LVFox

If I had to guess: Ricardo, Hamza, Ayew, Winks, Begovic, Nelson, Skipp Could easily see Vestegaard, Fatawu or McAteer in it

Birmingham have the very start of a decent side, but not at the level most thought they would be yet…still back them for play offs. Shocked that Brendan’s apprentice sits back on a 1-0 lead. Ipswich back to late goals, but will be classed as the underperforming favourite as opposed to plucky underdog this time. McKenna had clear patterns last time and they seem to have just disappeared, not sure why they’ve switched to two out and out wingers. Hard to not feel arrogant but…we’re a fair bit better than these aren’t we?

15/2 on the draw is actually good value, likelihood is their starting 11 is still lower championship standard. Stolarczyk Hamza Vestegaard Okoli Thomas Soumare Skipp. BEK Fatawu. Mavididi Ayew Subs: Begovic, Nelson, JJ, Faes, Winks, McAteer, Monga, Evans, Daka

Are we the only club yet to announce squad numbers?

He’s got last minute loan to the continent written all over him this summer

Jakob Breum for his replacement please, 10 goals and 5 assists in Eredivisie last season.

And that’s really the most important part. He’s a great buy for them at £18m, ideally we’d get £25m which we seemed to give a real good go at holding out for, but we need to sell and he’s one of our very few sellable assets. With nobody else in for him, we don’t have too much choice when £13m profit is on the table

Really good shout. I’m a huge fan of their left back Keita Kosugi, if we ended up being able to get VK, JJ and Coulibaly out the door I’d be all over him.

Ipswich bought really well for this season, last year. The likes of Clarke, Philogene, Smzodics will all be top players again at this level. I like their signing in central midfield too, although they do need another body in that position. Personally, think they will beat Birmimgham relatively comfortably tomorrow night. Still expect Brum to be around play offs though.

I think Skipp is that box to box role at the moment. He’s been getting tactically better and better with each pre season game. We could probably do with another body in for that role though (Is Louis Page defensively good enough for this?). I like Markus Karlsson at Hammarby and Oliver Sorensen at Midtylland, although the latter, whilst fully ready, may be too left sided to play our specific role. Closer to home I think Charlie Webster at Burton is on the cusp of a breakout season. If we have the money ,I’d go all in on Caleb Yirenkyi at Nordsjaelland who’s easily going to be a £30m+ player in the next 4-5 years. Great engine, brilliant ball winner but can also effect games going forward.

Frederik Hammar from Mechelen. Played under Cifuentes at Hammarby, 24 years old, where he was the single pivot 6, not progressive on the ball but steady, far more impressive off the ball. Also a bit of a leader....actually, a bit of a ****! Needed.

Ipswich @ 2.75 to beat Birmingham is a huge price imo

If we look at how we set up against Fiorentina, with Soumare as a 6, that role does need more technical ability than Wilf could have given us. Also needs more physicality than Winks can give us. Don’t think I’ve disliked a footballer more than Bouba Soumare but I can see why he’s in that slot for now. Definitely somewhere I’d like us to improve on but it’s a tricky role to get right

I’d be surprised if he was after £40k. Could easily see it around the 20-25 mark.

Ricardo Winks Nelson Choudhury Ayew

With the amount of fast, physical forwards being bought in the championship this year, a defender like Okoli will be a real asset. I was super impressed with him against Fiorentina, when previously he’s looked rash. Could be a huge season for him.

£9m is incredible business tbh. Good luck to him, been a great servant to the club, but it’s 100% the right decision.

Seems the way, but at £5m, that’s £1m a year on PSR, surely it’s a no brainer if we are seriously wanting him.

Didn’t we reject a bid from Norwich for Stol at end of last season? If Mads stays and we go back up, it’s another Iversen situation isn’t it. Agree he needs to be playing first team football this year, get him out on loan if the alternative is being number 2 here

In fairness, nobody can accuse Chansiri of throwing money at Sheffield Wednesday

I was more than happy to see him go for £20m, as he’s one of the larger PSR profits we can make right now, and I rate Stol. and then Mads played a beautiful ball through into midfield against Fiorentina and I remembered how much I loved watching him play 2 seasons ago. I worry about our PSR situation if he stays, but I’d love him to.

Is there a scenario where we keep Mads and BEK, bring Kone in and shift enough deadwood (Ndidi, Faes, JJ) to make that work from a PSR side?

I agree actually, Maxwell was very happy to praise our style of play. Elek seemed to have set his doubts on Maresca very early and wanted to be proven right.

I’d be amazed if West Ham go for Johansson over Mads. Completely different styles.

Fully expect us to line up as we did yesterday. Maybe Stol for Hermansen if his move to West Ham moves further along. Sheff Wednesday might be an utter basket case but they will have a starting 11 that have all been in the squad last season. Wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a tough 1st half but the lack of pre-season should hit them 2nd half.