Baird of the land

GK: We look stronger Def: Likely Weaker first choice. Bertrand a downgrade on shaw, gardos/aderweirald got quite some level to get up to chambers/Lovren performances of last season. Mid: About same. Lost Lallana our best player last year, replaced with so far very promising Tadic. Lost Talented Gaston, replaced with Gaston Mk2(here's hoping Mane is more consistent) Att: About Same: Lost osvaldo and Lambert, brought in Long and Pelle. Taking account of Jrod still being out for months means we are weaker.

Reserving judgment at the moment. Lots of good players out but we have brought players in, so we'll see how they perform. Happy that my favourite player cork looks to be staying with us at the moment.

Time will tell. On a paper a very promising signing but then so was gaston at the time we signed him. Interesting to see how the 2 players do this season for respective teams.

Good luck. Was very good in champ for us, so hoping he repeats the trick for them and gets permanent move.

Well finally done. Was really disappointed to see us let chambers go so cheap and so early, so he's got a very high bar to reach in terms of standard. Wonder where he's going to be playing as having him on bench rather than Stephens would be rather strange.

Honestly hull fans must be gloating fleecing us for average long then picking up talented if temple rental gaston on loan. May not work out for them but on paper seems dandy.

Disappointing. Hoped to see him thrive without lallana in his way. Must be a victim freeing up wage space for someone incoming who suits koeman's style more. Big call.

Club certainly aren't pulling any punches with that statement. Wonder if tearing up deal has cost us anything. Glad to be shot of him, especially if it increases the chances for cork playing, staying and getting the new contract he has earned through consistent top notch performances.

Hopefully Palace's purchase of Mcarthur ends any possibility of Cork going there. Really want him to be offered a new contract pronto. Think he's worthy of a good one too given how consistently good he has been for us and his relative youth.

Always thought Yoshida was solid. However still think him and Fonte is a somewhat weaker pairing than last season when we Lovren & Fonte/Yoshida. Hoping Gardos turns out to be a star.

Really hope we keep hold of both. Would be pretty terrible to lose them IMO.

Excellent result and performance. Good to see Morgan still putting in such classy performances. Important to get that first league win and at a tough place to go was a bonus.

Glad to be rid of him if as it sounds he expected to walk into team.

Yeah have to say i'm not that bothered by departure. Seemed more in the way of the likes of Reed in the pecking order and given how highly i rate Cork i'm glad he hasn't turned out to be his replacement. Still think its a bit of a mess up by the club and doesn't make them look good. Another Forren.

Playing stronger teams in the cup is nice but if hoping to fluke our way to a cup final is their ambitious plan for European ambition that's rather laughable IMO.

Because we were on the fringes of Europa league places and yes I thought with ambition we could aim for Europa league place, which is what the board claim is their ambition. Dropping down to 12 would be a massive backwards step. It could be a temporary one or a permanent one who knows but it still is one.

12th would be a massive step backwards IMO.

Seems a bit shambolic. As others have said given the strength in midfield it was a rather strange loan in the first place.

Shaw stuff seems BS to me. He may not have the most healthy diet at 18 but he never showed a lack of stamina or fitness for us. Wouldn't be surprised if Van Gaal's special training regime caused hamstring injury.

Always seemed a bizarre rumour anyhow as it isn't a position we need someone in.

Well the Forest and Reading fans i know suggest he's not developed from where he was at league one. Clumsy but with a knack for getting goals.

Right now of those we've been linked with i'd happily accept getting Redmond and not lose anyone from the squad other than Jos.

I have long been in favour of a squad salary cap across Europe to address the financial distortion that has occurred.

Agree with all you said, but equally think England won't do anything unless something is done to force min no British players in a starting xi in prem.

I have no issue with colback/Delph inclusions, though I do think cork is better than both. England needed a proper defensive midfielder at wc, especially if they are going to carry on trying to play 4-2-3-1 or some such variant.