HarvSFC

Our old strike force when coming up the leagues was way too good for their respective levels. Lambert, obviously the ultimate capture. Too good for League One, beat Championship clubs to his signature and then turned out he was too good for the Championship and a Premier League/international player. All for £1.5m. Then Lee Barnard, one of the top League One strikers at Southend at the time that we signed him, 25 goals in 56 League One matches for us. Supported by David Connolly, who was far too good a goal scorer for League One, but fell down due to injuries and Mr. Offside, Papa Waigo, completing the striker depth, turning up in each JPT match. Then moving up and bringing in a Japan international, Tadanari Lee, who contributed with a great goal against Derby, winning a dodgy penalty at Watford and assisting Lambert against Leeds in the Kelvin Davis match. Completed by Billy Sharp, who again was one of the top Championship scorers at the time of signing him. Nine league goals in 11 matches in the second half of the season allowed us to see off West Ham and go up in the automatics. Good times, no shortage of goals.

I'm personally happy that we're not ignoring the Championship anymore, like we seemingly were when we were signing Boufal, Hoedt, Lemina, Elyounoussi, Carrillo, etc. given our previous success with Adams, Rodriguez and Clyne and seeing players like Maddison and Eze make the step up. Their manager is Chris Hughton... Whenever I've watched them under him, their primary focus is defending.

He definitely had a good debut, crazy to think that was his first senior appearance. You could see why he was selected ahead of KWP, one of our top and consistent performers from last season. He has the attacking skills and close control that we've missed since Lallana, the final ball does need some work, but can't expect the finished product at just 18. Excited to see what more is to come and if he can play in the 10 position to allow KWP back in.

Because the last manager we got from another club was Nigel Adkins and that was... errr, yeah, I don't know why the club has this bizarre rule when the manager's position is the most important within the club. If we can spend £2.5m on new TV screens.

Yessssss! Ings who? This guy will never make the step up. Needs 4 chances to score one.

Any chance of a booking? Everton get that chance because Stephens was clattered just before.

Leicester are going into the season with Amartey at centre-back. Once Evans and Fofana come back, he'll be fourth choice there, behind Soyuncu too. He's just a depth option for them.

As I said a couple of weeks back, he’s had three good months here in three years. This time last year he was behind Stephens in the pecking order, up until we lost 5-2 against Tottenham. I don’t think he’s particularly good in the air, given his height and I think he should be more of a threat in that sense when attacking, especially when JWP aimed for him most times. He’s slow and an accident waiting to happen, and as already mentioned, the goals conceded tally doesn’t lie, he’s been a consistent part of a weak defence. His one attribute that we will miss is the diagonal balls to the full-backs, especially now that we seemingly have two options, instead of always trying to play through to KWP. He might now look better in a more positive and better team in Leicester, but in our team he just isn’t all that. I’ve found neutrals seem to be treating this like another Van Dijk departure.

Can we unearth another Van Dijk, Alderweireld, even Lovren was clearly a level above us when he played for us, please.

A reminder that Shane Long is our number 7...

Shame about the no more additions. I don’t think the two forwards signed this week complete us. That said, there’s usually a deadline loan surprise, be it Walcott, Minamino, KWP and errrr Danso.

Ask this at the fans forum.

I think Areola's reported £150k-a-week wage would have put him out of our budget.

Joe Willock practically kept Newcastle in the league in the second half of last season. He was a short-term loan, successful, built a connection with them and now looks to be heading back there permanently from an Arsenal squad that has a lot less depth than Chelsea's. They've just signed Lukaku and already have Werner also. If Lukaku doesn't work out, they will turn to Haaland next summer, not Broja. See how Abraham's now on his way out, who they only played because of their transfer ban. Hopefully a season of playing at England's highest level will instil some hunger into him if he's successful and he'll go back wanting that at Chelsea, or a permanent departure like Livramento and Sancho from City. Then we'll hopefully be first in line (if he's successful). Edit: KWP another example where there wasn't an option to buy, but the loan meant that he wanted to come here.

So, if we do sign this Broja, do Chelsea officially become our feeder team?

Good call. All three of the clubs relegated from the Premier League last season failed to win on the opening weekend.

Juventus have been taking advantage of the freebies for a few years now, in 2019 they brought in Ramsey, Rabiot and Buffon, year before that it was Emre Can and Dani Alves in 2016. This summer they've brought in 6 players, all for nothing.

No chance is Nketiah worth £20m, he has eight senior goals and three of those were in the Championship. Madness. Sander Berge’s name was mentioned on here previously and he was Sheffield United’s standout player tonight. A clear level above the Championship, but not sure he’s the type of midfielder we’re looking for. Certainly not a Romeu/Wanyama.

If we can sell Ings in the same situation, then we can sell Vestergaard, depending on there being offers. Three good months in three years here. His diagonal balls will be the biggest loss.

Wouldn’t want us to spend the majority (£20m+) of the Ings fee on Armstrong, so if that’s what Norwich are doing, leave it. I also don’t rate Edouard as highly as others do. I could be wrong, but whenever I’ve seen him he’s a bit clumsy, not too quick and overall a bit meh, despite his scoring record. Someone else outside the box?

Feels like an April fools. What the fuck... Villa. Ah well, welcome Adam Armstrong.

Right on cue:

If the reported figures are true and it is a buy-back clause close to £40m, then I do not see too much wrong with it considering the only players we’ve sold for £30m+ are Van Dijk, Shaw. Schneiderlin and Mane. All were a joy to watch here (well, other than Van Dijk’s last three months) and a clear level above. So, if this does work out and the buy back clause does come into effect, we’ve done well.

Poor Brighton, it's difficult to keep up.

Damn, much like Simeu, I know nothing of him, other than him being highly regarded at Chelsea and in various reports they describe him as something special. Could be a right coup.