SambaMaverick

Most other deficiencies have been / are being addressed. Are you happy for Bazunu to have a free run at being the first-choice goalkeeper this season?

We faced 150 shots on target last season (the sixth-fewest, only slightly worse than Man United), 81 saved, 73 goals conceded (a save rate of 52.7%, the worst in the league) We had 132 shots on target, scored 36 goals. We had the fourth-worst shot/goal rate (0.08 shots/goal).

McCarthy's first game in nets was essentially a must-win against Bournemouth. A complete hail mary from Selles. McCarthy wasn't good enough anyway, we can see that with hindsight. Injury hasn't helped him in the last 12 months. But why wasn't another goalkeeper signed in Jan when we were chucking cash at the problems?

And hopefully our lack of goals is going to be addressed this summer. They tried (and failed) to address it in January. But Bazunu looks like he's going to get a free pass? I think that's the problem. The guy isn't good enough. He was dropped too late last season to actually make a difference, and McCarthy is finished in the top two leagues anyway.

What did you make of Bazunu's attempt at their second goal?

That's the best goal I've seen us score in years

I like the look of Smallbone tbf. He's always wanting the ball and that's obviously going to be important under RM.

Not sure how much of a test Reading will be tbh, they look very awful

It's not as bad as that blue catastrophe from last year

Get real would you please

Watford apparently given a transfer ban

Weren't there some restrictions put in place at Hillsborough after the hoo-hah with Newcastle fans earlier this year?

16 long days to go...

FBRef has him at £35,000-a-week, £1.8m/year

I'm sorry but this argument is a total myth. He is ordinary (at best) with his feet. I can recall numerous games last season when he shanked the ball into Row Z under the slightest pressure multiple times. He shat it. Increase the pressure tenfold with this possession-based game - and this myth will be well and truly busted.

I don't see it one bit. He can't trap the ball, he can't pass, and he can't advance the ball without kicking it a mile ahead of him.

Watching Armstrong in CM would violate the Geneva Convention.

If he won't, I will

Yeah he signed on deadline day, Wolves away was the first match after that.

He appeared in 15 of the first 17 Premier League matches after signing - but close one!

Tino came from City? That's news to me. I'm arguing in favour of more deals like Tino by looking outside of City. I know this is almost a moot point and easy to say with hindsight. But would you be happy with spending almost £30m on Bazunu, Larios and Edozie - if Lavia never existed? If the 25% hit rate decreases (even less if you include Gunn), then it's going to look ugly for the club accounts.

Yeah we could go around in circles all night, but I guess time will tell. As long as we aren't spunking £10m a pop on City kids and scrimping on anything else, that's fine. It's my opinion that there is better value elsewhere in England and certainly in Europe.

The four we signed last season cost £35m all in. We could get that back for Lavia - but he's gonna go on to be world class. How many more of those have they got in their ranks?

We'd be lucky to break even on the four City signings by selling Lavia this summer, and he's clearly a potentially world-class player. That isn't going to happen every window. The other three are Bazunu, Larios and Edozie - how have they been "much better" than some of our other signings? I just don't want us to effectively become a feeder club for City. It doesn't tickle my pickle. If Wilcox and our network is so good, why can't he take the model of signing untried youngsters and apply it nationwide/Europe-wide? There is something strange going on (not to go all MLT on you all).

The fees involved and the sheer volume of signings is off, imo