02 Sep 2026 00:29:57
A mate tells me that 21 players have left us in this window. Not all would have been for a fee but still that number seems remarkable.
02 Sep 2026 03:14:29
I am sure our balance sheet will look pretty good at the end of this window, Tom. Perhaps a British record in terms of how much was brought in in a single transfer window, and our owners will be pleased with that. And we did bring in some good players and ship out most we needed to, though more loans of some of the weaker ones than the sales we might have preferred.
But our midfield lacks depth, v concerning.
Why oh why did we take such a last minute risk over the absolutely crucial business of bringing in a replacement for Fernandez... leaving it to last minute in the day to try to do so. Obviously Monaco behaved appallingly - and Camara (a wonderful midfielder) must be gutted, as I feel at this disaster - but we left ourselves open to this mess by leaving no time at all to find an alternative other than cancelling our sale of EF to City.
To do really well now, Lavia and Caicedo have both to be fit for us all season. A big ask given Caicedo breaking down v Brighton and Lavia's injury record. Henderson may see more action than expected or we'd have wanted. Barco played much more and looked pretty good versus Luton at least. Essugo loaned, of course, and Santos sold. Looks like we'll see more of either Gusto or James in midfield? Help!
Still I will still hope Alonso can get us a 4th to 6th finish this season. Higher if L and C fit for most of it perhaps... and if we can, we must surely try to line up a quality midfield reinforcement for January.
City fans and those of other clubs will be laughing at what happened to us tonight.
02 Sep 2026 06:17:49
JBS, It's not through lack of effort that we haven't signed at least one more midfield player. We now have to go with what we have. Barco and others will now get more mins than they probably expected. It's up to them to step up to the plate.
I personally don't worry about other clubs laughing at us. City fans should be happy that we stuck with the agreement to sell them Fernandez when we apparently could have pulled the plug.
02 Sep 2026 09:04:52
Well, City should be glad that we honoured our deal, Tom, but I will admit that the side which now has the two Enzos I possibly wish least well than any other this season now!
02 Sep 2026 09:43:18
Sorry, Tom. Might not have been a lack of effort, but it seems like very poor planning. Even if we had signed Camara, it would have been done whilst scrambling around last second. The club were aware Enzo was going to leave 1 way or another and had plenty of time.
02 Sep 2026 14:49:24
Kaz, the EF saga was a risky game, and, posting from my head rather than my heart, I am not convinced the club actually believed they could get over £120m for Fernandez from City. If we had signed a replacement, I think City would have lowballed any offer, knowing we probably needed to sell.
Clubs/owners, players, and probably managers have all changed their minds at the last minute when it comes to transfers.
I do think Monaco acted unprofessionally. If the deal was subject to another deal not going through, why not make that clear and sign the deal sheet anyway on a "just in case" basis.
I truly feel sorry for Camara. He has been the innocent party in this sorry saga.
02 Sep 2026 18:07:11
Again tho Tom, Id rather have taken 90m for Enzo and had a player in... What happens on the pitch is always my only concern with the club, and we are in a less than ideal position till at least January.
02 Sep 2026 19:15:28
Kaz, I understand that position, and I can empathise with it, but the club has a duty to all its shareholders to maximise its earnings potential. Maybe there is an argument that short term financial loss could be a good thing for long term gain and winning trophies.
In this case, I truly think the club believed it had the bases covered. They got let down, these things happen. I hope lessons have been learned.
02 Sep 2026 21:14:49
Valentin Barco last season:
9 assists - 1st for Strasbourg
69 chances created - 1st for Strasbourg
23 big chances created - 1st for Strasbourg
1, 800 accurate passes - 1st for Strasbourg
177 ball recoveries - 1st for Strasbourg
21 completed through-balls in Ligue 1 - 1st in the league and at least 12 more than any other player.
JBS, When one door closes another one opens matey, try not to be too downbeat.
02 Sep 2026 21:44:42
If the club took 90m for Enzo, you would have been the first on here slatting the owners for wanting 120m and getting 90m.
Can't win.