I agree we aren't there yet but I'd hate us to wait till deadline day to save a few quid. Ideally I'd like our main target positions filled by 3rd August. We've strengthened very well in midfield but are desperate for some quality in defence. If that means we spend 50m on 1 quality centre back and a goalkeeper then I'm happy with that. We can always save a bit of money and save our loans until later on when someone may become available but we simply must hit the ground running this season like we did last. It's even more crucial the fact that AFCON is going to decimate us for 4-7 games.
How do you brace for a bid? Do they all just stand around the computers waiting for the email offer and go ‘Remain calm lads!!!”
I can categorically say if we lose those first 3 I will certainly be in panic mode. Not the blind negativity panic I'll always support the lads but I'll be shatting myself about what will lie ahead for us.
Don’t believe the El Khannouss personally. Just don’t see how he fits in our system, especially if we are moving more towards a transition game
Aye I agree with that date. For one at least. Don’t think we have to go to 50million mind. If I need to sell my car I’ll give you a shout
The situation with Gibbs-White and Forest is an interesting one - that he has a release clause but its contracted that it must be kept confidential. So it only gets triggered if a club happen to offer that much (or more). Makes you wonder how many other players have confidential release clauses that never get triggered because clubs and agents don't know they exist. Can't be that many as surely agents would leak the **** out of them
Would work in the RCM role imo, interesting that we have other 'wide attacking' options though, we must view him as a winger?
yeh understandably and maybe not the best way of expressing my point. What I meant to say is we could very feasibly lose the first 3 and still stay up. And likewise we could win the first 3 and go down.
Doesn't seem necessary to me. I'd maybe look for a loan if we want another midfielder seems daft to spend another 25m on a luxury I don't think we need. If we only signed 2 more players for a fee this summer I would be relatively content providing it was a centre half and a keeper. Any more midfield reinforcements can come through a loan or a free. Also think we can wait and see what becomes available at centre forward closer to deadline day as for now I'm relatively ok with Mayenda, Isidor and Abdullahi.
Just on how much we've spent vs can spend. So far our net spend is roughly £60m (if you include Ekwah). Ipswich's last year was about £110m, and I see no news stories about them being ****ed financially and being desperate to sell. Quite the opposite they seem to be keeping all their players. By that incredibly over-simplified reckoning we still have at least £50m we can spend.
I'm not so convinced if we get the defence right. I genuinely back Isidor and Mayenda to score plenty in the PL. Think they'll both adapt fine. That said, obviously if we can sign a new striker who's epic then it will help...
They’ve just signed a midfielder from Rennes for around £9m (there’s been a few figures said) They're fine.