Mr Hankey

I am assuming his move abroad didn't quite materialise? I think the likely situation is that Pearson probably pulled the plug on this one fairly quickly so we could move on to sign Roberts. Shame, but if he wasn't fully committed then i'm glad we moved on (of course this is just an assumption).

Didn’t Jason Gillespie retire mid-Ashes after being absutely taken apart in a couple of matches? Really hope the same doesn’t happen to Jimmy, but he has been phenomenal for so long.

Not quite as simple as you make it out to be. Of course most players speak to other clubs before a bid is made, & you are right that not many will say "actually no i don't want to join you" - all modern day footballers, particularly in the lower leagues, will always keep their options open & not burn bridges. He is likely to have already met with Ipswich as well & told them he "wants to join". This one is anything but a certain signing in my books.

Absolutely, didn't think Khawaja had it in him to play like that in England & Cummins did excellently well both with bat & ball, although i do think he is underrated as a batter (definitely not an all-rounder but can do a job when needed!). Dom Bess seems to have disappeared, but would be surprised if Mo can make it so be interesting to see what they do there. I think Foakes is a better keep than Bairstow, but don't see who he would come in for. Brooks hasn't done anything wrong to be dropped & Pope is VC so no chance of him making way & i don't think you can drop Bairstow for what he can bring to the bat when he's on form. My main concern is what you have mentioned at the end - we got Warner, Smith & Labushagne out cheaply in both innings, but still couldn't do enough to get the win.......what happens when they hit form?

Really good test that, think it was our own mistakes that cost us (Bairstow missed stumpings, charging down Lyon when he was bowling when we didn't need to do it quite so much, no balls) & not so much Australia being better than us. Does make the next test an almost must win so will that add to the pressure, but a very entertaining start. Can't see any changes, apart from Mo if his finger hasn't healed, which if it does will likely just rip straight back open as it's only a week away. Jimmy potentially rested, but that only happens if he doesn't feel he can go again so soon. I would expect the same line-up, or as close to it as they can possibly get.

Don't think what i stated had anything to do with jumping to conclusions! More of a potential outcome theory based on a "what if" scenario. I have no idea what will happen with this, but can certainly see us walking away if Derby try to play the waiting game.

FFP will catch them out, especially if they are outbidding in the millions. We have cut our cloth accordingly for this season. I don't know much about Ipswich's squad but having had a quick gander, i don't see anything worthy of note that they can sell if they need to balance out the books.

He said yesterday that he doesn’t know what he is going to do & is going to go away for a few weeks to think things over - think we are likely to have moved on to other targets by that stage especially if Derby want a bidding war. https://m.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/im-an-ambitious-person-irelands-jason-knight-to-weigh-up-future-at-derby/a816436125.html

Don’t you mean Bristol Rovers?

Not sure how it works, but with Wolves letting go of Jimenez & Moutinho, along with the likely departure of Neves, would that put them in a stronger position money wise, or will that not factor in to FFP until the following summer?

Considering Spurs fans opinions of a player like Kulusevski & his goal involvements (despite being involved in 22 goals in just 48 matches) , i would be worried about Scott going there & the fans expectations, however if they show us the money then adios……but i think a club like Brighton or Wolves would be a much better move for him to begin with.

I'm sort of with you in a way on this......the 2 signings we have made so far has made me feel that it is a very decent "start" to the window. I wasn't overly annoyed about the Bryan deal falling through (even though he would have been a good signing) & i feel the same with the Roberts deal as i don't see either of them as being better than Pring. If we sign a couple of quality midfielders & another centre back then i will be impressed, but if we go in to the start of the season with what we have signed already (which i highly doubt we will) then i will be underwhelmed.

I saw that as well, but got a feeling it may be click-bait & the “championship star” was the signing we made last week - Rob Dickie.

Last season he was indeed injured, but the season before he played 35 league games, which is not an injury hit year at all..........if he is willing to accept much reduced terms then i am all for it, if not then he will move on.

I wouldn’t of thought so…..can see them using the Rice money on established top level players. Moyes can’t afford a bad start to the season so can’t see him wanting to spend on a player like Scott.

Dont think there is anything in that, Wes probably had a bottle of panda pop & got a bit excited with his “banter”…….if he does end up going to a club like Ipswich i would suggest it would be down to his move abroad falling through & then Pearson saying thanks but no thanks. Hopefully we can get the Roberts deal over the line early in the week & we can then put this one to bed.

But have they not pushed Liverpool & Arsenal to be better? That would be the reason it’s not a farmers league! If the same rules applied years ago, do you not think Man Utd would of got done for financial rules? The money they spent on Roy Keane was pretty obscene! They have made English football stronger, it’s a fact.

Why is it tainted? Because they spent money? Blackburn did the same to win the prem, is that classed as tainted? No team could of broke the stranglehold of the “Big 4” without spending millions upon millions. No issue with them doing that. They have made the top division better.

Refs gone a bit Inter now

Very very fair response

Fair response!

Onana is just Ederson……but better?

Really? Thought it was Silva…..either way, i dont think he is a particularly great player, bit like Nacho at Madrid, can do a job but would be more suited to a West Ham/ Real Betis (in Nacho’s situation!).