S-Clarke

for £2.5-3m, you cannot really complain about it. Is he going to be better than Lyanco? I'd be utterly flabbergasted if he isn't. That's all that matters really, he adds depth to the squad. Another young English player too - a really strong British core through the side. THB, Edwards, Wood, Taylor, KWP, Downes (hopefully), Smallbone, Armstrong - and then a sprinkling of young English talent in Edozie, Charles etc. I think we've sorted out the back 4 area - now need to see some focus on the attack, that's what will keep us up at the end of the day. We'll concede goals whoever plays at the back for us, so we just need to make sure we're potent enough down the flanks and up top (We're nowhere near good enough at the mo). Excited to see who is up next, we seem to be moving rapidly.

Spain just about edged that I think, Germany had their moments but Spain had more prolonged periods of control. Their name is all over it already IMO. Cannot see past Spain. They're a very tidy team, lots of experienced winners in that side. I hope Pedri isn't too badly injured, really rate him.

I look at it as Perraud failed miserably at this level for a few seasons with us, awful LB. We've now got a proper PL proven left back in the door for £0. Lyanco and DCC were horrendous for us. Lyanco was just a pointless hot head, could not defend for toffee as he was too wound up 110% of the time. Not a PL player by any stretch. DCC's attitude stunk. He could have been decent, lots and lots of experience behind him, but he was another almighty dropped bollock for us. We're not going to miss any of those 3, we've just sold them all combined for £12m and the replacements leave us £6m net. I cannot argue with that all, the club seem to have their head screwed on this window. I like the fact that we're building a really strong British core. Just need to make a decent return on Mara and Sulemana, replace those with better and we're laughing.

Huh? You've seemingly looked at that pic with Downes, JWP and Ings in the same picture (day 1 of pre-season training) and have come to the conclusion that it means he's settled there. Whereas the pictures of KWP back in training, day 1, is a totally different situation. Ok then.

I want to say I agree with you............but I have a horrible nagging feeling that new contracts for McCarthy and Adams would equal ''we've got our ST and GK positions sorted'' internally at the club. Just nagging in my mind, because they've done it before. Losing Che will at least force us to get a striker.

Diamond Edwards was highly regarded, I remember he featured in pre-season under Ralph a few years back. Got a nasty injury in that pre-season though which was probably the end of it for him here. Shame really, I think he could make a career at the lower levels though.

I guess it's now a case of just how many points they'll get deducted. 10-15 was the feeling a few months back. They're down before a ball is kicked if we're honest. Makes it a little easier for us, one less place to worry about.

I do agree, I think like you say both need a fresh start. Need some fresh blood up top. Not sure I can deal with another season of him missing sitters.

Lavia on loan isn't as far fetched as it could be. The guy hasn't played for a year really, they've just signed another CM (and are trying to sign another, go figure), so his game time will be limited. After such a long lay off he will need games to build himself up again, we'd be a pretty ideal place for that to happen you have to say. Familiar surroundings, guaranteed game time, he's known around the place etc. He seemed a well grounded kid. JWP feels a little far fetched to me due to the wages. I can't see WHU letting us have both Downes and JWP and I'm not sure we could afford that either.

Not the Echo reporting it, just some nonsense Man Utd social media twitter/website/nonsense page. Defo not going to be going after players like him, wages alone make him completely unattainable for us at this time. He's a signing for a few years down the line if we're still in the PL.

I've probably seen/heard of him a little more than most, as I know someone quite well who is an avid posh fan. He raved about him ever since they signed him, I've seen him a few times and you can see why. A proper silky CB, moves with the ball effortsly, very technical - totally wasted in L1. He is one of those players who is good enough to do that double jump of leagues. I think we'll see a fair bit of him in the PL. I'm a big fan of him, it just needed someone to take that punt and a £3m punt is nothing in this day and age - glad it's us, I can assure you we've stolen a march on a few others with this one. He had scouts from Spurs, Brighton, Leipzig watching him last season to name just a few.

He's honestly a really talented young defender, think John Stones when he was nabbed from Barnsley. I think Edwards is a little older, but it's the most similar comparison I can think of in terms of the rise and type of player. He will go right to the top. Having two exciting young English CB's at the club is a really healthy situation to be in. I've always been a big fan of Ronnie Edwards, appreciate I've probably seen a bit more of him/heard more about him than others on here - but to nab him is really good for us.

They've got the benefit by not being as constrained by FFP, in the sense of us with our stupid £130m window a couple of years back hanging over us - and Leicester's with their shitty financial situation at the moment. So they can move a bit more freely as far as I can tell.

Ipswich have bid for both Greaves @ Philogene at Hull. £20m double bid, but apparently Hull are looking for £40m combined. Somewhere in the middle to be met I guess.

That was a great game, knew that one would be the pick of the knockouts. Austria have been great, so have Turkey. That save was just unreal in the last second. Drama.

I don't know if we'll go 3 at the back from day 1, I'm not sure either will be a starter on day 1 - but both have the potential to be, certainly Edwards. How do you know they've not selected the right players in Edwards and Taylor? When we last got promoted we picked Jay Rodriguez, Clyne, Davis from lesser leagues and they turned out alright. There is no harm looking into League 1 or the Championship for Premier League players. Spurs signed Dele Alli from League 1 at the time. Price or stature of player doesn't equal success. Our best success has come from the unknown, lesser attractive, 'underwhelming' signings. Those are the sorts of signings that are scouted more thoroughly I find. When we were having our Lemina, Hoedt, Carillo, Vestergaard, Boufal sprees for like over £100m (not a single one of those worked out), I was somewhat envious of the likes of Bowen and Craig Dawson rocking up at WHU as they were much more suited than anything we'd spent 20x the amount on.

I see these sorts of posts and chatter a lot all over social media, the question I always see put as a reply is.....''Who would you sign?'' - fair question. What realistic names do you feel are suitable for us? People seem to be forgetting that we have already spent £20m on a centre back. THB. He is our first choice CB signing of the summer. We are now signing another two centre backs to add depth and options to the squad, both England youth internationals with very high ceilings - for a combined £6m between them. What's exactly wrong with that? We're not signing Ronnie Edwards and Nathan Wood to keep us up as a first choice centre back partnership. Charlie Taylor is also a PL left back, there is absolutley zero wrong with his signing and is probably the most sensible addition we have made for years in that area. But yeah, name some names of realistic signings who you feel would be viable options for us. Take into account the FFP constraints we remain under and the fact that we've already splurged £20m on THB (and are reserving £15m for Downes)

These two have been great value all tournament.

Was ultimately a bit of a flop the last time he was in England. Boro' signed him to spear head their promotion back to the prem, but I think he only got 4 or 5 goals in the Championship. Went back to Spain and started scoring and somewhat astonishingly to every fan, ever, got a move to Barcelona and did score goals for them. 22 goals last season in the second tier of Spanish football, but he'll be 35 next year. Not sure he's our striker signing.

Well exactly, if 30 is 'past it' I'm long since fucked. Might as well arrange my funeral at this rate.

I can't look past Spain being in the final.

Yep, the dutch were good value tonight. Played really well. Potential Semi Final opponents for us, but likely Switzerland tbf.

Going by Chelsea's transfer strategy, don't rule out them signing him for £35m in January.

Pretty terrible picks all in there. How many left backs do you think we need?? I'd take Jack Clarke, but I think we'd have to spend £20-25m for him and that's just too expensive when we have other areas more important.

Couple of comments on Ronnie Edwards from posh fans: He's absolutley spot on for what we do in terms of playing out from the back. A very good passer. Spurs and Brighton have been very keen as well.