Yorkie

https://www.nufc.com/html/2020-21html/2021-01-23aston-villa-a.html Peak Bruce comments in this one. What a man.

Wahey!! Keep us posted if you do look into getting the star on.

I bet our fans couldn't believe their eyes when Gazza showed up in those pretty lean times.

Urgh

Lol! God they're wank.

Also I can end my unsolicited project of keeping an eye out when scrolling Vinted

Ah go on. You'll only buy it once.

@Kid Icarus you could probably get someone to stick a star on that.

Brest, Lille, Monaco, Feyenoord, Celtic, and Club Brugge are all going to be in the next stage. If the format provides greater opportunity for progression for teams who wouldn't typically do so, then I'd say that's objectively in the list of pros. But I'm not sure if what you've said there disproves my statement.

I was pretty open-minded about the new format because I thought the competition was pretty stale. A collection of fewer and fewer teams, from fewer and fewer nations, reaching the latter stages year on year. But I fear that no format change is going to address that. It's just rearranging the pieces but ultimately coming up with the same result. It certainly seems less appealing from the point of view of a club like us because the group stage is less of a trudge for us; in fact it's iconic. Every time we've been there, the groups have taken on a character of their own, particularly the last two. Bobby's had the comeback; this one had that 'group of death' moniker. You don't get that story element with this arrangement. It just feels (even more) like a token exercise to remove the no-hopers whilst facilitating as safe a passage as possible for the big hitters. At least Brest have provided at least one surprise. I wonder if it's a bit more suited to the Europas where there's perhaps more teams knocking around a middle ground. Bin it all off and do an FA Cup knockout would be my shout but I know those days are long, long gone. In fact, there's more chance of them turning that into a Swiss ladder.

It's okay though cos it didn't take as long, that apparently being the only issue.

We also offered nowhere near that amount if you believe Howe. Which in this case I do. £70m was the upper end of what Palace were asking for.

Thought I was in the Gordon thread for a sec then...

The tunnel is what Trippier calls his bedroom*

Without knowing what happened in the tunnel, none of those incidents are comparable imo but I'm not gonna go too strongly in on the debate; I get why people would want him because he's very good. We won't be interested so it's probably not worth the time.

Sure, but the issue is they benefitted from unfettered investment in order to establish this current position - something others now aren't allowed to do. It demonstrates the drawbridge better than anything.

I'm sure observers would point to my 'acceptance' of our owners as hypocrisy, but tbh I don't really fancy Cunha at our club given he thinks it's okay to elbow an old bloke in the back of the head and then grab the glasses off his face.

Interesting/encouraging/motivating(?) that their hand can be forced.

West Ham have already spent ~300m Euros since Rice went. Guessing they're golden for a while thanks to that sale?

Er, twice we've trailed 1-2 against Bournemouth in recent times and twice Matt Ritchie has saved the day. He's exactly what we needed yesterday. Disclaimer: not a serious post

Without wishing to go overboard with praise re the visitors - cos they've had plenty - it was pretty amazing to see Brooks not only playing, given what he's been through, but playing brilliantly. Can remember when he first burst onto the scene he looked a serious talent with a glass ceiling, and I thought he looked close to that player again yesterday. Remarkable recovery.

I'm sure he wasn't always as sloppy as he has been recently. It feels like every game the ball bounces off him a couple of times or his short passing has been well off the mark. I adore the guy but when you consider the outrageous quality next to him in that midfield, you wonder how much longer his strength and athleticism is going to keep him in the side despite his (occasional) lack of ability on the ball. It's not like Bruno and Tonali lack physicality so Joe might have a job justifying his inclusion if there comes a point where we can invest again at CM. (Probably nothing to worry about for about four transfer windows then )

Looking forward to it already. Pity it's on the road but it's nevertheless the ideal opponent to recover from today's disappointment. Hope we come out angry and energised; should be a routine win if so.

Aspiration's probably the wrong word because I suppose the vast majority would want to get into Europe. But a club like Bournemouth is absolutely planning first for survival or consolidation. Using your finances on 'accessibly'-priced unproven talent from the continent is okay for that plan, and if they exceed expectations, what a bonus.

Combined with @ponsaelius and @Infinitely Content's points about risk, Bournemouth made those signings with aspirations of mid-table. Much less of a gamble.