lchk

The brigade has changed its tune to "relax its only August".

Walker is definitely better than Moses in every aspect form pace to technical ball skills to decision making. Missing out on Mendy is a big blow too but I suppose the board wouldn't want to fork out 52 million pounds to compete against Man City.

Do note that transfers such as Oscar is considered for last season (16/17) and not for the calendar year. For 2014/15, the players bought were: Fabregas - 30 million pounds Costa - 32M Pasalic - 3M Luis - 15.8M Remy - 10.5M Cuadrado - 27M Total = 118.3 M pounds

14/15 season (includes the Jan window as well) - Net spend was 5.1 million pounds. We spent 118.3 M pounds and sold 113.2 M pounds. 15/16 season - Spent 71.95M. Sold 62.85M. Total net spend was 9.1 million pounds. 16/17 season - Sepnt 119.3 M. Sold 68M. Net spend was 51.3 million pounds. This summer, we have spent 127 million pounds and sold 69.8 million pound worth of players. The club can well afford to spend another 100 million pounds with the impending sale of Matic and Costa, if the board wishes to.

My opinion is unless the squad is further boosted with quality, the club will not repeat its title win. Players such as Moses, Alonso and Pedro were playing to their maximum capabilities last season and it's doubtful that they can attai neven higher levels of performances in the new season especially with more games in the pipeline.

If you have watched Seria A regularly last season like I did, you would have a different opinion.

Dave, I am still turning up my nose at this transfer if it happens. He's largely unimpressive for Inter Milan and lacks speed, finesse and can't tackle or read attacks. I would put Musonda ahead of him at the wing positions. As for a right wing back position, that's for the scouts and Emenalo to identify and if they haven't done so by this time, they should be fired.

He bossed the midfield and rang rings around Kante. I say buy or loan him. Worth it.

That's what I have been posting before. Expectations have to be in sync with investment in the squad. Let us see how the full back and centre midfield positions are addressed by the end of August.

All that and more. The British exported opium to China and literally forced the Qing govt at gunpoint to legalize the trade. On top of that, the French and the British burnt its old imperial summer palace to the ground with the obligatory looting. It's been a long time ago but the Chinese government has never forgotten about these tragedies.

I don't care too much about it and yes I am asian. However, many Asians in particular those who live in the West would find it insulting as the willy comments have been used extensively to emasculate Asians (and East Asians in particular) which any student of contemporary Asian studies in college/university would tell you. Regarding China, it is very prickly about its identity and pride being insulted due to its history of being subjugated and humiliated for a century before the communists took power in '49.

The willy joke isn't cool in my opinion. However, you do post some decent stuff hence stick to the footy mate.

Renato Sanches destroying our midfield tonight. I think he's good enough to be considered.

That was utterly stupid of him to post such drivel but it still doesn't disguise the fact that he was a bad buy and is pretty much useless on the left. Sell him off and release a squad space.

Who can blame him? The board's tightening of transfer spending since 2015 and the mass outflow of players since last season left the club lacking in both quality and quantity when it comes to challenging in Europe. It would be foolish of him not to demand for signings before he put pen to paper. Why would he want to be set up for failure as a result of not being backed in the transfer market? Good to see the board has listened and acted on Conte's wishes but the job is only half done. There's still one or two wing backs, a central midfielder to replace Matic and a third striker that needs to be bought.

With Richarlison joining the club, there's absolutely no need to sign this journeyman of a striker who will only rapidly decline.

Anyone watched him play in the Brazilian league?

This fellow does nothing well in any position. Spend the money on a quality central midfielder to replace Matic and wing backs instead.

This is probably City's best signing of the summer. Monster of a full back with speed and power coupled with decent technical ability. He isn't the best defender around when I watched him last season due to his sometimes suspect positioning but he can recover quickly with his pace. Wish we went in for him as he was far more obtainable instead of chasing an unrealistic target like Sandro.

Juventus will not dismantle their Defence and Sandro's price tag of 75 million euros would be far too much for the Board to consider. The wing back and The Central midfielder positions concern me. They need to be sorted this summer otherwise even Morata would not be able to offset the deficiencies in those areas ie shallow squad.

I am completely taken aback by this transfer happening as it signifies a monumental smashing of the Torres transfer record set six years ago. It is excellent that the club has an impending striker who is technicall skilful. I watched his time at Juventus and if he can replicate that form, we will do well in the new season.

I wouldn't bet on it. Let's not console ourselves should the worst happens.

What I would like to see is for the Board and Roman to temper expectations with spending conservatively. The board cannot expect to have its cake and eat it too. If the transfer spending is cut to Arsenal or Tottenham levels, that's disappointing but acceptable as long as expectations are pared down. Fans don't expect the club to win top prizes every season and yet they remain fans.

There's no reason why Conte shouldn't sign the new contract with improved terms as it's merely a pay rise and nothing more. The board's original contract extension offer has been rejected and rightly so as it gives Conte flexibility to walk away without a very large payoff and join another club should he be unsatsifed with transfer dealings and whatnot.

The expectations of the Board has never changed for many years i.e. the club must challenge for the title, cups and go far in the CL. Anything lesser and the manager gets the sack. This demand coupled with the massive reduction in net transfer spending positions the club to be a less than desirable destination for any top class manager (I fully expect Conte to leave if he isn't backed by the board) which eventually results in the club being less competitive despite the board's lofty goals.