c1982

1 hour ago, Tonsta said:

Have we opened a donkey sanctuary for man u dross.

Garner is one of our best players in my opinion. Neville, Howard, Gibson, Cleverly - all good players. Go as far back as Blomqvist and Jon O’Kane and you may have a point but I’m struggling here.

17 minutes ago, Matt said:

Capped isn't removed, it's still wasted money

Agent fees are there with players we currently have - new contract = agent fees. It’s part of the game whichever way you look at it.

1 hour ago, Romey 1878 said:

He's not a good footballer, he's not good at anything! 

Well you’re clearly not aware of his chopstick recycling enterprise because he’s really good at that!

29 minutes ago, Matt said:

We'd be daft to let him go in our current financial state. 

I disagree - I don’t know if any prices are being banded about but say if a £15-20m bid came in, that’d pretty much all be profit so would give us some real wiggle room to get ‘specialist’ players in. I like Gray but he’s not going to play as a winger in a Dyche team and he’s an okay striker or 2nd striker in my opinion.

In my opinion, he’s better than Onana. Onana may have more potential but I wouldn’t be adverse to someone like him replacing Onana a the right price of course. And before anyone says ‘same mistakes as in the past only buying Prem outcasts’, I think we need some proven Prem but also need to be picking up a couple of unknown low cost potentially top class players.

3 hours ago, RuffRob said:

Has Issac Price moved on or not yet?

I feel keeping hold of Davies for a season or two to long holds back other potential youngsters - who are not going to be first team regulars but could come of the bench or fill in during a injury crisis.

 

The youngsters being stuck here on the bench rather than being out on loan playing every week surely holds them back more. Look at Simms as a prime example - playing every week and scoring goals at Sunderland then back here for the odd cameo. Get players a proper loan like Branthwaite and Cannon (and Simms) then make that decision pre-season - will they get significant minutes here or do they need to play every week elsewhere? So, in my opinion, Davies being a bit part player is better than having someone like Warrington getting 5 minutes here and there - if we rate the youngsters but don’t think there’ll be enough opportunities then get them on a proper loan!

He’s left Lyon on a free and it seems a no-brainer for us but it’s not usually that simple!

Did his ACL last night anyway - will be out for a long time if as bad as it looked. Definitely signing for us then!

Not for me. Didn’t Dyche bring him to Burnley though? Hopefully it’s just an easy link to make and nothing more.

4 hours ago, Romey 1878 said:

You must be downhearted that it's a load of bollocks then.

Maybe - he’d 100% want a Premier League return - whether we could convince him over teams like Villa and West Ham, maybe even Spurs should Kane leave, is another question.

He’d be my first choice to ‘replace’ DCL at the right price.

Class but we’ll be back to “There’s only one Ab Doucoure,” come August!

We’ll be replacing him with Paul Heaton (not the one from The Beautiful South) - I’d put my house on it!!!

Just had a look to see if we’re linked and he’s called Tom not Paul - my bad!!!

Keane and Tarkowski didn’t really play together at Burnley - Tarkowski replaced Keane when we signed him. Mee was the common partner for both. Keane and Mee were the main partnership for the short time when all 3 were there which then became Tarkowski and Mee.

2 hours ago, Matt said:

How is saying "its not worked out" harsh? That's quite literally what has happened.

Just the way you worded it. With the wage, followed by scored a couple then the BUT.

1 hour ago, Matt said:

He's been sitting on a significant wage hasn't he? Scored a couple of crackers but it hasn't worked out. Good luck to him.

Bit harsh - he did a good job when fit but he’s been injured all this season - not in/out niggly injuries, a huge potentially career ending injury. I wouldn’t keep him but pre-injury, he was more than useful in this useless squad.

My thoughts on Coady are - well I wouldn’t want Holgate, Keane AND Coady. Sell Holgate and Keane and then sign Coady would be shrewd(ish) business to me but having all 3 would be a bit silly!!!

Even better - sell Holgate and Keane and Coady can go to Sheff.Utd while we sign a pacy centre-back better than what we have currently.

On 30/05/2023 at 20:23, Romey 1878 said:

It gives me great pleasure to move this thread to General.

He’s not officially gone… so until June 30th he’s still our best centre-back!

9 hours ago, Cornish Steve said:

Your two positions are incompatible: either we sell Pickford and Onana or we buy just two or three players on the cheap. What’s more important when we face such a decision? To me, the team is more important than individuals. 

I disagree - sell Onana if the price is right and sell/remove less effective high earners - that’ll create plenty to invest wisely on younger/ fit for purpose players. Add in potential investment and the guaranteed sale of Moise Kean. Pickford should be the last player we sell while he’s happy and committed.

I’ve been critical of Pickford in the past but the last 2 seasons he’s been incredible. I look at Leicester and just feel that their GK situation was the main factor of their relegation. How many points has Pickford been worth to us this season? We need to keep him at all costs in my opinion.

For what it’s worth, I think we need loads!!!

Cover at both full-back positions

Another centre-back in addition to Branthwaite and Coady (I’d sell Holgate and Keane)

Gueye’s replacement to be eased in over the season

Another ‘fit for purpose’ central midfielder in the mould of Garner

2 wingers with high work rate and a bit of quality

At least 2 attackers who can put the ball in the goal

As many as 10 in my opinion - maybe there are players in the academy ready to take some of those spots but I think we need a proper overhaul now and actually with the wages out already and hopefully a couple more sales, we’ll be able to be very active.

Makes sense to keep him with Mina going and potentially Keane and hopefully Holgate. Branthwaite needs to be integrated - Tarkowski will once again be first choice (not missed a minute all season) and Godfrey will get his fair share. Coady is a leader - we lack these already and with Mina leaving we’d be losing one of our biggest characters - £5m isn’t a lot even in our position and he’s steady and reliable and usually fit.

10 hours ago, Hafnia said:

Looks like we could get gyokeres now. Coventry lost. 

I’ve lots of talk that Wolves lead the race for him but I’ve also seen that Wolves need to sell a few to keep on the right side of FFP.

2 hours ago, Cornish Steve said:

Just arrived home after a 900-mile drive and read your message that Coventry lost. That meant Lutron won, so I rushed to read the news about it - only to read my distant cousin collapsed on the field after eight minutes. Thank goodness he was well enough in a hospital bed to celebrate their win. 

Lockyer obviously- he’s been brilliant for them this season. Pretty sure he made Championship team of the season too.

Fingers crossed on a healthy recovery - the videos of him after the game in hospital with his family looked encouraging.

18 minutes ago, Romey 1878 said:

No more crying for this fella to start please.

Contributed fuck all today and I'll be happy just to get our money back on him whatever league we're in.

Get him some pom poms so he can stand with Coady on the touchline because cheerleading is more his forte.

There’s been flashes of a top player but we’ve not seen them recently - very poor today. Thankfully, I think the highlight reel will bring us a healthy profit in the summer.