David Kelly

I actually thought their home strip last season was pretty decent apart from my obvious hatred for the colour, but these two are pathetic efforts. But I think our 3rd strip is as well, I never liked the strip it's based on in the first place and somehow they seem to have made it worse.

Jesus christ what the fuck is that?

I would say Murphy last season was just as important to us as Elanga was to Forest. Murphy had 20 goal contributions in the league last season and we had no one else who looked like putting in numbers anywhere close to that on the right. I agree with the different points in their career part and I think I'd be looking for £30m+ if we were to sell him. The size of prices we're being quoted for replacements tells me we'd have to value him at that sort of amount. We'd probably get about £15m for him from Saudi though.

I was just interested in what people value Murphy at. He had a better season than Elanga last term so I was wondering how we valued him in comparisson.

Would you accept £45m for Murphy?

The more I read about him the less sense I could really see in signing him. He's played almost exclusively as a striker or a left winger for Brighton and neither of them are positions that we need a starting player for. So £50m-£60m seems unnecessary for backup at this point. I know he has skills that may allow us to play in a different way and we may have been able to use him to work against a low block but it seems to me that we should be signing someone who can go straight into the starting 11 to do that. Which basically means someone who can play on the right. Not sure Elanga would really offer that either mind but we'll see how that progresses.

Totally agree we can't waste time with offers that aren't going to be accepted but I'm not sure that was the case here. It seems the player always wanted to go to London and it seems to me that we've been used as bait to get Chelsea to make the move.

Not saying that this is what you're saying here, but I see a lot on twitter saying we should just pay the extra £5m or £10m as if it's just an extra couple of quid. I know to our owners that sort of money isn't more than change but unfortunately we have to work within the ridiculous constraints of PSR and those are certainly large amounts within the world we working.

Bit much to class Tripps as an overseas player mind.

We were interested in Elanga last year though before Forest had the season where their system seemed to click so he's obviously someone we'd been watching for longer than just one season. We as supporters may be basing everything pretty much on this last season but I've no doubts the club aren't.

It is but it feels like a combination of putting the mockers on the deals and disrespectful to the clubs where these players currently are. It just doesn't sit particularly well with me.

He's also another right footed right winger so he doesn't give us an option to change away from the way we have been using Murphy. I actually like this in the sense that it is something that has really worked between Murphy and Isak but it appears that we would be very much be swapping out like for like without having anyone that we could bring from the bench to play a different way. Joao Pedro wouldn't offer much else down the right in that sense either. So if we come up against an opposition who are nullifying us down the right we may struggle to change things. And I suppose the same could be said about the left, although Joao Pedro is comfortable playing there so, while he's still right footed, he would offer something different. I do hate getting into these thoughts about players we haven't signed mind, I feel we should be waiting when/if they are our players before getting into tactical discussions on them.

RCB is surely along with RW the two positions in the starting 11 that is in most need of upgrade. That's harsh on Schar who pound for pound is one of the best signings we've made since I've been supporting the club. But he turns 34 in December and is far from the quickest anyway.

They're not in the Bruno, Botman, Isak and Tonali category but if I'm honest the signings of Gordon, Tino and Hall didn't excite me either and they have all gone on to become full England internationals since arriving here and key parts of our team so I'd be far from concerned. I don't think think a keeper is ever likely set anyone's heart racing (and I say that as someone who played in goal myself) and we were never likely to be able to sign someone who could fulfil the role of backup to Isak (as well as being able to play other roles) with someone to create a wankfest. But Pedro as a player who can contribute in a number of positions would seem to be a good fit. Elanga is the one I'm least positive about if I'm honest. We've waited years to sign an exciting right winger after making do with players who were never great successes before the takeover, and he just doesn't quite match to what I was hoping for. Still he managed 17 goal contributions in the league last season and he already has an understanding with Isak from the national team so there's certainly reasons to be positive.

Agreed, the collar is hideous and the long sleeve one looks like they're wearing a different top under the short sleeve one. This round of strips a marked drop off from last season for me. Mind the white strip from last season was one of our best ever and closest I've been to buying one since I was about 18.