Chez

he of more tricks than Paul Daniels? I bet his youtube video is a good watch. My only concern is he's a little bit lightweight, no unlike like Edozie.

He was the guy we should have spent money on last summer, but it would have been tough to prize him away and Manning was free. I feel its a position we really must sort out. We can't have KWP moving across there next season. Manning, Perraud, Larios...are just not going to cut it.

Is the Echo all seeing? Genuine question. They do seem to have decent inside knowledge, but wasn't sure if a few signings happened without them knowing diddly.

They got quite a bit out of Antonio, but failed miserably with others such as Scammacca. Made me wonder where we "get the best out of" our own strikers. He's our Prem striker signings dating back to 2012. We certainly got a lot out of Rodriguez and Ings. Less sure about the rest. That's not to say they all (Carillo apart) didn't have their moments, but could we have got more out of them? Pelle was great, but there were periods where he seemed to lose all confidence. Rodriguez Osvaldo Pelle Austin Gabbiadini Carillo Ings Adams Broja Armstrong Mara Onuachu

Good post. Some very astute signings. Clyne especially, who had the pace, technical ability and experience to make the jump seamlessly So, we need to look for a highly regarded, but unproven young championship attacker. Someone like Clarke perhaps? I think we `stole' Davis as Rangers were fucked financially, so maybe one of the FFP sides could be exploited this time around. Then a very talented young defender from the Championship (that everyone could see would be able to make the step up). Would Gray from Leeds fit that criteria or maybe Greaves from Hull? An international from an unfashionable country, but playing in Europe. I will need help here. And finally, some South American flair.

It will be tough, every single game will be extremely hard. If we have a season like Sheff United, it will be shit, but I don't think people have made their mind up yet as to how we will go. I may have missed posts implying a lack of ambition. The window has only just opened, so it's impossible to know how much we will spend and ergo how "ambitious" the owner is (you don't need to spend gazillions to be ambitious). We have a limited budget, but we will spend every penny of it. Not concerned about the owner taking funds out and he seemed to be happy to spend to try to avoid relegation last time. How we spend it is what matters to me. I think most posters are pretty content and relatively positive right now. There seems to be some reality as to how hard it is to add Prem quality on a budget these days, but also optimism that we bring in some quality (even if its on a relative shoestring), if not in every position. Not getting a new keeper may dampen things. I think with Burnley coming unstuck, there is some nervousness that we can play the same way at the higher level, but it's certainly intriguing With only three senior players out of contract (and possibly leaving) and the previously loaned out players looking most likely to depart, it doesn't feel like we are dismantling the side, so cohesion won't be a problem, especially if Downes is acquired.

You are right to lack confidence. Its bloody hard for promoted teams, especially those that haven't got a core of genuinely Prem quality players (and a huge amount of momentum), to stay up. We can do though. Just need to get the signings right, address some of our failings fro last season and then give it a bloody good go.

I'm with you in that I think Sulemana still offers great potential, but equally, it's worth noting that at 20 years old, Mane was scoring 19 in 29 games and then at 21, he scored 23 in 50 games for Red Bull Salzberg. At 22 got 10 in 30 for us. Let's hope Sulemana, now 22 himself, can match that.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement. I have to say that his youtube video leaves me very unenthused.

The COVID loan is still outstanding and has accrued interest. We also owed money on various transfers. Not sure the loan is crippling the club's finances, but obviously it needs to be paid down and that takes funds away from our transfer/overall budget.

In the Championship, boy did our squad look strong. But in the Prem, we look incredibly lightweight. Struggle is right. I was really looking forward to this summer transfer window, but the current links to players and noises about financial constraints are taking the shine off it a little. I hope we can make at least a couple of exciting signings.

I thought the figure mentioned for Carleta-Car was €3.5m, and Perraud €3m, so that's less straight away. We ain't getting £10m for Onuachu. I reckon €8m tops, but more likely another loan. £10m for Mara? Not sure who is paying that. A french club might want him, but not the clubs that have that kind of money. Aribo seems fair enough. Bree also. I get the feeling the club just won't let Sulemana, ABK and Alcaraz go cheaply, but perhaps they will be more tempted this summer than last. Not sure buyers are going to be more tempted to spend this summer though.

they know we want him, so won't let him go for buttons, but realistically, is there another buyer? If not, that should prevent it getting out of hand. I'd be making a well publicised bid for Sara at Norwich to ensure West Ham know we are not tied to him.

Unless his contract says he doesn't get paid unless he complete a full game, which it won't, his contract seems irrelevant to the discussion around his inability to play a full 90 minutes.

Kelleher - £20m or McCarthy - free (Lumley) KWP (Bree) Bednarek (Stephens) THB - £20m (ABK) Sessegnon or Omar Richards - free (Manning) Downes or Sara - £18m or Wilfried Ndidi - free (Charles) Smallbone (Lallana - free) Ghoddas or O'Hare or Andre Gomes- free or Sheaf £15m (Aribo) AA (Carvalho - £15m or Maxwell Cornet loan) Simon Banka £20m or Sargent £8m or Ings loan or Ilhneancho - free (Stewart) Fraser (Sulemana) With the £20m outlay for THB, the money needing to be spent starts to add up quickly. Boy could we do with finding another Livramento or three.

the Mail has a 24.8% football transfer rumour accuracy score. So a one in four chance!

...awful signing. Not an awful player I should point out, but I see it as a complete failure on the part of our scouting system to identify a left back that was good enough for the Prem. I wonder what other left backs were available that summer.

Rice was outstanding. He basically covered up all of our shitness and got us out of jail on many occasions. I know it's his job, but he shouldn't have to been called upon so many times in a game like that. Unlike the others, including Bellingham, he didn't seem to tire either. Amazing engine.

England seemed to completely bottle playing it out from the back. Obviously there was a press in the second half nad we didn't want to get caught in their trap, and there is nothing wrong with going long when it's 3 on 3, but we went long for almost every goal kick and there wasn't even an attempt to ping it out wide.

Another thing continually overlooked is that Southgate has created an environment where players want to be there and seem keen to play for each other. It may not have looked like it in the second half last night (I think they must have all watched King Otto and football's greek gods), but in general, players seem to look confident and have the freedom to play their normal game. We've seen in the past how without this foundation we struggle to shine.

Why does TAA get called by his first name. Shearer did it the whole game. Personally, I like what he offers us, although he had a shoddy game last night - but the fawning over him seems a little much. I'd also have liked to see Kane come off. I thought he played pretty well considering the service, but we do have other strikers in the squad that are very capable. If we need a goal, then you'd keep him on, but when we are leading and just need to change things as it was not working, it seemed a smart move.

Joe Hart will be lucky to get out of there without a ball smashed in his chops.

ah, but you didn't watch the game through the eyes of a body language expert. I mean it was perhaps the biggest game of his career to date, but unless you know what you are looking for, you'd wouldn't have seen that he was `totally disinterested'.

Vestgaard appears to have lost a yard of pace. I don't have a clue how that is possible, but rather than running in treacle, he now appears to be running in rapidly setting concrete.