SaintLondon

Spertsyan was never realistically coming here. I think the Azaz links have been pushed to the local rags because all the other targets are falling through. It’s not looking good right now, and I’m not convinced it’ll end well. Will Still said in an interview recently that the aim is to try for promotion this season, but if not, then next season. Under Martin there was none of that kind of hedging - he and the new signings were all clear that the only goal was going up this year. It makes me wonder if this time around it’s being treated more as a longer-term project: “let’s get there when we’re ready, even if it takes two seasons.” Maybe that means we’ll be in a stronger position once we do arrive, but right now it doesn’t feel like a club throwing everything at going up immediately. Instead, it feels more like they’re trying to stabilise things for a bigger push later on. Which as a fanbase, isn't all that exciting but perhaps I'm giving too much kudos to SR and they're just shite at their jobs.

It's not going well is it?

Yeah, he's not coming. Brentford, Bournemouth or a Leeds will get pick him up next week. Over it.

A pen and a drawing board?

I imagine for the recruitment team - who seemed to be doing a solid job of keeping this deal moving quietly up until a few weeks ago - it must feel like a real kick in the teeth to see things stall once the media spotlight turned on. That said, it looks like we always knew the money needed to get it done, and sitting on it for too long was always going to risk another club stepping in more decisively. Alternatively, as someone suggested above, maybe we’ve just been used by the agent to flush out interest from bigger European clubs. Either way, it’s clear we really want(ed) him, and it’ll be hugely frustrating for everyone if it doesn’t come off now. I’ll admit I knew nothing about him until recently, so I’m not going to pretend I’m heartbroken - but from what I’ve read, he sounds exactly the type of player we need.

ANY NEWS?

I wonder whether we should still be in the market for Armenian flags

I think someone on here or Twitter said that because Krasondar aren't state owned / don't hav any affiliation with the state it is ok. Then again Abramovich whilst having links to Putin wasn't a state owner and he had to sell up so who knows!

tbf to Downs, I think he was pushed in the back.. Who cares? Forgotten what this winning feeling is like..

Don't want to be overly cynical but no transfer rumours for weeks and then a few hours before the fans forum - oh would you look at that, a decent transfer rumour.

I think Dibling’s departure always felt inevitable, and if the deal is around £40 million, that’s solid business. He’s clearly talented, but hasn’t shown the consistency to warrant the £50m+ valuation that was being thrown around. It feels like this week could see a number of dominoes start to fall - hopefully in both directions — and with that, some quality arriving too. Also, maybe it’s just me (I haven’t seen anyone else say it), but was there a hint of frustration in Will Still’s recent comments about still knowing where they need to improve? Or am I just letting my pre-season pessimism creep in where it shouldn't…