Yorkie

Was my shout too

People on the other side of the PSR argument would probably use Leicester's case as an argument in its favour; it's a deterrent for making terrible financial decision after terrible financial decision. Would be quite strawman though. Anyone sensible knows that there's a need for some sort of financial regulation. PSR just ain't it.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2026/02/05/leicester-city-hit-with-six-point-deduction-breaching-psr/ People talk about our handling of PSR in these sorts of terms. Offers a fair bit of perspective.

(Not being a cunt) Why would you take this view of him and not Elanga and Wissa? All three of them have produced really good numbers at their previous clubs but only shown glimpses at NUFC. You could argue that Ramsey has shown the most so far but there's not much in it. I've got faith that all three will come good fwiw.

I don't think 7th becomes impossible if we draw, like.

I think defining it as a 'must win' (beyond the fact that all games are must win) hinges on what our aspirations are now for the season. If the goal is still to finish in the top five, it's a must win, because we're already seven points adrift of that. If the goal is to qualify for one of the Europa positions, then it's a must-not-lose. I wouldn't take a point but it's probably not the end of the world. If Europa is the realistic target then we just need to stay in the mix until the run-in.

I think the only major issue with the recruitment is with the strikers tbh. I've got faith that Elanga and Ramsey will make a net positive contribution and it's not their signings which have made us regress. One replaced Miggy and the other replaced Longstaff; two players who weren't contributing anything to us whatsoever by the time they left. Their combined fee is really high for the diminishing returns we've had so far, but they're not the reason why we've regressed as a team. The reason why we've regressed as a team (putting to one side schedule and injuries) is because we lost one of the best strikers in the world and replaced him with one who can't play the role and another who's been injured and crap. The drop-off is ludicrously stark. If we can repair that situation - either by cutting our losses and trying again with someone else, or by somehow getting a tune out of them - then I don't think believe there'll be a case to make for last summer "setting us back years." In any case, the Isak money contributes to revenue which fuels future windows; we've not blown the profit.

Jonathan Liew. Nah you're alright

We see teams overturn bigger deficits up and down the league pretty much every single season. If we're within like four or five points of 7th on May 1st then it really is all to play for. Our last four games, with a fit squad and no other competitions, are winnable.

Honestly think if Elanga had scored that goal against Villa on the first day, and otherwise had an identical season, he'd still be riding off the back of it. Please take the next comment in the spirit it is intended (), but it reminded me of one or two Messi goals in the way he skinned a couple of players right on the touchline before tearing into the box and scoring. Such a good goal.

That was an absolutely mint goal, like; exactly what you thought we were buying. Terrifying defenders and clinical finishing. I thought the second one was a bit unlucky really; Barnes played it right into his feet at full pelt so he didn't have time to angle it. Desperate for it to click for him.

Well if the opposite was one of our best players being left concerned that he couldn't achieve his international aspirations while at NUFC then it clearly wasn't needless. It's a stupid criticism and always has been. Speaks to this tedious general vibe we've had since the summer that Howe et al are clueless and make decisions which are the opposite to common sense. It's nonsense.

For years the best route to the senior England team is to get yourself in the building and work your way up through the teams. Of course he's gonna go. Maybe we should've prioritised a full-back in the summer; I think it's the one that slipped away in the midst of all the other work we had to do.

Fantastic post and the bit in bold is exactly where I'm at. The big picture take on NUFC right now is that we're struggling a bit, still smarting from the Isak saga, and have a dysfunctional squad. My expectations therefore are that last season's points tally isn't achievable and the cups are very much a case of "what will be will be." I don't think any one individual game, win/lose/draw (at PSG and no one worse!!) changes that. That's why I found it funny when the 'should he be sacked - yes' poll would creep up after every defeat.

Yup, that's what other clubs do aye. I know it's not palatable like most things in modern day football but it's where we are. Your not surprised Tino picked up an injury are you? Or did you think Trippier would be adequate cover? I don't doubt you but I'm surprised by that. If it's true then my expectation is that it's clubs who have more wiggle room in keeping players sweet; i.e. bigger wages and the promise of fulfilling their silverware goals at their club. I'm not surprised Tino picked up an injury, of course not. Though his first one was a bit of a freak because he landed awkwardly after an aerial duel and had nothing to do with him playing for England in the summer. I just find the "as if we let them play for their country!" argument really daft and unrealistic. Like I say, it just comes with the territory of having class players. Unfortunately the football calendar is so ridiculously congested that players at that level haven't got a prayer of staying fit all season.

So we block a player joining his international side on the premise that, if he goes, he'll get injured and the team will be shit? I don't think Howe or any modern manager thinks like that. You just have to consider the balancing act of having fantastic players who have desires to represent their countries. It comes with the territory.

This again. Players want to play for their countries. Blocking that is a sure fire way to drive them out.

Come on, man.

Not sharing, then?

Hell of a pitch that, mind. Remind me who Thiaw snubbed in favour of whom last summer...

really? Hell's bells. I mean, why?

Heh, no chance. Will you share your previous username, @Sir Joel Inton?

Yeah. In the minutes before kick off I had a brief surge of "well you never know," but as soon as the first goal went in it was just like, meh. It's a relief we didn't get absolutely tonked but it's no surprise Man City raced into the lead they did after that first one. Impossible for the lads to keep their heads up knowing they were cooked after seven minutes.

W17 D8 L13 this season. It's an imperfect season to say the least but we're still competitive. Not gonna try and gaslight anyone into thinking they're wrong for wanting more, but it's not like we're shit. We're just struggling a bit; a result of a summer where we hardly got any of the things we wanted, and a lot of the things we didn't - compounded by a miserable injury list and an awful schedule. I think the season was destined to be trouble as soon as Isak was left out of that Celtic friendly.