[NOT HAPPENING] Allan Saint-Maximin

Agree with that. The most important thing is to keep what we have and add to it where possible. Dawson is a very good signing as he knows the league. I think we'll keep all our first teamers.

If you sell your best players and replace them with overseas players, you run the risk of getting relegated like Stoke, Villa and very nearly Southampton. Newcastle will be heading that way after spending it all on unproven Joelinton who has to hit the ground running or else.

 

I don’t think anyone on here is particularly panicking. It’s frustration more than anything as I think most fans on here, if not all, think the squad we currently have has enough about it to stay up at least and likely finish mid-table.

The Spurs thing is an anomaly as they have strength in depth running through their squad. We don’t.

As for me personally, I don’t like the formation we play. I think it involves playing Hughes out of position and asking Pereyra to do things he’s not great at and that takes away from his game and ability to show his class more often. The interest in Sarr (or wingers in general), tells me we are either looking to sign another player to play out of their best position, or we are looking to adapt formations. If that’s the case, we’d be looking at playing with more ‘out and out’ wide players and that leads me to your question - what other players are we desperate for? I don’t know. The signing of Sarr doesn’t fit in to the system that Gracia has rigidly stuck to. I don’t know what the plan is.

If it’s to be adaptable between 4-2-2-2 and 4-2-3-1...I’d say we need two wingers (one if Lukebakio stays) and a No.10 to make that possible.

I also think it may be a case of not so much that we have to sell before we can buy. But more that we need a players off the wage bill and that requires someone to want them. The fact that Zeegelaar, Okaka, Prodl and to a lesser extent Success, Penaranda are still at the club with no firm interest is probably a factor.

 

Im looking at this as a sign that we have agreed a fee with Ismaila Sarr.

Hopeful, yes. Yes I am.

 

Having Penaranda will be like a new signing this season.

 

Cucho and Pedro won't be joining this season, or if Pedro does come in Jan he can't be expected to make a big impact straight away. Cucho also isn't ready anyway.

Penaranda clearly isn't all that based on how little we've seen him.

Even if Chalobah stays fit it will hardly be like much of a new signing anyway given that he'll spend most his time on the bench.

 

I think that's quite a big factor because you've got at least 3 players, maybe 4, who will play no part this season but I'm sure are being handsomely paid. We need to create room in the squad as well as financially I suspect. As for the formation, hopefully we will have other options other than 4-2-2-2 which might allow players like Hughes to be more creative. When he drifts in to the middle he looks a much better player but suspect Javi plays him there as he works very hard and our right backs sometimes switch off!!

 

I think the absurd inflation in the transfer market has made it very difficult for us. We are in a billionaires playground without billionaire backing. It may be that we have just reached the ceiling under Pozzo and what Udinese produce season in season out these days is the long term future. Just staying in the premier league each season is in reality quite an achievement given the backing many of our rivals have.

 

I would add to that - I don’t know what the ins and outs of the Pozzo finances are or the governance between what we and Udinese have being a shared pot of money. But Udinese have actually spent quite a bit last summer and so far in this window. If finances are somehow linked and that’s allowed, then it could be what we have made financially is currently being used to push them up Serie A a bit higher and away from danger, whilst we are deemed to be relatively safe,

 

In a way it's annoying seeing these players go to potential rivals, but it's also interesting to see how they'll do and if we dodged a bullet.

Been a few over the past couple of seasons who someone else got who didn't really come to anything.

Gabbiadini and Lerma to name a couple. Not seen many we've missed out on that I've been disappointed about after seeing them in this league .

 

Nicolás Pepe and Ozan Kabak are two that stick out for me that I’m sad we missed out on. Although they didn’t come to the PL - not yet at least.

 

I liked the look of Kabak as well. Linked with him every window for 2 years weren't we?!

 

Newcastle definitely interest as Steve Bruce has confirmed they have had two bids rejected on SSN and says their interest continues.

His social media activity suggests the player is keen on it happening too.

 

https://mobile.twitter.com/GFFN/status/1156603257525035008

Supposedly we’re back in for him. Smoke screen for Sarr and Pavon.

 

Wingers are the new RB’s.

 

Sarr, Pavon or Maximiles?

Nope.

 

Good point but I'm not certain there is an inverse relationship between spend & league position.

 

Nurse!

 

Well it's good to know we're not putting all sarr eggs in one basket.

 

€18m + add ons agreed according to many on social media.....


















...with Newcastle. Not us. Don’t be silly.

 

And then there was one.........

 

Yes - given Newcastle were solid in defence last year they appear to be assembling a pretty strong attacking line up as well.

Can normally count on them to struggle but doubt it this year

 

Bung Steve Bruce in there though...

 

Watford’s hand weakening by the hour.

Use Pavon and ASM as smokescreens to draw Rennes out over Sarr. Pavon goes to Bordeaux, ASM goes to Newcastle, the smoke clears and Gino’s £2m bid made in June becomes clear...

 

Zaha to Italy, Sarr to CP.
"We have great confidence in Hughes and Sema"......etc etc

 

Add Bachmann and the club would be fair in telling us we ain’t seen nothin’ yet.

 

Sorry, I don't get it ?

 

I would like to think that the fact the ASM to Newcastle is moving ahead will mean that we are no longer interested.

Our lack of interest can only point to the fact that the Sarr deal is done!

We don't announce anything until every last detail is signed and sealed.

 

Or that they were both deemed too expensive.....

 

Don't think so - maximin was probably the cheaper alternative. Time will tell i suppose.

 

Considering reports are saying Newcastle have signed him for only £16mil rising to £20mil, he was definitely the cheaper alternative.

 

Or Mike ******* Ashley splashes the cash more than our owner. ****.

 

He's also the one reputed to have the over-inflated opinion of his abilities

 

Gon 2 New Castle.

#ponzosout
#wheresthechequebookGino
#bringbackBaz

 

That shortlist with Saint-Maximin, Trezeguet and Sarr is getting smaller by the day!

Sarr to Palace and our job here is done.

 

I'm disgusted that a player I'd never heard of and never seen play isn't coming to us.

So lacking in ambition as a club.