The College Dropout

Definitely bloated. But Real, Bayern, Juve, City, PSG, Dortmund will be going all out to win in the final group stage. That doesn’t usually happen.

Or watched the games. Bayern vs Benfica was brilliant yesterday, PSG vs City excellent today

Avoiding the play offs for big clubs is a massive deal. Making the play offs for smaller clubs is a massive deal. That’s a good balance of jeopardy. The KO rounds are seeded iirc. So the position of the table matters. Not just the R16 but the whole route is dependent on league finish.

Compared to the old format? The old format was awful. This is better. Like I said - far less ‘regular season NBA games’. Real, Bayern and City never have any issues in the old group stage. Only 1 of them likely to go straight into the R16.

Sorry yes 10.

Ending the CL teams dropping into the Europa League also makes the Europa a better competition.

And FWIW Celtic will be playing CL football in February. Celtic will play a minimum of 12 CL games. I’m sure they won’t get much more money for it from uefa but atm that feels nice.

Been a lot of fun matches which for me is the main thing. 20 clubs with something meaningful to play for heading into the last game. Only 6 teams through already or basically through. That didn’t happen before.

Ok perfect. Need that for Villa and for them to win.

All clubs have something to play for right?

This group stage has been fun man. Real, Bayern, PSG, Juve and more all I the play offs. PSG and City fighting to even make the play off. Is the playoff just 1 KO round right? Top half team is at home?

Must be said - they are not great. Brugge need a result too. Lots to play for in the last GW. City need to win to make the playoff.

Feel like this is the first time I’ve seen Hakimi really ball out offensively.

Football careers can be very short man. Retired at 30 then? I hope he chose to retire because he’d earned enough to not need the money and the apprenticeship is not to get by. doesn’t sound like that’s the case maybe. Dickhead thing to do here

Just want to say, I wanted us in for Amad last season. Excelling in the Championship at a young age is a great predictor for PL suitability. Shame it’s not true of ‘our’ Armstrong.

Think Garnach is good. Dont know if he’s quick or technically good enough to make a profit over £50m for the buying club.

this is very true. Only just seen his goal and assist at OT. Both well taken but it's only Man U. Hope he can nail a starting spot and stay injury-free. Brighton have a lot of options at RW - March, Aindgra,Enciso, Gruda, Rutter. Brighton are hoarding these talented boys in certain positions. Same issue at 10. It's not squad building, it's just revenue generation. At 10 they have JP, Rutter, Enciso, Buonnotte(sp?), O'Riley - probably more I'm forgetting. I don't think it's going to work for most of the boys as they won't get enough game time or play in the wrong position. Buonnotte lad looks a good player but his Leicester loan is turning to shit. Positively, we should be able to unsettle some of these talented lads pretty easily and get them for a decent fee. Outside of JP none of those lads get consistent minutes.

Man City "have 700m" in revenue and at worst - the second best academy in England. They are getting £50m for academy players every year. A lot with sell-on clauses like Romeo Lavia.

Didn't specify you mate. There was more than one comment about him not playing for Bolton. He just joined on Monday

10m is a great deal. Didn't think we would get that. No chance a European club spent that much money.

Wages are part of PSR calc but it's a simple calc. e.g. the wages over the accounting period. So Isak is £10m in amortisation cost and c. £5-8m in wages and bonuses. A total of £15-18m per year.

CL football if you don't get out the group phase for a club with our co-efficient is £30-40m. That's 10-15% of our revenue aka it's probably not the be all and end all of PSR breaches. CL qualification is not the money spinner for teams in our position that it used to be (comparing to the last time we were in it). PL revenue is significantly bigger. Payment splits benefits the bigger clubs too. Need to run deep to get the big money. Great for reputation for sponsors and players.

People also quick to talk down our youth prospects it seems.

They've got too many 10s and RWs. Lads end up 3rd, 4th choice and can't develop. Enciso is a 10 right? JP, Rutter start ahead of him. That Baleba has come good but he doesn't have crazy competition at CM. He was bad last season. Enciso can play RW but he's 4th choice there too I believe.

Redknapp is the Carlo Ancelotti of PFMs. He could improve Spurs if partnered with a modern assistant.