HawK

We need Burn and Schar on the ball more, higher up the pitch, in order to break down a static back-7. When you've got Bruno/Joelinton on the ball with Almiron and ASM wide, you just cannot go through the middle. But patient play from the back allows our midfielders to move and drag players out of positions more easily.

He's made about 4 interceptions already, thought he's been OK otherwise

We need Schar and Burn on the ball more and with a higher line so we get movement off the ball in the midfield as well as up top.

We've been dominant, but we've got them pegged back so deep that players like Almiron, Wilson don't have the nous/link-up play to penetrate.

Move abroad

He's more 1-footed than a land-mine survivor

We're fucking immense

I don't think any of the Ashley 'debt' would have anything to do with FFP as nearly all of it is infrastructure/stadium related, which is exempt as far as I know.

Everyone who expresses an opinion is a bed wetter apparently ^^

For what it's worth, as a fan, I agree with you. I have faith that in the long term we'll be fine, we're in good hands.

i can't disagree with either point, I'm not saying I'm right, just my observation on what I think they're doing and my opinion of why. It's seemingly a continuation of policy established early on, and affected our January window immensley when we wouldn't pay escalating fees for Botman etc.

Well, from the perspective of pure finances and potential FFP restrictions, yes it is in my opinion. For example, if we show we're happy to pay 60m for Maddison this window, it'll only reinforce to clubs in future windows not to accept anything but their top valuations for players.

Beginning to think that this window is very much a statement window from the owners. We won't overpay what we think a target is worth, and if it means going into the season a bit weaker than we like, so be it. Short term, and as a fan, that's a bit painful, but long term it's obviously best for the club.

I'm a big Soucek fan, him and Joelinton with Bruno would be crazy.

Just roll back the members table to around August last year

To clarify, I was directly responding to Supertoon questioning why we're supposedly underbidding for players.

Nope, didn't say that at all. Could have @'d me so I'd pick this up more easily.

Aye, true. Could just be a difference of opinion on valuation though. Maybe £45m in late August might be something that Leicester will ring us back about.

Well I'm no expert, but it seems obvious that us bidding for players in the same sort of position as Paqueta etc. shows that we're not that going to be held to ransom by showing we'll happily go elsewhere? It's easier to mug off a club who've shown they're all-in on one player, Man Utd have done it many times but Maguire and Fellaini spring to mind as the best examples.

RIP this thread, looking forward to the new one

Picked up a new away shirt, 2XL on Saturday before the match, no chance of personalisation as @AndersonButler said, but got it sorted this morning. Took a few pics because I know quality has been an issue for many, but I'm happy to say I'm really pleased with it.

They don't tend to sign many of the Sociedad players, I'd always assumed it was because of their rivalry.

I'm by no means an expert in their history, but not to my knowledge. It's a different culture over there, their cultural attitudes are 50 years behind us in terms of multi-culturalism. Some older fans still don't understand how they have 2 black players on their team. The Spanish government and FA aren't exactly preachy (with what they allow Real to get away with, being effectively a tax payer-funded team), and it would be a pretty big deal to try to alter the policy of the principal Basque Country football club. And for those that don't agree with their policies, there's always Sociedad down the road in Donostia/San Sebastian who don't have such a policy. I think Athletic are pretty much untouchable externally with regards to policy changes, the Spanish FA/government just couldn't do it and it'd be an excuse for the more extreme Basque nationalists to potentially cause some trouble. The only potential change or relaxtion to the policy i could envisage would be if it came interally, i.e. from their own fans, and with the culture being so entrenched as it is, I don't think it'll change any time soon.

Yep, they are part of the true big 3 in La Liga. Never been relegated, always top flight, and some true success in their past. The fact they're still competitive with their selection policy in today's economic football landscape is incredible. And even more so when you consider that the best Basque players often don't play for them, Azpilicueta, Arrizabalaga, (Chelsea love a Basque eh?), Laporte, Monreal and further back Xabi Alonso, Fernando Llorente etc.

Also, we have a first team that well and truly knows that Howe is not afraid of bringing in a squad player to do a job, no-one's spot on the team is guaranteed. This is great and something we've not had for a long time.