Martin had his big rant about Swansea's poor Jan window he specifically said the head of recruitment there couldn't have done more and was as frustrated as everyone else. Usually there are multiple factors and its too simplistic just to blame one person.

Obviously its just interviews but liking what he is saying so far. Nothing OTT, just clear, genuine, leader-like and easy to warm to. One of the biggest challenges this season is to really win back the fans and a manager who people trust and like will help a lot, assuming results and performances follow.

We have given Caballero a contract to be a third choice GK, because he is a respected guy who by all accounts is a very good character around the squad and an experienced voice to our young no1. I am absolutely certain his contract had absolutely nothing to do with Alcaraz. Besides, probably 80% of our first team squad have no idea where they will be on 1st Sept so giving out contracts linked to others would be even more bizarre.

Unfortunate that he only has a year left as makes it inevitable that he leaves. Would have been a great player to keep for this season IMO.

Lavia clearly will move so IMO the sooner it happens the better for all concerned. Hopefully as well as a big fee we insert a decent sell on arrangement.

They will be back. There is two months of the window left. If they really want him they will get him. Its just negotiation, and with 3 years on his contract and players like Nathan Collins moving for £23m we have a decent position.

I think he could be a key player this season in a different style. He is suited to a ball oriented style where he would have lots of touches and could probably play in his best position, which he rarely did last season. IMO unless we suddenly get a great offer for him (which is unlikely especially from a Turkish club), I don't see why we would bomb him out at a massive loss or on loan. Totally different situation to Orsic and Aribo made his name in the EFL so it will be a known quantity for him.

This really. Some of the individual moments (pass vs Leeds, finish vs City) are the type that many players cannot do. But he really lacked intensity at times, although he is still extremely young and has been thrown into the first team at both of his clubs with little time to really learn his trade. I would be disappointed if we loan him out and think he has a lot of attributes Martin values and could be an interesting player with a high ceiling.

Need to get Doyle signed up, think his deal expires next summer.

Especially as almost all of our squad probably don't know with any degree of certainty where they will be playing in September. There is still 2 months of the window - loads of moves involving Saints will happen.

I think he will stay and be no1 and would expect him to be significantly better for last seasons experience, in a poor team lacking in any stability of selection in defence. Wonder what will happen with Lis? Will he replace McCarthy as no2 assume AMc goes, or will he end up at Valenciennes? Always felt like a multi club signing as a low risk free transfer.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/truth-behind-leicester-city-interest-27224670 This says Leicester bid expected for Piroe in coming days. Saints have been interested but the poor relationship with Swansea is a significant complication.