thomas

was worried it was just me

nee cunt has any actual idea who the NUFC transfer warlocks have secretly targeted

I view it as a test to see who really meant it when they said (in the days and weeks after the takeover) that they were just happy to have owners that cared and were fine with building, etc In two windows we've replaced the entire back 5 and gotten an amazing CM in. So we haven't exactly been miserly nor have we exploded with spending. They'll do a deal if it's there - words I never believed under Ashley but do with this lot - and I trust Howe's judgement on priority upgrades being required at the back before the front. Not even August yet btw.

It's crazy how impossible it is to tell if comments like that are a troll or not anymore. Actual people out there thinking that unironically. Others saying anything short of top 6 will be a failure. Wondering why we haven't spent 100m this window. Living up to every cheap stereotype (inaccurately) lobbed at us for the last 20 years about "divine rights" and "delusional". Actually over it.

Nope. I'm an Athenian, fuck Atlanta.

#wait

Those estimates seem ... high. Would have had us pegged around the 150 mark. The point stands, though

They've had their investment for 9 months There were multi-year plans for improvement laid out at the start. I get that it's hard to square what we're seeing now against the common (possibly offensively stereotypical ) perception of saudi decadence/opulence and buying the best at whatever cost, but I think that's the reality. It's simply not an "i want the fastest emerald-encrusted Lamborghini" situation, or else they would have bought Man U and done just that.

If the selling club want a bidding war they whatsapp or call other clubs/agents directly, surely? Yes, yes, I know there's supposed to be rules in place but I thought it was an open secret that basically no one pays attention to them anyway? I think any story in the media is just entertainment for us, not relevant information. Like I can't imagine a scenario in 2022 where a team learns of a players availability through a journo leak at the same time fans do, with some "club shocker: [player] COULD LEAVE THIS SUMMER if the price is right, manager admits" headline. I think the age of the ITKs is over.

stats shmats honestly i just like Ronaldo more than that fop-haired labgrown gremlin

Practically Rafa-esque in his barely concealed plea to the board to get things done. Just needs a "the fans know what the situation is; they're very smart here" to complete the set. #worrying

from 8%-15% in most cases actually, and for one fewer game (no "18th game" perk) so price per game has gone up. People aren't best pleased given other economic situations and our general direness right now.

I said I dropped mine and it was in 2019 w/ de Boer at the helm. Also it might have only been 3 years in real time but covid time makes it feel like it was 1988.

Drops a ST price hike in the middle of a shit season + record inflation then dips for NUFC within hours. Fan reaction among my mates - I gave up my ST and following long ago - is very mixed to say the least. Our injury record is something to behold in all honesty though, this season has not been kind. On balance he's probably been good though and I'd bet Ashworth is miles beyond boca as someone to run that side of things.

awaiting the absolute scenes on NO if we haven't signed anyone else by august 15th

both outcomes are good honestly i'm just like a 55/45 slight preference in favor of Isak

Happens in a lot of fields that you can have multiple job offers and you take your time deciding, or one company takes longer to make a formal offer, etc. The timing coinciding with holidays etc probably means looser timetables. We've also no idea if decision deadlines were put out etc. I know he's only been at it for a few weeks but it's not like Ashworth would go for the Ashley/Charnley days of pursuing one target at a time, surely, so I'm just fantastically unbothered by the "wasting" of time here. Que sera sera.

might well have been. We did business with them both, maybe Aulas was was the good cop

Interesting. There was one who was always jerking us around when it came to transfers during the last decade or so, for some reason I thought it was him. But that could just be my negative perception, while "making english clubs overpay" could be the good one. Or I'm misremembering.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lucas-paqueta-newcastle-united-arsenal-24438731 nowt new but lee's wording here tickled me I thought Aulas was a turboclown? or am i getting my french club presidents confused?

Not what I said at all. The back and forth over "he played here but this website said he only plays there" etc is pointless. He'd be signed with a position(s) in mind and I'm sure in talks with Howe that will come up and he'll either agree or not and all the whoscored printouts won't change that.