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30 Aug 2026 22:11:05
The buzz is we have reached agreement with club and Player and Camara will be joining for approximately £40m.
I hope he proves to be as good as my mate says he is.
1.) 31 Aug 2026 08:02:49
We need him to be Tom, so hope so too. But if he is Santos' replacement - unless that is Barco, but he may be an Essugo replacement if he's thought not good enough for CFC - we still need a Fernandez one too. And midfield is our obvious big weakness, especially if Caicedo is injured.
Though we could have done hugely with Cucurella on the pitch as left wing back yesterday too, and can only hope Palestra is OK to play soon, as he can play left or right wing back, I think. We were wide open down the flanks v Brighton.
2.) 31 Aug 2026 08:04:39
Especially open down our left flank.
3.) 31 Aug 2026 14:14:51
I just read he's going to Palace for a year and then we sign him next season.
4.) 31 Aug 2026 14:43:49
I think you're getting confused with the young Italian left back, Honest Ahanor, we have just signed, CFC1221.
5.) 31 Aug 2026 16:00:45
Ah yes, my bad!
29 Aug 2026 22:09:37
I posted at the start of this window that Liverpool asked to be kept informed about Neto, whatever that means. Liverpool asked for an update yesterday.
My guess is asking for an update is a million miles away from making an offer.
1.) 31 Aug 2026 08:05:50
Hope so, Tom cos Neto looked v good for us yesterday and we need him.
2.) 31 Aug 2026 12:46:07
Liverpool apparently asked about the availability of two of our wide players.
27 Aug 2026 19:16:45
So EF supposedly asked not to play tonight. Maybe this is an opportunity for those who wanted him to stay to reconsider their position. If this is some mechanism to force through a sale at a reduced price, I will tell City to swivel and let him rot in a bomb squad. Of course, that will not happen.
On an even worse note, we have apparently agreed a fee for Martinez.
I always say it’s impossible for the club to make me happy in a transfer window. This is certainly one of those cases. Obviously if he signs I will support him as he immediately becomes a top keeper. ?end.
1.) 27 Aug 2026 22:24:49
Alonso says it was the club's and his decision not to play EF tonight. I guess that makes some sort of difference, but not much as far as I am concerned.
2.) 28 Aug 2026 13:57:48
Yes, Alonso did say that, Tom, and also said he may be involved v Brighton on Sunday, though you would think that was unlikely.
3.) 28 Aug 2026 15:42:51
JBS, my guesswork theory is that EF told the manager and board he preferred to leave, and then the Chelsea decision-makers took him out of the squad.
26 Aug 2026 20:37:28.
Apparently Chelsea have not received a bid or spoken to City about Fernandez.
I personally still think it happens.
1.) 27 Aug 2026 01:41:51
Lot of reports, bid expected yesterday. Wouldn't surprise me if Citeh are leaking with no intention of bidding, just to waste our time.
Really hope they bid and he goes, though. He was pretty useless when paired with Caicedo in the past, and he isn't getting into the team as a starting 10.
2.) 27 Aug 2026 11:45:56
Agree, Melbourne.
3.) 27 Aug 2026 16:14:03
I also agree, Melbourne. Whilst EF looked great in the Champions' League, and despite scoring a lot of goals for us last season, he generally looked a bit off the pace to my eyes in the middle of the park in PL games.
4.) 27 Aug 2026 16:53:53
I made my position clear on EF last season when he said and his agent said he wanted to leave. We had about 10/12 games of the season left, and he is our vice captain.
My view was, and is, he should never play for the club again.
Unlike some, I rate him as a player, but players who want to leave can go, as far as I'm concerned. Thanks and goodbye.
5.) 28 Aug 2026 14:10:56
I think he was one of the three best players last season... Joao Pedro and Cucurella being the other two. EF is seen by many as JP's closest rival for our player of the season. Caicedo next, but below the level of his previous 2 seasons. Then a gap to Neto. Esteveo had patches of brilliance. Reece and Cole, some good games, but well below their best levels overall. Trevoh C is probably our best defender in terms of consistency.
So, I take the point about his pace, but unless we can replace EF with an additional proven top-quality midfielder - and perhaps a Kante-like one may suit Alonso's system best - I'd want him to stay for the sake of our ECL qualification campaign this season and so as not to strengthen City. And bet Alonso would want the same.
26 Aug 2026 14:54:09
If the rumour is true and we are looking to sign Martinez the I am very disappointed. I don't rate him as a keeper and from what I understand he is a bit of kn@b.
If Penders isn't better than him, we are in trouble.
1.) 26 Aug 2026 16:57:50
It probably won't surprise you to hear that I really hope this happens.
I appreciate that he may not be a nice person, but that's where the management come in.
Penders can still be No 2, but to Martinez, not Sanchez.
2.) 26 Aug 2026 17:19:40
tbh, maybe we need a few more not-so-nice characters. Look at our sides of the past and recent league winners (Gabriel for Arsenal, Bernardo Silva for City). We have often been accused of being naive and nice. Could be what we need.
3.) 26 Aug 2026 18:02:52
If it had been a couple years ago I'd have been alright with signing him, but he's been average last couple of years in my opinion.
4.) 26 Aug 2026 18:26:25
Agree, fuser, but average is still better than Sanchez.
5.) 26 Aug 2026 20:29:04
Martinez isn't about replacing Sanchez, it's about us not picking Penders. Martinez is bang average, so it doesn't say a lot about the confidence in Penders.
6.) 26 Aug 2026 22:03:51
Tom Penders is a kid - very rare to see a keeper that young as first choice, especially in a side that looks promising but is still unsettled... Id like to see him bedded in slowly - Martinez could be the man for that role.
7.) 27 Aug 2026 03:11:29
I am not a fan of Martinez as a keeper but then as I have been saying for ages with two exceptions the premiership keepers are all average in my opinion. Let me make it clear, I am not saying he isn't better than Sanchez.
From what I have read about him and been told I can't see how he is going to be a positive in the dressing room.
I would value one the Ed's opinions on his potential signing as a player abd an influence?
{Ed001's Note - he is a bit of a ?, very difficult to manage and you have no doubt seen the arse he makes of himself. I think it is very telling that he has been trying to leave Villa every summer for about 3 years now and this is the first genuine interest anyone has shown in a weak market for the position. And you are only seeing him as a stopgap in desperate circumstances! But at least he is not Sanchez, so it should be an improvement. He does have a tendency to make the odd clanger too, but not quite as often.}
8.) 27 Aug 2026 04:23:34
Thanks Ed, much appreciated.
{Ed001's Note - very welcome Tom.}
9.) 27 Aug 2026 09:08:07
What do you think of Penders as a keeper ED01? or is it too early to tell?
{Ed001's Note - I haven't seen him play to be honest.}
10.) 27 Aug 2026 11:22:10
And there lies the problem, none of us really know if Penders is good enough or ready.
The one thing that we all know is Sanchez isn't good enough.
11.) 27 Aug 2026 16:49:57
The other thing we know is Martinez isn't a lot better than Sanchez and is a ? end.
If we ain't gonna trust Penders, buy Costa.
12.) 27 Aug 2026 18:15:08
Disagree, Tom. Martinez is levels above Sanchez, who may be the worst keeper in the league, and the bigger issue is his best mate, who got the gig as keeper coach
If Sanchez goes, he needs to follow him out the door.
13.) 27 Aug 2026 18:47:13
I'm seriously thinking of giving in. The issue isn't that Martinez is better than Sanchez. The reality is he is bang average and a ? end.
What some are saying is that he is better than Penders. If that is the case, then Penders is bang average and not the answer.
If Penders is the second coming of goalkeepers that some believe, then maybe the coach also deserves a portion of credit.
I also repeat, in my opinion, Sanchez will start against Brighton.
TomB's banter posts with other poster's replies to TomB's banter posts
28 Oct 2026 22:41:07
I would like to be told why Estavao is not getting many mins. I would hooked Rogers.
1.) 28 Oct 2026 23:38:40
Agree in all the Estevao talk he seemed happy on the sidelines but I would certainly ogf givemn him minutes with either Rogers or Neto (who had a good game) coming off purely on the basis of longterm planning.
Would put Estevao in the group with Palmer Rogers Cacaido Pedro Lavia Colwill of being the future mainstays of the team.
2.) 28 Oct 2026 23:42:22
Forgpt Josh.
25 Oct 2026 22:47:00
For those interested, I have put my United ticket up for sale on the clubs ticketing site.
18 Oct 2026 16:18:24
In my opinion so far this season we haven't played as well as I think we can. Yes, we have had moments but we haven't dominated teams the way on want to see.
Having said that and as I right this post we are just three points from the team top of the premiership (Brighton) having completely lost our way pre the international break.
Just one other small point, who thought it was a good idea for us to play the Spuds at 5.30pm?
1.) 19 Oct 2026 14:51:00
It will take time Tom for Alonso to bed his ideas in and as fans we need to be patient and watch the side grow, Caicedo was a huge miss at the start of the season and I now think young Henderson also fits into that bracket! Having those 2 in that midfield pivot has made a huge difference and hopefully another midfielder comes in January.
I have been very impressed with Josh at the back and Neto at wing back and our front 3 is as good as any other in the Premier League.
The fluency will come over time and providing players stay fit and focused top 4 is a very realistic target.
18 Oct 2026 12:02:45
With Martinez now being out for 6-8 weeks with a fractured jaw, it creates a fantastic opportunity for Penders. Good luck to the lad.
1.) 18 Oct 2026 12:51:46
Totally agree Tom.
2.) 18 Oct 2026 16:52:53
Think he will be a top keeper hope its not a bit early but once he gets going I think Penders may be hard to dislodge.
14 Oct 2026 09:25:52
I do not believe any current version of FFP is fit for purpose. I also don't believe that salary caps are workable and may not even be legal. I'm also not a fan of dictating to owners what they can and can't spend of their own money.
I do believe in securing the future of all football clubs. To that end I remain convinced that all owners should have a secure bond held in an escrow account that covers all the salary costs for a period of no less than one year.
The latest report from the so called independent regulator will create headlines and certainly there is cause for concerns but as I have never met a regulator with any business sense, I am probably more horizontal than most other observers.
1.) 14 Oct 2026 10:47:53
Tom, The real reasons behind Financial Fair Play (FFP) were to protect the economic motivations of Europe's traditional football elite which included the so called red cartel in the UK.
While officially introduced to prevent clubs from going bankrupt and to curb hyper-inflation, critics, analysts, and football figures note that its practical and structural function was to act as a protective barrier for established, historic clubs against "new money" takeovers.
They accepted Jack Walker at Blackburn Rovers was a one-off but when Roman came along alarm bells sounded and when the saudi's came in at City and PSG the established elite went to work.
Look at clubs like Newcastle who are now restricted from spending the billions Roman invested early on. I think all genuine football people, myself included would like to see all clubs protected from financial ruin, look at what Ridsdale nearly did at Leeds, he nearly wiped that club out, but on the other hand what is wrong with another Jack Walker coming along and funding a club to achieve the impossible? a balance has to be found but I fear the established elite, and we are now in that group, will always get there way.
ED01, I know we have spoken about this in depth previously and you have strong opinions on what happened at Leeds.
{Ed001's Note - the Saudis have been nowhere near either Citeh nor PSG. You do realise that Arabs are different in the same way Europeans are right? Emiratis, Qataris and Saudis are not the same, they don't even particularly get on and are busy fighting proxy wars against each other all the time. So to talk about them like that is very offensive.
It is a difficult path, but they have clearly set about, first and foremost, ensuring no new money can break the monopoly. There should be a middle ground which protects clubs against reckless spending. Tom suggested an excellent method of a bond.}
2.) 14 Oct 2026 13:26:42
Ed, I am pleased you agree that a bond would potentially solve part of the FFP question.
I did send a proposal to the Premiership and the FA, neither acknowledged receipt. Just to clarify my bond suggestion was different for each football division.
I personally do not care for the term "elite" but I repeat, I have no problems with "any" owner spending whatever they can afford. As long as the club itself has a secured future.
{Ed001's Note - the only thing that should matter is ensuring the club's future is safeguarded, then they should be able to spend what they like. But while the rules are in place, and the teams sign a contract to abide by them, it is the way it is.}
3.) 14 Oct 2026 13:52:29
Thanks for clarifying the ownership ED01. I shall research the ownership in more detail next time before posting but my main point was the fact that the so called elite clubs want to stop new money coming in which makes a mockery of competitive football and is why the same few clubs keep winning the big competitions like the Premier League and the Champions League.
{Ed001's Note - I always enjoy when a new name appears and starts competing at the top level, personally. I don't understand why they want to stop it, it lowers interest if it is the same old teams every season.}
4.) 14 Oct 2026 15:39:07
Ed, I agree completely the long term security of the club should always come first. I also think it is outrageous when we have situations when employees of a club are not paid.
{Ed001's Note - that should certainly never happen!}
5.) 15 Oct 2026 09:12:51
I agree with everything being said, the only thing for me is that man cheaty could afford to spend billions and not flinch, you might as well give them the title before it starts then players from other clubs and fans can go off and have lively holidays and come back the end of may.
6.) 15 Oct 2026 09:52:31
A club can only have 25 players and having the supposed best players doesn't always make for the best team.
There are plenty of top players around and it might mean more home grown players getting a chance.
15 Oct 2026 17:40:36
Early days for two of them.
13 Sep 2026 21:39:13
As long as we try to show respect and the post passes the Ed's scrutiny, who cares what name or names people choose to use.
11 Sep 2026 15:55:01
I hope Clearlake turn out to be good owners. It will be interesting to see what the share sale values the club at.
02 Sep 2026 18:05:44
Swcfc, I think we tried to get players lined up in case Fernandez was sold. Club transfers are not a static thing, and I personally believe it's hard to imagine a club with a top player letting us have a guaranteed option to buy that player but only if we sell our player.
If that makes sense?
My guess is we will make a stop-gap signing and then look at the market in January. I personally would like us to still sign Camara but I would be reluctant (for no real reason) to do Monaco a favour.
02 Sep 2026 15:19:20
Chelsea Football Club's stance was clear. The fee for Fernandez was a minimum of £120m. We had no control or absolute certainty that City were prepared to make that sort of offer.
I personally didn't care if EF ever played for us again, but the club and manager played him against Fulham, so they were happy to keep him.
29 Oct 2026 09:11:59
My best would be CL in Munich closely followed by winning the Premiership for the first time in my Chelsea supporting life.
The whole day in Munich was unbelievable, due in no small part to the people of Munich.
29 Oct 2026 08:20:46
In my 64 years of supporting my mighty Chelsea my expectations have never changed.
Highs and lows are something most people expect when they support a football club. Winning the FA cup at Old Trafford, the Cup winners cup against Real Madrid, our first premiership win in 50 years, winning the Champions League against BM in Munich and most recently winning the WCC.
They have all been part of my journey. I try to forget about Moscow and a couple of relegations.
On the quality question, the 70's team and the Viali team would have given any recent team a stern test.
28 Oct 2026 22:42:58
JBS, I 100% agree with you post.
28 Oct 2026 22:36:37
I can't remember the longest gap between trophies since I started supporting my mighty blues, I'm sure there must have been a ten year ish gap at least once. It's only been a couple of years for this set of owners so far.
28 Oct 2026 07:25:53
JBS, very enjoyable post and you ask some very relevant questions.
If we play wingbacks then what's the point of Estavao? As I see it we are usually playing with a man short in midfield. The manager has to find solutions. Hopefully that starts tonight.