James

Could see this actually. Liverpool play a pretty fluid 433 and don't have an out and out striker. Would suit us better than the rigid diamond we've been using so far.

The Palace league cup game does look prime for an easing in. If fit enough id expect him to make the bench against Swansea and then hopefully start against Palace following a ten minute cameo v Swansea.

That would be a massive boost but given the club have already warned us we won't see him for a few weeks I'd be surprised. Hoping that he makes the Europa league fixtures.

Minor according to Adam Blackmore and Solent. Stand down lads.

Blackmore has just tweeted that it's "minor". Good good.

There's only one game and so if he's out of that one then make sense for him to come back for treatment. Hopefully we get an update and that it's nothing serious. We are probably getting beat with or without him at Arsenal so hope he's back for Swansea.

Agreed, but just wonder if some almost aren't counting the signing of Boufal in their appraisal of the window given that he may not feature much. Sounds odd I appreciate.

The good news just keeps on coming...!

I wonder whether people would be feeling more positive if Boufal was fit and raring to go and wasn't going to be absent for the AFCON? Just an observation. Some of the negativity is perhaps due to the fact that many realise it is possible that our exciting record signing may not have too much of an impact on the season we will likely be playing out the next month or longer with a team that doesn't look capable of scoring enough goals.

My mistake.

Got to say, that could be the signing of the window if he stays fit. Considering the calibre of player and the size of the club signing him its quite amazing. Hats off to our neighbours.

Who knows? Hojberg basically came out of nowhere and Pied was signed at 11pm on a random weekday when most links implied he'd turned us down.

At least one player light.

If that under hit back pass wasn't a howler then what would qualify as one? Genuine question. With a less alert keeper that would have led directly to a goal.

Exactly. There are clearly better centre backs that would be happy as part of our squad that are better than Yoshida.

Don't be silly. Since we sold Mane we've seen some pretty average players sold for almost the same amount, that's the point I'm making. In the current market, IMO, we should have got more.

It's a big ask for youngsters that were on loan at League One and League Two clubs to step up and play in the Premier League though.

It is, unfortunately, what happens when you sell very early in the window.

That is, largely, down to the fact that not one youth player even so much as made the bench last year. It's been a while since we've had someone come through so would be nice to think that Stephens or Reed could break through. Of all the youngsters, Reed looks the most promising given he played a few good games when we were gunning for 4th a couple of years ago.

Ok, understood. Why is it that other clubs of similar statute are able to do it though? I suppose it comes from us having a squad which, whilst it lacks stand out stars, it is generally of a pretty good quality whereas other clubs may have a more pronounced difference in quality amongst their squads.

It's not really expecting is it? It was more a hope that we would push on with ambition to build a squad capable of cracking the top six on a regular basis. I'm not sure this was ever realistic but it didn't stop the hope, that's what fans do. Most fans are underwhelmed by the window and its understandable why hence the negative posts. Hopefully Saints will prove us all wrong yet again. I must admit, I just don't understand FFP, how is it that we can't compete on wages but teams like Palace can lure Benteke and Remy? I'm not trying to cause an argument, genuinely interested to know.

A serious injury to VVD, Fonte or Hojberg would really test us. We'd be unlucky to lose such a key player in the long term but it happened before when we lost Michael Svensson and look what happened then...

If we were playing the same number of games then that would be fine but we aren't, we've got a minimum of six extra games.

Agreed - Romeu is the Vic replacement and hasn't really got going yet this year.

A little sobering to think that with Boufal taking a couple of weeks to get up to speed and then going off to the AFCON in January, we are largely going to go through the season with the same team as started the first three games of the season. Unless there is improvement I can't see that side anywhere near the top half to be frank.