Chez

he might not know, but these guys seemed to have the intrinsic details of the deal when it happened last year: https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/football/southampton/news/60556/why-caleta-car-transfer-is-disguised-as-a-loan-deal

47 prem goals in 95 games for Newcastle. Pretty damn good. He was bought for £20m in 2020. Usually, a big transfer equals sizable wages. He extended his contract having scored 18 Prem goals in 22/23. If he's only on £46k a week, his agent has failed him.

I'm talking about him playing as the only DM, which is what we played all of last season. Do you think he can handle that? If not, then he should not be in the squad next season, and sent out on loan. He played right back in one game. He didn't get a long run in the side, but that was because he was pretty crap when he did play.

When posters just insert a name and nothing else, I always imagine that they have inside knowledge. I can't really see us signing two new players for any one position.

with the signing of Fatawu for about £15m, and Mavididi and Daka they have some some pace in attack. We need our attack to be as threatening on the break, assuming we can;t control games lie we did in the Prem. Not sure AA, Adams and Fraser? are quite as threatening, but it's early days.

It's great value...if he can do it in the top flight. I'm a fraction nervous about that, and the fact he hasn't been signed yet by Palace or suchlike suggests there is a little bit of doubt form Prem clubs, but that creates an opportunity for a club like us, that can't attract the very best proven players. In the championship he has looked very good at times, but a non entity at other times. I guess that's the same of all wingers. He reminds me a lot of Lallana in terms of style of running with the ball. Like Lallana, he lacks a yard of pace, so it's then all about making the right decisions and doing things in the right areas, otherwise fullbacks will eat you up. He's obviously a `baller', which will help us retain possession (which I think is going to be very tough in the Prem), but not sure I see the kind of vision and creative passes that Brooks showed us in flashes last season. He's got nice feet, two of them in fact, some lovely twinkle toes and he actually strikes the ball much better than Lallana ever did. However, I'd say he does run up a lot of blind alleys with his head down a fair bit. Room for improvement needed there, especially in the top flight.

Everyone wants Charles to succeed and there is every chance he will. But hand on heart, how would you feel if he was our starting DM for the first, say 8 games? The number of games doesn't matter, but do you feel comfortable playing him, starting him in games? Cos that is what `giving a chance' means to me - playing him in Prem games in the coming season. From what I saw last season, he was far too lackadaisical and passive. I missed the first half of the Liverpool cup game, in which he apparently played well. All I saw was the second half where our midfield was murdered. I think he needs a season out on loan and perhaps signing reed will allow that to happen.

care to expand? Are we signing him? He's played like 3 games in two seasons. Out all of last year with serious hamstring and achilles issues. I imagine Newcastle will be very happy to get rid.

Charles needs a season out on loan IMO, so a second DM, with Downes being the first, is needed. I noticed he only started 15 Prem games last season (and only 7 in the last six months) so Fulham seem to have `moved on' to a certain degree, which I guess is why he's coming to us.

Is Harrison Reed any good?

Agree. The good news is they have just sent £40m on a CB, so at some point they might need to make a few bob back.

the fact the club didn't announce he was leaving and announcing that they are still discussing a contract (not to mention the same thing happening with Macca and he signed a new deal) suggests there is a good chance he will stay. Not signing with another club on July 1st and the one club that actually showed any interest, Wolves, signing a different striker, suggests to me that Che staying is quite likely. If he does, as with Macca, i don't think we be signing another `first choice' for that position.

Lemina? Would Tella count as a midfielder?

It's bloody great signing new players. You get that tinge of excitement that you may have signed the next Saints legend, but obviously with slight trepidation that the player won't cut it. I'm not sure he is super quick, but if we play with three centre backs that will prevent him being exposed. Really hope we have found a gem here.

I note that the Notts County training kit has identical pattern to ours - so that's certainly a template item.

Personally I have been advocating signing the best from the championship for many years. What our promotion in 2012 showed me was that top class talent in the Championship can become to class talent in the Prem. Putting finances to one side, this is the perfect summer to sign players from the championship. We should know the players we like inside and out. We will be signing players that want to be here, fit right in and can make an immediate impact as they are better than we already have.

scored a few goals in the Spanish second division last season.

Hmm. Wolves just signed Jorgen Larsen, a striker from Celta Viga. I am wondering what other Prem club is going to be interested in him? I'd like us to move on and try someone else, but if we have offered him a contract, it doesn't seem like we want to.

Surprised either us or another club have not announced his signing. I'd of thought it would have been all wrapped up some time ago. I guess our promotion and his involvement in the Euros will have impacted things?

Who? Bransholme's finest.

Are we one of the clubs looking at Burnley goalkeeper Arijanet Muric?

the Wood youtube video that I watched also doesn't get me terribly excited. I was going to say that perhaps it's just that CBs never look that great. However, the George Nevitt (Rochdale 18 year old centre back we were linked to) looked the dogs bollocks on tape.

Another winger with oodles of pace and tricks and not enough goals. My kind of player.

This. He won't be the only player who looked comfortable last season that will be up against it. I'm actually slightly worried that THB's lack of pace might be shown up.