Think Sunderland are after buying young to sell on at nice profit so could see them looking at Buckley

I can't see Brereton being sold if its just the 3 in... Unless Caulker is not being counted in the 3 as he can be signed outside the window?

No it's 1. We have played 5 he has started all 5. It's 1 game missed in 6 games

Yes, Yes it is...

However we are 4th even with the last 2 results... Anyway, we didn't have Hyam then either! But hey I guess only you can jump to conclusions early 🤪

Who are currently 23rd in the league with the most goals conceded so I wouldn't be thinking they are the grail we should be looking at with jealousy

Or "we don't replace players with better players if the one we already have is still on a long term contract that nobody is interested in signing!"

I'm not getting into a debate on whether we are stronger or weaker than last year as truly until I see more than a handful of games I wont judge new signings or how they fair in relation to the previous player. Agree totally on previous management buck stops with Mowbray & Waggott on that and Venkys for not potting him sooner. You can't complain at what a new team is doing when they have been in post mere weeks, they are fire fighting from the previous regime this window. In truth we lost 2 players we would have loved to keep around Van Hecke & Rothwell, one who was on loan so it's not like we could change that, the other went to the Prem, it is what it is! Lenihan & Nyambe who were decent enough but wanted more than they are worth IMO and the rest deadwood that had no part to play if we want to progress. Let's see how the new management team do in January if they are given the chance, that is.

You do not understand the word replaced if you think a player taking another's position is not a replacement. You are complaining that "In Your Opinion" we have reduced the quality in the squad, two completely different things. On that point you can carry on complaining as I will judge when I see them play for "Rovers" more than a handful of times then a discussion can be had

Not really lost 12 though have we? it's really 8, and a push 10 if you count Davenport & Zeefuik who never really got a look in through injury or just not deemed wanted by the previous incumbent. So 6 in while adding 3 or 4 youth players is covering the numbers

Well if Venkys Broughton & Waggot agree with that valuation he wont be going anywhere this window

You might be right and i'd agree JDT would want more experience if Phillips were to be 3rd choice. As 4th/5th choice getting mainly Cup starts and 15-20 mins off the bench every few weeks I think he would be delighted.

Yes but Phil Jones wasn't in Allardyce plans until he was needed as a last resort likewise de Ligt wasn't in Ajax plans until he was needed then he didn't leave the first team picture. They took the chance handed to them putting a marker down and they did it a higher level than we are currently

That might be true but until 2 arrive it could have been 2 in with Phillips on the way out to Spurs, contingency plans would be in place. If he signs a deal here we might only want 1 or we still want 2 and Carter goes out on loan who knows?

He isn't displacing Ayala or Wharton, he will be fighting it out with Carter for the bench, each of them will be getting double figures appearances this season injuries withstanding that's even with another being brought in

Most youth team players get into teams the same way Phil Jones only got in because he was the best of what was available. Sink or Swim, he swam and stayed in the first team...

£1m... that's not multi-million

Did they? was that the same season that the only CB they signed was a kid on loan from Chelsea? must have really wanted Lenihan then huh... or maybe they didn't bid at all? who knows

Heard of them yes but Lenihan & Nyambe are never worth multi-millions...

Who are these mythical assets?

That's your way of looking at it. They could be looking at it he is 17, settled in the area/club and around the first team with coaches who are familiar with him. With no upheaval in his circumstances and getting some championship minutes come the end of the season he is 18 and prepared for the changes that are to come.

On the right terms which for me would be no wage contribution from our end I would happily take him as 5th choice. It's a team game and a highly rated defender on a loan while pocketing a few million in the process is a deal that is too good to pass up if we feel the best thing to do is sell him now instead of waiting for a tribunal to decide a fee.

We would be in the same position as we are right now, either way he leaves at the end of this season. He would be loaned here as spurs wont use him in 1st team but could get him some "proper" game time here but he would still be 4th/5th choice. Works for me

Think the Phillips situation is actually in our hands, Spurs want to get get in ahead of other clubs so will have to offer a decent amount above expected tribunal fee and wouldn't shock me if Spurs left him here for the rest of the season on loan in which case the player still gets the same amount of games he would get if he signed up with us this season anyway.

If we had given Brereton a new contract summer of 2021 questions would have been raised on here at the time, that's even if he would have wanted to stay as he was getting serious stick for 3 years prior. We signed him on a 5-yeal deal too so he was an asset that was under a long term contract, it just took him 4 years to get himself into a position where he is too good for where we are right now so he holds all the cards to his future.