Raconteur

Seems to be entirely consistent with his account of events. The PL keep asking questions that the Bidders can’t provide (according to the EPL) sufficient answers to in order for them to make a decision. Given that they were (we’re led to understand) provided with details of the structure of the consortium when the bid was sent for approval months ago, It seems questionable whether they’ll ever achieve enough clarity to make a decision either way or more cynically, are simply trying to engineer a situation that will enable them to “legitimately” reject it. Surely it’s inconceivable to imagine the Quataries to have unduly influenced proceedings cos it’s not like they’ve got form for that sort of thing. It seems to me that the issue is that the O&D test applies to everyone that has “control” over the club’s affairs (“control” as defined very specifically in the O&D test) Perhaps the initial bid and paperwork included the owners and directors, but didn’t apply a broad definition to who might have control at the club? The PL then goes back to the consortium and says “What about the King’s son, and the Undersecretary for Piracy and the Minister for Baby Killing? Prove they won’t have influence over the club or, if not, they have to submit to the O&D test.” Consortium “Er...” *100 days later* “Er...”

You can only read so much into those stats, but a few stand way out. Kepa, Pickford, Wor Martin, Leno and Lloris.

A story I read about that described him as the “defender so bad, it inspired LFC to spend £80m on VvD”

The Premier League does look, increasingly, like a closed-shop designed to protect the "big five" (Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Everton and Arsenal) - it may well be that this is a legacy of the formation of the Premier League which started with a meeting of those same "big five" clubs to break away from the English Football League. Crazy idea time.... Perhaps it's time to start asking the question whether the Premier League has outlived its purpose - that perhaps PIF should push on without the approval of the Premier League and approach the EFL about re-establishing itself as the operator of the top-tier of English football. If the majority of PL clubs agreed then any dissenters would likely quickly come on board (as it's hard to sustain a league with only 5 clubs). What are you basing that on? Two parts - happening at all, and happening increasingly?

Dubravka and ASM would potentially double that “£35m kitty”. You’d have to think that, if it’s Ashley going forward, then those two at least would be off.

Seems legit You should write it up for The Mag and they might even print it...

Except in Ashley’s world, that £35million covers fees and agents and wages. Plus, it doesn’t exist and might very well be moot anyway...

He’d have to be in the discussion, but I don’t think there’s a single pundit who would go past Bruno Fernandes. Even if he was only here for half of the season, his impact has been extraordinary.

You reference one of the biggest acts of shithousery in the history of world football, and ask if the player was a shitehouse? Hard to avoid the notion you’re arguing for the sake of it.

Nonsense, the excitement of learning to pronounce the name of someone plucked from second division France is so much more than Saudi fantasy football. Who wants Messi or Mbappe when you can have... someone no one outside of Burgundy has heard of.

Mane is absolute quality

Half time doesn’t count

Bringing Watts on now. Watch Salah score a hat trick on the poor kid

Hard to say - we’re not really trying to play football, or win the match. All we’re trying to do is stop them scoring

Ah, now Bruce will unleash the shackles

Can someone help me identify a co-commentator for me? I don’t know which UK feed I’m watching, but the “main” commentator is Tony someone, while the co-commentator is an ex-Villa player dribbling the worst sorts of PFM bullshit? Who is that guy?

Without knowing the details, there seems to be some sort of karmic justice in Watford going down after sacking Pearson - especially if they have to pay out his “staying up” bonus, as reported

18% possession Bruceball ftw

Hahahaha!

That's some bench for Liverpool

I don't even know how you put together a formation with those players. As many as five square pegs in round holes if it's five at the back?

That is a disgraceful attitude, even if it's widely held. He's currently contracted - that should mean he's available for selection, not whether or not he might play in the future. I suggested in the pre-match thread that he's been frozen out so badly that it makes me wonder if there's an appearance based clause in his contract. But when our own fans are saying "Bruce is right to not play him because he won't be pressured into signing a new contract"... fuck me!

He's been frozen out so badly, it makes you wonder if there's some sort of appearance-based clause that Bruce has been told not to trigger

Is that the biggest of the takeover saga? Led by Messi, but not Messi first...

bUt He’S a QaTaRi StOoGe. Etc