8/2 edits; nothing to really blow your hair back. Saint-Maxim has been described in print as "the most frustrating French prospect since Hatem ben Arfa" which is goddamn magical.
8/8 edits: Klift and Carroll, discussed below.
After extended anguished reflection, I've figured out Mike Ashley's weltanschauung as owner: he doesn't care about relegation because he figures he'll just keep the team together with the parachute money and they'll go right back up. He views the two recent one-year relegations as the norm, rather than the clicks of empty chambers in a game of Russian roulette. He should be forced to watch Netflix's Sunderland documentary which (in addition to being the funniest filmed entertainment of the past 30 years) shows what happens when the bullet comes.
News in brief; I'll try to update as we go.
OUT: Rafa Benitez (Dalian Lifan); F Ayoze Perez (Leicester, 30M(!)); F Solomon Rondon (Dalian Lifan, free); F/MF Kenedy (Chelsea, free/loan return); F Joselu (Alaves, small order patatas bravas)
IN: Steve Bruce; F Joelinton (40M, Hoffenheim); F/MF Allan Saint-Maxim (25M, Nice); LB Jetro Willems (loan; PSV backup); various bad players (loan returnees)
So for total spend (including salaries), they're probably about even from last year. Largest current question mark is whether Sean Longstaff will go at a rumored sale price of between 30-50M. I don't know who they'd spend that money on at this point, or who would even sign off on the deal given the ongoing Schroedinger's Cat sale of the club (with the fans playing the part of the potentially dead cat). The only current rumor on incoming players is Charlie Austin, I guess on the theory that vertical stripes are slimming.
If everything stays the same, the projected best XI is . . . actually not terrible, if unproven going forward:
Dubrovka
Yedlin-Lascelles-Schaar-Dummett
Longstaff-Hayden
Almiron-Shelvey-Saint-Maxim
Joelinton
The depth is atrocious, though, so any injury issues and they're sunk. Looks like the sale won't go through before the end of the summer transfer window, so best case looks like the new owner OKing some panic buys in January.
8/8 edits: Klift and Carroll, discussed below.
After extended anguished reflection, I've figured out Mike Ashley's weltanschauung as owner: he doesn't care about relegation because he figures he'll just keep the team together with the parachute money and they'll go right back up. He views the two recent one-year relegations as the norm, rather than the clicks of empty chambers in a game of Russian roulette. He should be forced to watch Netflix's Sunderland documentary which (in addition to being the funniest filmed entertainment of the past 30 years) shows what happens when the bullet comes.
News in brief; I'll try to update as we go.
OUT: Rafa Benitez (Dalian Lifan); F Ayoze Perez (Leicester, 30M(!)); F Solomon Rondon (Dalian Lifan, free); F/MF Kenedy (Chelsea, free/loan return); F Joselu (Alaves, small order patatas bravas)
IN: Steve Bruce; F Joelinton (40M, Hoffenheim); F/MF Allan Saint-Maxim (25M, Nice); LB Jetro Willems (loan; PSV backup); various bad players (loan returnees)
So for total spend (including salaries), they're probably about even from last year. Largest current question mark is whether Sean Longstaff will go at a rumored sale price of between 30-50M. I don't know who they'd spend that money on at this point, or who would even sign off on the deal given the ongoing Schroedinger's Cat sale of the club (with the fans playing the part of the potentially dead cat). The only current rumor on incoming players is Charlie Austin, I guess on the theory that vertical stripes are slimming.
If everything stays the same, the projected best XI is . . . actually not terrible, if unproven going forward:
Dubrovka
Yedlin-Lascelles-Schaar-Dummett
Longstaff-Hayden
Almiron-Shelvey-Saint-Maxim
Joelinton
The depth is atrocious, though, so any injury issues and they're sunk. Looks like the sale won't go through before the end of the summer transfer window, so best case looks like the new owner OKing some panic buys in January.
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