CloudFox

He's very good for the Championship, so not overly keen on him leaving. However if he does we avoid losing him on a free next season, can reinvest the funds (maybe) and forces us to blood Aluko. Not 100% sure Justin works as the Wingback-cum-attacking mid Cifuentes wants to utilise anyway.

Good move for him, us, and Wrexham. I'm not averse to him staying vs Vestergaard, but him looking to leave in Jan left a bit of a sour taste in the mouth after all the talk of sticking with the team etc etc.

Some good points, but both Ipswich and Southampton are refreshing their squad, strengthening their respective teams. We are not. If you stand still in any race, you will fall behind—even if you started the race further ahead than the others.

To be honest, they're rapidly becoming Leicester City's second team.

I'm curious, what do you think made that your knee jerk reaction? If he was coming here as a starter then absolutely, but otherwise...my brain just went straight to everything else you mentioned. Perhaps I just can't bring myself to even contemplate that we'd sign him as first choice though

Thanks both! That's a decent deal then. Good cover, plenty of experience, and knows Cifuentes already. You'd expect Hermansen to move on very soon then. Which is a shame, and I'm not fully convinced by Jakub yet (much as I am hoping he does brilliantly), but needs must! Would open us up to pay for a couple of players then, you'd hope.

Where are people getting that it's just 1 year? Can't see anything from Fab's tweets making that clear. And you know...it's just not the Leicester way While I'm here: @Finnegan @Ric Flair should this now be updated to a Tier 1 Source, based on Fabrizio's tweet?

Great to see the youth in there. Mavididi and Ricardo not starting is odd though. Must have picked up knocks? Only wish we didn't have to see a Vestergaard - Coady CB pairing, but beggars can't be choosers. Edit: Didn't see Nelson on the bench again. That's good! Hopefully gets another set of minutes then.

Most of our CBs are in that squad...suggests we're playing Coady and Vestergaard against Köln then.

I really hope we keep him, and he wants to use this next season as an opportunity to absolutely smash the league to bits, showing his quality. No offense to Sunderland, but he deserves better than them or Forest as his next move. Villa I could perhaps understand.

I'm far from the most knowledgeable or eloquent on the subject of gambling and its issues, but I think a few folks are being ostriches, as Bige Nigel would say. Yes, many people can enjoy a flutter for a bit of fun. No damage done. Same as many folks can enjoy a drink without consequences. But both gambling and alcohol are addictive substances to a significant number of people. They have a higher propensity than most things to cause addiction, and damage—if not destroy—the lives of people and their families. Allowing our club to act as an advertising board for a gambling company is broadcasting them to not only vulnerable adults, but also our children. The latter can opt out of having said sponsor on their shirts, but not on the shirt of their favourite player. It's not about whether you've done it before, it's being conscious of how these things affect other people.

Pleasantly surprised that we are looking at these three positions. Particularly a striker. I know none of this may come to fruition, but to even hear we are looking for one gives me hope. Genuinely wasn't confident the club would even think we needed one Left-sided mid must be a left-footed CM (winger doesn't make sense unless Mavididi is nailed on to leave). No6 is interesting, but is absolutely needed. Winks and/or Ndidi to move on then perhaps. These two positions imply we're looking to rebuild the midfield, which I 100% can get onboard with. We desperately need a refresh there. Was like a wet paper bag last season.

Pleased for Hannah Hampton as well. Feel like there's been so much pressure and some resentment towards her not being Earps, which is obviously unfair.

Lucy Bronze is a national treasure. That's how you take a pen. Chloe Kelly's was a great pen too to be honest. Interesting technique!

He's Captain too, right? And not been paid, yet still there every day training and leading despite the shitstorm Chansiri has perpetuated. Bannan deserves a lot of credit for that.

Finally! Was expecting a bit more of an announcement though

Maybe that's all part of the master plan, Phil. Forced/handed an opportunity to play youngsters this season, we onboard a betting company nobody has heard of, who are desperate to gain attention and traction. Normally, nobody pays the sponsor much mind...but wait...the youth players can't wear it? So half the team will have blank shirts, you say? And everyone and his dog will repeatedly ask "Why haven't those lads got sponsors while the others have?"...to which it will be explained they're a betting company...over and over...and over...and over... So naturally, Kbet are in love with all this free publicity and the continuous brand mentions, and give us a massive sponsorship deal. It's so obvious now I've said it. Pure brilliance.

Phew! Thought it was another night of flicking through the Netflix selection screen until bed. I'm in!

Nice of them to give you that sash slot underneath the left nipple, right up to the armpit. Really maximizing spaces for sponsors this year to rake in the dosh.

Well it's nice of the club to give you something to do on weeknights while you eagerly await our next fixture eh?

I'm presuming you mean "inconsequential" It does suggest he won't be ready for the start of the season, which is a shame. I guess it gives Monga and Evans an opportunity though.

Not sure about anyone else, but this prolonged wait has sucked the excitement out of the appointment a bit. If Cifuentes is appointed, hope he has enough time and friendly games to get the team playing the way he wants. The delay in appointing someone is also naturally impacting our transfer strategy too, in a window where we really needed to act faster to clear the deadwood and get in some fresh faces (e.g. a striker).

I think we've been linked with him before. I'd be up for that. Forest have just signed Jesus from Botafogo, so I don't think they're likely to be in for him. However, as the article suggests, he's just scored in the Club World Cup and Inter want to keep him...albeit as 4th choice. Can't see it happening unfortunately.

I'm guessing he gets notified every time someone posts or something 😂. If so, pretty sure you can "unfollow" the topic @The Year Of The Fox.

It probably is a mix of the two. He fell out with their Director of Football, and was looking to leave (as far as I've seen), so they seem to have made an example of him. He was still contracted, but not allowed to join anyone else during his leave, over which they paid him. The odd bit to me is that now QPR have a new head coach. I'm sure they announced Cifuentes had left "by mutual consent", which implies he's left with a settlement...so maybe he has to pay some of that settlement back, since he's being hired by a competitor? Otherwise I don't see how he would have to buy out anything, if he's no longer employed by them.