AyeDubbleYoo

I want as high a position as possible but I guess we might end up effectively joint with a couple of teams on points anyway.

May have been to increase his sale value?

I just think for some reason he became underrated by us when he was out. He's a top keeper (except for his passing). He's at a different level to Dubravka, miles better.

Doing this when you have Botman fit and available though, seems an odd one to me.

We aren’t in the Europa league.

We just smashed Palace 5-0.

So then we would maybe make a small profit on Gordon but need to spend 20-30m on a replacement.

I wonder if Pope or Trafford would accept being number 2? Doesn’t seem an easy sell for either of them.

I feel like LW would instantly need reinforcements if the only good option was Barnes. Although I rate Barnes.

Depends on the significance of significant I suppose

Yeah but I think it does say something when you sell your top young players. Like, I wouldn't want to replace him with 2 Brighton-style spreadsheet players just because of PSR. Unless we have to, obviously.

Well from that POV I'm not against selling anyone. I know the money would be invested in any event. But I still think we can have a view on which players we would rather keep/use.

It would be a significant step back IMO, we're talking about one of England's most promising young players here.

Isak will start anyway so we don't need to worry about this.

Of course Isak would be a massive blow but a sample size of 4 is nothing. Can other players in our team score a goal? Yes they can and they have plenty of times.

Very premature IMO, he could well end up a #6 with his stature and long stride etc.

Hope this is true but it's incredibly unprofessional isn't it? Can't see it for a professional player or club.

Yeah of course, the more options the better. I just don't think expecting someone to be first-choice in one position and second choice in another is the ideal solution.

No you're not.

They played very open against Southampton. Of course that's Southampton, but the game was the kind of game that we would absolutely feast on.

The last 3 have clearly been harder, surely. Away at Brighton, Chelsea and then away at Arsenal. How on earth could home v Everton be harder than those?

That spine of Botman, Tonali/Bruno and Isak is up there with anything in the league. It’s immense.

I’m hoping it’s just a mentality thing at the moment, either mental fatigue or trying too hard etc. Give him a nice summer off and he’ll be alright.

Are there a lot of midfielders in a 3 who also play on the wing? I would more be looking to sell Willock and get a proper midfielder in.

This is true but I'm not sure having a point to prove is when he's at his best. Seems to be at his best when he feels he's on top of his game and feels he's the best player on the pitch.