HawK

Semenyo had a release clause for 65m. Gordon doesn't.

It's in Bayern's interests to buy him early, it's in ours to sell him later knowing he's going to go somewhere this window.

If we keep spending like we did in summer 2025, definitely.

Yeah that's beyond our control, not much we can do about that. If there are strong rumours of a player that might play a big role in their national team going to another club in a WC year, I think the deal tends to get done pre-WC though. I have absolutely no examples to back this up off the top of my head but seems the norm. The interested party doesn't want all the other clubs in the world looking at him on the big stage if they're already set on him.

Fair shout - George Clooney, Jason Mamoa and Jason Statham

I went into my marriage with my wife with 3 conditions - if I don't own a ford mustang or equivalent by age 50 I'm just going to buy one, a hall-pass for Penelope Cruz and if I ever get the chance for a season ticket at SJP there will be no discussions, I'm buying it and attending every game possible. If it's built in time for 2034, it'll be a really good year for me

In favour of whatever decision gives most extra seats so I have a shot at attending games or getting a ST

I think he's a bit worried about the optics and the headlines of leaving a match-fit Gordon out of the squad. It creates a headline in itself. Not saying I agree with the rationale but I can understand it.

If he wants out, and we're open to selling him, it makes no sense to play him and risking any injury that might affect his sale.

The second leg against Qarabag was when I lost faith in that. The whole world could see he needed to play the kids and second string. And as per almost every match bar I think one or two FA Cup early round games over the past 4 years, he's put out an unnecessarily strong side to a game we were playing extra to everyone else (playoff), and then we wonder why we've got no engine in the last 20 minutes of every game and put it down to tactics and the high-intensity - but it's more than that. Eddie Howe is a very intelligent man, I'd love to hear his unguarded reasoning behind some of his decisions like that one. Maybe the kids were all tossing it off in training assuming they'd play, we just don't know.

It's pretty much just a lack of experience. It may be another reason Howe shoehorns Burn into every lineup possible.

Ferdinand and Ferguson were both effective but they were line leaders in their own right.

Urghh, could do with some NSFW tags that tbh

To get the maximum value for him, if we do sell, we need to sell before we buy as it puts us in a stronger selling position. However, there is no evidence so far that we're capable of then bringing in a quality replacement in short order afterwards. So purely on this and having been stung in the summer window previously, I'd say, how the F are we going to replace his goals if he goes so I think he needs to stay.

Not that I agree with this at all, I am trying to see the logic in the positional choice of Hall at RB. I think Howe felt pressured to play Wolte in his starting position and he thought with a 4-2-3-1, we weren't used to only having 2 in the middle and thought that they could use a hand. Playing Hall inverted means in possession he drifts inside to add more to the middle of the park. Like I said I don't agree with this, this vastly underrates 2 of our greatest PL midfielders we've had but I think this is why he did it.

Ramsey for me tbh but agree Joelinton's had a strong game

Oh you just know don't you If we hold onto this win I'll be absolutely shocked

Isak-esque

Barnes through the middle, it's almost like several have been suggesting this for 2 years

<-

Happily shocked that Osula did that, that's me educated on his skillset a bit more

Ramsey adding that composure a left side of Burn/Joelinton is missing

On current form of both sides a point here is a good result

Good routine that for once

Wow that change of pace from Osula to go around after he realised he was getting blocked off was something, good quick decision making too rather than just giving up.