The College Dropout

We don’t need the dough and I don’t expect we’ll sell. City have to get back to splashing the cash if they want to keep dominating. Pay the big bucks or fuck off.

Tino is one that ‘got it‘ from the start. He’s not petulant. No huffs. He gets on and gives his best every game. I don’t know why it took so long but he’s a full Howe player and don’t want to see him go. If he must it needs to be for £80m+

He's super aggressive in the press and likes a marauding run off the ball up the pitch.

My only issues with the squad is that.

Excellent point

Not with CL football. Neither player will start 50-60 games

At their best - I don't think there's a big gap between Barnes and Gordon. A below-par Gordon is significantly inferior to a good form Barnes.

Formation will depend on Trippier you would think. If he's fit 4-3-3. Probably Willock. If he's out. Back 5.

Suarez used it as a term of endearment to Evra?

I do think it's super tough to have a good Europa League campaign and a good league campaign in the PL. That's not our portion. CL is us.

When he's not playing well his head drops and he's slower to respond, losses some of his drive. A bad touch is one thing. Giving up on a loose ball is another and a sign of a poor mentality. One thing I liked about Tiote RIP - he didn't let a bad pass or anything change his game. Fully committed game in game out. James Milner too. He was even the subject of boo boys right? From memory it didn't impact his ability to play his game the best way he could. At least in his head

Teams play 8 different teams - 2 from each pot. So every teamfaces two pot 1 sides, 2 from pot 2 etc. So everyone gets the same spread of difficulty more or less. Thats my understanding anyway.

Forest have done it with a decent window. We showed top 4 form with 1 window. I don't think Man U have great players, it's a weak squad. But it's also not that bad. I think nearly every mainstay PL side is 2-3 transformational players away from a CL challenge + a good manager. We did it, Forest did it, Villa did it. And Man U will have the funds to land the next Palmer or whoever. Ultimately their ownership is their ceiling and they won't make enough good decisions to regularly challenge for titles IMO. But CL? They are only 2 or 3 good moves away from being at the door. All that "we need 5-6 players" is cope for awful management and culture. Not just the manager but everyone above him. Excellent culture and good coaching will have Jacob Murphy posting up 20 G/A in the PL.

There was that moment he gave up on a ball that he could've kept in play (Tino did in the end). And when he lost the ball for the goal, he didn't have the reaction of a "oh shit I've lost the ball poorly here let me try and rectify", it was a 60% effort to get it back. It's that type of stuff people refer too about his attitude. I think a lot of it is down to his own frustration rather than a lack of care. His head gets down so he's that bit slow to react, assumes a negative outcome. And this is not really a defence because it's a level of mental fragility. He's not blessed with the talent to be so mentally fragile imo

No idea about his background and no issues with the lad personally. Just didn't see it for him as a football player. Which doesn't say much.

I love how we have a number of players that "get it". You need that in a dressing room.

Ange staying at Spurs and Amorim staying at Man U is the stuff of dreams.

They are always a good manager and window away from CL

it’s only super disruptive characters that tend to force moves too. Harry Kane tried but conceded. Zaha never tried to force one and spent his best years at Palace. As you say it’s mostly a value thing too. I also think some players are badly advised. Harry Kane’s brother led him to sign away the best years of his career to Spurs based on a handshake with Levy. Zero issue with Wilson. Been a fantastic player for us. Not his fault he gets minutes over Osula. His ability is limited now but he still gives his best.

Why has it gone too far? If you want to move employers - you just do it + a notice period. Why are footballers different? They have a defined contract when it ends they are free to move as they wish. Multiple players hang on for years when not producing because of contracts, I wouldn’t put Wilson in that bracket. I look at football from an employee vs employee perspective and I stand with players in most situations. Only thing I don’t support is forcing moves. I also don’t support clubs forcing contracted players out.

Here here.

Troll in what way? MLS is ahead of multiple international players for club and is capped for England. From LB you can see his playstyle already. Aggressive (too much sometimes), ball carrier/dribbler and he tries to make stuff happen on the ball. Im still figuring out what kind of player Miley is. He’s a composed and tidy passer but what else? He doesn’t stamp his authority on the game to the extent MLS does

I just think that was always the path - needing to beat Everton to secure CL but it being in our hands. With a bit of luck we could’ve won at Brighton or drawn Arsenal, had we setup more defensive against Villa maybe got a result there but the 1 point we got was a pivotal point. Villa and Chelsea have done better than I expected but Forest and City have done worse so we’ve landed about the same. We are in a great position. After the announcement I don’t expect Doucoure to start or play meaningful minutes. Would assume he doesn’t want to get injured.

That might be our best formation considering injuries. Although I expect 433 with Willock. Can easily see us starting with 5 at the back and changing if chasing second half. Agree that if Trippier is back we go with a back 4. Or Joelinton

Can we name a recent athlete to be an alcoholic? Jack seems to like a blowout. Which is bad craic for any fully matured adult let alone an athlete.