Saint Charlie

I know some slate him, each to their own, but Nixon is confident we are getting Mayuka ahead of QPR - he says we think we are getting him. Would be interesting - he has blistering pace and finishing ability is good but looks a lot more of a striker than a wide player from clips Ive seen, although he seems like he could play in the front 3. Sounds like he knows a Scout who watched him for us (or one of our Scouts)

Yes but it won't happen. Players very rarely will drop wages. Downing will get games at Liverpool anyway, just might be on the bench more.

I would hope/think that what has happened is we have enquired about loads of players - know everyones price, availability, interest in moving here etc and then in the last week firm up who we want and move for them. Im sure during the summer we have had discussions about player ie Matt Phillips, been told the price required to get them and then you go away see who else is available etc and then if you want the player you go back in for them. The Ramirez deal is particularly complicated but Im sure we have targets we know we can move quickly on if we decide to, and some of this can stay out of the media. In certain positions we need bodies ie CB but I would still obviously want us to get someone even if maybe our top targets werent available. However, as far as a left back goes there is no point bringing one in if they arent better than what we have because we don't need extra numbers there. I would imagine our process is a lot more organised albeit in the midst of the crazy, changing world of football, then some think.

Good summary IMO - will be interesting to see if anything comes of this.

According to some reports its a lot less and he would want to go to a team that he feels can progress, he hasnt really achieved anything in his career so far so wouldnt want to be totally off the radar.

Quite some job by Cortese to sell the club to Ramirez, regardless of the financials offered.

Excellent - please share.

Comes back to the point a few have made and also Adkins: he is happy to wait for quality rather than taking second best. I would be delighted if Ramirez signs and him missing thr first three games is not an issue for me - the deal wouldnt have happened sooner and the quality of the player is key. If- and this is the question - the players we sign this week are also quality (obviously not likely to be same level as Ramirez) then I think we will have done well, even if we get Ramirez a CB and a pay wide player. However - the time I agree with you is if the players aside from Ramirez seem a bit last minute and "we will get him because we need someone and its late in the day, he will do". At the moment nobody knows the answer to that but I would be suprised if NA/NC sold out - whats the use signing Ramirez and then filling the CB position with someone useless.

Good summary - we have a clear transfer policy and are starting to build a great young team. Of course when you get promoted some of the players will struggle a bit ie Fox, Fonte - but you can't replace every player otherwise the whole team and team spirit is different. A CB, Ramirez and a pacy wide player would make us stronger - more than that is a bonus.

Fair enough - lets hope you are wrong. A lot of signs suggest he is close to signing so time will tell!

JRod is a good signing, he is just being played out of position until we bring in players like Ramiez who fit the 4-3-3 better. Ultimately JR will be a central striker and you can see he has the attributes for that. With one cnetral striekr being played it was going to be hard for him to get ahead of Rickie straight away - but Im sure he will get a chance there soon and do a great job.

Yeah - what you meant was that NC was wasting his time and Ramirez and his agent are winding us up - is that right?

Like last year? Seems the mamagement have already answered your concern.

The signing of Ramirez would say that its not a yoyo strategy that is desired. I don't think Clyne was sold the club on that basis either. Cortese is a businessman. He knows that the Sky money is rocketing next year - being relegated would be very bad news - all our decent players would leave - a squad we have been building for 3 years...

Haha - we never even agreed a fee for Hooper - just made some offers which his club had the right to reject.

I think the likes of Jake Sinclair, Corby Moore and Sam Hoskins are involved alongside JWP, Shaw, Stephens and Chambers - source: another youth player wishing them all luck tonight. Imagine a few could start ie Shaw, JWP, Stephens and the others will be on the bench.

What about if we sign Ramirez (which isn't happening anyway according to you) a CB and a winger?

We will bring in 3 players I think, 7 in total and some good quality amongst them.

Its just the madness of football - all clubs are in the same position and its why the window should have shut Friday 5pm before the first weekend of action.

Happy with Ramirez, a CB and a pacy wide player LB and another CB a bonus

We were linked to Biglia too - sure we are keeping tabs on lots of players, whether we move for them is totally different.

Personally I can't see this: the guy hadnt heard of the link until he was told about it and it has only appeared in the Mirror. For 5m I think the CB and wide positions have to be a priority and then if we get a LB its an added bonus.

Reckon Ramirez, a pacy winger and 1 x CB would be good as long as they are of the needed quality (obviously Ramirez is). Notgetting any of these would leave us short. Getting them would be 7 decent signings IMO with January to boost us if needed. If we also got another CB and a left back then they would be fantastic as extras.

Can only apologise. My PSV Oppo has been flogged. I also said Buttner, Jemal, Fontaine and Elliott Ward were signing and for that I blame Cortese - especially Fontaine, the guy had a broken leg so of course we should have signed him FFS. He would have been better on one leg than Fonte on two.

Perfect - lets hope it all goes through.