egg

It's a big issue. If we give him a squad place at the expense of another cb we've got to be convinced he'll knuckle down and play to his potential. If we're not convinced, for me it's a case of no squad number, sit in the stands and evaluate things in Jan. I remain to be convinced that his staying is a good thing but let's see how things go.

Yep, but the supply to whoever is up front concerns me more. We have nobody to play incisive balls and create proper chances. A proper no 10 would be ideal imo.

That one was clever to be fair.

Meltdown?! Behave. It seemed obvious to me that he'd go and I expressed that view. This is a forum where views are expressed. If he doesn't go let's see how he integrates back into the team and how he plays. If we have a fully committed VVD then the club have done well, until then the juries out.

If he does that's a bonus. Sort of!

Let's assume you're right and bednarek and Gardos don't make the 25. Let's also assume that vvd continuous strop which is a real possibility if he stays. Let's also assume one of the others gets suspended or injured. We're then fecked. And you say I'm talking b0ll0cks.

Let's see what happens today.

What a well considered reply. Feel free to explain why, for example, we're not better placed to get a better deal with arsenal now than before they sat just above the bottom 3 and look utterly sh:te in defence.

Hoedt arguably being better than yoshi and Stephens is not the point. It's about replacements and the squad. We didn't buy Hoedt to have him, Stephens, yoshi, Gardos, Bednarek, VVD (or yet another replacement) in a 25 man squad. That's 6 Cb's on the payroll. Put them and 3 keepers in the squad and we've only got 16 places for fullbacks, midfielders and attackers. Hoedt has come in to replace VVD who will leave today.

Disagree. 1. Supply and demand. 2. If we say that we're open for business we'll never get as good a deal as we could if desperate buyers come to us. 3. If any club wanted him they'll come to us expressing interest. The way you put suggests that clubs only make offers when a player is being actively marketed. That's ridiculous. 4. Certain clubs will have become more desperate as the window opened up. Arsenal will be desperate for reinforcements at the back. Do you not think that they'll be willing to pay more now for a CB than they were before the season? We're putty in their hands and that buyer competition is to out advantage. This is business, not fantasy football.

Holding out for the best deal is not 'caving' in. It's obvious he was/is going (who really wants a player worth £70m+ sat in the stands until the next window? Who replaces a player [Hoedt] but doesn't actually sell the player being replaced!?) All the club have done is hold firm to get the deal that they're happy with.

Yep, his treatment was odd and I'm in the he didn't get a fair crack camp. That said, you've got to pick your team based on your next opponent, not your last game. Plus, the managers and coaches see him and others in training day in day out and are better placed to assess who is most likely to do the best job.

Agreed and ridiculous to effectively say that he was bought by a mate as a favour. He was/is a proper player and was undoubtedly bought believing he could be a decent PL player. Had Koeman stayed I suspect he'd be playing more and personally I think with a run of games he'd be a better CM option than most of our squad. However, It seems that Puel didn't fancy him and neither does MP so off he goes.

Didn't see Tom28 post. I'd let VVD go anyway, and have always that he would with Liverpool the destination. I expected an attacker or a 10 to come in as the sweetener. If Theo was coming and we got someone to play a bit deeper I'd be delighted. However, arsenal losing theo and the ox in the same window seems odd.

Seems that way, but we'll be taking someone's money for him and if they're offering more than anyone else I've got no doubt that we'll take it, and agree not to pursue a tapping up case.

It was believable until the Walcott and Vietto bit.

Because we have a 25 man squad limit. If we want to bring players in, and register them to play, we need to either move people on or have people being paid but who can't play.

So what's this rule about a 6 year contract meaning 2? So is a 4 year really 1? What about 5?

None of us know what's in that contract re moving on and/or any side agreement. There may be nothing but who knows.

I think people are placing too much on the world cup year point. There's a reasonable chance Holland won't qualify, but regardless of that there's apparently another £5m a year on offer at Liverpool and I'm sensing money will talk. In terms of us, I agree with your point re what's the worst that could happen if he stays. Add to that we'll be spending circa £2 million in wages between now and January, and a squad place taken by someone who may not play.

I got bored at line 3 but until that point broadly you're correct, although Bednarek is for the future, ie someone's replacement in due course.

I have to say he worries me cos of his lack of pace. Stephens and Yoshida are a decent pairing but neither attack the ball enough. The issue for me is whether swapping one of those with a slower player who is better in the air improves us or makes us more vulnerable. The 3 at the back against wolves was a car crash but if we work at it who knows.

Hoedt is his replacement. I'm staggered that people still think that another cb will come in. That ain't happening. He'll go and at the most an attacking player or a proper 10 will come in to sweeten the pill.

Yep.

Yep. They'll dress it up as something like 'nobody is bigger than the club' and 'Harmony amongst the players is crucial' etc. Hopefully they'll sweeten the pill with a decent forward or proper number 10.