TRon

Doesn't help that Ukraine have just basically parked the bus.

Yes it's great business no doubt if we look at the spreadsheets. On the pitch that still leaves us with Almiron or Murphy on the RW, and one less exciting prospect who could have kicked them further down the ladder. Obviously I get that we would then hopefully use that money to buy someone better, but until we have someone who looks like coming in, can only go with what we've got.

If keeping a highly talented prospect rather than losing him to Europe rivals means we are screwed then let's keep getting screwed.

Yep. That was my point previously, we can get away with one blip season, but next season we have to be gunning for CL from the get go, and for that we'll need a squad which can hold up to the rigours that brings.

Players like playing in Europe, CL especially. They also like the sort of wages that come with it, and we've gone backwards temporarily which makes clubs like Chelsea more attractive given they are further along the road in providing those things.

At a double your money salary offer, I think he might listen as well.

He's a lovely bloke.

Fans who deluded themselves that not having any European involvement would give us a good crack at a CL push this season really weren't seeing the bigger picture.

Yes but if those are the rules of the game we have to play along. So I don't rule anything out unless the PL authorities are challenged and eventually smashed. The process seems to have started, but unless Man City can win their case pretty rapidly, we might lose players in the meantime.

Any sort of manager worth his salt should be picking the side he thinks will win, not the side he thinks will make him popular with the pundits. Maybe he genuinely believes not conceding goals gives us the best chance of a win. Tbh the way we've set up under him for the majority of his reign would suggest it.

It is something we will have to consider every year we don't have success though. Last season's failure to reach Europe will have cost us money, and it's set us back another year as far as keeping hold of our assets. With every one of our prized players we'll have to keep in mind their future value and the prospect of diminishing returns. Not sure what success would look like this season to keep a hold of them. CL or UEFA?

Us mainly.

Also he wasn't a 21 year old, he was 26. That means every season lost through injury has a bigger negative impact on his resale value so he really had to hit the ground running. That's not to say he can't still be fantastic for us, but the jury is still out somewhat after his first season.

Can't really argue with this although I trusted Howe's judgement at the time. I still think Barnes is a good player, but we did pay a premium because we overvalued his experience in the PL. That fee would have made more sense if he was 24 and not 26.

They are nouveau riche gatecrashers like Man City. They aren't considered football royalty like Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal. I mean obviously they are now considered one of the cartel clubs, but there will still be a sense of unworthiness around them by the supporters of the established cartel.

Ties in somewhat with what I was saying about him having great end product, but not sure about the rest of his game.

I wouldn't describe it as a shit league, but I don't think it stacks up so well against the Premier. My impression is they have two to three very good clubs and the rest are not so competitive. That's just an impression though, I don't claim any expertise on the Italian league, I don't really follow it.

Italian football seems to be stuck in the previous century. Their league doesn't seem to be very multicultural, or if it is, it's not reflected in their national team. That doesn't necessarily make it poorer, but the national side isn't great at the moment, so can only imagine the Italian league isn't all that either.

What they are doing is unsustainable. It was only a matter of time before a club hit them for restriction of trade charges, and there's already been concerns voiced that the PL are going to be spending a large part of their budget on paying legal fees for the forseeable future.

What's Bowen like for pace? I know he's good for end product, just can't recall him being the quickest.

Yeah not convinced on Chiesa either, don't think I would approve us going for him after all.

Fuck me, why don't they go for it more from the start? They look a lot better when they are desperate for the goal.

Italians finally probing with some intent but looks like they've left it too late.

is there any reason he wasn't on from the start? Was thinking to myself that for all their reputations, him and Barella haven't really had much impact on this tournament.

Feels like watching a side from 20 years ago.