Chez

Very good. The problem is, it probably means Fernandes is actually pushing for the move and following the agents 101 on getting a transfer.

It's amazing how often a player falls ill just before he departs.

wasn't he a prominent part of the 'ull side that took the piss out of us at SMS?

Yep. You cant play Archer down the middle on his own (I still think we should have sold him to Leeds in January) or Armstrong. Maybe 4-4-2 would get the best out of those two?

He's a winger. Simple as that. Did you not think he look like his legs had gone as some have said on this thread?

After being sent out on loan, you have to imagine he wants out. I know its a different manager, but players like to be wanted and as a club we didn't want him.

Axel Tuanzebe to Burnley. Not sure if he was all that anyway. Ensico went back to Brighton too. They look decent. Is Hutchinson not going to leave?

Do the highlights do the game justice as it looks like we created almost nothing...which has long been a concern.

Maybe worry about the PL another day? Winning games at this level is going to be hard enough.

Would it not be the same proportion as last season?

Every club is going to try to get as much money as possible. No one lets a player move to a big club unless the offer is too good to turn down. Likewise no one really says no, they just say, a bit more money please. Where things come unstuck is when a player and agent thinks their value is, say, £30m, but the club sets a price of £60m.

Grealish spent three years in the championship with Villa. Should Dibling spend three years at that level?

I have not issue with loans and the fact is, if every other championship side has strengthened its starting eleven with loans, you need to do the same. Because we have more money than most, we should be able to get better, or certainly more highly paid loans. It's hard to buy PL-level quality when you are in the league below. Loans gives you that opportunity When you get promoted, you can attract better players. Also, better to have the money in the bank (saved by loaning this season rather than buying) next summer.

Will be interesting to see how Sunderland fair. They have spent about £130m according to transfermarkt, which tends to be conservative and not include add ons. Just how much does a promoted side (especially one coming u through the play offs) need to spend to have a chance.

If you spend the money now, you have the player, but the money you have just spent is not there the following summer. The end result (players in and bank balance available) is the same.

That lack of size in that line up is a concern. If we go longer, more often, Archer is not ideal as the focal point of the attack. Bree, Taylor, Stephens, BBD, Downs and Stewart would all provide more height. Whether we want to be playing all or some of those, I am not sure.

I agree, its not pitiful in the championship and I applaud your continuous efforts to tell people that we have players that have done it at this level before. Keep in mind though that BBD scored 14 goals in 43 games back in 22/23 season. That's a little while ago now. Stewarts goals again came from 22/23 too and Archers goals were from 21/22 and 22/23. It's good to have this track history, but it's the present and future that matters. Are these guys now confident, comfortable with the system and being supplied with the chances they all need (because none of them really create things out of nothing on their own)? I am always mindful that Deli Ali scored 10, 18, 9, 5 and 8 goals in consecutive season for Spurs...and then, well, he didn't score goals for Spurs. Things change quickly in football.

Downs and Robinson to start, possibly? Is Smallbone really going to be our number 10?

Lavia seemed to fit the needs of both Liverpool and Chelsea. Do the big sides have a Fernandes shaped hole? Not so sure. And its those CL sides that have the big money available.

Does THB start for a single PL side? he wouldn't dislodge Burnley's pair, not sure Leeds or Sunderland would start him either, but maybe I'm mistaken.

is that realistic? The market is mad these days. I've no idea how half the clubs afford the fees they pay.

Up front, Vardey gone, Daka still there. Mavididi and Fatawu still there. No idea why both were not starters right from the off last year. I think Mavididi was injured for the first couple of games, but should have started, They were both very good in the championship.

yeah more complete is a good term, but even Lavia had a few things to learn. He also didn't have to do the `second' hardest thing in football, dribble past players. Players that can do it against top opponents are rare. When I see £27m, I just think of the amount we speculated on Sulemana, not far off that, who at the time was on the bench at Rennes. That was a 2.5 years ago too...and the prices keep rising. Dibling has actually done it in the PL, all be it for half a season.

If, and that's a big if, he had continued to run teams ragged, like he did at Brighton, scored lets say four more goals in the run in, then maybe that massive price tag we put on him in January wouldn't look so out of place as it does at the moment. The club know what a talent he is, and they are no daft enough to ignore that, even if their hand is not as strong as they'd like.

Obviously no club chucked him a life ring then. Has he played in the friendlies? Did he look any good? I slated him last season, but am hoping for a second season bump (especially as he will have much more space in which to display his woeful first touch).