rubberman

Wilson is very uninspiring, but will be a bit of an upgrade on what we have. These and Cash feel like moving from 17th to 14th rather than pushing for top half. Probably all make sense but it's not really the level of player I was hoping for to take us up the table.

Yes - I've been very calm about it so far and still think/hope it'll be a positive window by the end, but really would be good to get the ball rolling soon.

Of course you don't actually know this. I think we'll end up with 4 or 5 players who significantly improve our team and next season we will finish comfortably mid table. Just as a counterpoint.

Take a breath mate!

Improving the front three will also improve the defence with the right players. Firstly through more attacking threat the opposition won't be able to press so high and just as importantly we need attackers that can hold up the ball and also track back to defend from the front when it is turned over. In an ideal world we'd upgrade defenders, (and maybe we will - who knows), but I think having a defensive unit with a season playing together under their belts is on balance better than trying to build a load of new partnerships in a truncated off-season. More than 4 new starters at this point is a huge risk for me - I'd be OK only seeing the front 3 and a midfielder added in this window. (Well - anyone would be good at this point).

Theory - We're not in for McKennie any more because, after being left out by Southgate, Jack has said he will only stay if he gets to play centrally so we'll be spunking on two wingers and a CF instead. And if we do get an extra body in midfield it'll be a cheaper back up.

Arguments for both I reckon. Though if Jack stays out left, I'd upgrade midfield (with McKennie) before the fullbacks. Ideally 2 wingers and a midfielder so that we have options - - and can see which partnerships work and where Jack is most effective with the new players around him.

I'll be very surprised if we bring in as many as 7. Will be very interesting to see what happens in the bonus EFL 11 days of the window. If the main part remains pretty quiet there might be (and the likes of Brentford are probably hoping for) a mad rush.

repost.

So what you're saying is the 20 PL clubs have done maybe 10 deals between them. Don't think we're getting too left behind really.

Full of Premier league experience from front to back!

What makes you think this is the case? We have 4 weeks to go still and plenty of rumours that we are pushing hard for Watkins at the bare minimum.

Welcome Winston!

You had me until Butland.

Just had a quick forecast. We'll finish on 49 points in 12th, with 13 wins. We will get to 42 by beating Fulham at home on 3rd April. It all looks good up to the end of December, with 25 points and up to the heady heights of 5th, but points are much harder to come by through the second half. So a slightly disappointing end to the season, but all we could really have hoped for at the start. Here's to 21/22 season.

I think part of the reason no-one has moved yet is that valuations haven't adjusted to covid-era. No-one will pay the prices being thrown about currently, but as we get into the pointy end of the window some more realistic deals will start to happen, IMO.

Looks like there are only a couple of times when we would expect to go without points for a few games in a row. We need to start strong and keep regularly picking up wins so we can be on the beach for the run in. I think it's very possible that at some point there will be a further disruption to the season (someone breaking bubble rules, new breakout etc as people get a bit more lax about Covid), so would be good to get into a strong position early.

Reading this page - dearie me... Obviously it would be better to do business early. Obviously it would be better to get bodies in for a full pre-season. Obviously even if this means a small premium it's probably still worth it. Do you really think everyone in the club isn't trying to do this? They aren't not signing anyone just to get this thread to 600 pages. It is not a simple process. Spending £100+ million quid takes a bit more than watching YouTube highlights.

Probably that we are, as per the last few windows, doing our work without leaking it to all and sundry. What makes you think we aren't deep into negotiations? As above. Signings will happen, and will be announced almost as soon as the word gets out. There have barely been any significant transfers apart from the odd free across the whole league.

Sure - easy and obvious. Unless other clubs also think they might be easy and obvious, or they don't want to come to the PL/Birmingham/Villa, or their wage demands are too high, or their agents want too big a fee, or they have an underlying injury, or they are on holiday, or they don't click with Dean, or any one of hundreds more reasons why it is not easy and obvious.

That would be a right bugger. I suppose £10m profit, but still...Guess it was always likely.

Happy new players week everyone! (terms and conditions apply)

Not true. There is a dispensation for elite sportspeople. Because they have specific testing regimes and work within a bubble the rules are relaxed for them. https://www.google.com/amp/s/mobile.reuters.com/article/amp/idUSKBN2370QX

Personally I think it would be a huge risk to get rid of too many. Would be OK with one of AEG, Trez and Samatta going, but trying to integrate complete first choice and back-up forward lines in less than 4 weeks would lead to disaster IMO. It's a short off season - we need to have some consistency in the squad. Don't mind losing the odd third choice (Jota, Lansbury etc) though.

'continues' is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that tweet.