Parky

It begins.

Who does he play for?

I suspect we're all going to be disappointing with this window...We already know it deep down. The best we can hope for is Stockholm Syndrome.

Ashley playbook. Full effect.

Just waiting for the casino pic.

Ashley has never ever given any signals that he will change strategy from running the club on a tight budget with an eye to breaking even or small profits. This I imagine runs counter to Benny's motivation of developing the club over the next 2/3 seasons and putting it in a position to compete near the top of the league (top 5/6/7). These two visions run completely in opposition to each other. One will have to give. Would be delighted to be proved wrong but I honestly can't see Ashley buying the 4/5 Tier One players we need to have a good season and stay out of a relegation fight. Is Ashley going to OK spending 70-90m in one window? Pure fantasy. He will be thinking about spending 30/40m tops regardless of outgoings. Knowing what the management is like they are probably saying all the right things to Benny but doing very little to make it happen. With a world class manager in charge this would be the season to stop all the nonsense and put the money on the table.

The only thing we can hold onto is that Benny has been round the houses with other owners and knows the score.

Straight out the Ashley playbook. Start rumor about take over. Bring in a new middle man to take the flak. Go on holiday.

Good news means Benny real does have the final say.

The dyed hair (crown) is the giveaway. Self-obsessed.

Ashley doesn't either.

Stooge 1: ''The supporters are expecting exciting transfers that can take the club to the next level''. Ashley: Fuck! Leak some shit about a takeover''. Stooge 2: The World class manager we have wants you to take a look at his transfer targets''. Ashley: Get me the fixer!!1 Stooge 1: Ha ha...Good one boss. Chuckling and backslapping ensues.

Ashley will put Rafa in an isolation tank and giggle while peering at him through that little window.

Stooge No.547 in place.

Looks like a classic Ashley curve ball.

Is this real?

No pace, no brain, barn door etc...

Every one of them are prone to to that. If Bramble had a brain he could have been a force of nature. Not to be though. It's very easy for good players to get lost at a club like City or Chelsea with unlimited funds.. they know that one or two bad games and they'll just buy someone else. Here they'll fit in if they show the right attitude.. there's a reason City paid so much for him, just needs to be coaxed out of him in a safer environment. Was saying he can still work with Guardiola. Even though it's clear he isn't fancied at City.

Think Mangala would be fine with a solid structure around him and the drilling that Benny does.

They were also the division's joint top scorers in 15/16 too. Narrow flukey wins though. If you'd seen the games instead of relying on Google you know you're misinformed. Yeah they scored goals. They also conceded far more than the teams around them, finished third and got dicked by Sheffield Wednesday in the playoffs. Drop it, anyway. I don't want to talk about Brighton & Hove Albion. Awful club who won't get promoted. Love it when you drop it like this Ronny.

It never surprises me these days that most of these 'managers' on close inspection turn out to be rank blaggers.

Press will roll out the same 3 things they've been saying for 20 years... No winter break Too many foreign players Eng players technically poor compared to the Tier one sides. ..............But we lost to Iceland.

Now it will be the hyping of Rashford and a couple of others till the next tournament with the same end result.

Well I guess it'll be a relief from having to explain Brexit to the Germans endlessly....

How am I going to leave the house tomorrow first Brexit now this.