The College Dropout

The bad thing about Villa’s approach is a lot of their business is heavily linked to FFP.

As long as a plan is logical and coherent - I can accept it. I’ve accepted that we needed to sell Minteh based on our circumstances. In the end it was the best plan that we had. But I maintain that we should have had a better plan in the first place. I think Ashworth was prepared to sell Joelinton if necessary. I said at the time, as much as I like Big Joe I’m hesitant to give players like him the big salary if it makes him hard to shift. The changes at leadership level have probably led to this slapdash approach to PSR. Likewise I was skeptical of Villa signing free transfers on club high wages because existing players would want to match. Turns out Villa are happy to trade those existing players. That’s a logical plan. It might not work but it makes sense.

Yeh that’s bad planning though isn’t it? We knew that a long time ago. We didn’t know Minteh would be worth £30-40m 12 months ago or even 6 months ago. In the end - we’ve been a little fortuitous. We can’t have planned to receive that much for him. Villa can plan to sell their youth. Luiz contract was up for renewal and he would’ve wanted Tielemans/Kamara money. Probably 2x what he was on - so they probably planned to sell him too. Their approach shows a plan to dealing with the PSR issues as they continue to spend. Our approach doesn’t suggest we had a good plan to escape PSR. If not for Minteh having a breakout season, it’s likely we sell a Purple in a rush. That’s so poor. Anyway - we’ve changed a lot of the leadership structure and I don’t expect we’l be so ill prepared next season.

Needing a higher fee is also a sign of not dealing with PSR as well as Villa. Minteh is a lot more proven than those were too. We didn’t even get the best fee for Minteh. Did we suggest a lower fee but a buy back to the French club and Minteh? The latest rumours are that we spent £12-20m on the GK. We didn’t even get a useful player from the fuckery.

Exactly my point. We were just desperate for the cash. Didn’t get the best bid. No buy back. No sell on. Desperate times. Dealt with it badly. Villa - dealing with PSR a little smarter. Spent some time planning how they could navigate PSR by selling youth but still keeping them long term. In Philogene’s case they got him a great loan. Villa got a bad fee for Luiz. But at least they were proactive in resolving their PSR issues in decent time. Shows some preparation. We went from seemingly 0-100 in the last 2-3 weeks. We didn’t prepare well for it at all.

That’s my point. Villa are strategically selling youth to clubs that will accept a buy back. That’s executing a plan that keeps their best youngsters as Villa players long term. Our plan was just to shift the lad. We were so desperate that we didn’t even receive the highest bid. we apparently don’t have a sell on either. Minteh had a lot of suitors too. With a bit more time and strategy why couldn’t we have done what Villa have done with Philogene and Archer? we signed a clunker from Forest too.

True. But they are implementing buy back clauses for their young talent. We should’ve done something like that for Minteh. They got Maatsen in their FFP fuckery. We’ve got a no hoper.

Aston Villa deal with PSR way smarter than we do.

Seemed to do well at Hull But poorly in Germany. Arne Slot is the man for him. He seems to trust youth.

Shouldn’t need to have lots of black players for that type of craic to make you a dressing room pariah tbh.

I had stocks in this lad but it’s gone horribly for him. Both him and the Portuguese lad did great things as teenagers in the Champ for Fulham - joined top 6 clubs and never got anything going. It’s better to stick at those clubs or join a West Ham type club. Young lads don’t get minutes if they don’t perform at top 6 clubs. Your Palace’s and West Ham’s usually won’t have as much competition and will play you through some rough patches.

Aye need to see who doesn’t play any pre season games. Munoz is a good option but he needs some pre season minutes.

It’s not the transfer window they will care about. It’s the product. Tbf a system that is rigged for the existing top 6 is good for Sky. A crap Man U is a bad thing for them.

Think he’s over rated. Not as productive as you would hope.

Shit is harsh. But he’s not very good. I think Howe is getting the very best out of him and even then it’s… not that good.

Almiron doesn’t do anything particularly useful with his left foot that’s the problem. Mbeumo plays the same role - he’s going to get into goal scoring positions and finish his fair share. Kudus plays the same position - he can create and score from very little. Can also beat a man. Palmer and Olise when fit - scoring, creating, beat a man and playmaking from a RW position. Imo that’s the profile of player we need. I like Almiron’s attitude. I’m concerned that we won’t find a buyer mind. Him and Matt Targett must be on good money man. We couldn’t shift either in one of those dodgy deals ffs.

Will share my thoughts closer to the deadline. Im an awful starter at FPL typically. Should engage a little earlier actually. Typically you would look to target the promoted sides though. Ipswich face Liverpool and City early. Fancy one of those to be 4+ goals.

Most relaxed I’ve heard Tino. He sounds like someone from around my way.

The Cozier Duberry scored a couple too.

Best approach imo. Last year I made the fewest transfers I’ve ever done (partly because I was going well). Finished 7k. Took 3 hits all season. Didn’t chase. Not started a draft yet. Salah usually starts the season off hot. But I’m tempted to live without. Problem is Salah and Haaland are captain locks usually. Going without is usually going with someone less reliable. But maybe Palmer and Isak are the new guys. Last year - you could have 4/5 of the players you want. This year there will be a lot more give and take. Much closer to 60-70%. Which will help if you’re chasing.

In the position we were in it wasn’t a mistake. We sold him knowing he has the ability to go up levels. The mistake was not selling others earlier. The mistake was not doing financial workarounds earlier.

The story suggests PIF got excited by the 3-3 draw, Wilson got injured so we came back to Sociedad with a better offer and we met somewhere in the middle. He scored that night against Barca. We forced the sale, they weren’t overly willing sellers.

Would prefer players 25/24 and younger.

Most persistent rumours have *some* truth in them. Interest, conversations with agents or intermediaries.

Well some of the people planning have left and we've brought in someone with their own ideas.