Chez

What's the forward line going to be at Newcastle. Two or three up top? BBD and AA BBD, AA, Carvalho? BBD an other AA No one fancies AA down the middle, but who is this imaginary striker everyone seems to want?

I'd argue the Forrest game at SMS was worse than anything I've seen since Branfoot was in charge, 9-0 drubbings included. It won't be worse than that, but it might not be as good as the win at Everton...

Like a Chinese trawler scrubbing the ocean floor of decent young footballers.

Would certainly help. Yet we have seemingly only made bids for a winger and an AM. Plus Fraser is widely tipped to join us, another winger. I've not seen any links to strikers. Are we bringing another in?

He scored some important goals when coming off the bench, but my concern is they glossed over some very ineffective performances, not to mention the fact he could only make the bench in a lot of games. He works hard, which is great for a wing back, but he's not really a defender. Will he be exposed at the higher level if we play him on that role? More importantly, can he cause opponents problems when attacking? He's not quick and can't beat players with a trick. Not exactly what you want for a winger. Maybe we don't need that as we have it from others. Maybe he gives us something different in good movement and crossing. I'm not sold on him. Perhaps because I wasn't at the games where he came on and grabbed at last minute goal. I'm sure he will be with us by the end of the window.

Maybe having them look in a different market to us, assuming we are even looking? Are we?

Will suck seeing him go for buttons. I've not seen Sugawara yet, but KWP's ability to get out of tight spaces was a key element of our possession game. If Sugawara can't do the same, beating the press will be tough.

How little do you sell him for?

Not sure I understand the financial advantages of him signing for Saints if he will play for them the entire length of his contract...but someone at the club has worked it out I guess.

Not yet. Have they signed a right back?

'Sell before we buy more' you mean? We've spent a fair amount this summer already.

Genuine question. Johnstone makes the difference you think? McCarthy will make a mistake I'm sure, but Johnstone isn't immune to them either. If Dubravka is the target, then that deal possibly ain't happening before that game.

Lame excuses? Might they not just be reasons?

RM is going to surprise everyone by taking a leaf out of John Beck's book, having long grass in the corners and smashing it up to Onuachu.

Ah. You've got me there! My guess is we'll be bottom six at christmas and there will a lot of questions on here about that new contract he got. Waiting six months perhaps made more sense...

Interesting analysis, but despite it being 0-0, weren't we absolutely terrible in that first half at Bristol City, failing to keep or pass the ball or have any control of the game. Was Charles perhaps one of the worst offenders?

That, like £50m bids for some of our players next summer, would be the dream as it would mean we have not only survived, but we are thriving in the Prem. Happy days.

Messing around? We have made a substantial bid. We have discovered Celtic want a lot more. What's your solution to that conundrum? If we have say £30m in the current budget, do we use it all today on O'Riley (and ignore the need for a keeper, winger and striker) or do we look at trying to get two or three players out of that budget? Tell me what your approach would be?

Could be worse, it could be for every Bree there's an Alcaraz, Onuachu, Sulemana and Orsic. I'll let you reorder as you see fit.

Sure. But £24m feels quite a long way from our opening bid. Obviously it's an opening bid, but are our valuations of players just considerably less than the sellers...or are we just going through the usual horse trading?

That's a sizeable loan fee. I assume the mandatory would be if we stayed up? You'd be happy spending £27.5m on him? I think he's looked good in the championship, but he's unproven in the top flight. It seems a lot of money.

Clearly someone at the club monitors social media and recognises the general fan vibe of 'we have not improved the first 11 much'. Like RM, I'm cool with the pace of things. It's like this every year. Got to shift some before we can buy some. Everyone holding out for the best deals. Lots of action towards the end.

If Liverpool really want £27.5m for Carvalho, then he could be on that can't afford the fee category too.

Feels like slightly old news that. Turkish press reported that offer knock back a week ago and the "enough is enough, we are going for Weghorst" stuff restarted again this week. They haven't made any bid for Weghorst. They want Onuachu. When they stump up a genuine €8.5m deal it will be done.

Wasn't Caicedo pretty poor for them last season, thus giving Lavia a chance to start games?