The College Dropout

I love Lascelles. For pure sentimentality I want him to lead the team out that first CL game. Let him get the CL music through his system. Him, Almiron, Schar, Longstaff etc. really deserve that full circle moment.

Willock. Just because Wilson was a no-brainer. No idea what to expect from Willock. IIRC he was rated behind Nelson and all the other Arsenal lads.

It was the most sensible transfer. It’s good for next week too.

Szob can play there and is left footed. Diogo Jota is 2 footed. They would be most likely to play there imo.

Aye. They’ve bought a bunch of good attacking players - but none as prolific, consistent and fit as Salah.

Salah is a guaranteed 30 G/A player in the PL. No amount of money guarantees that and Liverpool don’t have the best pull in the world. But any Klopp team will score lots of goals. But nobody as predictably as Salah when you factor in fitness and consistency. I don’t even think they buy a replacement. Szob and Jota can play there. They can spend what it will take to sign the left over CMs they might really want and other positions.

3x Man City managers have won the league. Every manager they’ve had since Hughes. Even after Pep City will be there. Still have the beet Academy in the country. And 10 years of financial doping.

Aye Saudi league doesn’t need to be #1. It won’t take much for it to become too 5-6 globally. @Jimburst so far South Americans are flocking to Saudi. They have zero loyalty to European football. All these Brazilian players rocking up to midtable PL clubs - they’ve never heard of them. They are moving for the money and the exposure. For European players it’s a harder sell. But already some have made the move. Lifestyle will be an issue. But players girlfriends working is not one of them I know it’s not the same but I know a few people living in Abu Dhabi and having the time of their lives. I’m sure there’s plenty of places for the lads to spend their milllions.

European Domestic leagues are needed but I can see a world where more match days are midweek. But the European comps are ripe for disruption.

I think endgame is Saudi teams are involved in some type of international super league that supersedes the champions league. You can’t replace Real Madrid and Man U, Juventus. But like City, Chelsea and potentially us - you can sit alongside them.

The fees haven’t been super crazy. They bank on turning the players head. I think he goes for less than £120m.

I literally used West Ham as an example of a vulnerable club to Saudi.

I mean… this is a weird way of thinking.

If you lot think this squad should finish 4th - great.

This confirms my point. I’ve said 7 out of 10 and you’ve taken it to mean 2 out of 10.

There’s glaring gaps in the Real Madrid squad. Last week there were glaring gaps in the city squad. I gave it a 7. There’s nothing hysterical about that. Imo our aim should be the CL - the transfer window has given us a decent chance at it. But I don’t think Howe has EVERYTHING he needs to make it happen. The LB is a weakness. No quality depth at CB. And imo a lack of quality in depth in attack. For a team with top 4 ambitions. Howe can pull it off but I don’t expect him too

Liverpool might. But a lot of the other elite would love it.

Chelsea was sold at a premium despite being a distressed asset. Most analysts thought Clearlake overpaid. Chelsea are the perfect example. Tremendously successful. Best academy in the league. Dominant women’s team. NOT PROFITABLE. I didn’t say it did. But that’s more money the owners are pouring into us.

We aren’t Man U. Even if Roman pocketed the Chelsea money he wasn’t going to make his money back. City’s owners won’t make their money back. Aye our valuation will skyrocket. But all in it won’t be financially profitable. We should know this is a soft power play by Saudi. Owners that are in it for money move like FSG or the Glazers (no crazy investment) or Todd (trying to revolutionise the game).

No they won’t. Expanded stadium. Training facilities. Women’s team. Youth team. And they are just moving money around with the Sela sponsorship- there will be more. They ain’t making it all back.

Nah the reason is largely political. No other excluded nation would be invited to UEFA.

You’ve never heard of Maccaibi Haifa? Tel Aviv? Or seen Israel at the Euros?

It’s largely the same situation with us btw. They will not make all of their money back.

You sign players…. For a squad. You judge a window by how it improves the squad. The ones I said. we have 3 left backs and I none of them would start for any other top 6 team. Liverpool will be targeting Burn (and Trips tbf) - he’s a weak spot in the team. Targett isn’t fancied and should be sold and Hall is 18. I would love for Hall to cement his spot in the team come September but I don’t expect it. We’re playing the long game which makes sense but on the pitch it’s a weakness. I could go on. You might be happy with Almiron Murphy Barnes and Gordon but I think that’s weak for the level we want. Howe is a miracle worker and we have a functional team unit and squad. If we finish 4th or get in the CL it’s another miracle job. There’s a lack of quality in some areas and a lack of depth in other crucial areas. But overall we are a stronger squad this season than last and are well setup going forward. This is where we are on this forum. People a bit annoyed if you rate a window as 7 out of 10. That’s good. That’s progress. But a slight hint that things could be a little better and it rubs people the wrong way.

Aye but we’ve spent £50m on a new CM. Not sold any. And our academy lads in that position have developed. Hall can also play there. We’re much stronger there now compared to Jan.