S-Clarke

I had a feeling we'd do Chelsea tonight, I've not been impressed with them this season and their entire approach feels scattergun with a manger constantly throwing excuses in - so I really fancied us tonight, and we didn't disappoint. I think it took us the goal to settle into the game, Chelsea were just playing around us for the first 25 and the midfield struggled to impose themselves. Once they scored, Chelsea visibility stepped off which gave us a route in and we took it. Great equaliser from Lavia, best goal was Armstrong's though - the build up, the touch, the finish. A really, really good goal all around. The second half was a little easier than I thought it would be and I came away from that slightly disappointed that it was only 2-1! We were easily good for a 3-1 win there, it was genuinely that comfortable for the entirety of that second half. We genuinely look like a very physically imposing team, quick, strong, powerful, tall. We look athletic and are full of players who suit the style Ralph wants to employ, at f****ing last. I've always known the way we want to play, we've always had the philosophy but the players just haven't been there. ABK - epic. He's a slightly different sort of player than VVD for me, he reminds me of a guy Ralph had at RB - Dyot Upemenco. He is going to be a superstar. Lavia - equally epic. I thought he struggled in the first 20 or so mins (As most did) but once we got into the game and he got onto the ball, he controlled it. He reads the game well, snaps into tackles well, intercepts well - and can score a goal! I hope his injury isn't too bad, he was walking around normally at the end - so hopefully a week or two at most. Adam Armstrong enjoys that left side playing as an inverted winger. He seems to play that role well. He's not physically imposing enough to do a job up top in this league, but as an option to stretch and cut in from the left it seems to work. Adams was my MOTM though. All of his best work was outside of the box, weirdly. His hold up play and intelligence to win fouls has been something missing from our game for a while. I can't remember Che having as good a 'focal point' game as he did tonight, he bullied Chelsea's CB's and they couldn't handle him. Every other player was excellent as well, but they were just my stand out picks. Overall a very enjoyable evening, as comfortable as we've had for some time against a 'decent' side (although Chelsea looked far away from being an actual team tonight). If we can get ourselves some extra in attack and midfield before Thursday then we are set. Given the success of our scouting this summer, I'm excited by who we will get.

That shipped sailed in January, that was our opportunity if we really wanted to pursue it. Game over as soon as Feb rolled around. He won't go anywhere this window, but he will be shipped off out in loan in January I reckon.

ABK did take a knock on Saturday, but did carry on.

I wonder what would happen to DT if we signed Winks and sold JWP to Spurs. Self destruct?

Massive loss for them. I guess they'll go for RLC at Wing back, or 'Dave'

I think the reality is that to compete we will need to spend £30m on individual players from time to time. You've got Forest splurging £35m on Gibbs-White, West Ham on all sorts, Leeds spent £30m on Aaronsen (and spent £30m fees windows before that). Villa have spent big on individuals, so have Everton in a window where they are not so 'flush'. I think SR appreciate that and we need to join the party. I'm not advocating us spending £150m on multiple big signings, but we 'should' be able to get a single £30m+ signing over the line if we are really serious about competing in this league - which I think we are.

Typo in the tweet. Stengs is currently at Nice

They do seem to be shopping about for a replacement.

I'll be sad about this one, I'll miss him. His legs have gone as we saw last season, but he's been great under Ralph. It's hard not to begrudge him a move back home on a decent secure contract, he's only got 1 year left here and obviously we're not looking to extend. We can't leave ourselves short though, so he'd need to be replaced with experience. Nothing other than good things to say about him if he does go. Leaves in a similar vein to Yoshi, signed as a squad player but never moaned, complained and contributed when required.

Sounds like this is more of an agent lead one as opposed to us being totally in for him. I imagine it hangs on Bednarek going and Caltea-Car being presented as a bargain to us.

Oh yeah for sure, some of the stuff (probably more than we actually realise) they spout is nothing more than lies to drum up clicks and the such. Builds the drama, increases their viewership and gives them more money in advert revenue (their deadline day is actually sponsored by leading brands now).

I can see something like that. £25m guaranteed and 10-15m in add on's based on things like apps, international apps, PL finishes etc. Whether we're prepared to go there...who knows. Probably somewhat unlikely, but I imagine SR are looking around at the PL and seeing Forest, Leeds, WHU, Villa and even everton spending £30m upwards on individual players this summer. I don't think the ''we won't spend £30-40m'' on a single is particularly sustainable when you see the rest of the league.

Don't do that to us!

That's what forums are for! 😅 My forum star moment was when I proclaimed Elyounoussi would add strength and pace to our attack.

This is the same club that spunked £25m on Solanke and £19 on Ibe. More nonsense from Sky Sports experts.

It's not like Sky to make it up as they go a long. The chuckle brothers are being briefed as we speak.

Yeah, I'm not having that. He was a shocker. In the list of worst ever PL signings, not just for us, but for anyone. He wasn't any good as he's been a total failure even since he left us. He has scored the grand total of 11 league goals in 5 years and he is now at Henan Songshan Longmen in China. Monaco are probably still having a laugh.

It was when we had Kruger I 'think'. One of his daft pushes to try and make us relevant in the states, opening up satellite academies in the summer, doing pre-season out there etc. We went out and did some things with Under Armour too, really trying to raise our profile. I don't think we quite took over Man Utd's states reach though, it was close.

Rumour has it that Niko Kranjcar and Peter Odemwingie are in the car with him.

That's another popular shout from the Bournemouth lot. Not too far fetched.

PSV are in the driving seat really, he's got 4 years left on his contract. If he doesn't throw in a transfer request and kick up a fuss (and that doesn't seem to be what's happening), then PSV can ask for whatever they want. If they don't get it, oh well, they can ask again next year as his value won't drop.

I can't really remember how those panned out, is it right that there were no links or stories about those two guys until deadline day? I remember Mane wasn't actually paraded until after the Sept international break, cue mini meltdowns on here that we'd spent money on a player who couldn't get a work permit.

Yeah, those are the two. I saw some Bournemouth fans thinking Steve Cooper was a realistic target 😅

Why judge him on goal scoring though? Seems a bizarre stat to use against him. If he was a striker, fair enough, but he's a deeper CM.

Probably not, it's just a random link. Why would you be against that one? He is a very tidy midfielder.