c1982

Always missing the target... it’s the reason that Koeman didn’t want him anywhere near Finch Farm!

Ability wise, of course, but the fact that he’s on £400k a week or whatever kills even the 0.0001% we’d have of signing him. It’s beyond even a pipe dream!

Here’s hoping

Think back to the start of last season - Digne didn’t play the first few games and Baines was used to gradually bed him in. I think Gueye will be replaced with someone with the same skill set and that player will be playing regularly after the first international break. By that time Delph will have played a few and we may have picked up an injury or two so his versatility (I don’t see him playing LB unless LD and LB are both injured) to either sit or play more advanced will give him plenty of game time.

I think this lad needs his own thread. Last year’s u23 player of the season, been training with the full Welsh squad and figured heavily in pre-season so far - and looks a more than decent player. I don’t know what the plans are for him but he seems to have gone under the radar a little but looks a cracking prospect.

We could have had a deal lined up and ready to sign off. It seemed that we pinned all our hopes on Giroud after Lukaku was sold for that to be poo-pooed by his Mrs - surly we could have found that out earlier. I think Brands is much better at dealing with a multiple of incomings and outgoings. I’ve been impressed with our dealings (in and out) since he joined and am excited about what the next few weeks will bring.

We will 100% sign a replacement should we sell Gueye. Delph will be vital in the transitional period and as a squad member generally. Look at the bigger picture.

Fair point and clubs can quote Leicester whatever they want when they get rid of Maguire. The mistake we made when not replacing Lukaku before selling him.

Palace have been linked to McCarthy, Tosun, Bolasie and Niasse... we’ve been linked to Zaha... we’d only need to find another £100m and there’s a deal in there somewhere!

Notice Lampard says SQUAD... I think this is a deal that could happen if Zouma pushes for it. The only way I can see him doing that is if he’s not given some guarantees over game time. Saying that, if Maguire is going to go for £70m+ and Dunk for a rumoured £45m - it scares me what Chelsea could ask for Zouma based on those fee!!!

Sky saying Palace have now bid £8m. With his injuries and only 12months on the contract £8-£10m is probably a decent fee to be honest.

What I’m saying is we need that mobile striker to vie with Calvert-Lewin but I expect he’ll be young and inexperienced too - it would be incredible to have a player like Mandzukic too. Don’t think it will happen regardless so won’t go round in circles anymore.

I don’t want to sign older players as such but we’re talking about someone who was on the most recent shortlist of 30 for the Ballon D’or e.g the best players in the world! We’re not talking about Defoe or Andy Carrol - this is one of the best strikers in the world! Brands and Silva have alluded to the fact that we’ll target players under 26 but if the right ‘more senior’ players present themselves then we’ll be flexible. I personally don’t see him leaving Juve but if the chance did arise, we’d be foolish to pass it up.

Yep - let’s ignore him being the leading striker in Croatia’s World Cup runners-up team only 12 months ago and the fact that he still played 33 games for Juventus last season and just say he’s a has been because he’s 33. It seems a common theme with you that if a player is past 30, you’ll write them off - very odd!

Gana’s replacement (hypothetically) is likely to be young and new to the league based on who we’ve been linked to - mainly young African/French lads from the French league. This replacement will have to adjust to the league so I expect Delph will certainly start the season as first choice then it’s his place to keep.

If we got rid of Tosun and Niasse then signed Mandzukic and another young striker, it would be a master stroke. The bloke has been a world class striker for the past however many years - on a 1 or 2 year deal his mentality/quality would be priceless. Imagine being Calvert-Lewin and getting to train with this level of player everyday - it’d surely improve his game.

This one is sure to pop up again when Atletico confirm Trippier. Silva has just reiterated that we want another full-back. Whether we’re actually after him - who knows but some paper will put 2 and 2 together!

I’m going to be controversial here... I don’t think it’s a lovely smile. If anything, it makes me shudder!

Maybe the actual goals but the massive holes in our midfield that day were frightening - they could have had a lot more than 6!

Did you see the Davies and Gomes partnership in action vs Spurs in December? I think Delph will have had plenty of options but we’re just the best one.

£8.5m rising to £10m. I see him as a replacement to Besic, McCarthy and maybe Schneiderlin not a replacement to Gueye. If we sell Gueye, I see us buying a younger player in the same mould (as Gueye) - a few players in the French league have been mentioned. I think Davies and Williams will be kept around the 1st team as squad options so having the experience of Delph is a smart move in my opinion.

As referred to, he’ll be a good leader. If we’re building a young squad, we’ll need a few older heads. We moan about not having that character that will get in the ref’s ear - well Delph will do that. Seemed a good character in the dressing room too having watched the Citeh doc. He was excellent at the end of his Villa career and Pep’s no mug - Delph played 89 games over 4 seasons under him (albeit at left back for many).

I’d have Delph over McCarthy (since his injuries), Schneiderlin and Besic but wouldn’t want him unless we sold all 3.