Exiled_Rover

Ribeiro is a much better footballer than Pickering - it's night and day. As for Brittain - I think he was helped massively by our tactics last season. He's always been a middling athlete and quick wingers gave him fits - and he always struggled to get back on the counter.

On Football Manager, many years ago, there was an almost unbeatable formation: 4-1-3-2, except the 3 were CMs (1 DM with 3 CMs sat in front of them). Maybe Scotland should try that.

It does warm my soul to know England are competing for European and World Cup finals and that Scottish team would struggle in the Championship.

I happen to think he's a tidy player - albeit suited to the 3 behind the #9 because he's not big / fast enough to lead the line. That said, they know more than us with regards to his medicals - a recurring back injury at 21 is quite scary. Maybe they just don't think he's worth the risk?

I wouldn't be surprised to see Hyam move on this week. A CB in the last year of his contract at 29 with, I'm sure, no desire to renew it. Prior to this year we'd just let him run that down and move on, but Gestede / Ismael are being quite ruthless in that department this summer and selling those players. I also wouldn't be surprised if they're in the market for another RB now they've had a proper look at Miller and decide to shift him to CB.

He's such a poor athlete. He's clearly quite technically gifted (and yes he plays with no urgency), but good lord he looks like he's running in treacle.

It's looking like Gestede just blurted out something stupid on a podcast because right now it's like for like replacements. One in, one out, with the one in being much cheaper.

Add Pears to that list too. Let's say Brittain was £3m. Travis will be £1.5m (+ whatever add ons). We've been told Buckley is circa £1m. JRC is down as £800k on Transfermarkt. That's £6.3m, with whatever we get for Pears and Leonard on top. Factor in the wage savings of Brittain, Travis, Weimann, Batth, Dolan and you're looking at quite a lot of money to play with (by our standards under these owners).

Yeah that's a disgusting way to treat your players - especially Academy graduates!

What loan spells?

Haven't they sold all of of their best players? Or did that American striker not go in the end?

I'm quite enjoying watching what's happened to Sheffield United.

Can only assume the standard in La Liga is shite then.

I gather JDT had high standards and worked them hard, thinking they could improve as footballers. Eustace, having played at this level, knew that they're by-and-large journeymen cloggers so he focused on camp morale and drilling tactics into them.

I'm a Mancunian myself. I dislike Scousers and their victim complex. Everton are top 5 in terms of teams I hate - they'd be higher, but they're just so irrelevant.

Liverpool for mine, by a large margin.

Ironically I think #5, the lad that should have been sent off when giving away the free kick, was just about playing him on.

Even if you take Transfermarkt at face value, we've only spent £4.8m on transfers this summer. When Travis and Buckley go (and probably Pears too - thank god) we'll be well in the black on transfer fees. You're right though - their reluctance to loan anyone is because that's like renting a house, you're just throwing away money. They want assets they can flip. I think it's pretty clear the wage budget has shrunk significantly and we'll be there or there abouts in washing our face with the transfer fees (unless they go out and buy someone exceptional between now and the window closing!).

They've absolutely slashed the wage budget again. That hard and fast £10k weekly salary ceiling seems to absolutely be a thing.

We've loaned in Baradji - maybe they've realised we need a loan or two to round out the squad?

Respectfully agree to disagree.

Can he take set pieces? We're leaving so many goals on the table by having Cantwell as our primary set piece taker - we're such a big team now. He put in on good ball yesterday and Hyam hit the bar - it doesn't take a rocket scientist to realise a good set piece taker would make us a nightmare to play against.

He wouldn't score 18 goals, but he'd have far more Goals and Assists than Gallagher. He leads the line better than anyone we've had for a while - he holds the ball up and brings others into play. He's a 6'5" CF that wins almost everything in the air and we've never, ever consistently crossed the ball into the box for him. Only Brittain was able to put in good service for him - Hedges and Dolan just hit and hoped on their crosses. As for yesterday - it's very difficult to get back onside once you've made your run. I'd have to look at it again, but Cantwell was showboating at that point - he could have put Hendrikson in for a clear chance in the second half, but wanted another goal - and delayed the pass. Also it was saved by the GK. I'm not saying he's the next Drogba, but the disrespect he gets on here is baffling. We're in the Championship, all of our players have serious flaws, yet Gueye is one of the few that seems to be constantly dragged over the coals for his.

Key word, 'after'.

It'll be £5k+ more a week and his last good contract.