SuperMikey

Lets be honest with ourselves - this was going to happen sooner rather than later. I think we'll look to tie Vic down for at least another season, the board know it would be daft to sell such an important player this late in the window without adequate time to replace him. If we can make a deal that we'll sell him next summer (similar to what we did with Morgan about this time last year), that gives us plenty of time to scout a replacement and prepare properly. As fans I think we have to realise that this is going to happen to us from now on. We're playing in one of the biggest leagues in the world with a spotlight on all of our players every week - anyone who performs well at this level will always have admirers from higher up the food chain and we have to be prepared to lose players. It's naive to think that we'll be able to keep all of our outstanding players with the way that football is at this level nowadays. The days of MLT, Benali, Dodd etc are gone and footballers are an ambitious breed now. Our first loyalty as fans is to the club, and we just have to trust that we can adapt to our position in the food chain and recruit players to maintain the quality of our team. Unless Ms Liebherr decides to give us £200m to spend on new players next summer, I think we'll have to get used to this from now on. It's just the way it is.

Fair play to Midtjylland, they executed their game plan perfectly. Would've liked to have seen us play a little higher up the pitch tonight, it seemed at times like we didn't have a midfield - Wanyama and Romeu hugged the centre backs and our forwards played very high and close together. Much better in the second half though, play like that for 90 away and we'll win. Very important to beat Watford at the weekend now though, looks like the players are just missing a spark of confidence..

Got to say, Pelle's been sublime today. Played the Target Man perfectly. Shame we've not really managed to work anything from his play up top, their defence is too compact to allow us to pick up on his flick-ons.

Difficult one tbf, ball was coming at him quick and if he took a touch he would've been closed down and unable to shoot. Unlucky - on another day he would hit that with the outside of his boot and that would be in the bottom corner!

Great save! Caulker's looked good from set-pieces so far, if him and JWP can put some work in on the training ground that can win us points this season.

We'll be lucky to still be a football club at the end of this game, the FA will withdraw our membership of the Premier League, the four horseman will destroy St Marys and John PFC Westwood will p!ss on its ashes while Rupert Lowe stands and nods sagely. Get a grip some of you, we're 1-0 down at HT to a lucky goal in a game we've been well on top in. Wait until the next 45 are up before starting with your prophesying thanks.

Targett should've followed in Andersson there, if he hadn't slipped he'd have had a free shot at goal. Need to make sure we're concentrating properly. Romeu looking good, added some solidity to our midfield and allowed JWP to get forward and try to spread the play. Got to push a bit higher up second half, try and play on the edge of their box and exploit any gaps in their defence as they're sitting very deep in 2 banks of 4.

Remind me why you're not our manager again?

Yoshida at RB mate.

Pretty much how I see it as well. He's an important player for us but everyone has their price and I think he'll be off eventually anyway. RK eluded to a few attitude problems from him at times last season so I think (and this is a bit judgement) that he'd probably spend most of the season sulking if we blocked a move - that is, if he wants to move in the first place. At the end of the day, he's not irreplaceable but ideally I would keep him as he's a very good player and seems to be improving every week. The problem with that is, to quote the Star Wars prequels...

I think he's a perfect fit for English football, proper midfield powerhouse. They've got some good creative midfielders as well, he'll facilitate them doing their jobs. Really good signing for Leicester I think - impressed by them so far this season in recruitment and performances.

Yup, same here. Has a nice balance that side.

I think this is where the problem with us lies atm - we've had such a strong spine for the last couple of seasons with Morgan and Vic sitting in front of the defence, but without Morgan we're found lacking. Unfortunate for us that Clasie has been unavailable recently and Romeu not quite ready to start, as our DMs are so important to how the team plays. If Clasie/Romeu gel with Vic we'll be fine, our squad is strong overall but we're missing something in the middle atm.

Probably the same reason Hernandez has 'Chicharito'. No clue why 'Gana' though - nickname?

"the glory of Reading"

I would rather get to the Semi Final of the Europa League and lose than win the FA Cup. European competition is on a different level to domestic.

Apparently it was "a shipment of explosives" that went up. Looks like something out of a film, mental stuff.

So how would you plan on rotating Fonte, Yoshida, Stephens, Turnbull, McCarthy, possibly Caulker AND a new CB next season? I don't want to see us become another club like Chelsea where we just farm our young players out on loan - we take risks on involving our kids in the first team and I think that's why we won't sign another CB as we'll give that opportunity to at least one of the 3 we have coming through now.

I think it depends on how the club rate Stephens, Turnbull & McCarthy - no point in us going out to sign a young CB who could block their progress should we deem that they have good enough potential. I think Yoshida's earned the right with his performances over the last couple of years to have a decent run in the team alongside Fonte, and Caulker is solid enough to step in should either of them get injured. I think we'd be fine with the above for this season, and we can re-evaluate in the summer depending on how our youngsters do this season on their respective loans and game time in the U21s.

Ticks all the boxes for me - can play DM and CB, physical so can step in for Vic when needed, good pedigree at bigger clubs and still young enough to improve. Would be happy with this one!

Transfer window closes in 22 days pal, judge us then.

He did everything right tbh, Krul just pulled off a really good save.

Genuine lols :lol: We love you too CumbrianSaint!

Either of the Norwegian or Danish teams would represent a good draw for us. Nightmare draw is any of the Eastern European teams