Saint_lambden

-------------Ramsdale------------- -Suga---Bednarek---THB---KWP-- ---Fernandes---Les---Downes--- --Dibling------Archer------Armstrong Need extra protection if switching to back four which Big Les will hopefully provide. Fernandes and Dibling the creative sparks. A better performance but still come up short 2-1.

No points deduction for Leicester this season. Avoiding relegation just got even harder.

Anyone calling for him to go already is a complete an utter reactionary moron. It's worth remembering that we lost 8 of the first 10 in 2012/13. The Man United game is a bit of a free-hit but we shouldn't fear them. After 2 weeks with the players, a switch to 4-3-3 and some change in personnel (which is clearly coming after his comments today), then we should see an improvement. We've got Ipswich, Leicester and Everton at home by 2nd November and those are the games we (more specifically the manager) will be ultimately judged on. We have to be more front-foot in those type of matches to try and score more goals, as clearly we're going to concede goals all season like most down at the bottom.

Neither Kostic or Joao Mario deals are happening. Sulemana attracting some interest from Ligue 1 but would be loan rather than permanent and only depending on what we get in first. Club quite relaxed about Tall Pall deal as Turkish window goes on for longer and Trabzonspor increasingly desperate to sign a striker given their lack of goals and failure to get other targets. That's all I've been passed on, though that was yesterday midday ish so it may have changed since then.

Leaving the sentiment aside, I wouldn't unless it was a loan deal with West Ham paying most of his wages (unlikely). We're well stacked with numbers and quality in central midfield now and very rarely does it work out when people go back in football or in life in general. The main thing we needed in the middle of the park was more athleticism and people driving forward with the ball which in Fernandes/Big Les we now have and which is not JWP's game at all.

Can't see Martin dropping Stephens/the 3 centre-back system given how physical Brentford are and their set-piece strength. Big Les should come in for Smallbone and Archer deserves to start ahead one of the front two. Other than that, I'd be surprised to see too much in the way of change.

No wonder Swansea weren't bothered about letting Wood go. Looks pony.

Tyler Dibling is ridiculously good. Should be starting regularly soon enough.

Onuachu to Trabzonspor is still being worked on as they missed out on Weghorst.

Manning, Lallana and Smallbone won't start. It'll be: --- Lumley Bree, Wood, Edwards, Taylor Ugochukwu, Fernandes, Dibling Sam Amo, Archer, Edozie

Johnstone is about to sign for Wolves.

Fellows is a terrific player. Very direct winger, can go both ways when dribbling as he's good with both his left and right foot. 3 assists in 3 so far this season and given West Brom's financial position would hopefully not be too expensive.

Was 16/1 with BetVictor weeks ago so hoping the deal goes through in more ways than one!

I think we need x2 players if/when Alcaraz goes. I'd go after Sem Steijn at FC Twente as an attacking midfielder - scored 17 times for them in the Dutch league last season which is superb for someone who isn't a striker. He's only 22 so has potential to improve as well. Then for a number 9, either Fofana from Chelsea who was on loan at Burnley last season if we have the funds to buy him permanently or Ioannidis from Panathinaikos.

It's very dependent on selling Alcaraz I suspect.

I'm sure we will sign another attacking player once the GK situation is sorted. Martin said after the game last week that we still need to add at the top end of the pitch and since then Mara has left (no loss I know, but still a player out the door). Add in that Tall Paul may still go and who the fuck knows about Ross Stewart, leaves us pretty light. The Greek lad at Panathinaikos would give us something different in terms of his physicality and he can clearly finish, but it'll be tough to get that one done if they've already turned down bids of £22.5m for him and I highly doubt they will want to sell before their second leg of the European qualifier v Lens next Thursday.

Don't profess to be ITK but Bournemouth fan I know reckons we've an interest in their back-up 'keeper Mark Travers. No idea if there's anything in it or if they would even allow him to come to us, could just be that we are enquiring about GKs all over the Premier League to keep options open for the final couple of weeks of the window.

Charly Alcaraz can confirm that Ramsdale is not always the best with the ball at his feet.

Not sure I see that. If we assume Alcaraz is off, that'll leave Lesley, Fernandes, Smallbone and Aribo fighting for the two number 8 roles in either the 3-5-2 we're currently playing or a 4-3-3. Lallana will fill in occasionally but can't be relied upon with his injury record. Ari

Not sure if already covered on here but rumours in North East are that Ross Stewart may go back to Sunderland on loan. If that means Mara, Tall Paul and Stewart are off then we need another striker even after the arrival of Archer.

Slightly surprised Villa are letting Archer go permanently - he's had an excellent pre-season for them (scored in 3 separate games) but I guess he's not going to get in ahead of Watkins and Duran in a one striker system.

Considering Fabrizio Romano had this to say today, I'd say he's not half bad. Understand Michael Zetterer was number one replacement option for Man City in case Ederson had left the club. Zetterer now supposed to start the season with Werder Bremen although 3 other Premier League teams could still try to sign him; OM also considered him in July.

We won’t be getting the Greek GK from Lazio by the looks of it - their DoF has said he’s not for sale.

“The verbal agreement between Armel Bella-Kotchap and Hoffenheim is close. The player wants to move to Hoffenheim. It could end up being 15-17 million euros all-in” - From Florian Plettenberg who is very good on German transfers. Would help bolster the funds. Hopefully it gets done quickly.

Chelsea are about to sign yet another goalkeeper so surely they’ll be looking to send at least one of them out on loan. Hopefully another option we’re looking at if Ramsdale/Johnstone don’t work out.