We’ll take these small wins though. Can’t be picky at the moment. I would say maybe Fener will come in for fatboy but I can’t be wishing that on them, got too many Fener mates.
Ellen from Outside Xtra is a Fulham fan, and that didn't stop me wishing that Eric Dier would take the hint an go to Craven Cottage - feet first if necessary
After a lot of reflection, I think today's game went some way to justifying/explaining the way the window went. For me, the only two major disappointments were not managing to move more deadwood out (although I'm still praying someone in Turkey or Saudi is stupid enough to make a few bids), and our failure to bring in a second top CB. The gulf in quality between Romero/Micky and Dier/Sanchez is vast and imo is the only area that could genuinely ruin our season, in the event of a long-term injury to either of the former. Now onto the Kane replacement debate. And here's where I think the Johnson signing and our line up today answers a few questions. Right now, we are in the worst position possible to look for a Kane replacement. No European football, lowest league finish in ages and a period of transition under a new manager hardly make us an attractive prospect - and that is before we take into account how much a proven striker costs in today's market. The alternative was to look at young prospects like Veliz and Orban, and while the latter has carried on from where he left off last season with a goal:game ratio of nearly 1:1, the big question is: who would he play instead of? If the answer to that question is Richarlison, by all means, I'd be as pissed off as anyone. But if the answer is what we saw today, i.e. Son, there isn't a chance I'd start Orban over Son as the central forward. Sonny might not have the legs/pace to play out wide anymore, but he remains by a distance the best finisher at the club and one of the best in the league, if not Europe. Today was a timely reminder of that. And with the right supporting cast around him in Maddison, Kulu, Johnson, Solomon and Perisic, there is every chance we have a 20+ goal a season striker already in our midst. Converting Son into a CF and bolstering that support cast makes much more sense than risking a lot of money on a youngster. It is exponentially more likely to succeed, and with success, wider markets open up to us and more players are willing to join. I hope his move to CF and Richarlison's to the bench are more or less permanent, as I think it will get the best out of our attackers and is the most likely solution to the Kane problem available to us. As for the rest of our business, I'm just genuinely relived we don't (yet) appear to have signed more dud players. All of Vicario, Maddison, Micky and Solomon have settled quickly and look more than up to the task. And I think Johnson will be just fine - he fits Ange's profile perfectly. Very glad we didn't give in to the usual panic buying and blow the best part of £70m on Gallagher and Kelly. Perhaps that shows that we are learning some lessons. 6/10 for me. 7/10 if we manage to shift at least 2 out permanently before all other windows close.
Hugo's told GFFN why he rejected the proposed move to Nice “I want to clear up the ambiguity surrounding the events of the past hours. Yesterday, an hour before the end of the window, I received a call from an agent, who evoked the possibility of joining OGC Nice. Playing prospects and the sporting project, the real motors behind a player’s decision, much more so than financial conditions, weren’t clearly broached. My professional journey has shown that exchange, sharing and collective growth have always forged my decisions, even more so when it’s about coming back to the club that trained me. The supporters and the team deserve better than a split-second decision based on a phone call without expectations or a clear sporting project with one hour until the closure of the window at a time where I wasn’t expecting it,” “To be honest, I couldn’t sign without this common shared vision, at least with the president and the coach. OGC Nice is, and will remain a different club for me. It is my city, my club, my blood. A goalkeeper (Bulka) is in place today. He is without a doubt one of the best at the start of the season. He has a promising career ahead of him. Joining a club to play, to build, to perform, yes; signing without a sporting vision and a direct positive impact on the team, no.”
Sergio Ramos is rejoining Sevilla after many years away. That’s now almost certainly my dream of ever seeing him in a Spurs shirt finished. A truly sad day.
Him in his prime alongside Cuti would have been interesting! I imagine the understudys would have got plenty of game time
Not sure if you ever saw him at PSG but he's totally finished as a top player. Would've been a great character and leader to have around the place but I'd go so far as to say that Sanchez and Dier are better than him at this age. A bold statement, I know.
Talks advancing for Ndombele and Sanchez to Gala according to Romano. However Lo Celso not in discussions unfortunately, likely to stay. I’ll take the two wins for now though. Be fantastic getting both of those out.
It would be nice to think than getting rid of those two will give Ange more power to get who he wants in the Jan window but by that time levy will have built a GoApe course in the stadium and spunked the money
Romano says Ndombele will just be a loan deal to Gala, buy clause included but we all know how that’ll end Sanchez a permanent one though
Michael Bridge says Phillips has impressed Ange and will be a permanent member of the first team squad now with Sanchez’s inevitable exit.
Sanchez cones across as a decent bloke, and he has his teammates back if anyone tries anything - even if he's on the bench at the time Ndombele is Stephane Dalmat, but without the common courtesy of twatting Jamie O'Hara in training
