TRon

Tbf I thought he was finished here after that spell, but he picked himself up and came back. I really like him as a player even now. Doesn't take defeat well and is fast thinking and vocal on the pitch.

He's got a year left on his contract. I think we'll do well to get £15m.

£25m is extremely optimistic.

Tbf I've never really seen how Wolt will fire in the PL. It would certainly need a different type of football. I guess we'll never really find out unless we get a new manager at some point and Wolt is still here.

I do wonder about the declared ambition of the club at this point. If they are ready to go with Howe again for next season, then either they accept responsibility for that disastrous window, or maybe they think they've spent the money, now it's up to the manager to get results. Obviously this season has been a disaster, but they might just be happy to sell players and trade for another season, even if we finish 10-14th.

He's always been a brilliant talker.

Not often I'm sad to see the back of a player who is past his best days, but Tripps has been one of the best professionals I've seen wearing the shirt. If he makes a mistake he's visibly furious with himself and as we saw with his spat with Gordon, he's not afraid to show who's boss. Been the best leader we've had in a long time.

At this point I don't really give a shit.

The players who can attract cartel club interest.

He was slated for good reason, he's been flapping at high crosses this season. But much though I wanted Ramsdale to prove everyone wrong, his skipping about all over the 6 yard box which leaves him out of position for shots and crosses has snapped my patience.

It might be a collective shitshow, but someone has to take ultimate responsibility for it. If Howe is backed again in the transfer market, then it might be an admission that the board got it wrong.

About 5 games too late but better late than never.

I wonder if the board will take responsibility for the losses we are going to take on those two if they aren't here next season?

I'd be happy to have Alonso or Fabregas on a short term basis if I thought they were actually obtainable. If only because I think they would actually fit a football philosophy which might take the club forward. But I think Liverpool will be ahead of us for Alonso, and Arsenal will be ahead of us for Fabregas if push comes to shove.

I thought so.

Depends how much money they can chuck at it without risking losing more than they started with. They are already operating a rich man's version of Sports Direct. I'm assuming they are recruiting young unproven players and managers for a reason.

If you mean a quality player worth pursuing then that would be great. If you mean we are being led up the garden path again by his agents, then I really hope not. Fool me once shame on you. fool me thrice, etc.

He looks a good keeper. Might have missed that boat dithering last summer.

I really like Trafford so this is one I hope comes off. Tavernier on the other hand just seems like a decent enough player we would probably find cheaper abroad.

We'll do it with Ross Wilson taking instruction now presumably.

Point is, Chelsea won't be happy with that now, they might have been 20 years ago.

I think that's fair. But the point is, there was nothing artificial in place to stop a club becoming one of the elite if an owner wanted to invest enough money to make it happen. Even with Chelsea and Man City you could argue that at least an owner saw potential there to grow them exponentially. It's not like a multi-billionaire would ever buy Carlisle Utd and expect them to be challenging for the Premier title within 5 years.

That's why the new rules implemented across Europe makes it impossible for us to pay top wages even if we have all the money in the world. They are designed to prevent any competition to the established superclubs of the world.

You could argue mediocrity was the wrong term, but what I meant was they were ordinary compared to the champions league contenders they have become since Abramovic. No one seriously thought they were title winning contenders before that. Just another team hovering around the top 6.

Again, no one said they were a nothing club.