Chez

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?

Onuachu. On u ach u. Not sure if that helps.

Not seen him myself, so I'll take your word for it. No concern he might be flat track bully or struggle to make an impact when we are not dominating

I'm not crazy about those three, but at least they are realistic targets. I presume we have made a few enquiries about keepers, but if we have, there haven't been any leaks. Maybe because they are enquiries about loans and there's no value for selling clubs leaking that info

Will they get £30m?

You missed Carvalho. As we have seemingly bid, that perhaps reinforces that the club are going down that route of wanting that little bit more experience this time around.

He alluded to him being negative. For all we know he just didn't think passing the ball across our own six yard box made sense. RM obviously doesn't agree and never the twain shall meet. He could very well just be a pain in the arse, who knows. It mute. He will depart again on some form.

Very good idea. A case in point is Hudson Odoi who really looked good at Forrest last year. Exactly the kind of young talented player we want, but had not quite got it going at Chelsea despite getting to big contract. That said, maybe given time, we will be praising the Charles and Edozie signings. Perhaps a varied transfer approach is the best idea.

Fair point, but when we do get the ball the last thing you want is a midfielder getting bing it back to them. That is what Charley has done too much of since he got here.

Was very excited by his signing. Have felt south America, and especially Argentina, was the ideal place for us to find talent. From memory though, his first touch and decision-making (passing choices) were just not up to scratch in the Prem. The goals he scored tended to gloss over this. He caught the eye, but equally he was pretty poor in many games. In the championship, with time to settle, he just did not improve enough in those two facets of the game and I fully understood RMs decision to eventually drop him and then let him go out on loan. He has a long contract, so we either need to see improvement in the next half season or we will look to loan him again. If we loan him out, we need him playing a lot otherwise we are never going to get a serious bid for him.

Newcastle really have our number at their place, so far from confident, but looking forward to seeing us play again.

Who are we playing left wing back?

Don't see the players complaining about being paid ludicrous sums for heading on a decade or being paid ludicrous sums while being loaned to other clubs. The only complaints come from the rest of the Prem, who can't afford to do the same.

Not a big fan myself. From what I saw he was a reasonable championship keeper, but no more. Maybe that's the best we can do, but I don't think he sorts out our keeping issue at this level. Some may disagree.

Have they even bid for him? All I've read is about personal terms, nothing related to negotiations with Burnley. They want Onuachu. An €8.5m deal will get it done.

I hope we don't have to buy out his seven year contract.