So not a contract. Conversations wont stand for anything when his contract expires.

Clearly not true.

But great for keeping BRFCS message board ticking over. I read Ismael as needing forward(s) plus two or three in other positions. So between 4 and 6 more signings. Anyone told Pasha???? PS no loans yet plus noises coming out of Boro point to them being willing to pay silly money to land Brittain...

Ismael sat down with Tyjon and his parents to sit out his pathway and how he wants to use him this season and long term. That's how we will convince him to stay here long term is being part of the first team

If you're managing his minutes then you need another #10. Cantwell has proven he can't consistently play twice a week. We need an option on the bench / for that midweek game that we can rely on. Tyjon can be in the mix, but if he's not ready to grab the job with both hands we need another.

Man City have put a £35m price on James McAtee.

Man City have put a £35m price on James McAtee.

This being a professional footballer lark isn't such a bad life.

His goals and assists last season would suggest otherwise…and that was in a team set up defensively. I was never his biggest fan till last season but I think he’s a genuine goal threat at Championship level.

Only issue with Prem Loan's on the wing is they have tended to be lightweight and not cut out for mens football (yet), unless we get someone who is stupidly quick they end up getting lost and/or forced to turn back or cut in all the time.

Van Heck took a while to get going - I thought Hill was awful at CB, much better at RB.

I am currently reading Duncan Ferguson's autobiography and got to the chapter where he is on the verge of leaving Dundee United and mentions the clubs who were looking to buy him. He mentions a bid from Rovers with Dalglish at the helm but interestingly writes that Dundee were looking to build a new stand. Ferguson says that Jack Walker got wind of this offered to pay for the new stand to be built in lieu of a transfer fee. No coincidence then that Jack could have supplied the steel work himself and get Ferguson even cheaper. In fairness Ferguson does allude to this himself. He was such a shrewd operator and never missed an opportunity. We were blessed that he was one of us.

I guess a sideways squad filler from another championship/relegated last year team like we had in the lads from Stoke and Birmingham last year - someone who will go from not playing at all because of an imbalanced squad/selection restrictions or who doesn't want to play in league 1 but their team is confident of getting promoted so want's to keep them long term (ie. someone from Luton). They might take being a rotation/cover option here over that. All the good premier league loans we have had have gone in and been first team starters from the get go, the ones who have come in as squad rotation have been generally poor.

Not sure I agree with your point on the CB front - we have signed good prem loans who did not arrive as guaranteed starters - e.g. Van Heck, James Hill etc.

For those interested in golf, there is a YouTube video of jimmy bullard playing with pro golfer Harold Varner 111, and in it Bullard asks Varner about why he supports us. Varner talks about going to a training camp and watching Ryan hedges of all people make a crunching tackle and was taken by that. He also talks about weimanns goal v Burnley. Worth a watch

What calibre of loan are you going to get if they're not guaranteed much playing time? A CB, unless he's the next Ferdinand, isn't going to play. Same for a ST. RW is the only real open spot for a talented loanee.

In the first team.

Ohashi would also be an option in the ten role, but it pushes the shortage to the striker position, although at least Gueye is a senior player and

The way I look at it is - if he’s good enough he’ll get in, if he isn’t he won’t. We can’t be playing somebody who isn’t ready just in case he might sod off to the Premiership at some unknown time in the future.

For the U21s or the first team?

Agreed, I suspect to start with he'll be coming off the bench for Cantwell, playing in behind the striker. He might start the early cup games. Got to see how it goes with him but needless to say, if he's not even getting off the bench regularly at the very least, he'll probably be off to Arsenal at the first opportunity

Not sure where Usyk goes from here - he's beaten all the best competitors - twice and easily, and he would do it again. Itauma is promising but too raw to be put in with him yet. Kabayel is levels below. Wilder is done. Chisora pointless. Parker maybe, but I don't see anything other than an easy night for Usyk that ultimately proves nothing. As much as I enjoy watching him - he's one of the GOATs for me - he should retire with his faculties and legacy intact.

True, just REALLY badly! 🙈🤣

Why aren’t they then ? I remember Johnny Byrom scoring hat tricks in the old First Division at a similar age but the game has moved on a lot since then.

You manage his minutes if he looks like he's struggling. Should be able to play every day at that age.