cornish sam

Yes 3 in 2 years I think they said... Edit: just checked, it's actually 6 in 2 years, I should know better than to quote commentators stats....

Also, is that not the coach(es?) That he was training with when he left Luton and didn't have a club?

It's fine, it was Soto's move to Porto...

I just can't believe that our FA rate that twerp as being fit to referee a European championship qualifier, let alone a quarter final (if not later)

The problem with transfermatkt is that it's largely using a statistics based model to predict the fee, the sample set to quantify skipps value is fairly small, his value has barely changed over the last two years. It doesn't take into account the perspective of either the buying or selling club. For example, Emi was rated at €22m until he was sold, so by that reckoning the Webber tax is over 50%...

I know, Bell haven't made computers for years (though somebody did buy the name and try to relaunch them a couple of years ago much like Gateway)...

Agree about the training top, though do find it slightly odd that they seem to be trying to justify going with joma with a 'look they're a proper sport brand' message.

Could be structured similarly to the Marcus Edwards one. We know there's a player in there, but we aren't in a position to draw it out of him in a timely fashion. Send him to Portugal on the cheap with a massive sell on clause (it was 50% for Edwards) and reap the benefits if he comes good, no loss if he doesn't...

I suspect he already has, 3rd choice prem keeper is essentially an honourary role anyway...

Are we really likely to be paying up the remainder of their contracts if we sell them? I can see us paying a bit if they are going to a lower salary, but certainly not the full value (or even 80% as suggested). If Mutual Termination then yes, I agree

Playing hypotheticals here: The suggestion before Emi was sold was the kitty was at least15m after Gibson & Dimi. Allowing for wages & fees that has now been spent on Raschica. That leaves us with the Emi money + any extra, I'll assume that Gunn's wages will be covered by outgoing players wages and it's only 2.5 up front so we are left with c.30m from Emi sale. The CB rumours are generally pitching us as in for players around the 10m mark, that would leave us with about 20m + wages (which could be covered by departures of people like Drmic and Steipi). I would not expect us to spend all of that on the striker, but if we could find a bargain (less than 10m) for the CM role then we have 10m+ for the replacement striker. Blackburn aren't going to get 20m for Armstrong, his price will come down as we get to the end of the window as he only has 1 year left on his contract and without them improving their squad significantly in the meantime I can't see any reason for him to sign an extension, at the moment he looks to have outgrown them. The striker backup/long term replacement is not a priority, I grant you, but I can certainly see an arguement to spend reasonably big on it, but only if the right option becomes avaialble.

Just on the spending a wedge on backup to Pukki, we are getting too hung up on the cost of a 'backup' we should be signing a backup for the start of next season, but a player who wil be the first choice in 12-18 months or we will be spending even bigger then. Much as I love Pukki, he is at or past his peak, we need to spend big now to get his replacement in the door to allow for a smooth transition. Yes he may not be starting every game at first, but he should be able to put pressure on Pukki and ultimately replace him, which is why I wouldn't be against us spending big on a backup in this instance (which is why I think the Adam Armstrong link makes an awful lot of sense, even at £15m. Last sesason his stats were pretty similar to Pukki so would offer a good option now, but his best years should be in front of him to take up where Pukki leaves off).

But Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands even though the parliament isn't based there. It is even referred to as the capital city in their constitution

No, because then we would win the league being unbeaten (or draw a helluva lot of games 0-0)

I think that it's a bit one eyed of us to say this, career wise he would be going to play in front of 60000 each week in a pressure cooker environment, it's perfect preparation for playing week in week out for Chelsea. In a way the quality of opponent is far less important, if Chelsea have faith in his ability it's his mentality that needs to be proven and hardened

Even worse, he was sent to Stoke!

So you would rather that a keeper who has both hands on the ball and has it under total control blindly flings it into the penalty area or out for a corner on the off chance that a referee doesn't award a blatant foul? My priorities for a goalkeeper are obviously somewhat different to yours....

Did he not go to Ajax then to try and rebuild after a serious knee injury? He never really managed to force his way into a team well enough to prove he he'd refound his ability until we took the chance in him.

The baggies were singing "why don't you come over valeri(en)"

Then they just reprinted the stories with lord Lucan instead!

Villa would miss mcginn far more than they would graelish.

Does Gunn count as club developed as well? (Is that even a thing in pl/champs?)

But he doesn't, as lots of people have already said, we don't necessarily need a direct EMI replacement, the squad is evolving as will our style of play

Apparently he had a €15m release clause thanks to the relegation, but we seem to have paid less than that somehow...