TRon

You can breathe easy looks like this is going to be 90 mins of mayhem.

Assuming Wilson stays fit for 70% of the season. How much would you be willing to bet on that?

I think he's probably good for another season at the top level, maybe even two seasons. The only reason people are talking about selling is because he'll be worth nothing next season.

Gordon isn't a top 4 strike option in the league. He's barely good enough as an emergency stand in let alone a prolonged period if Wilson is out. That's why I can understand us pursuing DCL. Not my ideal type of striker, but he would have been a good alternative to Isak, especially given his strength in the air.

Ah ok gotcha. That makes sense. I actually would like to see him be sold, I'm too wary of him getting crocked for months and leaving us hoping Isak doesn't get injured. At the same time, he is a top quality striker when fit, not easy to replace with our budget which is why there's not been much serious talk of potential targets. Jao Pedro would have been ideal, but of course we backed out of that deal to get Isak.

I quite enjoyed watching his Barcelona side I must admit.

Do you have anybody in mind to replace him? I know we must be looking, but there hasn't really been any serious talk about strikers doing the rounds.

I was just making lazy assumptions that Americans being the ultimate capitalists would have no time for the little guy.

I don't think this is a big a problem as in the past. If we sell, we sell on our terms. That means making a massive profit and using that to buy someone who would be the next Bruno. The alternative is just holding onto players until their contracts or their value runs down. Of course we aren't looking to sell, we would rather build our team around Bruno, but until we are playing regularly in the CL we remain in the transition period where some trading is inevitable.

I'm sure we'd have much rather kept him and Minteh as squad players for next season above Longstaff and Almiron. I know I would. But there wasn't any real interest in those two, so can't really blame the club for selling better prospects and trying to get the best price possible. Hopefully PSR and it's unintended consequences will be binned in the not too distant future.

Boehly is coming from the US where they are a lot less squeamish about sidelining the little clubs and supporting the rest of the league. Over there it's probably more reflective of their attitude towards money. If you have it, you can do what you like, if you don't tough luck and get out of the way.

Mainly just a lack of quality end product for me. Sometimes it feels like we are watching lower half PL sides. Spain have played the best football by a mile, but even they have a bit of a donkey up front. I think this has been a trend for a while now, but we don't really see many goals direct from free kicks these days. Not sure if that's because they are defended better or we just don't have people who can hit them like in the past.

Exactly. I'm sure we'd sell him if we got a half decent price, and more importantly, have someone lined up who can replace him. That second bit might be the tricky part.

While I get the attraction of having wingers who can cut inside and shoot, I do think that when Murphy played, his ability to get to the byline and cross it paid off a few times because cutting back often slows down the play and allows defenders to regroup. A better version of that would do me nicely.

I love the seasons as well but just wish summer was one of them.

Weird game, absolute pants in front of goal at both ends, but `I couldn't take my eyes off it.

It's the Ronaldo show man, get with the programme.

Fuck me Costa is saving everything.

Well that's that then. Helluva pen by Ronaldo tbh.

Well that's that then. Helluva pen by Ronaldo tbh.

What the fuck?

Think I've had enough of this, might check back in for the pens.

I'm assuming he's only been kept on the pitch to take a pen.

Nailed on to lose on pens.