macphisto

An interesting thought experiment when it comes to PIF is how they would have acted if Howe had only done an OK job? Imagine if we had not got Champions League at this point or won a trophy. Say one or two seasons in the Europa League. I wonder if they would have found ways to get money into the club? If not then we would be a very average team. By Howe doing such an incredible job, it's kind of masked PIF's true ambitions to a certain extent.

Well what have they done? We got the guy from Manchester airport for infrastructure. Not much happening there. Hopefully will change soon with the training ground. We've had a few commerical hires, and yet our closet commercial partners are directly related to PIF. Hopefully, again, things improve soon on that point. When regards to Commercial Income, as I say you can't truly judge it, under Ashley and under PIF, as our main commercial partners are and were directly related to the owners. Completely different, for example, to John Hall.

Our commerical side is so murky that it's difficult to say what our true commercial revenues are after Ashley and PIF. We look at Ashley and all the free advertising which not only deprived us of direct income but also would have put off other commerical partners. That's one example without even going into the partnership with Sports Direct and, latterly Castore. So our commerical income was £140 million but our commerical activity was much greater, it just didn't show on our books. In many ways it's the reverse with PIF, as they are using their related companies, Sela for example, to help put money into the club. That was my original point; it hardly takes much for a PIF company to get sponsored by Sela and Noon if PIF want it to happen. We did well with the Adidas deal but that's all.

It's difficult not to turn this into a PIF thread but as it's about growing as a club, we need to start seeing the benefits of all the appointments on the commercial/admin side. At the moment I don't see what they've done that Charnley couldn't do on his own.

Yes, Barton and I'm not throwing Keegan under the bus but if people are going to start comparing the two then it's only fair to highlight other factors.

Yes, and that's because there's a severe lack of strikers as I said. It's very rare to see older players in other positions go for good money now. Big difference between finishing 2nd and winning, irrespective of the competition. Not to diminish what Keegan did, great times just like we've had great times under Howe. It's why I'd give either of them the benefit of the doubt and fully support them when the team is not doing well.

You can't compare Keegan to Howe when it comes to strikers. The game is completely different where there is a complete lack of strikers available in the game. It's why you have old strikers leading the line at Bayern and Barcelona and the reason Isak went for so much. We're also not going to get big money for Joelinton and some of the other players you mention as the bottom has dropped out of the market for players in their late 20s. Everyone is now trying to sign young players due to PSR. You don't see signings like Robson made at Middlesbrough, Redknapp at Portsmouth and Newcastle under Souness anymore. When comparing Howe and Keegan it's also worth comparing trophies and available transfer funds where Keegan broke the world record for a defender and a forward without winning anything.

100% right. It would be a massive mistake. There's only one reason we have done well over the last few seasons and that's Howe with little support from above. He's the one who's raised our expectations and deserves our full support. Yes, the last window didn't go well but a lot of that was beyond his control and if you looked at all of our signings over his time here then on the whole they've been fantastic; The hit rate is excellent. Going through so many windows without a signing is also starting to catch up this season. Time to look at his position is next season if he's been backed in the summer and we're not doing well. It's the least he deserves.

Today's the day it really hit home, they're now 3rd and 4th choice. Puts us in a dilemma as the best way to get the most for Woltemade is to hope he has a great World Cup which means there is a risk we might not get a replacement until late into the window. If an offer came in for Wissa then I'd sell straight away. Does this also mean we keep Osula as it could mean replacing three forwards if we were to sell. Madness.

I would suspect not using Huawei had something to do with it too. Never have a problem in Asia getting a signal.

I see Chelsea have recorded a record loss of £342 million under UEFA rules. I'm sure they'll be punished accordingly.....

His club will probably give him a pay-off to get him out of the club. They signed Benzema in December which means Nunez won't play again this season due the limit they have on foreign players.

You said he's not a bad league coach, that's not saying he's a good league coach. That, together with saying he's a built a team for cup games, reminds you of Spurs is underplaying how good he's been in the league. At least that's how I read your message.

Each to their own but I think you're forgetting that to finish in a Champions League spot last season was a massive achievement (like the time before). I don't see how Howe could have done better in the league since he's been here.

Just picked up the t-shirt, slightly different material to the cotton I was expecting. I picked up a medium and it's a good fit, I thought it might be tight as it's a slim fit but it's not.

I wouldn't sell Joelinton or Murphy. Since the advent of Data science, PSR and Sporting Directors, you don't see older players going for much money these days (think of Nicky Butt and Alan Smith at Newcastle back in the day). What would we get for those two, say around £20 million from a promoted side who want PL experience? Just not worth selling them as they can still give something to the team. I know we have to be better sellers but it's not in terms of selling players just past their best as I don't think that market exists like it used to. It's more to do with a constant flow of transfers similar to Minteh, Kelly and possibly Osula. That's why it's hugely important we have Sporting Director in place long term to kickstart that strategy. Of the established players, I'd definitely get rid of Willock as I just don't rate him at all. I could definitely see Wissa going, similar to Wood if the right offer came in.

One other cautionary lesson to take frim Villa, is signing a loan player with an obligation to buy. I would to know how much Elliott is costing them.....

Technically yes and you'd also include Hall, as I alluded to in my previous message, but in all intents and purposes we didn't buy anyone as Hall was already here and the other 2 were not bought for the first team. The number of first team starts between the keeper and Osula shows one was a PSR workaround and the other was a development buy. Technically, Harrison from Man City arrived in the January 2024 window but you wouldn't classify him as a signing.

January 24 Summer 24 January 25 Summer 25 January 26 Apart from summer of 2025 we haven't really bought any one unless we include Hall who arrived in the summer of 2023 but signed the following summer, Osula and the Greek keeper.

It's not just January. I think I read the other day we've only bought players in one of the last five transfer windows.

Only watched part of it but the new Stick to Football with John Barnes is interesting. Didn't realise he came from such an elite family in Jamaica. Got a lot of interesting things to say.

There might be a clause that increases his salary of he plays for England.

I got the away shirt and t-shirt, very happy. The new marketing strategies of creating limited supplies are interesting and I can why companies limit supply to create artificial demand.

What has Howe had at his disposal that the other two did not?

If we don't keep him then it's going to make Hopkinson look like an idiot after his comments last week. Not just that but it would also say he hasn't got a clue about the club; you can't be building up false hopes when the club means so much to some people.