Raw Dykes

Maybe it's not quite as easy as you think. You can't sell without a buyer.

I don't think I've ever seen a team play 3 at the back without fullbacks/wingbacks (has anyone? Other than a team with a man sent off, desperate for a goal, of course), and I reckon there's probably a very good reason why not. I'd argue we do have the quality up top. We were the 5th highest scorers in the league the season just gone. Our problem is at the other end. I believe the ridiculous amount of injuries we've had, especially in defence, is the main culprit. We have been a disaster where defending set pieces is concerned. I like Kasper, but we might do well to find a keeper with a better command of his area. We might need a more aerially-dominant CB, as well, or as an alternative to changing the keeper. Re: different way. Maybe. I'd just like to see us play how we did in 2019/20 again. It was the same manager and much the same squad and system as we have now - it was just a joy to watch. I think the top priorities are sorting out the ludicrous amount of injuries and the leaky sieve defence. I can tell you that a back 3 with no fullbacks or wingbacks will not sort the defence out any.

Liverpool rely heavily on their wingbacks. You can't play 3 at the back without defensive-minded wide players. We'd be torn to shreds most games.

My ex went to school with a girl called Jenna Taylor.

The clause doesn't really mean anything. Can still sign him after that expires. Might even be cheaper than the option price.

http://sportwitness.co.uk/club-want-sign-leicester-man-soon-possible-offer-ready-contacts-expected-week/

Good little Notts Forest fan didn't veer off the script at all! Well done! Until that last line. Jesus. Pass me the bucket. It would be good if they actually didn't care. Then we wouldn't have to hear or read about it all the pissing time.

Do you think a midfield of Ndidi, Youri and Madders is lightweight?

They don't half!

It might not make much difference to you, but it is a reported 40m euros, not pounds, so £34m.

I agree re: King Power gold. I think most people would say that shade is gold, and very few, if anyone, would call it yellow. I'd say it definitely is shiny and clearly a different hue from the more obviously yellow away shirts of the 90s. Would it be fair to say we're probably in agreement that some of those kits could be described as yellow or gold, though? You really wouldn't be wrong to say they're one or the other. I agree - I like it as a trim on home kits. It does look smart. (the following isn't in direct response to you - just general thoughts) I do get why some people object to the addition of gold to the home kit. I think they see it as a minor "doing a Cardiff." I can't get on board with "gold isn't a club colour," though. The fox on the crest has been present since 1946 in various shades of yellow/orange/gold, we have had plenty of yellow/gold away kits over the years, and even a yellow/gold trim on a home kit in the 90s. I do suspect this is just a coincidence, however, and that the owners would have added the gold in any case. I just don't care. I think it looks good, and it also helps us stand out from the countless other clubs who play in blue and white. I wouldn't be happy if they went and changed the home kit from blue to something else, but adding/changing a colour of the trim is a million miles away from that in my book. Besides, the owners have brought us our most successful era of all time. Even if you detest having a little bit of gold on the home shirt, surely it's a pretty small price to pay, is it not?

Is it, though? There are shades that could be described as either. If you had to describe the colour of actual gold, you might well call it yellow. Gold (the colour) and yellow do have some overlap. They can't be completely separated. It's like the mint away kit. Some people say it's blue, some say it's green. That's because it's somewhere between the two. It's both.

I think someone (sorry - can't remember who) on here who claims to know something about it said Ward will be sold and Iversen will be our cup keeper this season to audition for 1st choice this time next year when Kasper leaves. I think they said Young will be 3rd choice. No idea how much truth there is to it. Seems plausible enough.

You don't have to say it again - we've all heard it a thousand times. It may be true that in most cases, quality players cost a lot of money, but it's not always the case. Players sometimes want to move and their club decides they'd rather a cut-price sale than the unhappy player (as is likely the case with Madueke), players run their contracts down and clubs have to sell for less than they'd like (like Youri and Cags), players sometimes just don't fit in at their club and look a totally different player after a move, and sometimes a quality player is discovered playing for an obscure club that isn't in a position to ask for much for a player unproven at a higher level. I don't think we're likely to take a punt on another non-league striker or French 2nd division winger again any time soon - we're not shopping in that market anymore. That's not to say that great players that won't cost the Earth aren't out there, though. They almost certainly are. It's not out of the question that we find one.

Not necessarily. Chilwell spent a summer improving his physicality. Came back a lot fitter and stronger.

I don't think it's just Thomas - it seems to me that some people are really harsh on our academy graduates in general. No idea why. For whatever reason, they just seem to see the flaws and none of the strengths. I agree re: Thomas's early 1st team apps - he showed great promise - was linking up excellently with Barnes and also putting in great crosses consistently. He looked leagues above Chilwell's later performances for us. If we can get him playing like that again, we're laughing.

I'm struggling to work it out. If we want a right-footed LW, Lookman is better, cheaper, younger and is already settled here. Just hoping this is his agent trying to get him a better deal at Soton.

Thanks! I restrained myself from pointing that out.

I still can't get over how embarrassing those comments were. The long-haired fella with him was even worse. He described Fofana as "mediocre" and "worse than Maguire." How is anyone meant to take them seriously? If you're willing to say such braindead shit in public, you've got no business talking about football. It's just not for you.

It's not going to be anything like £60m! Depends how much the sell on fee is worth and how much we get for him. I think it's typically a fairly small percentage of the fee or the profit. If the clause is 20% of the profit, and he goes for £80m, St. Etienne would be owed ~£8m.

Cleopatrick Kisnorbo

Agreed. It won't shock me if he goes on to become one of the best CBs around. We saw what he's capable of in the 2019/20 season. He was unplayable. I'm not sure why he's struggled so much recently. Could definitely be a confidence issue. I certainly don't think it helped that Evans didn't play much. I think he probably needs guidance on the pitch. I think Cags is probably a bit immature, but he's got all the talent and pace needed to be a top player. If a club can put him in a settled team alongside an experienced leader or two and get him on form again, they'll be getting an absolute bargain this summer.

Yes, it's way too early. Window's only just opened today! Everyone's either on holiday or away on international duty, anyway. I wouldn't worry too much about any links or speculation, or lack of it, either. We tend to be pretty good at getting deals done under the radar, so it won't be a big shock if we sign a player before we've heard any rumours about it. Re: outgoings - Youri and Cags will likely leave for modest but potentially decent fees, but other than that, it'll either be players we don't want, or a player we want to keep, but get offered a fee we can't turn down. I saw the links re: Fofana. It's nonsense. He's just signed a new contract. We can name our price. Cool your jets. There's another 7 weeks of this shit yet.