It is weird how many of them think they'll just immediately slot into a mid table position before challenging for Europe. We've been up for 4 years now and this is the first time we go into a transfer market and I feel like we are a viable option.

I think we are a more attractive prospect than those teams who are coming up (even if one of them has the potential to be bigger than Real Madrid). Newcastle is a tough one and for foreign players it may be different but for players based in the UK now, they will know about the poisonous atmosphere there when things aren't going well. Having said that Rafa is a big sell and Ashley may be splashing out this summer. Although they did that before and got relegated.

With my Palace bias, I'd put us ahead of Stoke and West Brom. Pulis has his methods which some players love and he will always be able to recruit, but it's a different type of player to those that we'll be in for I think. Stoke may well lose Arnautovic this summer, and it hasn't worked out there for Bojan and Imbula. I believe we're prepared to pay higher wages and we're based in London.

Watford have their own recruitment policy and the manager turn around is crazy. Don't think we'd be going toe to toe with them to sign anyone. Likewise Burnley, who have already said they won't be spending crazy money, as one of the few clubs not to have outside investment in the Premier League. We know that Wilshere chose Bournemouth over us and Eddie Howe is obviously an excellent man manager and it seems they are prepared to spend money this summer if the contract offered to Terry is anything to go by, but I think they'll be looking at a different type of player. Swansea may be going for it this summer, but who knows with Huw Jenkins.

I think the teams we will be competing with are Leicester, West Ham and Southampton. If the board can sell the vision of the club then we could get signatures ahead of these 3 but Southampton have excellent facilities and are more established than we are, plus living on the South Coast is a sell. West Ham have a great history and a big new stadium. Leicester won the league last season and however much I hate their clackers the atmosphere sounds good on the telly. If they get a big name manager in over the summer I can see them spending and picking up some decent signings.

If we can hold onto Zaha and sign Sakho then we can bring players in on the strength of our team, our excellent fans, and great backroom staff.

SO back to Brighton, yes they have a new stadium, nice training complex, nice places to live and the chance to play with Glenn Murray. But there will be so many players that they will look at, word will get out and then somebody else will swoop in. Our first couple of transfer windows were a nightmare. Middlesborough had to pay Negredo £100,000 a week to get him there, will Bloom stump up that kind of money in their first season ? I'd put them in 18th position for players looking to move above whoever comes up through the play offs and Burnley. That's based on years in the league, facilities, where in the country you are, wages that will be paid. It will not be as easy as they think it will be. If they can survive the first season then they have a good footing to push on, and they would be a good shout to be taken over by foreign investors. Who knows, they may well get all of their targets and finish comfortably mid table. But they certainly are arrogant about it !!

Edited by Alex1991 (16 May 2017 2.41pm)

"Brighton are talking about how they're coming for us. And it's like, we've been waiting in the Premier League for you for ages." Wilfried Zaha, 2017.

Surely Financial Fair Play must come in at some stage as Bournemouth cannot be keeping within the acceptable limits

I've heard a few weed fans go on about Gareth Barry coming through the youth ranks with them. What they always fail to tell you is that he was at Brighton until he was 15, never played a first team game and then went to Villa to continue his development and go on to become a pretty decent player.

I can't think of any player in the last 25 years who has come through the youth ranks at Brighton, played consistently in the first team and become an established Premiership and/or International player.

Without even thinking about it I can name Southgate, Watson, Zaha, Clyne, Moses and Routledge for us.

Don't waste your time with jealousy. Sometimes your ahead, sometimes your behind, the race is long. But in the end it's only with yourself!!

This is what they think we'll be hearing on MOTD next season:

"I thought Brighton were very lucky, both goals in the first-half had a hint of offside, as we absolutely dominated the game. And well! What did the referee see to give those 3 penalties to Brighton in the 2nd half! I thought 5-0 was very flattering to them. We should be beating teams like these Gary!"

"How Leicester must be rueing selling Anthony Knockaert after his match-winning performance at Stamford Bridge"

[Link]

I can't wait for us to play them next season

Bexley Dave

Can you hear the Brighton sing? I can't hear a ******* thing!

"The most arrogant, obnoxious bunch of deluded little sun tanned, loafer wearing mummy's boys I've ever had the misfortune of having to listen to" (Burnley forum)

Knockaert is their best player and arguably the only Premier League ready player they have. But it doesn't make him worth £30m to a buying club. Perhaps he'd be worth that to them in terms of compensating them for the loss. Dunk I wholeheartedly disagree with though. They could source better for less money so even in terms of compensating them for losing a first choice defender, £25m is way too much. In fact I'd go as far as to say that he's not even worth £10m yet.

This is all my own opinion of course.

"We're gonna be 3rd before a ball is kicked" And that will be as good as it gets for them!

Cynic or realist? It's a fine line!