TRon

I just don't think sitting back at home against a team like Arsenal will work over 90 mins. Feel like we have to go out with the intent to beat them. If we are still level at HT, then we can maybe look to go 5-5-0 for the last half hour or so.

Realistically the only way to close that gap in the short term, is if our meg billionaire owners put their money into the squad. The rest of the PL know it, and that's why they've gone to such lengths to stop it happening.

Sounds more like he's trying to sound a positive note rather than be disrespectful tbh. They got beat 2-0 on their own ground, can understand why he has to now overcompensate to show they believe the tie is still there to be won.

I know the PSR talk drives people up the wall, but until that restriction is lifted, being able to generate income is the only way to stay in touch with the top clubs, and a new ground seems to be a big factor in doing that, now and in the future. As for the traditionalists, I can remember before John Hall you couldn't drag people to St James. I get the emotional attachment angle, it's genuine. But the reality is, a successful team is what gets people excited, not the football stadium. When Keegan transformed the club, suddenly there were 10,000 waiting lists for season tickets where previously you could walk in any game you liked. So anything which allows us to continue challenging for honours has to be a priority for me personally.

Honestly that was my impression as well. I can't really tell the difference between the atmosphere at old grounds and new ones, apart from West Ham since they moved to the London stadium. Upton Park used to generate a louder atmosphere but that was because it was a lot smaller and tighter area I think.

Is that the general consensus of fans whose clubs have shifted to new stadiums? That the experience/atmosphere is artificial? Do you reckon they would go back given a chance?

From what I read, it took him a year or two to clear out the old guard at Monaco as well before he could really start the rebuild. It is probably a bit harder here because we are doing relatively well so he can't disturb too much. But in the same way Brentford and Bournemouth have bought well, you would like to think he is ideally placed to bring in some rough diamonds who will be the equivalent of the ready made stars without too much polishing at a quarter of the price.

Fair to say just about club that has built a new stadium has had a vocal percentage of fans who have opposed it, usually for heritage reasons, which is fair enough. But given the choice, how many of them would want their old stadium back?

I think for PSR to work as intended, in our case we would have to sell the best players at a profit and reinvest. Otherwise they will gradually become depreciating assets. We aren't going to make up the difference by selling shit players for peanuts. A case of two steps forward, ones step back.

That just looks like one of them bogs with a square lid instead of a bowl.

Are there any modern stadiums that don't have a bog seat design like?

Wasn't that before PSR had started to kick in? Arsenal certainly don't seem to be as flash with the cash over the last 12 months even with strikers going down ten to the dozen.

We don't have anyone sat on our bench who we can sell for £60m.

British defenders are usually pretty good tbf, the ones who have gone over there have done pretty well. Kelly's main weakness is in the air, that won't be much of a factor over there unless he's just shit positionally.

Pretty sure it has.

He could at least have come up with a figure which was somewhat believable.

Did you miss the part about them selling Jhon Duran? He was a key player for them, if they sold him, obviously they would have to replace him.

Makes the decision not to rotate players even more frustrating if that's the case.

Villa had to sell Duran for £60m+ to be able to make the signings. Would you want us to sell Isak?

Since summer was always going to be when we were more likely to do our spending, I imagine we will.

Definitely still a very tough 90 mins to get through, and if they were playing anybody else you would never write them off. Still a tougher ask for them than us though, so if we go 100% we should go through.

Yes, like I said it was a very canny bit of business getting him on a free. Fans can rate him on the back of 3 starts or whatever it was for us, but our recruitment team's judgemnent has proved spot on.

Honestly if we can't defend a 2-0 lead at home then we don't deserve to go through. As I'm saying this, Arsenal have just scored a 5th against Man City. But fuck em, they are using up all their goals today, we are keeping ours back for Wednesday.

Yes but that is based on a handful of performances. Just not enough games to write anyone off IMO.

Thank God we've already got a 2 goal lead from the away leg. It's Arsenal so it's going to be a tough game, but I expect us to raise our levels accordingly, and we'll get through after a tough examination. 2-2 at FT.