The College Dropout

Ok but we entertained the idea.

?? I thought it was confirmed that the club has to explore numerous FFP exit routes - even unlikely ones.

They have very favourable PSR position. Their wages to salary ratio is pretty healthy iirc.

Re: Howe The only thing I’m confident of is PIF view last season as a failure and have instituted strategic changes. Seems Eddie might not love some lf those changes or at least it hasn’t been clearly communicated to him. Im hoping it’s a storm in a tea cup.

For the record the last 6 RM CLs have come from 2 managers. Zidane and Ancelotti. Barca’s 5 CLs have come from 4 different managers. Cruyff, Rijkaard, Guardiola and Enrique.

No he doesn’t. He’s usually a liar and gives nothing away. That interview is unusually candid.

Edu and Arteta seem to work together. Klopps best team he worked with Edwards on and didn’t always get his way. Guardiola has all his ex Barca lot in management. Eales made it seem like it would be a team effort.

It does sound like Howe has his back up a little bit. Pure speculation but my gut feeling is PIF considered last season a failure and have reacted to it. We spent a lot of money in the transfer market and none of the signings had the impact of Bruno, Botman, Tripppier or Isak. A partial reason why they’ve brought in a DOF who specialises in trading more. I think PIF accept injuries were a major cause and Bunce has been brought in to mitigate that becoming a future issue. From what I read Staveley was a huge advocate for Howe and they were aligned on a lot of issues (Joelinton contract for example). That’s a huge loss for him.

Sounds like Kell Brook. A Yorkshire man I assume?

That's not the Madrid strategy anymore. If they throw the big money at him, it will be now. Otherwise they'll wait for the next wonderkid, get a kid from the Portuguese league or get an established star for free.

I misread your initial post tbf - it was clear. I'm still choosing to believe he cost £50m minimum though.

Aye - Adidas is uniquely positioned to leverage the Keegan & SBR nostalgia eras into the next golden era of Newcastle that other sponsors aren't. Which is in large part why our deal would be bigger than a deal for Villa.

Why? Other clubs are. True.

I was kinda hoping for a shift in approach in terms of how we talk about PSR & FFP but still looks like we are content not to publicly challenge it

Great this is happening. Eales is the face. He's not warm but he's clear and authoritative. He's soft in his PSR comms though. I hate that. New commercial deals - he said "in the background.. announce in the coming months" not a direct quote. But don't get the impression we have new deals coming imminently. It might be best after the transfer window tbf. Transfers - Paul & Eddie Performance - health and fitness related - Eddie and the new guy and mentions of Paul. Live posting. Will reflect and drop a titangraph. Europe is the target. But we knew that.

Pedro Porro held down the RB slot last season. I don't imagine Gray taking his place full-time straight away. Pedro Porro won me the NO FPL league on the last day. He's not a great defender but he is a baller.

NT management doesn’t suit his strengths imo.

What’s he meant to be good at?

If that’s the case then fair enough. I reread it and you’re right.

Raphinha is an Atleti x Juve type signing.

Don’t think Raphinha is the hot property people think he is. He’s a decent age. But has 3 years left on his contract so will command at least €40m but likely closer to €50-60m which is unlikely to be recoupable in Europe in 2 years. And wages probably close to €10m per year. He’ll PSR cost €20m this season minimum. Thats a lot for a club like Villa. Leon Baileys good too.

Yeh it’s a good deal. Never said it wasn’t. But how they paid for Diaby makes no difference - Brummie mentioned paying x upfront - that’s irrelevant to PSR

If it’s the T I’m thinking of it’s Alexander McQueen

….. I think I have that t shirt on Eales

How you pay makes no difference to FFP. Monchi does seem more proactive in navigating FFP than Ashworth was.