S-Clarke

Why isn't that realistic? McCarthy was number 3 in our last season in the Champ, Lumley was 2nd choice for a lot of the games. The question goes back to why we felt it was a sensible idea to give McCarthy a new contract on the back of a handful of games at the end of that season, after he hadn't played a game for us all year up to that point. That's where the issue started, but it still shouldn't stop us evolving the position today. Why do players have to sign assuming they'll be demoted? They're signed for today as 1 or 2, so it's up to them to fight and keep that place. If they have confidence in their ability they'll feel they can, and that's what I'd expect any professional player to act like.

I tell you what, this week is going to have to equal 'Insane levels' of signings in the final few days in order for us to move the yardstick on where this window currently sits. Still time.....not giving up hope yet.

No one is saying that. We just wanted a GK to push Bazunu, a 1.5 place goalkeeper if you like - in between 1st choice and 2nd choice. But we've signed someone who will probably never play, nor will we want to play going by his rep from Millwall, Norwich and Sheffield United. This isn't how you build a squad.

I see there's comments around 'Ramsdale is coming back, so we can't block his position' bullshit. He'll probably be off anyway so why plan for that. You go out and there and buy better than Bazunu or McCarthy as that is where we are today, then when Ramsdale comes back we bin off Bazunu/McCarthy and have two competent goalkeepers. It's not hard is it?

Not necessary, I mean it shouldn't be too hard for us to improve on Aribo at CB, BBD on the left wing or Smallbone in CM - that shouldn't be too hard. It's like we're talking as if we had a team full of PL stars, we really didn't this time - last time out we were relegated, we had a decent cohort of PL players, not so much this time though. If Sunderland can attract players like Enzo Le Fee at this level, then I'd expect us to be able to as well. We've still got a week and a lot can change, and it needs to.

People are missing the point here, it's not that people are against a third choice GK. The issue is that we're not evolving the squad. We have a massive squad full of utter, utter rubbish and this signing just adds to that pile of dog shit. What's the point? Bring in a guy that pushes a McCarthy or Bazunu down the pecking order, thus upgrading the position. We're not in a place where we can start filling up GK with average squad fodder when our options are horrific as it is.

Make McCarthy third choice, then buy someone as 2nd choice who is good enough to push Bazunu. It really is that simple. McCarthy shouldn't be 2nd choice.

Then target someone with the clear ambition that they can replace Bazunu, give them that opportunity to fight for. Put that doubt in Bazunu too. It's good squad management. But basically we'll be left with 1 GK as a passable first team GK, and two backups who really shouldn't be on the wage bill of clubs of our size. So Bazunu has zero competition, he knows his place is safe no matter what happens.

Just like Pep saying we're so beautiful, we play so beautiful, after he's beaten us 5-0. It's pointless blowing smoke up peoples arse, we shouldn't fall for it. If we had good players, why hasn't he tried to sign BBD, Archer or ABK?

Long term planning would be signing someone with a view to displace Bazunu, but we're too clever for that. This is just a short-term pointless addition, much like Lumley was. For a club driven by data and stats, they are pretty horrendous at reading what's in front of them.

Millwall fans: Even if this guy is third choice, why are we signing poor players?

But that's the problem. We shouldn't be targeting a third choice goalkeeper, we should be targeting a GK who can genuinely push Bazunu and maybe even displace him - that's what we should be doing. I have no idea why we're not. It's clear that this guy is no where near the level rqd for a first team player. What happens if Bazunu gets injured? It becomes even worse than it is now. I hate this club sometimes. Their decisions are reckless at this point.

Sounds ideal -

There goes my hope of us targeting someone who can legitimately push Bazunu then. God help us signing anyone who may threaten their pet project.

Looks like Leicester, who I didn't think could sign anyone, are going to get a winger before us. I thought we'd be all over sorts like him. Intrigued to see who we are looking at who are better options than guys like Stengs. Leicester City are in talks to sign Feyenoord winger Calvin Stengs. It’s understood Feyenoord are open to selling The Netherlands international in this window.

Werder Bremen seem to have identified what he can fit into there. Yukinari Sugawara's profile fits almost perfectly into SV Werder Bremen's booty scheme

I agree, we're not in a position where we can buy potential and evolve it right now. That may be their long-term model, but right now we are not in the place to do that. We need a squad full of ready-made starters, not projects. Once we have a stable squad we know about, who are proven at the respective levels, we can then start integrating some of those potential into the side. The current approach of still targeting potential when we don't have a core team is dangerous to us, and also to the players we're signing as we risk them never developing as the environment is imbalanced. The crazy thing is that when they did come in, we had a stable 'core' which needed some tweaks to the 11 down the spine (as in ready-made players). Then we could have started bringing in potential. But they got it so wrong from the outset, kids from day 1 to fill first deficiencies (Mara/Edozie/Bazunu etc etc). They are really pushing the patience of the fanbase, they had the ability to build on a PL club but they destroyed it by fast tracking their approach. Strikes me that SR was/is full of people who have no idea about what's required at the highest levels of professional sport.

I guess that came from left field, and fast tracked the move for Roserlev, to be fair we at least moved instantly on t hat.

They have one of the worst success rates on transfers I think I've ever seen, across all clubs in the 92. I'll give them Fernandes, Charly and Lavia - but after that, I'm struggling.

Going - he's off to Werder Bremen on a loan, all about to be confirmed by the sounds of it. Next new signing: Werder about to transfer Japanese full-back!

Suguwara off to Werder Bremen on loan, he's already there having his medical. Obviously no one rates him enough to pay a fee, which isn't a surprise. So this doesn't really aid us hugely in terms of finance, gets some wages off the books I guess. Next new signing: Werder about to transfer Japanese full-back!

He always came across as the sort who'd thrive in the ''Made in Chelsea'' environment, not talking football, but everything else.

I think one of the biggest criticisms I can make of our group is that they come across as thick as shit. They have no brain, they don't sense danger and they react rather than know how to be proactive. They might have some ability somewhere, but they need others to do the thinking for them, and when you've got a squad of reactors it's not a good mix - no matter how good individually some of them may be. Maybe we need to send the squad to get a PhD or something, back to school basics, count 1-10.

We're not looking at replacing Bazunu though, sadly. It's a backup keeper we'll bring in. We only have Bazunu and McCarthy as senior keepers this year, so we 100% will bring on in - probably a freebie after the window has closed. Hopefully they're good enough to challenge Bazunu though, that's all I want. I accept that the club are still wedded to this project and that won't change, so we just have to hope the backup is good enough to put some actual pressure on him.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan is nowhere near the Chelsea side, he had a loan at Gillingham last season where he made 16 apps. 19 years old Doyle has been thrown around on several L1/L2 loans. Crawley, Exeter and now at Reading this year. Hasn't ever played for Brighton. 20 years old Looks like Jankewitz is now a squad player at FC Winterthur in the Swiss 1st Div. 23 year old. I think it's fair to see that all 3 have monumentally failed since leaving us. But as long as $$$ is thrown around in these players faces, it won't change.