midds

Getting strong Connor Roy vibes from Radcliffe. Imagine him staring at the mirror screaming "I'M THE ELDEST BOY!!!" repeatedly to get himself in the zone

Can't imagine the amount of money we'll be spending on cotton wool to wrap Nick Pope up in this year. This bloke sounds wank from all accounts tbh

This weekend feels like it's been a long version of the player trading scene in Moneyball

Sign him today, sell him tomorrow. Love it

It's not the outcome I wanted but if that's what's going down then there's no point twisting about it. I'd have loved to have seen him this summer and get him into the team but here we are. Can only hope they've made the right decision and we'll only know in time. The fact it's Brighton who've bitten on the deal is slightly disconcerting, they 100% know their shit when it comes to picking gems. Let's just see

I get it, honestly. It's a shit choice but I genuinely would rather keep him and see and lose a few points. I can totally see why others think it's better to cash in early and not take the hit too, it's a gamble and there isn't a correct answer yet. We shouldn't even have to be having the conversation if it wasn't for the bullshit rules but here we are

I do get the fact we need to buy an sell wisely and that may mean flipping a few young kids for quick PSR profit, I'm not daft I knw it's coming. It's become part of the game and whilst I don't like it very much from a personal pov I know it happens and will continue to happen. I just don't think this is a regular 'sign him - develop him a bit - sell him on' transfer. He plays in a position where we are desperate for an upgrade and this lad - who we bought on a punt years ago - may just be the answer to fill a big hole in the first team and save us a huge amount of money in the process. It's a hell of a coincidence that he's here right now and ready to step straight in but here we are. The alternative right now is Almiron

This is true but it's foolish to believe that others haven't also been keeping an eye on him too. They'll have watched him and a few of them have clearly liked what they've seen. A winger with sheer, raw pace can be lethal with a bit of tuning and other clubs are willing to take a punt on him. I just want us to see him first and then make the decision. I just want an informed decision rather than a coin-flip and cross your fingers decision.

Well, maybe? We'll just have to see

Absolutely no bother with that chap It's just a pain that he happens to play the exact position that we're most in need of for the first team. That's the kicker for me. If we had a decent RW atm then it's a no-brainer - you move him on. But if we sell him, and he's brilliant and we're stuck with Almiron for yet another year then we'll kick ourselves. I'd rather take the chance - I can't possibly see him as being as poor as Almiron though But we'll see

Not sure how they could take more points away from us than for a similar breach by another team? We'd appeal anyway

And so can we. Especially when our RW id the very area of the first XI that is in desperate need of upgrading. He's worth the risk imo. If you don't agree then that's fine too.

I'm just suggesting that we take a look at him first and make an informed decision about what we do with him. Making the decision tomorrow seems insane to me. Being deducted 3 points but playing him could easily end up with a bigger points total than selling him and playing Almiron all season. I just want the club to take a look at him and then make the decision. If it costs us a few points then so be it, I honestly don't care

Why on earth do 4 or 5 clubs want him to warm their bench then? You're trying to suggest that all of these clubs are willing to spend £25m+ to warm a bench? There's clearly a lot of talent there. He plays in an area where we have a distinct lack of ability/product. He could be perfect for us right now

Honestly don't see why we can't keep all 3. I don't see it as 'if we don't sell Minteh then Isak or Bruno has to go'.

If it's a priority position then let's at least have a look at the lad that other clubs are supposedly looking at dropping £40m on? Let's make that decision after we've had him for a pre-season and if it costs us 2 or 3 points next year then fair enough. He might just save us shelling out £50m for a RW and that's money we could spend elsewhere? We have a gaping hole at RW and this lad may be the answer. I just don't want to move him on before we've had a chance to look at him first. I realise it's a risk with the breach of PSR but I'm not bothered about that shit, I'd quite welcome it tbph.

We have better cover there though. Right now we have Almiron, Murphy and Minteh to play RW. Sell Minteh and don't replace him and see the same impotent right hand side failing to contribute and it'll be a massive L

If we're lining up at home to Southampton on 17th August with either Almiron or Murphy at RW then we've completely fucked it.

I'll be honest a pretty significant part of me actively wants us to breach PSR rules by a few million in order to contest the whole fucking thing in a court. Few mill over, 2 points, piddly shit tbh - nothing major, but it'll allow us to eventually drag the PL into a court and thrash the fuck out of the legality of the whole thing without too much jeopardy. May well not be the most sensible of moves but I'd not be scared of the outcome. If no-one challenges this shit then we're fucked anyway

Comes back to the exploitation of the loopholes to the maximum imo. If Chelsea can get away with (legally) selling themselves a hotel for £80m to dodge a breach of PSR then why can't we (legally) sign 50 1-year sponsorship deals for all manner of shite for £999,999 each? Each one is below a million so exempt from PL validation and there's nothing that I'm aware of that could be done to block it. They'd probably have to look at the rules again to stop others doing it but the first club to do it should get away with it. This is a completely rigged situation, this is not normal for clubs to be flat-out prevented from investing it's own cash. I was all for playing nice and doing things the 'right' way but that's not working. Fuck it. Take the piss. The more ridiculous the better. Sponsor fucking everything that's not nailed down

Ignoring the fact it's one of theirs I think that's a nice kit actually. Like the long sleeves and the fact the chevrons go all the way down without a break for a patch. The sponsor looks a bit shit but there's not much they could have done with that tbh. They'll shift plenty of those this summer

I shall call him the Balkan Diamond

The fuckers were always complaining that he was getting picked regardless of how shit he was performing. Banging on about a clause in his contract the guaranteed a start if he was fit. Not sure they're in any position to hold out for 20m+ like but that's their problem, not mine

Shit performances are shit performances, doesn't really matter when they take place but if you're Southgate and you're taking this English squad of players into a big tournament then there's a level of expectation. The squad is jam packed full of fantastic players and we've looked absolutely rank. He's got the players but he can't get them to function at all and that's 100% on him. Not saying he deserves to be swilled or whatever but he's the boss, and results and performances are totally on him. His team looks and plays like shit? His fault. Team fails to perform? His fault. He's been lauded be many for getting to a WC semi and a Euro final and that's fair enough. He's got to face the music when it's as abject as it has been. Can't run with the foxes and hunt with the hounds