80

Always shocked at how easily people get ahead of themselves. I think 7th is achievable, but the idea of 9th being underachievement is silly to me. People pull their hair out with the state of our bench, so unless they're massively overreacting, we have a weak squad even if we have a fine first eleven.

One of those really nice signings that warms your heart.

Would suspect Eales has a relationship with Bassong from their Tottenham days...

One thing I'd go along with is scrapping the league cup. It's been dead for a long long time. I'd actually be a bit gutted if our first trophy was that because it's not too far off our intertoto win for me. To balance it out, I'd give a Champion's League spot to the FA Cup winner...

Good luck to him. Hope it works out one way or another.

I'd say it's an image which can be read in many ways, yes, which is part of what makes it a good one. And it's a chance to display a triumphant moment of our club - it's not like we're drowning in hi res imagery of our title victories, is it...

Probably silly but I'm actually really pleased about this. Fresh start, kind of thing.

I wouldn't say something like the cup winner image would be political so much as poignant, reflecting time past and aspirations.

Was staring at this, trying to work it out, thinking you were talking about Bruno for a while

Hope we kick some butt. Will be an interesting contest whatever happens.

Preposterous.

Marcelino speaks well of us? Fucking should...

8 feels a bit harsh, 9 feels a nudge generous. Went 8 given Ekitike fuck arounds etc.

Indeed... Though I recall the main real reason being that European leagues who voluntarily operated transfer windows for years prior were upset that British teams gained an advantage on them and wanted to bring us into line.

Would rather return to normality and rid of the transfer windows. What are they for?

Thing is, the existence and implementation of VAR affects the decision making of the on pitch officials. Their calls now carry less responsibility as it can almost be seen as referring to a higher power, and it's the safer bet - in terms of internal professional reputation - to look like you spotted a possible infraction than to be 'sloppy' and miss something VAR has to call you back and intervene on. So I believe VAR in itself will have contributed to the guy belatedly putting the flag up himself. And that's putting aside the rewriting of the offside rule that has taken place just to accommodate VAR in the first place. The daylight rule was much more reasonable.

Let's back the boys... I don't see anyone on the pitch who won't show up for a fight tonight.

I don't think his time with us is over at all, but it's certainly a real shame.

I hope the loan fee is significant...

Just echoing other people's comments, Man United should be made to pay the serious market rate. We don't owe anyone any favours here that I'm aware of. Open-minded to a backroom deal which sees them compensate our club in other ways. Dubravka could seek a move to many other clubs, he can't suddenly become an overseas Man U supporter overnight and break his contract with us for free.

Hope he makes a full recovery from this, it's a real blow to us as he's a good guy. Our squad just became a chunk more fragile.

Fuck my eyes that's horrible. Had just assumed it was a ridiculous sex-neutral thing. Think this might actually be worse.

That was against Everton, this was against Man City though

Funnily enough my optimism for this is growing rather than shrinking - admittedly from a low base. Maybe because recent results make our start to the season grow in stature

I don't know why people keep willing a Joelinton suspension into existence.