S-Clarke

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.

I'd also say that Stu was a different profile to Fernandes. Stu was a 10, he could float across the 3. Fernandes is a CM. We don't have a Stu type player in the team at all, which is why the club are trying to sign one. I'm not really sure what Lighthouse is on about.

As has been obvious since July really, this is another 'top target' fail by SR. A constant theme sadly. No idea if he'd have been revolutionary for us or not, but he was clearly our main target in the attacking area - as was Gakpo, Ramos, O'Riley etc in past windows. Zero of these big moves over the line. We did manage to get BBD, Archer and Onuachu though at least. Sigh.

Didn't we sell Ox in that summer, so he was never part of the champ side? He was replaced by the infamous Steve De Ridder. Puncheon I think had a strop that season, so wasn't part of the club. JWP was a squad/cup player only at that point. Other than that I'd agree with your overall point. The spine was the most important thing there, once you get the spine right the rest can usually just slot in around it. We have a crappy spine nowadays. A fairer compassion, IMO, is our away game at Plymouth (game 3) last time out in the Champ: Bazunu KWP Bednarek Stephens Manning Charles Stu Armstrong Adam Armstrong Nathan Tella Che Adams Samuel Edozie Subs brought on: Sam Amo Aribo I think that's miles better imo.

And the other way round, if we go down to 10 or 9 men, we lose 9-0.

I think he's off, I saw bids of around £250-500k being floated around (Boro being one I think).

I think it'll be closer this year than the last couple. If I was West Ham or Brentford I'd be a little nervous. For the sake of the Champ > Prem promotions I hope at least one stays up, otherwise it's just going to become a closed shop.

I was more focusing on the people calling him to go, which I have seen (not just on here). Nothing wrong with debate at all, I'm not saying that, it's the nuts comments from people suggesting he can leave and calling out Downs as not ever being able to perform for us (not just on here btw)