CB Fry

Incredibly bold decision by the Laura K production team to book Joe Lycett on the debut program. Thought it was a gamble before he opened his mouth. He absolutely delivered. Never laughed so much at a Sunday morning politics programme. Genuinely brilliant.

Very easy to foresee lots of " well, we did some good things, just unlucky on the day" results for the rest of the season. Let's hope we can bounce back against Brentford because the bottom six is going to be tight this season.

I think that is something that just happens at any well run club. Whereas putting this concept forward as a fundamental/primary reason to sign Barkley (or to retain Walcott etc) is misguided. James Ward-Prowse can mentor young players with the added advantage of, like, being a useful player in the first team.

No, not really. He did not say we definitely had him, and from the subsequent reports in The Athletic and elsewhere backs up what Blackmore said at the time.

Pretty unequivocal.

Maybe he wants to play for Chelsea, and he's got a great contract and chance to do that?

This. Pretty obvious now that he didn't want to come to us or any club like us. He doesn't need to, his next step will be a CL level club (or Man United, virtually the same thing). He does not need a season or two poncing about at a 14th place Premier League club. He's signing a new contract which is great for PSV but in reality it means one more season and he'll be sold next year. But not to us or or bloody Leeds.

Just to confirm, you can all say how shit he is over and over again but wah wah wah wah he's said on the Villa website that he pleased to sign for Villa how dare he. As I said, get over yourselves.

That is not a "parting shot" from Bednarek. They are quotes aimed a Villa fans, not us. Villa is a bigger club than we are as well anyway, so it's just a fact. Honestly, get over yourselves.

I think I'd quite like this as a home kit one season (black shorts obvs).

Some of us did 12 hours ago.

Gakpo is out of the question.

I'm worried this will make us too reliant on Lycano for goals.

Admit it everyone. We're a total laughing stock.

I think its perfectly plausible that everything he said was true.

...

If this story was coming out on 1st August, maybe. 1st September when the Dutch window has already closed, not so much. I think a combination of PSV holding out, and the fact that Gakpo has gone from being linked to MUFC to Leeds and Saints. Honestly its a pointless move for him. Come January he could be in prime position for a panic buy to a CL team or just hang on until next year and likely to get a big move then. From what you can see it looks to me that he is beyond the SFC stepping stone thing: he doesn't need to commit to us for two years to get a move to a CL club. Hes virtually there. Might as well just stay at what is already a decent sized club for a bit longer.

What about "decide against" which is what the main article actually says. I think this is closed.

Someone else can do the translation thing. Feels a conclusive story to write at 8am on deadline day.

This time last week I'd never heard of him. Him staying is the second best outcome. At least he's not going to Leeds.

Luis Boa Morte.

I ain't going on no plane, fool.

Anyone checked the private jets from Islington to Eastleigh this morning?

I think its probably too early to say we have a "sustainable business model". Its not really been fully tested yet. What I think is meant is that we are now not just doing "sell-to-buy". Which is exciting and great and what we want to see. So all fine but not necessarily sustainable. Spin back 18 months and most here would have been salivating about how Leicester had got everything right. Now looking at a window where they are buying next to no-one and still get rinsed of their best players, plus the fans not happy, and they need to claw some money back or at least put the breaks on. Not so sustainable. Fundamentally the issue remains that you can spend loads more £xxxx to go for 8/7th not 15/16th but the difference in the financial return is marginal. It probably is more financially sensible to aim to just do enough to stay in the league rather than really stretch to climb up the table which likely costs more than can ever be got back. I think all of us are absolutely desperate for us to spend a bit today and its suddenly exciting. So let's just enjoy that. Please buy Gakpo please buy Gakpo.