Yes Snapper . Agree 100 percent . a lot of know all know f*** all idiots out there , anyone else notic the main one out there that started the thread hasn't posted since the first post . A bit of a svit stirrer me thinks .

Or both

Without wishing to get to carried away, if Olise is fit for the Newcastle game and Franca is half decent and we dont get to many injuries and bring 1 or 2 in Jan, who knows where we can finish, i know there are a of "ands" in my post, but fingers crossed.

“That’s a joke son, I say, that’s a joke.” “Nice boy, but he’s sharp as a throw pillow.” “He’s so dumb he thinks a Mexican border pays rent” “ “Son… I say, son, some people are so narrow minded they can look through a keyhole with both eyes.”__ Forhorn Leghorn

I think that sums up the lens through which I and dare I suggest others view it P99.

I would caveat that however by saying it looks, looks as though punts have been taken on ROI for these players with a nod to longer term stability financially if not in footballing terms (thought the latter would have to materialise for the former to also).

My guess, which again is only a guess, is that rather than splashing the cash on more Bentekes and Sakhos (which drew much criticism from fans) the longer term investments in players has become the secondary priority after PL survival, which perhaps correctly (thus far) the board have assumed was assured for this season at least, with the current squad and Roy at the helm.

The end result of this is most likely sustained existence within the PL at the cost of one big push for something spectacular. This can grate short term and will peak at certain times (losses) but longer term will be deemed as the correct call.

My other guess is that the need for full backs and wingers is not one the powers that be are completely ignorant of but the deals for Henderson and Franca were available and the aforementioned were not.

Theories of incompetence and ignorance may well continue to be prevalent and perhaps not completely devoid of merit but I do trust Parish and co., even if my analysis from a footballing perspective is not always mirrored in their actions.

Now Zaha's got a bit of green grass ahead of him here... and finds Ambrose... not a bad effort!!!!

You've got a valid point, but I think we've been forced into signing a goalie. When Guaita went into a flounce and refused to play whilst publically stating he wanted to leave, we had to look at someone who could cover and challenge Johnstone for the no.1 spot, as it would seem that Matthews and Whitworth are not up to prem level at the moment. For a pre-level goalie it's going to cost, but let's hope he turns out to not be another long-term resident of the treatment room.

With Franca, hopefully, he'll be everything that people say he will be and an exciting addition to the squad. He should add an attacking option to both wings (maybe alleviating the need to have Schlupp on the wing?) and the midfield in general, so could be a very useful player to have tactically as well.

Having to unexpectantly bring in a new goalie must have affected the plans and this is pure speculation, but perhaps the plan was to bring in someone who can add to the attack following Wilf going and then a striker, but to then have to divert some of the transfer budget to a goalie might of affected who we could look at and cut us short of what we needed to sign someone who could do the job.

Who knows, but the budget is the budget at the end of the day.

The trouble with computers, of course, is that they're very sophisticated idiots

Victor Camarasa had an excellent season with Cardiff before joining us on loan whereupon he didn't even manage one minute on the pitch which seems to imply that the manager didn't want him