01 Sep 2026 19:15:57.
A joint British record fee for a player who doesn’t want to be at the club can’t be turned down, replacement coming in or not.
Caicedo, Lavia, James, Barco and Henderson are more than capable of holding down the fort and we happen to have a generational talent in the youth team right now. Although I don’t advocate for lads that age getting major mins.
01 Sep 2026 20:17:06
J, James is bang average in midfield, and Henderson was brought in to be on the bench and come on to steady a game. If Lavia and Caicedo don't stay fit, we are very weak in midfield. We probably needed to bring in 2 midfielders, if we are serious about challenging for trophies.
01 Sep 2026 20:32:11
J, I am with you, mate. The way Alonso sets his team up is with a solid double pivot. What we have is ok. Could we have accomplished one more? Yes.
The
problem is, if we get two or more injuries, then it looks like an unnecessary gamble, and the owners will undoubtedly get pelters.
01 Sep 2026 21:03:57
The problem is, Jimbo, we were looking at significantly overpaying for bang average midfielders, who don't necessarily replace Fernandez anyway. Zero point in bulking out the squad with mediocre players (again), right choice to sell Fernandez and stick, rather than twist.
I'd have been happy to pay big for a Wharton, Scott or the slightly more offensive Gibbs-White, but they're not available and can be re-visited in January or next summer.
This is just the start of the Alonso era, and we're heading in the right direction.
01 Sep 2026 21:18:09
J, I think I'm with you - no point in splurging for an average player. In terms of the generational talent, are you referring to Mahdi Nicoll-Jazuli?
01 Sep 2026 21:34:56
I don't think Kone or Camara are bang average players. If they are bang average midfielders, what does that say about James and Gusto in the midfield. Really.
01 Sep 2026 21:43:24
Jimbo, I think J meant an average midfielder if Camara, Kone, Gibbs-White etc. weren't available. Anyway, no need to worry now - apparently we've signed Camara!
01 Sep 2026 21:52:46
EdW, if it's true about Camara, it has been a very good window.
01 Sep 2026 22:02:28
Yes, I think Nicole-Jazuli is an unbelievable talent.
Looks like we've met Monaco in the middle for Lamine Camara (EUR55). Very interesting video / tactical breakdown by Pythagoras in Boots, on YouTube, for those who are interested.
01 Sep 2026 22:41:10
Bang average and mediocre may have been a tad harsh, but yes, I would have included Camara in that. The point was, love him or loath him, Fernandez was a nailed on starter. Camara is a good player, but he isn't necessarily that, he's more of a squad addition for us - this is why the club were keen to brief that he was in no way encompassed within the decision to sell Fernandez.
Monaco, however, were demanding top money for him, and I agreed with the club that we shouldn't be paying that kind of fee.
Monaco have then seemingly had a bit of a financial incomings panic when Balogun's move to Everton was in doubt over his medical, and were willing to negotiate at a lower fee. In the end, I believe we've signed a good player for the squad at the top end of a reasonable fee.
02 Sep 2026 03:32:58
Sadly, no such signing, of course, J, though we all thought we'd got him. Fernandez leaves a huge gap.