The College Dropout

Isak and Bruno are the heart of the team. The big marquee signings of the first 2 windows under the new ownership. Selling either work mark an entire new team and era. At the time we all thought they would be with us at the destination. Zabaleta types.

Selling a purple would feel like the project has failed.

He’s the only one I’m certain gets us ‘rebuild money’. He’s also the most important.

While I agree with the first paragraph being the strategy we are following - I don’t get it. What’s the point of keeping the band together one more season and then not going for it? I’ve been more keen to see what we do off the pitch than on it. Because it doesn’t quite make sense to me. Me? I’d sign someone now - and sell Joelinton by June to Saudi to make it work. Or do some creative to get us revenue. If we follow the strategy I think we are. There’s only 1 player we could sell that would guarantee rebuild money. The others are less certain to get north of £80m. I don’t know how much headspace getting rid of the dead wood gets us and half of those will need replacing.

I didn’t think we could qualify for CL without improvements. Now we are close… it’s worth rethinking the approach.

Bored of moaning about the rules. We know the attitude of thr establishment. What are we going to do about it ?

He’s always done this tbf. It’s frustrating but don’t expect it to change. That approach requires a lot of ‘team spirit’ to ride bad periods out. It leads to streaky results. When you can’t hold on for one game it impacts the next.

This is what it is at this point. He doesn’t tend to make subs when in a good position but playing badly that aren’t semi-pre planned. That’s Eddie.

Iraola looks the real deal. But we love Howe.

I'm way off the pace atm. Likely using my AM chip. You know where I'm going.

Last season he would barely move in the last 20 minutes it was so bad.

Isak has looked better in the final 20 minutes in recent weeks imo. Still feel Wilson could be a powerful asset off the bench in the run in. His goals got us over the finish line for 4th.

Out of his own self-interest I assue Wilson wants a big end to the season. If he can stay fit and score 3-5 goals, he might earn himself £4m-8m retirement fund with a 2-3 year deal at West Ham, Everton or something. If he doesn't play much the offers won't be worth putting his body on the line again. If we were cheeky and he scores 5+ perhaps we could sell him to Saudi for £10m+? (extending the contract then selling him might be a red flag)

I think we need it for depth. European winger out of favour - Juve, Atleti usually have someone knocking around. My guess is a loan fee and possible wages would eat into our Miggy profit. We are a Murphy injury away from shoe-horning Willock at RW.

This is what i'm thinking. We are doing absolutely nowt.

PIF already have multiple club. We just aren’t at the top of the pyramid.

Fancy Villa to get to the QFs - maybe semi's. Great for them. If they do that they definitely won't make CL again - probably Conference bound.

And that’s the thing. Eddie won’t play kids. Yep. The squad will need 5. 3 as a minimum (RB backup, RCB, RW). Really need a GK and ST too as you say. If Eddie is happy to play Miley, we could sell both Longstaff and Willock and only replace with 1 player. Think we should sell Joelinton to Saudi for £70m personally. If Mitoma is worth that.

Was hoping we would get some type of Miggy replacement. Summer is going to be so interesting. Especially if we qualify for the CL. Because… we’ll actually need a proper squad. People keep talking about selling Longstaff, Willock, Barnes….. they will need replacements. We are desperately short as it is squad wise. A part of what’s helped us and Villa maintain some level of performance with a small quality squad is the squad members have been seasoned pros. Are we going to replace them with Spurs like boys? Are we going to wheel and deal like Villa? Massive summer ahead lad.

It’s the only interesting tie on paper. Juve aren’t good so fancy PSV. Fancy Celtic to win at home but to lose convincingly away.

First time one of these clubs won’t be in the last 16 for how long? Real Madrid might have made the last 16 25 years in a row.

That’s good content tbf and you’ve circulated it

Where does Miggy rank in assists?

Havertz missed a sitter. Missed a 1v1. Timber chance was decent too. A lot of that xg would be low quality shots but they had 2-3 big chances.

It was hyperbolic to make a point. We are legit a few successive bad decisions away from falling right off it and taking many years to get close again. Zoom out - Bournemouth have had 2 relegations in the last 5/6 years. They are a yo-yo club that now look set to re-establish themselves as a PL outfit. In the same period Man U have won 2 Cups and been to a final for 2 others, multiple CL campaigns - as a "banter" era. That's the point of the big 6. No matter how poorly they are run, they are too big to get relegated. Too much money. They will only be a few good decisions away from competing for Europe and Cups. Everybody else - including us - needs a string of generational choice decisions to compete with them and that success can be undone quickly. Fall right back into the pack or further for several years. That's my point. It's not a controversial point i'm making.