c1982

I don’t know who Barry is but I think he’s nailed it here…

A lot of talk that the Dumfries deal is moving along too. Get these 4 in and settled with the squad for the US tour - still a lot to do with ins and outs but clearly looks like how well we shift players will determine the quality of incomings. Townsend and Gray represent low risk - I’m much happier with these than another £20m Walcott or Bolasie on £100k a week. Chances are, we’ll sign a ‘better’ winger later in the window and chances are he’ll be from a foreign league and cost a lot more - it may be handy to have a couple of wide options who know the league while he settles in.

If we’re getting rid of those high earners who offer very little then I understand us bringing some different options - as long as we are getting rid then signing better quality. What we desperately lack is pace - this pair have it - Bernard and Iwobi (and Gylfi who I also want gone ASAP) have it in abundance.

If Townsend and Gray are cheap back-up replacements instead of Iwobi and Bernard and we still go and sign a top quality winger then these could be smart signings. Bernard and Iwobi will be on over £200k a week between them - I’d be very surprised if Townsend and Gray would total even half that. Plus the potential fees for Bernard and Iwobi could be used elsewhere. Now let’s be honest Townsend and Gray will provide far more opportunities for 2 strikers in Calvert-Lewin and Richarlison who thrive on crosses than Bernard and Iwobi - may not be glamorous but makes sense if we can shift other players.

Better back-up than Bernard and Iwobi for a Benitez system with 2 wingers. Sell the aforementioned pair and invest in a first choice winger or 2. I’d be more happy with Townsend coming off the bench and actually running at players than some of the shite I’ve seen in recent years.

Free transfer on 2 year deal. Hopefully just a squad player as Benitez will want wingers and we’re not exactly blessed in this department. Aaron Lennon signing mk2 - that actually worked out pretty well to be fair. Nice bit of analysis here:

Lots of talk of this on Twitter. It may need moving to the rumours section… that’ll go down well, I’m sure!

He’d have been banged up a long time ago if it was for that!

A lot of rumours flying round that he’s been arrested - hopefully nonsense.

I genuinely haven’t ever wanted another player to succeed at EFC as much as I want JPG to - what a horrible run he’s had but fingers crossed for some luck at last!

You do realise the 2020-21 season happened though? He was the first choice keeper for Bournemouth for the whole of last season (bar one game). Anyway, I agree with this… Regarding ‘we already have Virginia who can sit on the bench’… we need 3 first team keepers. What if one got injured then his replacement got injured or sent off? Begovic will be good competition in my opinion and a decent mentor for Virginia.

First choice keeper since Ramsdale left. Bournemouth (who famously can’t defend) had one of, if not, the best defensive records in the league last season.

I don’t think it will be hard to replace outgoings, it’ll be the getting rid of them that will be the tricky part!!!

He’s spot on whoever he is.

It seems we need to sell Kean and think this will happen when Icardi leaves PSG - supposedly there’s a clause which is stopping Italian clubs from signing him which expires in the next few days. From what I’ve read it seems Mina may be another one - I don’t necessarily agree but with 2 years left on a £120k a week contract it makes sense to sell at this point. Bernard should get sorted but can see us having to compromise there as no other club is paying his wages - surely?!?! After those 3, there’s the really obvious ones who have been stealing a living for too long! I don’t think Richarlison ‘needs’ to leave just yet from his point of view but I think this will be very similar to the Lukaku situation where he’ll do well for us but always be looking elsewhere.

You’ve clearly not watched a lot of Championship football over the past 12 months as he’s been very good for Bournemouth. I’ve no problem with this signing - I wanted Romero but actually he’s probably more of a risk having sat on the bench for so long.

Just noticed this - Bryan Small is a lovely bloke. He’s a primary age youth coach for Villa - used to come to my school a few years ago to train the kids. I wasn’t aware of the relation.

The big difference is Brands’ signings have generally retained their value or at least have resale value even if they haven’t offered a lot e.g Iwobi, Kean, Bernard whereas Walsh signings have cost us so much more with very little/no resale e.g Tosun, Walcott, Gylfi. Before anyone tries to put Delph in the same bracket as the Walsh signings - £8m (or whatever we paid) is pittance in comparison.

We need another goal scorer, clearly something we’re lacking. Without that fire power we could see another sacking. If he comes back and succeeds, then that would be cracking. But if he stomps and sulks, he’d need a good smacking!

Well Richarlison’s season will start late - DCL won’t join in most of pre-season as he’ll get time off after the Euros so Kean may be our only option for most of pre-season. His place to lose with a new manager to impress. PSG will have to pay big if they want any chance to sign him as we need him currently.

No problems - did it a few weeks ago.

Luis Diaz may be a shout too after his performances in the Copa America - Porto winger. Big risk signing players on the back of a break-out tournament but I’d imagine many of these will have been known by our scouting network.

Fair dos; not seen enough of him to comment.

This is going to sound ridiculous but we need some ‘average’ footballers as long as they’ve got the right physical attributes as squad players. Far too often we lacked pace and energy and didn’t have the players to bring on to add that or players to replace Doucoure’s, Richarlison’s or Calvert-Lewin’s energy. We still obviously need top quality but a few ‘lesser’ players with the right attitude and decent physical attributes wouldn’t go a miss.