Sutton_blows_goats

True, although I'd argue like Bassey, Aribos stock will be at high right row. Just came off the back of a 70 games season where he played the first half really well, fell away about after AFCON but finished strongly, including a good performance leading the line in a EUROPA cup final and scoring a goal. Next season he could get injured or just not play well and not be in the team. We as a team might not play well and underwhelm. Anything can happen in football.

Joe Aribo making noises about staying next year. As much as i think he is a good player I'd rather have some cash for him and bring some fresh faces in. Don't see him signing a new deal.

Only if its on a loan to buy basis like Sands.

Yes he is definitely a grifter, everything he says is taken as gospel when he just recycles stuff from other people. The Mino Raiola death fake news was a great example. Its just a shame being a twitter transfer grifter is even a thing.

So he is basically a twitter transfer grifter then.

Looks like our chief scout Andy Scoulding is off to spurs end of the summer. Will be a big loss for us. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-10901041/Tottenham-set-Rangers-chief-scout-Andy-Scoulding-assistant-performance-director.html

We were linked with a (low chance) of getting Eddie Nketia from Arsenal on a Bosman at the start of the year. Despite this being a very very long shot in the first place it looks like he is set to sign an extension with Arsenal. Arsenal accidentally leak Eddie Nketiah contract confirmation with star set to sign five-year deal worth £100k a week https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/18826489/arsenal-accidentally-leak-nketiah-contract-confirmation/

He was also reliably informed we weren't signing Aaron Ramsey and tweeted as such while Ramsey was on a private jet to Glasgow.

Yes. I think he will have to have one heck of an outstanding season for us to justify spending 6million on him. We don't have any spending power now and unless we sell half our team for big bucks i don't see that changing.

What time(s) UK will the games be played at? Anyone know?

You are correct RE the game time thing, no point registering guys as homegrown if they aren't going to play as they just take up one of the 25 spots. The rules state: My understanding is we need to have as many first team useable 'local trained players' as possible or it limits us from registering a Defoe as you pointed out. So chucking the likes of Lowry and King into the first team mix and being able to use them in these games helps our squad management for Europe massively. Clearly they need to be good enough to play for us to compete. Last season the only first team useable 'local trained players' we used were McGregor, McCrorie and Patterson (who we then sold). McGregor may not return for next season. Ideally we need 4 of these. Lowry, King, McCrorie(or Jay Hogarth) and AN other. McCann and Weston don't yet qualify. Jack, Arfield and Wright would be classed as Association-trained players. That brings us to 3 in total. Soutter will count towards that for next season reaching our limit of 4. Given how many of our squad need to be 'game time managed' its important we can register as many spots as possible. These rules are a big driver for why the likes of Chelsea, PSG, Man U, City, Bayern etc hoover up lots of youth players.

Convenient. I see our old friend Murdoch McLennan is non exec director and chair of the renumeration committee. Who wants a payrise lads?

If anyone comes across a trained in nation/homegrown status graphic or chart for our squad in Europe for next season can you post it in here please? I think we struggled slightly with it last few seasons having to omit certain players like Defoe. Then later Helander, Itten and Hagi due to injury. This is where the likes of Lowry and King will add a lot of value.

Agree with this 100%. Love all 3 players, but quite simply cant be relied on to play 2 games a week for the most part of a season.

The change in formation after the defeat at Parkhead got the best out of Lundstram. Especially when he was paired with Jack sitting in midfield. He struggled in the Beale ball midfield 3 at times and in his first few months I lost count of the times he lost a runner or let a man run by him to score against us. The red card in Europe a prime example of this too. His turnaround into a midfield mainstay has been nothing short of remarkable.

What makes our ranking incredible on that chart is that the progres debacle is included i believe.

Wales dont have a dinosaur for a manager who allegedly enjoys a tipple

he is the obvious answer to our right wing woes. Bring him home. 1 year membership to Barshaw park will get him in the bag.

I notice Leeds united have signed an American winger from RB Salzburg, and are after a further 2 players from RB Salzburg (a right back and a striker IIRC) Looks like Jesse Marsch is trying to get the band back together, and reeks of a PL club who have no idea what they are doing in terms of transfer strategy. As Marsch will be lucky to still be Leeds manager by March (terrible pun intended).

Agree, but dont see us having the cash to buy him without selling Calvin. Don't think we would get enough from selling Borna to get him.

We have been linked with Stoke left back Josh Tymon, English 23 y/o. Approx 5 million. Can only see this happening if we sell Bassey. Numerous outlets running the story but main link from the sun here if interested: link here

I thought i quote posted this last week but seems i never (too much alcohol or old age) - but reading that now looks like its a dig at Gerrard and co. Read Similar quotes from Arfield since and it resonates.

We would need to pay him big money to keep him. He will be sold this summer imo. Hopefully as I wouldn’t want to lose him on a free

Expect Soutter will replace balogun in the squad. Can’t rely on Helander. Katic future is questionable. Leon King needs to be used. Sink or swim time for the lad. If young players are showing potential we need to give them games. Look at how Patterson turned out. If we can get a Patterson every couple of years we’ll be doing great. Lowry and King could go for Patterson money easily after some more games.

John Percy at the Telegraph reporting Dr Mark Waller going back down south to join Leicester City.