David Kelly

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.

CN is saying that we're currently talking (or thinking about talking) to Burnley, Forest and Brighton to make a three pronged bit for Trafford, Elanga and Pedro. But if either of the latter two come off, it may end our interest in the other. Not sure this is any more helpful than the old men arguing mind.

I would have thought Buridge would have been up there from what I've heard about him too. Whitehurst top is no surprise whatsoever from what pretty much everyone says about him.

I thought Carse was very unlucky with the figures he had for the test. He was genuinely threatening throughout and took big wickets.

That sounds suspiciously like something someone on ready to go might have made up. Of course it would have had to include the other driver being from Bilbao and telling the mackem who wrote it that Sunderland are their very reason for being and that they hate all Geordies FTM. Oh and the genocide etc.

Was down Headingly on Friday. Picked the best day to go didn't I! Only 3 wickets and burned to a crisp. Still wouldn't have missed it.

Anyone tried getting the magpie mover? Last season I included it when I got my season ticket but I don't think there was the option for next season. I'm trying to get one now and when I go to pay it just keeps saying declined by payment gateway. I've tried a few different cards and get the same message every time.

Yeah I meant just open the window and keep it open but only allow you to play new players in the CWC who you have signed before a certain point. Then the window stays open and you (and everyone else) can sign players, you just can play them until next season. From what I've read, pace is the problem with Cherki. Certainly looks like a talented player though.

Aye just say that the teams in the CWC can't play anyone in the competition that they sign in after a certain date. In effect that's exactly what it is anyway.

I really don't see how this mini window shit works anyway. It's not like everyone is just going to stop sorting out deals while the world cup is on. Surely everything will just keep going, they'll just have to wait a few weeks to confirm the deals.

Yes that was one of the ways I was thinking.

Well yes but wasn't there talk about him wanting to make Guehi a statement signing? Could well have seen Mbuemo as the same. I'm not sure he fits Howe's profile in a number of ways.

Wonder if that was Mitchel led (of course we'll never know). The other thing is that if he's looking to get close to £200k a week, then it's an absolute non starter. We'd immediately have several other players we'd have to increase their wage to keep them happy. I don't see us going to that level for anyone but Isak at the moment. Regardless of us being in a better PSR position now, we could easy fuck it up again if we start spunking that sort of money out on every new player.