The College Dropout

Based on what? Who of Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Man U, Spurs, Chelsea, Villa wouldn't expect to finish above us if they got their houses in order? If they all have a good summer, good managers in place - the top 6 should get top 6. Villa got 66 points the last time they were in the CL - that's CL 90% of the time.

Because we don't have Europe we should finish above 2 of Chelsea (no Europe most likely), Man U, Villa and Spurs (no Europe)? Not for me.

Playing once a week is a huge advantage. Brighton have a deep squad and Conference League isn't the strongest. But they can't cope with a 60-game season.

Yep. I wasn't sure about the business at all.

Depends on the summer transfer activity for us, for others and if Spurs go down. And who gets into Europe. I'd say now 6th-8th. With no Europe and some of the likes of Bournemouth, Brighton & Brentford in Europe, 8th is the floor. Forest and Palace may be in it too. Below Top 6 + Villa (better run club) is acceptable. Anything else is not. Rocking up with Barnes/Gordon - Woltemade/Wissa/Osula - Elanga/Murphy we could finish 10th.

With the business we need to do and the business we may be forced to do - I would keep Schar as a main 4 CB unless a great deal for a player presents itself.

Tino has played a lot more games too. Tino had a 50 game season last year. Well over 3.5k minutes.

Not with half the league in Europe. There are 4 European sides in the bottom 8 in the league.

It’s been a long time since a non petro club or Real Madrid have won the CL right? In a regular CL campaign. Like Liverpool?

That’s a champions league penalty. In fact it’s a PL penalty too

But they weren't actually in a relegation battle last season. They were throwing games at the end to concentrate on a Cup. This is entirely different. This is a genuine relegation battle. They've never been this close to relegation in my life - last season not even close

last season wasn't close points wise. West Ham beating Arsenal and Leeds beating Spurs would be the best GW of football in a long long time.

I also think it will be a big challenge to replace him. We've not signed an attacker as good as him or well suited to Howe in 3 years. I don't expect us to sell him then immediately sign a better player. I've never been a big fan but he's a good player and I don't want him to leave. I jsut don't think linking up with others is a strength of his. He's good at pressing forward but he doesn't love doing the ugly work of tracking fullbacks in our own half, supporting Hall defensively imo. Willock and Joelinton combination was much more industrious defensively but Gordon added goal threat when he took the position.

Our on-the-ball approach always has the same principles. We attack via the wings and play very direct football. Never play with a 10 because we don't attack through the central lines. When we were linked with Pedro, then Etikite and then signed Woltemade I thought we intended to play 2 uptop more often and play more through the lines with a 10/9 type forward in there. Evidently not. All of our midfielders have low pass completion rates. It's not that they can't pass but they are all encouraged to play percentage balls forward. Bruno and Tonali will play balls where our attackers won't be favourites but helps us get up the pitch and turn opposition.

Think the way we play - we need penetrative passers. So maybe pass.

I don't think that he did. How many assists have they combined for as our two best attackers over two seasons?

I like Curtis Jones a lot

Gordon doesn't link up well with anyone.

They are literally included in the annual reports.

The facts are in the annual reports. You can quibble over the amount spent on cleaners and marketing people and if they are included or not if you want

reports don't include bonuses, which can be significant. If we can't place Capology figures against the real figures ever - then it's a useless starting point. What did capology say the 24/25 wages were?

No doubt your wages will go down. No Europe. Big earners going. But you will obviously spend money again.

So it was £100m+ off? I'm not great at maths but I make that 50%+ off. Then.. what exactly are Capology basing their wages on? Can't be actual numbers, that hasn't been published yet.

But we do know things, we have hard facts. @Froggy because Mbeumo, Cunha, Sesko, Lammens all play for free

Think there has been a lot wrong with German football. Top class teams outside of Bayern barely have German players anymore.