David Kelly

I don't know whether it was as part of a 2 or 3 man midfield but Diame absolutely bossed us when he played up here for West Ham. And he played in midfield that day.

Or not.

Or not.

I see they're talking about Saivet back to France today. He's looking like one of the worst bits of business we've ever done.

That is of course true but if we truly value Sissoko at £35m then if people are suggesting accepting something like £25m and these two for a year on loan it sounds like a massive non starter to me. The striker has clearly banged them in for their reserves so might be worth a punt in exchange for £1m or £2m fee but I'd be surprised if Rafa would be willing to bring a 20 year old attacking midfielder to the championship. It would be a big risk to bring in some of that position and age to this division for a year, especially if it's costing us millions to do it.

2 players who have never played higher than Real's B team? I can't see why we would want to loan them at all. Let alone accept them as a reason to shave £5m-£10m off the fee for Sissoko.

I'm sure he's already firm at the thought of them.

Never heard of either of them but ones 23 and only played for their reserves as far as I could see. Don't see how signing either of them on loan benefits us tbh.

Apart from a couple of games as cover, Mbabu has always been a rightback though hasn't he? He looked a potentially very useful player when he came in last season but if he's going to come through you'd want him to be given a chance in his right position.

Well I'm more than prepared to reserve judgement on a guy who Simeone thought was a good enough squad player for Athletico the last couple of seasons and captained Malaga when they were doing well. But I still think he's been signed to replace Janmaat even though we've not really used him there yet.

We've just signed Hayden (who's played there most of preseason) and still have Colback, Anita and Saivet (I'm ignoring Tiote as he looks like he's away) who play that position. I can't understand why you would think we would sign a centreback and move him there. He looks like cover for the back four all the way to me. Which makes it look like Dummett is still in posession of the leftback berth as things stands. I'm quite happy with the way the squad is shaping up but leftback stands out like a sore thumb as a massive weakness.

I meant Haidara.

Far from convinced with him either. Has more promise than Dummett but not yet proved he can stay fit let alone deserve a game.

We've never replaced Ricky and Dummett isn't even up to the championship.

By far the most underwhelming signing we will have made. Not so much for him being forth choice centre back but because it suggests we aren't looking for a good leftback and we're going to gav another season of that clown Dummett.

I think we've kept the ones that had that desire and are in the process of shipping out the ones who don't.

My impression is that he's a bit of a MOTD player. That West Ham let him go always seemed strange to me when he'd been so good on occassions that I'd seen him. £3m-£4.5m is next to nothing these days mind and I think he'll be more than good enough in this league.

I assume they're odds on favourites to go down.

Went the other week and it was canny enough and they did 2 for 1 caipirinha's which was nice. Was at El Coto yesterday. Excellent as always.

They're apparently lining up Zola as their new manager. We want to try and wrap this up quickly while they're managerless.

Is CT becoming self aware the prelude to the end of civilisation like what happened with Skynet?

Can we add a poll to this thread? My vote would be for big girls blouse.

For £3m I'd be very happy with that.

He's upset it's not a loan.