TRon

Can't tell if you are being sarcastic there.

Surprised so many are actually taking this seriously.

I think Guardian readers are probably mostly good people tbh, or well meaning for the most part. They just don't live in the real world which operates along some pretty ruthless principles. Football is no different these days, if anything it's riddled with hypocrisy and greed.

Read today that he's Yasir's favourite player and there's no way he's letting him go. So not that surprised to read this today.

It's because of his lack of pace, so defensively that can see him caught out on occasions. But given what he brings to the table in terms of tempo, control and aggression, it's a small factor, because those other skills are off the charts. He really can dictate a game if everyone plays to his level.

Oliver Kay was pontificating on it today as well, but has to be expected I suppose. It goes with the territory.

Why would he join a club which has won no trophies in eons? If they want to know what one looks like they should probably ask us.

Before the final I suggested he would be worth starting just because of his end product which can win a match even when the performance isn't great, but it was suggested that his defensive work was slack. That surprised me, because I can't imagine Howe wanting a player who won't pitch in when we are out of possession. I don't watch him that closely, but I would imagine he must be at least fairly hard working if Howe wanted him so badly.

I could see us selling Bruno or Barnes because of their age, but the offer would have to be right. Otherwise we would probably just use our budget to buy potential at low prices rather than established players.

Yeah this is what I was getting at. I think we will have to continue going down the buy young potential rather than proven performers, I would imagine with Mitchell on board it will be more the Elanga for £15m that Forest did than £40m for Tino. I think we'll be shopping abroad more so we can make a few signings rather than just a couple, we have a few areas we need more cover.

Everyone would prefer to have (A) The CL, then (B) Europa. But it's nice just knowing that IF in the unlikely event we don't qualify for either, we have the opportunity to add to our massive cup collection.

Fair play. It's ok to be wrong sometimes.

I read somewhere today, might have been the Athletic, that we still won't have loads to spend if we abide strictly by the PSR restrictions. So we'll have to be strategic, in which case it might be one or two big signings or 4-5 promising ones in the mould of Hall and Livra.

That's what I'm hoping.

No parade through the city then?

Think this must be the only time I'm not really pissed we haven't got a game for a couple of weeks. I'm enjoying just basking in the trophy win, and the players get to really enjoy it as well.

The players won't believe their eyes when they see the roads packed with fans.

I think all of us would want CL ideally, but it's nice to have the fallback of a very doable chance of a European trophy regardless.

While obviously I still want Champions League, the chance to add more silverware by winning the Europa Conference cup is now looking decidely inviting.

Feels like a new start tbh, like this team doesn't have to prove anything any more.

I thnk he might have done tbf.

I don't think he gets enough credit for his technical ability really. Yes he can have days when it bounces off him, but on days like yesterday, his touch was sublime, like when he took a long ball down on his thigh before pivoting to lay the ball off to a teammate. Yes he can crash about the pitch causing carnage among the ranks, but he often comes out with the ball, evades a couple of tackles before sending one of our players away in space. Opposition players must absolutely dread facing him.

As a sidenote, thought Slot was very gracious in defeat, kudos to him for being above all the petty stuff which was a trademark of Klopp.

On reflection, the only tiny downside for me about this win was that it ended up only being 2-1. Isak was a whisker away from converting Barnes cross which would have made it 3-0, and that would have been such a fitting scoreline for so many reasons. But 'tis a minor quibble tbh.