That would probably be beyond our budget this season and even more of a gamble. Let's see how he does. If he plays like a 5m+ player, we'll sign him, if not, we won't. He hardly started a game for Rotherham and even Ronaldo would struggle to do well in some of the teams they've brought up.

This makes no sense and feels like Groundhog Day but I can’t help jumping in. If we think the fee is worth it, only then do we pay. Hypothetically, would you sign a player for 5m that had banged in 20+ championship goals and fits our system perfectly?

We should try to get some kind of try before you buy agreement then for that fee, with no obligation. 👀

If any Sunderland fans are reading this - not everyone is so full of bile about the man that took a sinking ship and brought some pride and stability back to the club, bringing good young players through and making some great signings along the way. The views on this forum are a bit of an outlier and I think some people really wound themselves up in circles and started to bizarrely really hate the man. He doesn't deserve that. Tactically it didn't always work, but I reckon he'll be a good appointment for their circumstances and it would be just typical of the old bugger to take them up at the first attempt 🤣

Well he seems happy enough about it. My main concern was him walking if he was frustrated.

Certainly not writing it off, as the eternal optimist I’m slyly thinking we might surprise even ourselves… But I won’t be worried if we are a bit hit and miss for a while, the squad/contract/internal operations situation has been a bit of a shitstate for JDT & GB to come into. Before we even start thinking about coaching us and shaping us into a better team. I want to see positive steps, I think JDT has that” je ne sais quoi” already, our youth are as good as any journeymen and who knows how the new signings will pan out… Expectations low this season, hope I’m proved wrong.

I must have missed the memo but I’m sure a few weeks ago JDT and GB were stressing patience, talking about a transition into a new “project”, and talking about 2 or 3 transfer windows… Honestly I was expecting a mid table finish and a lot of young players coming through and improving 🤷‍♂️ Everyone seemed on board before we lost a couple of games.

What we need is a European scout scout

I saw this earlier on in the thread. You don’t see an issue with offering Rothwell & Lenihan over 30k a week (probably more in JR’s case)? Double what players like Dack are earning? They aren’t worth that, for one.

Can't tell if you're being facetious or not, but tbh I haven't been overly enamoured with the idea of loaning in a young centre back and being obliged to play him when we've got 3/4 of our own coming through. Everyone can see we're crying out for some experience back there, and I wouldn't be surprised if the last couple of games has brought that home to the Rovers hierarchy. Perhaps dropped our interest in JPVH and gone for 26 year old Hyam for similar reasons too. If we can get a couple of years at least out of him, he's happy to play backup, and it saves us money then yeah, it might be better than another Liverpool loan.

Will probably cost less than loaning the kid from Liverpool, who we didn't want to promise starts to.

Don't see why. Ayala, Wharton, Hyam & Carter with a backup body in Caulker is not excessive given Ayala's record. Phillips should be kept around and used sparingly and cautiously while he gains experience.

Caulker is an odd one, but I presume he'll be cheap and I'll reserve judgement until I've seen him play for us. We lack bodies and experience.

Boro taking financial risks imo. Betting it all on an overrated PASHUN merchant of a manager who once spent 25m on Rhian Brewster.

Have to disagree. Always rated him, rooted for him, and saw the potential. Out of the blue we found out he was Chilean, there's the Football Manager element, he flew halfway round the world and scored some great goals against a top Argentina side et al, whilst playing for Rovers with half the fanbase still reeling that he wasn't actually shit. A Rovers player from Stoke is a superstar in South America looking like a goofy idiot in Pepsi adverts. 100% cult hero for me and I'd be far happier keeping an eye on his career and looking out for him on his adventure in Spain rather than being jealous if he's in England. Seems a nice, popular lad too. Always puts a shift in. Go abroad Ben!

I'd also feel quite comfortable keeping him in my head as a cult hero too. Wouldn't mind a Celta Vigo BBD22 shirt.

Felt a bit sad but watched the replay too. Praise for Wharton & Garrett can't be understated - they took the piss out of a couple of "men", tough & experienced centre midfielders. No reason they can't contribute in the Championship if they can win physical battles like that. Also, thought Edun played very well, at odds to some of the things I've read. Needs more starts.

Talking out me arse then. Someone on twitter said 0.08 Still seems high (low?) to me though, but data is certainly a powerful thing, I won't go against our future computer overlords.

I understand the theory, but I saw that BBD supposedly had a 92% chance of missing from here? Maybe before the name change.

But if our first choices aren't available yet, then going down the list to the less preferred choices just so we can have the bench filled for two or three more games extra doesn't sound like something JDT would want to do. It's a long, long season and our first 3 results have bought us some time to hopefully be right in the mix when the window ends - ideally with some of our a-list targets in the door. There's a lot of moving cogs with transfers, there's a game of "chicken" to be played and you have to wait for the dominos to fall in order. Harsh on Paul Downing though everyone, he'd be useful right now!

Not sure footage is being broadcast anywhere in the world tbh Cant find a thing via my usual sources

Will suit Wigan hopefully, Kompany’s tikitaka could fall apart. That win they huffed and puffed to against Huddersfield doesn’t look too impressive now either…

We’re due a bit imo

I think Conte and Spurs might surprise a few this season, and be as well placed as anyone to take advantage of any Man City slip up.

Lampard has as much football knowledge outside of the top half PL as the average MOTD presenter. He’s signed them because he’s heard of them.