saintant

I agree that Wilcox doesn't come across as a hatchet man. However, maybe the new guy in charge of the purse strings was brought in to insist the unpalatable stuff gets done without emotional involvement. It's often the bean counters who ruin everybody's fun. If he plays hardball to release funds then deals can't get done.

The trouble with saying we'll have a stronger squad by the time the window closes is, if you leave it late, you are at the mercy of how multiple deals involving multiple players and clubs pan out. Often you end up scrambling around for the scraps while your real targets vanish before your eyes. With the money we've brought in many of us probably hoped the club would be proactive and get some exciting deals done ahead of the summer sales closing day madness. Sure, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes but the count down is on so hopefully well start hearing some good news. If nothing is clear by a day or two before the window shuts I worry we'll miss the boat.

The trouble with saying we'll have a stronger squad by the time the window closes is, if you leave it late, you are at the mercy of how multiple deals involving multiple players and clubs pan out. Often you end up scrambling around for the scraps while your real targets vanish before your eyes. With the money we've brought in many of us probably hoped the club would be proactive and get some exciting deals done ahead of the summer sales closing day madness. Sure, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes but the count down is on so hopefully well start hearing some good news. If nothing is clear by a day or two before the window shuts I worry we'll miss the boat.

The trouble with saying we'll have a stronger squad by the time the window closes is, if you leave it late, you are at the mercy of how multiple deals involving multiple players and clubs pan out. Often you end up scrambling around for the scraps while your real targets vanish before your eyes. With the money we've brought in many of us probably hoped the club would be proactive and get some exciting deals done ahead of the summer sales closing day madness. Sure, we don't know what is going on behind the scenes but the count down is on so hopefully well start hearing some good news. If nothing is clear by a day or two before the window shuts I worry we'll miss the boat.

I agree to an extent but having players on the back burner ready to come in is no guarantee they'll be available when you want them. Presumably they'll be decent players who will also be on the radars of other clubs so it's a very delicate balancing act as we all know.

Or Biden or Starmer 🙂

I get that we won't spend anywhere close to all the money we've received this window and have myself stated the reasons why I agree with that on here. However, I hoped, and still do, that we will make at least one marquee signing that generates some real excitement and anticipation. We have generated good money in return for losing JWP and Lavia so it would be great to see some of that spent on a player who genuinely raises our hopes for the season. We've had enough bad news and disappointment, time for a marquee signing to excite us.

Fans are nervous and I don't think you can blame us after how we missed out on signing a striker last summer - we're following the form but hoping Wilcox prove there's nothing to worry about. It is very easy to get sucked into a position at the end of the window where you either panic buy or get nobody.

Obviously the one scenario we cannot allow to happen is to sell Che and get no replacement - I'm assuming Wilcox and co are not that daft.

If true I guess we can draw the conclusion that we don't want him meaning either Che is staying or we have someone else lined up.

I'm pretty sure, looking at the state Everton are in financially, we could match or better anything they can offer. That depends on whether we are keen to keep him or have good alternatives waiting in the wings. Either way this needs to be resolved soon or we could be left facing another last minute scramble for a striker and, our experience tells us, that does not end well. Everton need to do a deal now or we should tell them to look elsewhere.

Or a dwarf's relative.

Not sure how much truth there is in this. If KWP goes and we get Ben Johnson he'd be a good replacement as he also plays on both wings and would be excellent in the Championship.

It's a decent height for a full back.

We pay him a lot of money so if his head is elsewhere he needs to return it to the club who are paying him a fortune to do his job. The money these guys earn - just get on and do what you're paid for because it's not a bad life.

Well said!

I would tell Che and anyone interested in signing him that if there's no deal by the end of this week he's staying here until at least January.

Yeah but think how much frigging history you've learned.

He might use him but surely only as a sub coming on if we're chasing a game and want to go long.

If Che leaves we'd be absolutely mad not to replace him and rely on the list of players you name. Bonkers.

Presumably we're allowing Everton to use up precious time in the transfer window by dicking us about over Adams. Time to tell them to put up or shut up because while this farce plays out we run the risk of losing out on signing players on our radar to replace Che.

I think his 4 goals in 74 games forced our hands really - we couldn't risk losing him.

About time we gave Everton an ultimatum rather than all this prevaricating. Have you got the money we want up front? If yes let's do a deal. If not tell them we won't do a deal with them and their offer is rejected and we won't consider another offer from them.

If that's the case the loophole needs to be plugged. No point having FFP if there are ways and means to get round it.

I think this stems from comments made by Glenn Johnson. All he said was that Lavia is still a teenager and, if he doesn't settle quickly and offer something in any games he gets Chelsea could explore the option of loaning him out. Not much to this on the face of it.