Merrick's Marvels

Obviously I hope you're spot on. But I'm not so optimistic - specifically I don't think the young inexperienced (at Championship level) players we have will make such a big leap forward, certainly not to the point that we'll overtake the likes of Norwich, Watford, West Brom and one or two others (Boro for one), never mind the relegated teams. I simply don't believe the forward line in particular will prove better than the above, for us to leapfrog into the playoffs. All the while, trying to transition from a counter attacking team to one who can dominate games through possession - after selling the best midfielder we've had in nigh on 50 years! Finishing in the top 10 would be a good effort for me. But hopefully, I'm wrong and it pans out like you say. And I wouldn't have anyone else in charge right now, either ?

10 points off and Sunderland's goal difference was miles better. So 4 wins off. But 7 other teams - Norwich, Preston, Watford, Swansea, West Brom, Millwall, Blackburn - missed out by even less than we did and will be saying exactly the same. So, imo, this line of argument is just an example of making the stats say what you want. Norwich, Watford and West Brom won't be so poor again. The 3 relegated teams will finish above us too. Top 10 is a realistic ambition, and there's always a team or two that does better than expected so being in the "playoff conversation" next year should be our aim, but there's still a mountain to climb. All that, after selling our best player! (I understand this is a necessity, btw)

Yes you're right. We'll still be in the dark about the various add-ons though. So his ultimate value to us will remain a mystery as I bet there will be quite a few add-ons - a sell on clause and full international caps being the two obvious ones - and it might be a few years yet before we see the benefit of these. Good luck with keeping tabs on it all! But if anyone can...

Won't matter because I think it's highly unlikely we'll ever be told, officially. I'd bet more than a few quid on City announcing Scott's departure for "a club record undisclosed fee" and Wolves announcing his arrival for "an undisclosed fee". We'll be left with various media outlets and sources quoting figures and we'll have to decide which ones to believe.

There was a bid in January. Because, yes, Lopetegui does fancy the pants off him. All the above is correct. The question is - Wolferhampton's financial position is well known, so do they really have the wriggle room to be able to offer us what we want? Given it's the ex manager of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team that fancies the pants off him, given Wolfs have consistently been the keenest of Scott's suitors, given they're a proper football club compared to the utter tinpot tossers of Dorset, I'd say this has a decent chance of being on the money, IF they can find a few extra million down the back of the sofa. And our Biff has had several days out, on expenses, to watch his favourite team - all to no avail. Unlucky Moyesie - our boy's twice the player that Flynn kiddie is.

He's nowhere near Neves. Don't tell em though.

No

To add to what Just8 said. Benarous was left at home when they went to Austria. And in the videos from Failand, he isn't involved in any of the drills involving contact - he's with the u21s while the 1st teamers get stuck into each other. But you're right, he is fit. And significantly, the video showing him pissing his SDS test ends with Pearson giving him a Well Done and a pat on the back.

Yep me too. People wondering why Low is leaving should take a look at the young ones coming through in his position. Araoye looks full of promise to me.

1. It's practically our reserves. 2. This will have no bearing on the Preston game. 3. Perhaps you have an agenda

Good old Gary, he does love a trialist.

Because once he's as fit as Harry Cornick, Harry's got nowhere else to go - bar experience.

Jason Euell at the front of the queue?

Gotcha and agreed.

Not if we don't accept West Ham's offer! For all we know, we might accept a couple of million less if another club was happy to pay more up front. Who knows! Thank god we don't have players this good very often, eh? It's giving us all a headache. Oh for the old days, when Manager X would meet Manager Y in a motorway service station, agree a fee exchange brown manila envelopes and then go for pints of wine to celebrate. So much easier.

We are in agreement.

I read it was over 3 but who knows. I can see them offering more than Bournemouth too but will the payments be structured to our liking as it seems we want a fair chunk up front first. Also, they have other midfield targets that appear to be a higher priority than Scott.

West Ham haven't got 25 million to slap on the table. And no transfer is structured in such a way these days anyway.

I think you've misread what I wrote.

West Ham won't have 100 million quid to spend when Rice leaves. Arsenal are paying that in instalments, over 3 years (Arsenal wanted to do it over 5 years, West Ham refused). So - in round figures - West Ham will have 30 million to spend this summer but they're after several players. So I suspect, even if they came straight in with a bid of 25 million, they'd want to structure the payments in a way that might not be what we're looking for. And for that reason, we might not accept their bid and, instead, accept a slightly lower one from another club who are willing to pay more up front. There's a post somewhere on this thread stating that part of the problem with the offer from Wolves was that we want more than 10 million up front, which they couldn't do (never mind the fact they also couldn't get near our asking price).

Why would City accept any lower offer, though? In the scenario you quote, City tell Spurs their offer hasn't been accepted - the price has just gone up! So piss or get off the pot.

You need to delete this mate. Otherwise, the Blue Few will take it as fact, even those who were at Wembley and witnessed Grimsby fans behind the other goal with their own eyes and even those who look at the video evidence on this thread and dismiss it as some deep fake by them gurt teds

You bastards

Hurry up and sign ffs

"We're not going to tamper too much with the formation". "We're happy with how we set up and think it suits the players we've got" "It's also been a big part of how we recruit" 4-3-3 it is then. Or is he bluffing - Big Nige the Vegas poker player, suckering the big boys of the Championship into under-estimating "little old Bristol City". Unlikely. Our Nige is as straight talking as you can get. So Tanner and McCrorie face off. Vyner and Dickie. Atkinson and Naismith. Pring and Roberts. Bell and Mehmeti. Sykes and Cornick. And Wells v Conway - woof!