egg

And you said my post was nonsense! Basically you agree with me (I think) but seem to think that we can decide when the player goes and refer to his contract extension. I keep hearing all this nonsense about contract renewals meaning we can decide when a player moves on. At least I think that's the inference. It doesn't work like that. Nobody believed he would stay for the length of his contract, of course we were going to cash in. The longer the contract the more power we have as a selling club. That contract gave him more cash for a little while but its purpose was to assist us come transfer time.

Not strange at all. For every future Mane/vvd/alderweireld there'll be a steady player who's about right for our level and will stick around. Think yoshida/davis. Then there's the players who can't believe their luck and would never be demanding a move while under contract , ie Martina/Pied. Those players realise that there are layers and probably know where they are in the layer cake. The club do as well. Alas, the fans (mostly) don't.

You're wasting your breath pal. The masses think we should let him rot until we decide to sell him to who we want for what we want. Apparently that's how it works, and doesn't damage the club at all.

That question gets to what we all, as fans, want the club to do. The reality is that we're not a top 6 club and won't become one. We're at our limit, at least league wise. We therefore have to operate as a business. Competing on the field, buying then nurturing and developing talent, selling it, repeat. That's not what you want us to do, nor do I, but that's where we are. If we hold good players back we don't get to sign them in the first place. I don't get what's so hard to understand about that.

I agree with most of that. I made your point 2 a while ago and was told that I was in a minority of 1. We are a stepping stone club, and potentially very good players will only sign if they have an assurance, which they see the club delivering to other players, that they will be allowed to move on when the time comes. If we don't do that we sign WBA type players, or WHA type mercenaries . However, I also hate players holding a gun to our head but the stepping stone model means that this situation can happen and will happen again and needs careful management. On this occasion it hasn't gone well and I'd hazard a guess that both sides had different understandings of what may happen further down the track. Like you I think that the club needs to get out of this sharpish, probably with a 'we accepted an offer above our valuation' type deal. That we save a degree of face, and retain our appeal to the next Mane/VVD etc.

Judging by those who didn't play last night, and those who need game time, I reckon we'll play something like: Mccarthy Pied Gardos Bednarek Targett JWP Hjoberg Long Boufal McQueen Austin If Flannigan is fit I think he may get a start at RB, or in midfield.

Gardos is the obvious candidate but I can't see we'd have many takers. The alternative is a full back going. We have 3 left backs, plus 2 right backs and Stephens (who's not guaranteed a start at CB) who we've never really seen at RB but he's played there for Boro and international level.

Perhaps we did "try for" him, who knows. I hope we didn't though.

This. He's had one reasonably good season in the championship. If he was another clubs player we would not have regarded him as a good signing. Hopefully he'll impress and come back better equipped to make the step up.

Simple scenario/analogy, and a simple question. Just suppose another midtable club, say West brom, have a promising striker. He has a good ish season on loan at a lower level championship club who ultimately get relegated. Say we then wanted to buy that kid and swap him for Long. Are you seriously saying you'd be happy with that? Your suggestion is akin to that.

Still doesn't address why it's felt Gallagher is ready for the prem. Long possibly not being good enough (in your opinion) doesn't mean Gallagher is.

What makes you think he's ready for a season in the prem? Personally I think he and us are much better off with him getting another year of championship football than an occasional 10 mins and a few cup games here. Long was decent the season before last, and properly motivated and used he'll be decent again.

25 man squad limit so couldn't happen unless we shipped a few out.

That we do agree on. He drifted through the game. Loose passing, seemed disinterested and couldn't wait to get off the pitch. Blatantly overlooked on the overlap by Redmond a couple of times too but I'm not sure if that's down to Redmond not getting his head up or I'm reading too much into it. Either way, if that's what we can expect until the next window I'd rather see a committed Targett and McQueen fighting for the LB role.

Hilarious. I assume you were there? No they didn't walk through the middle but they set up with noble in the middle, a kid plus one other who was so anonymous I can't remember who he was. They were never gonna walk through any midfield, let alone our 2 plus Davis, Gabby dropping off, the wide men tucking in and the full backs pushing on. Our set up nullified them (most of the time) not the new boy. He did the long hem though by the number of times he gave the ball to them. Today he wasn't great but will hopefully improve.

I wasn't impressed. Poor distribution unless he gave it 3 yards sideways. Sure he was rusty but clasie or hjoberg would have been no less effective today.

Agboolaesque. With huge potential to improve. Will be out captain for sure and England player within a year.

He was bang average imo in that game but there's definitely a proper player there. What impressed me though was his attitude. Didn't stroll about but put a shift in and spoke to the youngsters and was a leader in the middle.

We clearly need a no 10. I'm struggling to think of anyone better who's probably available on a season long loan. He'd improve our starting 11.

He'd be a great signing. Can't see it, but would be a good addition.

Little looks better imo. Barnes dangerous and the kid Bakary decent too.

That's not my point. If they offer significantly more than anyone else we'll take their money. Principles will disappear if there's another £5m on the table.

I find it astonishing that people think that we won't take Liverpool's money if they come in with a bid that's much higher than the next best bid.

No chance imo but him in front of Romeu and the new guy, and behind Gabbi would be superb. Let Redmond, Tadic, JWP and Boufal fight for the 2 wide spots whilst putting pressure on Barkley. Would be a huge upgrade on Davis.

Agreed. Rather than multi function players who won't improve our first 11 we need specialist players to improve us where we are weak. Personally I'd like a proper attacking midfielder to play behind the striker. 3 strikers are enough and I'd happily lose long if it means bringing in a decent attacking midfielder and making do with what we have out wide and up top.