🌞Summer Silly Season Transfer thread 2026

[BestOfBrede]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

It wasn't meant as an insult or to be offensive!
It's said in jest but with affection for a great character in Allo Allo!

A bit like people calling Bassey 'Shirley'.

Better than calling someone by their nationality, surely?

Have you never had a nickname?
 

[LC]

Happy we got a centre back and another couple of midfielders which were very much needed. My only concern is our forward line and goals, I'm very interested to see how Zepa is introduced this season.

Did you see him in the U21's game against Newcastle. He has improved out of all recognition. He was devastating in the first half. His spell with the first team has done him no harm at all.

No I didn't see the game. Very glad to hear, perhaps that's why we didn't sign another winger and maybe that's why he didn't go out on loan. The only reason I can think of why he didn't go out on loan is that he'll be playing with the first team this season.

[Holders]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

It wasn't meant as an insult or to be offensive!
It's said in jest but with affection for a great character in Allo Allo!

A bit like people calling Bassey 'Shirley'.

Better than calling someone by their nationality, surely?

Have you never had a nickname?
 

No, he shouldn't be called by his nationality - but where does "Clomp" come from? Not in 'Allo 'Allo to my recollection, I don't think there were any Austrians in that.

And my message board name is my nickname of long standing.

[Chi_FFC]

On the topic of nicknames, "the Austrian" appears to go by "Affi" and he has a youtube channel with his partner/girlfriend/wife chronicling the life of a footballer.

https://www.youtube.com/@AffisOvertime

[Fulham Tup North]

The Athletic put together a ranking of all PL transfers from this summer (yes, it's terribly clickbaity). They have Garcia at #8 and I couldn't help but chuckle at this: "It is asking a lot for him to replace Raul Jimenez...". Look, I appreciate Raul's efforts and work ethic, but he had 5 non penalty goals last season and looked pretty much spent at the PL level. If Garcia can't even minimally exceed his production we're in trouble.
https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2095054116242243943?s=20

Name five better strikers we've had in the last 40 years

Easy. Mitro, Demps, Saha, Berbs and Cole.

..and that's without naming Super Micky Conroy... or Ivor... my most favourite of all time...
COYW

[Angus Telford]

The Athletic put together a ranking of all PL transfers from this summer (yes, it's terribly clickbaity). They have Garcia at #8 and I couldn't help but chuckle at this: "It is asking a lot for him to replace Raul Jimenez...". Look, I appreciate Raul's efforts and work ethic, but he had 5 non penalty goals last season and looked pretty much spent at the PL level. If Garcia can't even minimally exceed his production we're in trouble.
https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2095054116242243943?s=20

Name five better strikers we've had in the last 40 years

Easy. Mitro, Demps, Saha, Berbs and Cole.

..and that's without naming Super Micky Conroy... or Ivor... my most favourite of all time...
COYW

Let's see Gonzalo do that!

[Twig]

The Athletic put together a ranking of all PL transfers from this summer (yes, it's terribly clickbaity). They have Garcia at #8 and I couldn't help but chuckle at this: "It is asking a lot for him to replace Raul Jimenez...". Look, I appreciate Raul's efforts and work ethic, but he had 5 non penalty goals last season and looked pretty much spent at the PL level. If Garcia can't even minimally exceed his production we're in trouble.
https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/2095054116242243943?s=20

Name five better strikers we've had in the last 40 years

Easy. Mitro, Demps, Saha, Berbs and Cole.

..and that's without naming Super Micky Conroy... or Ivor... my most favourite of all time...
COYW

Shout too for Harry Bayles.

[BestOfBrede]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

It wasn't meant as an insult or to be offensive!
It's said in jest but with affection for a great character in Allo Allo!

A bit like people calling Bassey 'Shirley'.

Better than calling someone by their nationality, surely?

Have you never had a nickname?
 

No, he shouldn't be called by his nationality - but where does "Clomp" come from? Not in 'Allo 'Allo to my recollection, I don't think there were any Austrians in that.

And my message board name is my nickname of long standing.

It has nothing to do with nationality!

Lieutenant Gruber (get it - Affengruber) used today clomp instead of heil.

Don't worry, it was just a joke, nothing serious.

I got mixed up! Gruber was the one with his 'little tank'!

[Hatch007]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

Well, it made me chuckle...

Van Klomp is the fictional artist who painted The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies, the famous running gag in the classic BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!.

Deary me, it's hard to crack a joke without offending somebody these days 🤷🏻

[FFC007]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

Well, it made me chuckle...

Van Klomp is the fictional artist who painted The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies, the famous running gag in the classic BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!.

Deary me, it's hard to crack a joke without offending somebody these days 🤷🏻�♂️

Was waiting for someone to come in and say Von Smallhousen.

[Dodgin]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

Well, it made me chuckle...









Memories of Private Helga

Van Klomp is the fictional artist who painted The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies, the famous running gag in the classic BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!.

Deary me, it's hard to crack a joke without offending somebody these days 🤷🏻�♂️

Was waiting for someone to come in and say Von Smallhousen.

[bencher]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

Well, it made me chuckle...

Van Klomp is the fictional artist who painted The Fallen Madonna with the Big Boobies, the famous running gag in the classic BBC sitcom 'Allo 'Allo!.

Deary me, it's hard to crack a joke without offending somebody these days 🤷🏻�♂️

That's some Good Moaning right there

[Holders]

Instead of just calling him 'the Austrian', just say 'Clomp' and we'll know who you mean!

Why be offensive and call him anything other than his name?

It wasn't meant as an insult or to be offensive!
It's said in jest but with affection for a great character in Allo Allo!

A bit like people calling Bassey 'Shirley'.

Better than calling someone by their nationality, surely?

Have you never had a nickname?
 

No, he shouldn't be called by his nationality - but where does "Clomp" come from? Not in 'Allo 'Allo to my recollection, I don't think there were any Austrians in that.

And my message board name is my nickname of long standing.

It has nothing to do with nationality!

Lieutenant Gruber (get it - Affengruber) used today clomp instead of heil.

Don't worry, it was just a joke, nothing serious.

I got mixed up! Gruber was the one with his 'little tank'!

They were all Germans which is why I didn't think of the connection to the programme that you saw. I've been to Austria numerous times and "Clomp" didn't mean anything to me whatever in the context of that country. 

Not any more funny, but while we're on the subject, I was once with a group in France, being frogmarched around from place to place by a chap whom we dubbed "Herr Flick" as he was ordering us about. One of the other French overheard this and told us that "flick" is French slang for copper/rosser etc. So that explains the origin of that. I'm sure I'm not the only one who didn't realise that when the programme was on.

On another visit, France was about to get 'Allo 'Allo the following week, dubbed into French, with the French being the only serious ones (again) and the British and the Germans being the butt of the jokes. I was asked to explain the "plot" and had to attempt to do so in schoolboy French, including the Fallen Madonna. Ever since that, at least I know the French for big boobies. Another useful phrase picked up on that trip was "beware of the dog-turd". All part of life's rich tapestry.

[BarryP]

Let's see Gonzalo do that!

Do you mean score 2 goals in the first two matches of the season?

[Jims Dentist]

Don't think I am at all, we don't know the internal discussion between club and Silva. Sounds like they literally had speeches prepped to announce his extension with the media team, which suggests he had indicated to them he was likely to stay. Neither of us are privvy to those conversations to have a better understanding of the state of play internally and what was and wasn't said - certainly not more so than those directly involved. You also make it sound like we had only one option and that was Arbeloa. This wasn't the case from my understanding but we were always impressed with Arbeloa from first meet

And given every window we hear from manager and TK about discussing various sessions watching tape with managers and preparing player lists of targets for them, as well as owning a stats company that runs analytics on all players,  I don't think it's at all a stretch to assume he's aware of alot of talent. He's spoken extensively on how much he loves this part of the job.

People run multiple businesses, in 2026 this is pretty common. Many forbes list execs working between multple things as advisors etc. perfectly well and efficiently.

Living in america has bugger all to do with ability to watch tape, meet with scouts, review analytics and assess targets. Literally all of which can and is done from a computer these days from anywhere in the world

Anyway it's always been a waste of time trying to convince people who've made their stance on it already on here. You disagree and that's fine

Don't think I am at all, we don't know the internal discussion between club and Silva. Sounds like they literally had speeches prepped to announce his extension with the media team, which suggests he had indicated to them he was likely to stay. Neither of us are privvy to those conversations to have a better understanding of the state of play internally and what was and wasn't said - certainly not more so than those directly involved. You also make it sound like we had only one option and that was Arbeloa. This wasn't the case from my understanding but we were always impressed with Arbeloa from first meet

And given every window we hear from manager and TK about discussing various sessions watching tape with managers and preparing player lists of targets for them, as well as owning a stats company that runs analytics on all players,  I don't think it's at all a stretch to assume he's aware of alot of talent. He's spoken extensively on how much he loves this part of the job.

People run multiple businesses, in 2026 this is pretty common. Many forbes list execs working between multple things as advisors etc. perfectly well and efficiently.

Living in america has bugger all to do with ability to watch tape, meet with scouts, review analytics and assess targets. Literally all of which can and is done from a computer these days from anywhere in the world

Anyway it's always been a waste of time trying to convince people who've made their stance on it already on here. You disagree and that's fine
[/quote  Jay, you too seem to have your stance on the TK situation.
At the end of the day I feel that no other Premier League side would seriously entertain this exercise in nepotism.

[sunburywhite]

Don't think I am at all, we don't know the internal discussion between club and Silva. Sounds like they literally had speeches prepped to announce his extension with the media team, which suggests he had indicated to them he was likely to stay. Neither of us are privvy to those conversations to have a better understanding of the state of play internally and what was and wasn't said - certainly not more so than those directly involved. You also make it sound like we had only one option and that was Arbeloa. This wasn't the case from my understanding but we were always impressed with Arbeloa from first meet

And given every window we hear from manager and TK about discussing various sessions watching tape with managers and preparing player lists of targets for them, as well as owning a stats company that runs analytics on all players,  I don't think it's at all a stretch to assume he's aware of alot of talent. He's spoken extensively on how much he loves this part of the job.

People run multiple businesses, in 2026 this is pretty common. Many forbes list execs working between multple things as advisors etc. perfectly well and efficiently.

Living in america has bugger all to do with ability to watch tape, meet with scouts, review analytics and assess targets. Literally all of which can and is done from a computer these days from anywhere in the world

Anyway it's always been a waste of time trying to convince people who've made their stance on it already on here. You disagree and that's fine

Don't think I am at all, we don't know the internal discussion between club and Silva. Sounds like they literally had speeches prepped to announce his extension with the media team, which suggests he had indicated to them he was likely to stay. Neither of us are privvy to those conversations to have a better understanding of the state of play internally and what was and wasn't said - certainly not more so than those directly involved. You also make it sound like we had only one option and that was Arbeloa. This wasn't the case from my understanding but we were always impressed with Arbeloa from first meet

And given every window we hear from manager and TK about discussing various sessions watching tape with managers and preparing player lists of targets for them, as well as owning a stats company that runs analytics on all players,  I don't think it's at all a stretch to assume he's aware of alot of talent. He's spoken extensively on how much he loves this part of the job.

People run multiple businesses, in 2026 this is pretty common. Many forbes list execs working between multple things as advisors etc. perfectly well and efficiently.

Living in america has bugger all to do with ability to watch tape, meet with scouts, review analytics and assess targets. Literally all of which can and is done from a computer these days from anywhere in the world

Anyway it's always been a waste of time trying to convince people who've made their stance on it already on here. You disagree and that's fine
[/quote  Jay, you too seem to have your stance on the TK situation.
At the end of the day I feel that no other Premier League side would seriously entertain this exercise in nepotism.

Thats the thing with Nepotism, you have to keep it in the family

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Regarding Raul Asencio, he's been acquitted of having shared the explicit video.

[jayffc]

@Jims Dentist
Of course, I have my own perspective too, and if this season ends badly, I'll have no qualms with pointing out where I feel mistakes were made in recruitment. He's not my bezzie pal, my position is shiftable with compelling evidence, I just don't find the evidence compelling nor proportional to the level of unwavering abuse the man gets from a handful of people.

If the "exercise in nepotism" resulted in stepping into a role, overseeing your club from 7th in the championship to 4 consecutive Premier League seasons, a record breaking championship season, a club-record number of wins in a top flight season, ever, and a couple deep cup runs whilst finishing 2 points of Europe. I think some of them would find a way to tolerate it ay...woe is us. Honestly.

Some people on here act like we've gone backwards since he stepped in DOF when objectively speaking, we haven't.  That our new frustrations are missing out on europe and bemoaning why we haven't quite been able to get there, or despite coming close - not quite winning a cup (something no one has ever done with Fulham intertoto aside) is clear evidence of how clearly things have improved. I have some grievances along the way, he certainly had some learning to do, made mistakes, but yes, my position is I think the result of Fulham being a so-far stable prem club again, doesn't exactly scream negligence or poor job performance. That seems a reasonable position to me🤷🏻

If our frame of reference is the 2-3 clubs around our size who've done perceivably better, then yes, you can find a way to look at the results as negative. If you open that frame of comparison to the wider list of clubs out there around and below us in the leagues we've competed with, not so much - we've been doing relatively well.

For my assement of the window:

1. I really like the work we DID do. On paper - alot of talent at mostly pretty good prices given the market, and alot of upside potential now in squad.
2. Concerned by the lack of wingers whilst accepting our system doesn't necessarily require outright ones, and happy enough that Iwobi will be moved back there. I still think we're short in wide attacking options. If this comes back to bite us before January, then happy to say this was a mistake. That said alot of these concerns would pass if Arbeloa can get Bobb and Kevin delivering on the talent they have shown prior
3. Frustrated with the RB situation, I can see we weren't the only ones, and we have 2 good fullbacks thankfully...but possibly hard for Arbeloa to implement his system properly without a bombing wingback.
4. I'm thrilled with Garcia, he appears to have the makings of a top striker
5. RCB jury is out. I liked the direction we were going with targets in terms of physical profile. We did bid a lot of money for a couple of them, so not for want of trying at least. At first I was more concerned about Affengruber than I am since reading up on him, watching tape and seeing his former clubs reaction to his departure. Hoping he becomes a cult gem, but, reserving judgment for now.

All in all some gaps that concern me, some excting players to get behind, but will have patience before rushing to judgment.

[demeant0r]

@jayffc

I agree if the system required a bombing wing back then that should have been our priority from the beginning, not the end of the window. But if are to play bombing wing backs then we should be playing a back five because there's no man in the world quick enough to bomb up and down for 90 mins every week playing four in the back.

[jayffc]

@jayffc

I agree if the system required a bombing wing back then that should have been our priority from the beginning, not the end of the window. But if are to play bombing wing backs then we should be playing a back five because there's no man in the world quick enough to bomb up and down for 90 mins every week playing four in the back.

Potentially, but it seems to me the system he is implementing sees some of that dropping in happening from "wide players" and or the deeper CM on that side when the fullbacks overlap. It's all pretty fluid. Need to watch it for a few more weeks to work it out properly.

Tbh I think we were really holding out for Bellanova who's been a long-term target and tried a few times through the window - he's the perfect profile on paper for that system. Must have had some indication we could possibly break through there, assume player must be interested.

Does seem we pivoted a little late to Ratiu, though his age to me suggests he wasn't target number 1 despite also being a great shout in this system. But their president also seems a complete twerp and their player rightly frustrated with him given we offered a plenty generous deal. Shame cashflow isn't as such that we could just trigger the RC outright.

We do have 2 good RBs though so not end of the world at least, and it also screwed Everton which is a bonus 🤣 but yes...pace at RB needed and assume we'll be back in that market in January if needs be.