BigFish

It would seem that Sainz is less part of the project than the money we would receive if he left. I, like most fans, would to prefer to continue to enjoy watching him in a yellow shirt for the rest of the season but I don't know anyone who expects him to kick off here next August. I expect the club, Sainz, his agent, the players, and the agents of clubs who might fancy him are all working on that assumption. It is only a question of price and timing. @Parma Ham's gone mouldy;s point above is interesting. What does happen if the team goes on a run and we end up in the EPL. Does the Buendia factor still apply, or because everyone knows what the plan is the sale may not be quite so traumatic. Finally does American money move the dial. Genuine questions because I don't have a clue and as such likely to change my mind on a whim.

Istanbul is a lovely place, offers much more for a rich young man.

It would be more accurate to title this Ipswich Town buy car park..........not so exciting it?

You really should check your facts before assuming the worst. I only revisited this thread because @Ward 3 tagged me with a reaction. As for Pups your suggestion is a touch asymmetric so I will decline.

Good point, and if he is half the player Sutton was we have a bargain.

Ah, the joys of bookmarking. But as it happens James Maddsion hasn't made the breakthrough to the "very top" either with England or in club football. Great player, but the gulf is large.

Apologies if if don't take what you saw in person on face value when it doesn't match the stats (fwiw in won 2 out of his 5 aerial duels, and only lost his only ground duel). I am always struck by fans who judge by what they want to see, which on this board tends to be 442, big man up top, 2 speedy chalk on the boots wide men, a CDM destroyer etc etc and anything else falls short. Plenty were willing to give Crnac pelters while he was doing a decent job on the right in a 433, now we are not supposed to judge because he has 3 goals and an assist in the past four days. He is obviously a very diligent, hard working and technically capable striker. This was pretty obvious from the get go.

Will be intersting when Cordoba is back, more so when Sargeant returns as well. Fisher is already better defensively than Stacey, so if we are serious about reducing the GA to plays. I suppose Crnac goes out right for now as well and his off the ball work further tightens things.

Appreciate that is your perception Ron, but the stats don't actually support it. Henandez surprisingly was successful in every pass but lost every duel. Still I am an amateur, we will find out what JHT thinks in time.

Don't really think that actually stacks up, Forson was better today.

Lovely man.......just not good enough for the first 11 at this level.

Forson won 5 out of his 6 duels, and got an assist. Slimane didn't win a single duel......

Oh, please. Every time we get a above decent player fans lose their **** about them being sold Every time we don't have one fans lose their **** about not having one. That said, there is a lot of sense amongst the nonsense on this thread re rebuilding. Every summer we put together the best collection of staff to win football matches. A number leave and a number come in. That said though, it takes a number of windows if you want to create a style/philosophy/project that is sustainable for the EPL, or at least have a chance. JHT is one window in, I suspect he needs 3 or 4. We might hit the play-offs, but we are clearly a long way from EPL ready. And before anyone demands signings this window, check the PSR figures. I suspect we need to sell before we buy.

This is a good point, and the kind of chain reaction that would make any transfer possible. Apparently he has a 58 million Euro release clause.

Agree, while we are in the EFL PSR is a far bigger constraint. As we got him for nothing there is no amortisation involved (I think!) so it is pure profit if we sell but if we give him a big contract that comes straight out of our allowable expenditure envelope. MA is on record as saying money isn't an issue.