HawK

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.

According to my Basque-speaking, Athletic-supporting wife sat next to me in the East Stand, 'Welcome Lions'. Athletic's nickname is Los Leones, or The Lions in Spanish. Edit - Basque language doesn't have 'the', which is odd as VSauce says it's the most commonly used word in English

Hoped to spark some interest in my two. Flag waving aside, didn't really work. Won't go again with them unless they ask.

It looked like the stewards just didn't have the balls to stop him

Just got back. The subs made all the difference for Athletic, as we began to tire they kept throwing fresh legs on. Raul Garcia on for Niko Williams was the key change though, with Inaki moving to his natural right wing position. Bruno was amazing first half, disappeared the second. Willock seemed to overrun the ball several times in the first half, but was trying to put himself about. Went missing 2nd half. Joelinton with another solid performance, without him we're such a soft side. He led the team around the pitch at the end to applaud the fans. Lascelles... man, he's the second coming of Titus Bramble. Moments of defensive class, then moments of absolute madness. Appreciate he's put the work in on the ball, but he's just limited. Dummet once got in the box with the ball and I think he had an existential crisis mid-stride, pretty much the same time I was thinking 'Wtf?' Inaki Williams did much better than his brother and destroyed him though. Ritchie was a grade below what's required, thanks for your efforts lad but we need better. Wilson clinical, I'll need to watch the goal back but looked like we just cut through them. Maxi was great, goal well deserved. So direct and he didn't go down under pressure, pleased for him. That celebration man, he musta seen Lomana's goals :-) Botman an absolute rock, what a player. Dubs was good when called upon, but decided to try and be a right sided full back at one point and nearly got done. Krafth solid, can't remember too much of what he contributed. Brought my 2 bairns and the missus, we sat near the half way line high up in the East Stand, atmosphere was dead around us. All the noise came from the Gallowgate but its to be expected with so many young children and families there today. Random highlight moments : 1. The mad lad in the electric wheelchair running a flag up and down the pitchside in the first half 2. The random green smoke and the smell of acrid, burning plastic from the Gallowgate/East Stand roof in the second half. 3. My seven yr old girl's first match and she got to wave a flag, happy kid.

So muggy pitchside, needs some rain! Loads of families and bairns in, to be expected.

I think he needs to keep dropping deep more often like he did a bit today to collect and lay it off. With a 3-man midfield, the most attacking one can then run beyond for flick-ons etc. In the PL he just sort of stood next to the opposition defenders all game when we had the ball. Hoping Howe is going to work on continuing to get him to come deep and get involved, if only to pull defenders out of position and make holes.