Shak

We need to start identifying and buying players before they become expensive. Players in the 5 to 20 million bracket that we hope can grow into members of the first team, or at the very least will maintain their value and can be sold on for future PSR contributions. It's very obviously the best way to compete with the current PSR rules yet it hasn't been part of the strategy almost at all. We tried it once with Minteh. It was a massive success and we haven't tried it again. I guess Osula fits the description, maybe? Bakayoko I remember us being linked with for reasonable fees last year. That was the time to move on him, not now when the fees quoted are vastly higher. Elanga I'm sure Eddie could turn into a solid player but he's going to be very expensive, there'll be dozens of players with similar potential around the world who'll cost a fraction of what Elanga will. There's a fair argument to be made that RW is a priority position and we need someone ready to step in and make an immediate impact. It's just very frustrating to me that we haven't moved on fringe players like Wilson, Murphy and Almiron for modest fees and reinvested that money on promising talent. We apparently walked away from 8m for Almiron in the summer. We couldn't have let him go and brought in a youngster from abroad that might have grown into something? Seems the plan was for Miggy to sit on the bench all year, anyway.

I don't think firing Howe at the moment would be a wise move and don't expect it to happen. However, in the event that Howe is let go I would really hope that Mitchell gets a major say in who takes his place as the manager and chief recruiter being on the same page is critical.

I mean there's no way Mike would have been OK with that.

If they play in the playoffs I'm insisting you get tickets and go. I'll be happy for you however the game goes

So yeah, for months myself and @Mike were planning to go over for this game. Mike got cold feet because he decided Liverpool would hump us. I went to the Brighton game instead, while Mike isn't coming over for a game this season. The big cunt.

Good player but fairly obvious why we'd sell him. We've just given Gordon a big extension, he's clearly the future at the LW position. We've got Joelinton who can play there and if we ever get around to buying another striker then the option to use Isak there (particularly late in games) has proven effective. It's also the position Sanusi plays, could see him being in and around the first team next season. If the sale of Barnes funds a purchase at a position of more need it'll be for the best.

Surely it's natural for people to look for problems that we can address, though? I'm not sure what you can do other than hope Isak starts putting them away. There's no other option to take his place, realistically. Definite argument to be made that Barnes could start ahead of Gordon given how wasteful the latter has been in front of goal this season.

Been watching Shogun as well?

Would have been a beautiful goal that.

Do people think we'll see Joelinton on the right to start? Would be my preference, personally.

Quite like the look of that stadium tbh

Huge, not just the result but the performance. We've found something with Joelinton back playing in a wide position, allowing the wide CM to overlap. It's linking the midfield and attack and has got Murphy out of the team. We're seeing Bruno in an advanced position, we saw the second half even before Tonali came on he had Longstaff sitting and Bruno further up. Buzzing like!!

It would be the most Joelinton thing imaginable if he were to step up and solve the RW problem. He'll never be a massive creative force but he has so much more about him than Murphy or Almiron in his general play and if it allows Gordon to play left then it adds so much to our team.

Fucking ref, was a clear goal kick.

Think we'll see him in for Longstaff next game. Longstaff was good today but Tonali was quality against Chelsea by all accounts (I missed the game) so feels like he should keep his place. Was very telling that when he came on today he went to the centre of the midfield trio, think that's the plan going forward and I can't wait to see it.

Brereton Diaz didn't get on so his streak continues even though Southampton won

Definitely want to see him RW until we are able to address the position with a signing. Ideally in January, but it may have to wait until summer to get the right player. That said, I think ultimately he'll want to play on the left and you can't blame him at all. Clear path to being an England regular in that position and he's shown that he can get goals and assists from there and it's probably his best position.

Class today, best performance of the season from us. More importantly, we look to have found a change up in terms of our setup. Midfield has looked stagnant for a long time and now we have the Joe and Joe combo on the left and the switch of Tonali playing in the middle of the three man midfield and Bruno pushed forward. Notice that Tonali went central when he came on today. Cracking result and best I've felt about us in a while

Tonali getting his yellow after some of what had gone before was ridiculous, the ball was there to be won and he tried to do so. Wasn't a particularly dangerous looking break or a deliberate foul, was a horrendous yellow.

There's also the added dimension that having Hall at LB could bring to that Willock and Joelinton link up. Previously they've generally had Burn at LB behind them, they could be even more effective with Hall getting forward to offer something on the overlap.

Think the Joelinton and Willock link up on the left gives our midfield three so much more structure. Longstaff been really good too but I do think that Joe double act is a link between our midfield three and front three that we really struggle with most of the time. It also helps a lot that we don't have Murphy on the field as he's an utter passenger when we're in possession.

Murphy would be just about to attempt a cross right now.

What a fucking cross first time

I'm also shocked that they're talking about the biggest story of the week.