Chez

With Holgate's departure, I thought we might look at one of the two young Reading cbs as a low cost back up. Both seem to have potential and Reading were giving them away. I guess we need t be careful abut signing players that can't make the step up to the Prem.

We probably paid him a lump sum when he left rather than drip feeding three years worth. I think a lot of clubs have learned to word their contracts the complete opposite of what Chelsea do. He got a three and a half year contract, but his redundancy might have been 12 months worth...who knows. The Charlton fan I know is not impressed. He doesn't want "front foot, hoof ball", even in league 1.

Juve's season ends on 26th May. That's 16 weeks, not six months. Dividing the €3.9m fee by 16 is €240k a week. Unless you think we are paying him that, then we are making a tidy profit. Even if it was 6 months (24 weeks), that would still be €162k a week. We are not paying him that either. There is also a potential €1.9m extra for Juve to pay, which you would assume is if he plays some games and they win the league. Maybe that happens, maybe it doesn't.

Do they share the brain? She gets it when he's playing and he gets it when he's not.

Hasn't he done his shoulder in, again? He's been out injured for last 3 months. Also, I suspect RM doesn't want him anywhere near his squad.

Are we talking about Nathan Wood at Swansea, in Wales?

Possibly none of those are in his contract. I wonder what happens when it comes to fines. Say he goes AWOL from Juve, normally they'd fine him a weeks wages, maybe, but how does that work if the wages come out of our bank account? Do Juve call us and tell us not to pay him this week? I'm getting into the weeds here a bit.

is that a permanent move?

We have been linked before. He may be reluctant to drop down a division just before he is out of contract. He won't want people to think he's a `championship level player'. Maybe we can attract him by loaning him (now) until the end of the season, but with some certainty of a new four year contract at the end of it (assuming we go up).

Seems likely, although there are mutterings about £5m being too much for a half season loan (no doubt Broja's weekly wage is a small fortune too) and they will look elsewhere....Che Adams maybe?

Do you mean leaving to join other clubs or to swap with us? Also, are we talking players worth €49m or something more akin to Alcarez's realistic value?

I think there is a good chance that they were. We seemed to act fast on an emerging talent when we signed him, so maybe beat them to the punch.

Yeah, makes sense. Plus, just because we have put that high price on him, it doesn't mean we won't accept a lower offer from Juve. Ask for £40m, maybe get £30m. I have to say it's disappointing to see him depart - it would be great to show a successful pathway for players from Argentina, thereby perhaps enticing others to follow. It's a market we need to exploit if we go back up. Obviously we all love a guy that scores goals for us, especially in the shitshow of a team last season, but he was actually a bit and miss and nothing has changed this season, despite having more time, more ball and lessor opponents. He still gives the ball away far too much when not under massive pressure. That has to improve for him to fulfill his potential. I hope his loan spell goes really well. If he can get a work permit and come off the bench on Sunday to score the winner against Inter that would be one hell of a start...

I was just about to type a post about how I couldn't get my head around the €5-7m loan figure previously mentioned on twitter sources. I know football finances are on another level these days, but that amount just seemed too high, even if it included his wages - which is never clear - but £3m seems more realistic. The word "Fee" suggests in addition to wages, but it might not be. By my count, there is 16 weeks left of their season, so that's £187,500 a week they would be forking out. If it was €5m, it would €312,500 a week. £40-45m is also a huge number. To put that into perspective, Juventus spent €35m on Locatelli (which was a deferred payment from his 2021 transfer) and €30m on Moise Kean this summer - who they are trying to offload on loan to Athletico. Total spend was €90m, total departures €65m. So, perhaps it's not totally beyond them, but he's going to have to get some game time and score some goals for them to consider spending those sums.

Excellent. Can't wait to see him play for us. We should have signed him back in 2018 instead of wasting £16m on Ely. Can't believe Bournemouth have allowed him to join us. A great opportunity for both of us. Hopefully we get see him glide through championship opponents while at the same time falling in live with the place leading to him signing for us in the summer to help us next season in the Prem.

Is it not Poole Town?

Not sure there any reasons to complain about his performance on Sunday.

Not sure Rothwell was that bad. I thought he was the one Saints player that showed any kind of intensity in the first half, pressing and putting players under pressure. I am not saying he was impressive, but at least he ran around.

We have choice of four Ride band members, but Bell are Gardener are the famous footballers names. Gary Gardener jumps off the Google page, but it's far too obvious. Everyone knows Ben White said he'd be a gardener if he wasn't a footballer, so the only conclusion is that he's set for return to Southampton. I see you.

they were the better side by far in the first, we were the better side by far in the second. I can live with a draw.Seems fair to me.

He's been quality all season. Looked like his best days were gone last season, but he's bounced back really well.

Watford parked the bus. Didnt work.Lets get a winner.

get the fuck in there. FA Cup magic.

fucking brilliant from Stu there to run down the break there.

same guy. Ian Darke.