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Yep, that's right about Isak. As I say, it's hard to judge for sure as an outsider, but the signs are certainly positive. So even when something doesn't look naturally right to me e.g. overworking players, I try to keep schtum and just see how everything turns out this season.

Ordinarily I'd probably agree. I've kept thinking about posting this but I'm not sure where or when to do it. But I'd be very interested to see what the input of Bunce is on our fitness decisions. Particularly lately I've noticed some slightly odd looking decisions re: who is or isn't subbed/rested, and I've wondered if that's being influenced by his view on what the players can manage, or even if they're now receiving adjusted training levels. I remember an interview from him a while back where he said contrary to popular belief, he's sometimes saying players need to be worked harder to get the best out of them. I could be misremembering, but I don't recall Murphy constantly being an early sub in previous seasons, but he is now, and I wonder if that's a factor in him keeping his form up.

I'm take it or leave it with xG. It doesn't offend me but people who rely too much on it look silly. I'd like to imagine there are much more sophisticated xG analyses available to clubs for the right price, factoring in how many defenders are positioned in front of the goal and where, which individual player the chance has fallen to, the speed of the ball received etc. etc. I find I'm usually pretty good at guessing what the xG of a match I've watched is, which implies it's not wildly out of keeping with what I'm seeing with my eyes.

I knew I agree about losing possession etc, I think that's exactly why he's not been played much. We've had a weird season with, initially, a lot of close games and disappointing results, which I can see Howe not wanting to hoy him into. And then suddenly a winning streak where Eddie's understandably said he didn't want to interrupt much to let players establish their rhythm and keep things going. The good thing is Osula looks like he's matured a decent amount already, judging by the (very small amount of) time we've actually seen him. He doesn't look like a reject given the reaction to his goal against Bromley.

And on the flip side, it's not like he's not being used when the first half dozen other eligible forwards are injured. They keep saying good things about his application in training etc. (unlike Hall). And in the modern world he's not that expensive. I don't think there's too much to worry about in terms of where he's going with us. I'm pretty optimistic.

Yep, agreed. The problem is this is football now, and it will be until PSR-type measures are removed. In the mean time, it will touch everything in the game and not bothering your mind with it is like not bothering with the offside rule. You just end up getting angry at your striker for not positioning himself 30 yards upfield in all that open space...

And Osula and Vlachodimos. £60m between them all, supposedly.

This isn't a criticism but I wonder if we're leaking players we would've liked to have gone for to stave off criticism of us doing nothing this January and ram home the PSR issue. There's still plenty of people who don't get it and will assume the club staff are just taking the piss unless there are concrete signings.

He's pure PSR profit so that should be taken into account on the fee. Should offer them £40-45m to tempt them initially. They know they could do a lot with that.

I physically recoiled when he came on the screen

And you always make out you're so hard hearted about players coming and going from the club

@KaKa The quoted post (plus others following it in the thread) pretty much sums up the situation with PSR. We should have some room for manoeuvre but it's not just a case of heavy losses from 3 years ago dropping off unfortunately.

Always had a soft spot for Plymouth since our Hughton season. Never seen a club be so gracious while getting relegated by a team getting promoted. Also, good to build footballing relationships.

Murphy has a spectacular collection of them though. Was it the Arsenal home game in 21-22 where he smacked one off a post from 25 yards and was leaping up and down in frustration afterwards? He had an amazing post to goal ratio for a few months. I always thought it kind of encapsulated him as a player. Had the brains and technique to make the shot as difficult for the goalkeeper as possible but would push it too far making the effort (almost) pointless. But if he could get a grip on that then you'd have something special.

Definitely Man City. From interviews it sounds like he himself was struggling to accept his future wasn't as a midfielder around this time.

Second guessing has always been his problem. He's an intelligent lad, but historically hasn't been intelligent enough to stop thinking, if you see what I mean. But we aren't seeing any of his dithering now, he pretty much knows what to do before he's even received the ball nowadays, which lets the quality of his technique shine through.

Think he's very much been focused on to performing a set range of actions. An extensive range, though, so he's no one trick pony. Murphy deserves huge credit for this run he's on. It's his dedication that's getting him here. Makes you wonder what he could've done in his career if he'd been Howe'd a few years earlier.

It is. We get as many points here as we do at Old Trafford. Would be extremely disappointed with anything other than a win. But confident we'll get it.

Smash PSR. It's making football less desirable.

Attention those who say it can't be reversed. Do they have English refs in Norway or is it just a shit system?

Fingers crossed. If we want to talk about a youth player that we've mishandled over the past two years, this is the one.

You're mixing up amortisation and PSR calculations Amortisation relates to transfer fees, wages are just wages. Those two separate things get added together when doing the PSR calculation.

Plus, I don't think this one should be seen as a developmental loan, from our perspective. Think it's more about him getting a career after us.

Overall, I agree. Smash PSR. Think I might start finishing all my posts with this sentiment, Cato-style.

Sounds like he's got major attitude problems according to those QPR fans. I don't think talent has ever been the problem with him...