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Looking forward to tonight, despite sitting with the Oxford fans. If they're too annoying, will just go and stand behind the goal in the car park...

On the bench, hopefully.

Welcome to 18 years ago.

You're forgetting their other option is Lyndon Dykes... (and you're conveniently forgetting the actual most overrated international striker ever, who just captained his side to another runners up trophy)

Who are you including in this? Edozie and Sulemana (possibly off)? Amo-Ameyaw (although I thought he might be more off the right)?

What about a fit striker?! A combo of Broja (hasnt done anything in about 3 years, since he was with us!) and Stewart (played a total of 44 mins for us) with Mara and Armstrong (who has shown he's much better off the right) doesnt fill me with any confidence.

Wood was highly rated a year or two back under Martin, but hasn't been standout the last season or so since he departed, so would be interesting to see if he can get back up to top form and progress. Not expecting him to start, but heard rumours that Bednarek might be off, which would be an issue without an experienced replacement - even if we do go 3 at the back, we can't really have Harwood-Bellis, Wood and Edwards all playing who are all young and none of them been in the Premier League before. Hopefully they're not assuming Stephens will be in with two others, as we did try to replace him a couple of years ago for a reason. I don't mind Stephens, but his lapses in concentration do get punished at this level. Heard the same on Wood, but hopefully with a bit of time on his side, he will cut that out and become a good player for us.

There must be more to it. Newcastle probably asked them to sign him for a far overinflated fee for their own PSR reasons, and they'll give Brighton a 'favour' in the future. All very dodgy. They also sold Elliot Anderson for near £40 million(!) and bought Lewis Hall for over £30 million, both decent players but not worth that amount!!

That's because they are significantly better than 90% of the rest of the academy (perhaps only Dibling aside), and are effectively first team squad members. I think most were surprised neither featured more for the first team last year. Hoping to see more of both this season.

It's called the Ever-Sea-Castle-Villa method

What on earth is that song?! Probably the worst vocals I've ever heard, truly awful. Hopefully the player is better than the music! 🤣

Bazunu cannot be first choice at any point this coming season if we have aspirations of staying up. If he gets fit, great, but he needs to go on loan to the Championship. McCarthy is surely back up / stop gap until a new first choice comes in. Ramsdale on loan just seems far too sensible for clever, (cheap) Saints 🤣

Truly terrible deal if that's all we're getting for him. Anything we spend on Downes we should be getting back from selling KWP plus a chunk more, 1 year on the contract or not. Downes has barely played in the premier league, whilst KWP has well over 100 (good) games in the premier league, was in the England squad not too long ago and played in the Champions League. Downes is key in our system, but is relatively unproven in the Premier League and has some concerns with missing matches last year.

If compared to Stephens, then 100% yes!

Perhaps the highest injury record too.

And going back through this thread (Grimsby aside), was pretty good in the few games he did play.

Shame - I thought he was one of our better players in our relegation season, and would be a good asset this season. Certainly looked like he put the effort in and carried an actual threat going forward. Better than Manning, but guess we have someone else coming in.

Martina, but Valery's strike at(?) Old Trafford was also extremely good.

Was surprised neither played more last season. I thought Meghoma especially looked more than good enough. SAA is raw but very talented (but probably too attack minded for RM - see also Edozie and Sulemana).

He should do well for them. Not sure what happened at Birmingham (seem to remember something like he got brought in to play the same position as one of their best players?!) but I thought he had the technical ability to be a decent player in the Championship.

On the plus side, Kane did clock his tournament record speed.... about 5 miles per hour.

Any news on players staying or leaving? I see the club signed a new goalkeeper today or yesterday. I know Kayi Sanda is very highly regarded at 17 and a French youth international, so would be interesting to see whether he stays or potentially moves around the Sports Republic family?!

Injured most of last season and only just back coming off the bench (and starting once) in last 7 games.

Guaranteed when Lallana, Ox, Ings, Lambert, Fonte, (or any other player over 30 who once played for us) the stadium will start blasting The Boys Are Back In Town.

Can't believe Toney got selected. 4 in his first 5 games back, but then none in 12 since. I also hated all this "It's obvious I want to play for a top club" before he even returned to play for Brentford, who had to make do without him for more than half a season due to his stupidity, very disrespectful. Comes across as a complete tool, and his spot could've easily gone to another striker (Solanke, even Rashford) or someone like Grealish who would probably play. I'm assuming he's mainly there to take a penalty in a shoot out, but hope if he's needed he smashes in a hat trick!