S-Clarke

He was touted as a bit of a wonder kid, I think he came through their academy. Valencia have turned into a bit of a crazy club though. Firing managers every year, huge player turnovers and they've now announced enormous losses in the 400m euro mark I think. Apparently this lad is frustrated because he doesn't get to play enough. Only 20, stacks of potential. And a huge, huge marketing opportunity.

Sounds like the club and Ralph agree. Reading his comments he still says we are short in the '6' and we are looking.

I still don't think the situation will have changed come then either, if no one wants either then we are stuck. Going back on your point - Ralph came to a club with Gunn, Forster and McCarthy in the ranks. He made the decision in the summer of 2019 to dump Forster and go with Gunn and McCarthy as the two. Sadly, Gunn had an absolute nightmare so we had to revert back to McCarthy. Then Forster came back, Gunn went out on loan and we had Forster and McCarthy as the two. Now Gunn has gone for good we still have those two. I have no doubts that as a club we have been actively looking for takers for Fraser for a number of years, no doubts at all. Sadly there haven't been any takers on the wages he is on and he didn't want to take a pay cut, so that leaves the power in the players hands. We either have an expensive asset sat doing nothing, or we integrate him in the squad and use him where we can with the view of addressing the situation when his contract expires. That's where we are at. This goalkeeping situation is a left over mess of past bad decisions, so let's not make more bad decisions by stockpiling more goalies. They're both average, no disagreements there, but we will have to bite the bullet and pay for our mistakes of the past with Forsters contract in particular.

And we almost contrived to throw that away as well! Wasn't that the game where Ewin was in the dugout as Koeman was in Hospital? But yeah, this is not a usual result ground for us. We played 9 men for most of the second half last season and still contrived to lose. But as others have said, records and runs are there to be broken. Although I said the same before Goodison.

Of course we had a choice, but the board we have aren't idiots so they decided it would have been a silly idea to sign a third goalkeeper when we already had 2. Let's think about what that would have given us. McCarthy - 50k ish p/w, Forster, 80kish p/w. New keeper - 50k p/w? (going rate). That's almost 200k on goalkeeper wages and we can only play 1 of them, and only rotate between 2. If you think it's a sound business decision to have someone sat not involved or playing, but being paid 50k p/w then by all means go and suggest that to a business and see if they allow that to happen. We have to be very careful with our signings and make sensible decisions with regards to squad building. That would have been a stupid idea, as much as we need one, we're not in a position to get one. I don't know how else to spell it out really. But of course, it's Ralphs fault isn't it.

I was bored, so I started a new save in 2021 and bought him in.

The point you keep making about Theo is irrelevant. I don't think he was a good choice for a free signing, but that didn't impact our ability or inability to sign a goalkeeper.

To calm everyone down, I signed him on FM for £9m. After 1 year he is worth £35m and he helped us finish 3rd. That may just be my management though.

Why is this so hard for people to work out? 3 first choice goalies on substantial wages would be daft. We bit that pill a little with Gunn, although that was offset because we either loaned out Forster or Gun. But if neither of Forster or Alex have any takers then we are stuck. As much as I'd like us to get a goalkeeper now I can understand why it would be stupid, and akin to opening staplewood and throwing millions of quid into thin air. Which we don't have.

They've just been dumped out of the cup on pens. Expect a reaction on Saturday. I'd expect us to press them as well as we have done in the last two games though, I think they'd struggle to contain the press if we're on it.

Jesus, wtf has happened to my memory. I've still got the pictures on my phone of the big screens at St Mary's showing that score! Still, a rarity and a nice rarity at that.

Edged that one, it was a fairly tight contest up until the 1st min. Don't think I've ever witnessed us win by that margin, don't care who it is against, it gives you a nice spring in your step.

8-0! Great game for Elyonoussi.

The attacking quality has dropped with Theo, Long and Obafemi on the pitch. No doubts about that.

0-7.

6-0, Broja again. We want nine.

Elynoussi again!

Elyonoussi! 4-0

KWP, 3-0

Terrific centre half. He would cost upwards of £30m. Maybe they are already spending the Traore fee?

It's not unknown for West Brom to loan their first team players to PL clubs, who then sign them the following year. Depends how desperate they are really, but I still don't think we could realistically handle 3 goalies on the wages they'd be on.

Tella! 2-0. We are all over them really. Could be any score, too much up front as expected by the sounds of it.

Broja! 1-0

Intereting Harry Kane developments, Levy obviously putting his foot down and City don't want to pay the fee. Can't help but think that Kane did a half arsed effort to force an exit though, he has always been one foot in one foot out really. You can't play half arsed with Levy, you've got to become a proper shit house to get out. Got to feel that Kane has wasted his career though, he could have won tons of silverware if he'd have been anywhere else. I think this was the summer he had to make the move.

Christ, blast from the past! Welcome back!