STM

FWIW, you can absolutely be smart with money, whilst also being ambitious. Liverpool selling Coutinho and using the money to buy the best CB and best GK in PL is an example of that. Salah and KDB are largely regarded as the two best players in the league but neither were on the radars of other top clubs, both had been let go by Chelsea and had scars next to their names to some degree. Both Liverpool and City pulled masterstrokes by ignoring their past.

I agree with your assessment of that era, but I disagree that what worked then will work now. As you said yourself, Villa were challenging for 5th. Where as now, Arsenal and Man Utd look likely to finish 5th and 6th. As for weakening the "top 6" clubs, how do you suggest we do that? 130m for Harry Kane, who most probably wouldn't move to us? Why go after, say Bruno Fernandes or Odegard for example when we have already proven we can go to the French league and pay half the price for comparable players. IMO, the elephant in the room is our commercial power. Right now we are financially weakened by having shite sponsors, no business direction (because of ashley) and very little coming into the club from other avenues. My guess, and it's just a guess, is that our new owners have a two stage plan. Phase one is moving the club up the league within the confines of FFP, whilst building a massive commercial model, spending on infrastructure etc. Once we get into Europe and start showing that we mean business, we can start going after big hitters, in the way that City took Sterling off Liverpool. We have to prove to good players that this is a place to come and play football and we have already started that process.

Man City have about 14 elite players+ other squad players like Ake. We currently have 2 elite players, in Bruno and Trippier. If we can add 2 Elite players every window, that would be good going IMO. That's not saying we only sign 2 players, that's saying we sign players who can benefit the squad during the building process and taking into account that not every transfer works, 2 stars sounds reasonable. Man City went through quite a few good players, who weren't quite elite level on their way to success.

Sorry it wasn't on purpose.... Ericsson, I meant.

If we sign either Paqueta or Eriksson, I will buzz my tits off. Honestly can't see anyone beating us to Paqueta if we are seriously interested. Him and Bruno are practically joined at the hip.

Aye let's sell all of our centre backs and sign 4 new ones, that's sensible practice. We need a squad of players, Schar is more than capable of being in our first team. By all means sign players who can compete for his place but don't let him walk out the door, madness. FWIW, Burn is the weaker of the pair anyway but he's flavour of the month so it will take people a while to see it.

He reminds me of my former boss. Who was a store manager, business obsessive, literally like a Robot built by the company to run things. Eddie's like a footballing android. He was built to be obsessed over footballing detail, hes brain is like a computer for footballing analysis and when he smiles during a press conference, he's not actually smiling through happiness, he's smiling because he's been programmed to smile in between giving perfectly measured answers.

It's his hamstring, which means he will miss at least 2 weeks IMO by which point our season is virtually over and there won't be much point putting his hamstring to the test. He's done well this season and will be a decent member of the squad next season.

There are 6 clubs whos whole structure relies on being in the top 4, that means 2 of them are either underachieving or having a meltdown. Whenever said clubs fail in that objective, they inevitably sack their managers, when they sack their managers more turmoil ensues... or they improve and usurp one of the other 4 and that process repeats itself. My point is, we need to be ready to pounce in 3 or 4 years time, when Klopp leaves Liverpool, Pep leaves City, Chelsea struggle with new owners etc or whatever the circumstance of that moment may be. It seems inconceivable that we could get in the top 4 right now but circumstances are forever changing. My point is, we can always rely on other clubs to have their own issues. We need to get our own house in order and allow nature to take its course. Theoretically, getting to 7th should be straightforward, if we spend enough money in the right areas. Getting top 4 is very hard and putting on title challenge a virtual impossibility. We just need to take one step at a time. Top 8 should be our aim. I'm not saying we should sack Eddie if we don't achieve it but that's where we need to go. We need European football too. The way I see it, if we have ambition we are in a league with "the other 14", for now. We need to go win it in the next two seasons.

Notice Shearer hinted that we might be interested in JWP, although it may have been more in hope than actually ITK. Would be a phenomenal signing but given his likely price tag and other cheaper options abroad, probably unlikely. Signing 1 domestic based "big" signing, like JWP or Phillips could be a great way of showing we mean business.

So after all that Norwich, Watford and Burnley are going down.

I want us to make the most of players out of contract and on the last year's of their contract. Tielmans to play with Bruno would be outstanding IMO.

Fair play to Everton. One helluva effort. Finally worked out how to defend. That should see them safe. Burnley have to win IMO or its curtains.

Best home debut midfield performance I've seen. Was so good that it's actually frightning considering how little he has to work with. Give him a proper DM and we are in business.

Winner this half.

I'm glad someone is actually watching.

Yep, we are 1 or 2 quality attacking players away from being comfortable in this game. Even Wilson and Trippier and we would be winning. It's like day 1 of the rebuild for us. I'm buzzing at this progress.

Not really, Bruno with a lovely ball, miggy with lovely skill.

Some of the views in this thread are embarrassing. Whinging and moaning about everything. Where have you been the last 15 years? This performance has been lightyears from Brucey ball and a damn side better than some of the stuff Rafa had us playing. We are pressing, controlling possession and look like a proper team. OK we don't look scintillating in the final 3rd but you can at least see a plan. Stop fucking moaning man. Oh... and Bruno is pure sex.

So much nonsense, I don't know where to start.

Playing really well. Bruno has been class.

Almiron just needed Bruno to be mint.

Bruno has been unreal.

Offside.

Miggy. Unreal.