sfc4prem

Fair enough. I've my fingers crossed it proves enough. I hope you're clear that I think those players mentioned, THB, Downes, Lesley and Archer are really promising and have great potential to become good PL players. I really hope they do well for us and we stay up as next season they'd be brimming with confidence.

I'm not expecting huge amounts from them, I'm just saying we have a relatively inexperienced and young team, and we'll see how they get on. In key positions, central midfield, central defence, upfront, we have young and relatively untested players at PL level - THB, Downes/Lesley, Archer.

Realistically, though, out of those four, is there a player there who will a) be a starter for us or b) has recent & regular PL experience?

I've given 6/10. We're a newly promoted club, so the signings we've made are of our level, bar Ramsdale who is an excellent addition above our station. I can't give more than a 6 because a lot of the players that we've brought in have no or little experience of the PL, and thus don't necessarily inspire that winning, battling confidence needed. We shall see how this young team gets on.

I miss Ralph - what a lovely chap.

Mate, his fashion sense and personality bagged him Lucy Pinder.

He'll get a good chance to test and improve his end product, for sure.

No, why? We've used up our two PL loans once Maxwel signs.

Still hoping for Banza

Rehashed revisionism to get clicks

They've already low-balled us. I don't think we'd be more likely to sell him when our window has closed - if anything we'd be more intent on keeping him as an option? Unless shifting his wages are an issue.

When does that change? When do we finally recognise the genuine credibility of these Arabian clubs?

Al-Ahli spunking money around, offering £40m for Ivan Toney now, after also agreeing over £65m for Osimhen... Soon the clubs in Saudi will have genuinely quality squads, rather than just a few icons here and there.

Agreed. He has a touch of class about him, and THB would thrive next to him I think.

Nottingham Forest in for JWP.

Victor Osimhen off to Saudi Arabia instead of Chelsea

I think people forget we're a newly promoted PL club. Cast offs or promising youngsters are where we're at... Welcome Maxwell

He loves it down here on the south coast, does old Ryan.

The way he wears almost non-existent chin pads and leaves his chins exposed whilst languidly gliding with the ball attached to his feet reminds me distinctly of another player.

I mean, he's not what we need but I wouldn't mind upgrading Smallbone if we have the cash to splash.

We have this young lad called Armel...

Least we get an extra chance this year to sit in the world-renowned dugouts of Goodison.

If his head is in the game and he's all in, he's our best central defender I think.

Superb. Link up play was excellent. Always in space and kept the ball well, but even more pleasing was his cutting edge in the final third. In the right place at the right time and he just makes things happen.

If ABK's head is in the right place, he's our best central defender. Edwards had a really tricky night, poor lad. So did Lesley, at times. Archer was sharp when needed, really promising. Dibling was everywhere, real desire and tenacity... he must be knackered. Lovely through ball to Archer at the end. A mad game, absolutely mad. A silly own goal and a wonder goal make the scoreline seem a bit nicer for Cardiff, really.