Gallowgate Toon

From a pure footballing perspective, it sounds like a nonsense idea, but from an FFP-enforced view (which we appear to strictly be adhering to) it unfortunately isn't, is it? As we've seen with ASM this window, we will have to sell someone else in the next year who holds some decent value to continue to make room for future investment, unless we start going crazy with commercial deals for official pillow partners or make the CL again. Even then, I imagine we'll still have to make some sales. I love Wilson as well and would be way more gutted to see him go than I was Maxi, but he's one of the other saleable assets we have that could fetch money while having pretty big drawbacks around his long-term future (age, injuries). Feel like if we were Pep/City in this scenario, they'd be looking to make the move now, tbh.

Being brutal, this window is probably our last chance to get good money for him and the pragmatic FFP choice would've been to try and move him on (if there was an interested party) over someone like ASM. Great season, minimal injury issues, some time left on the contract, mature player but not 'old' etc. Not all of those things will be true next summer. Toney would be the ideal replacement.

Outside of City and maybe Arsenal, there are some pretty significant weaknesses in every other squad at present.

Really wouldn't be shocked if there were some big underlying issues with his hammies. He definitely changed his running style for at least a few games this year. Reminded me of Dyer who did the same towards the end of his time here for at least a few games and had a really different warm-up routine to the rest of the team. The level of strapping too.

His numbers while being pressured are excellent, I think only Rodri did better than him in this department last season. Every player loses the ball or has games where it happens more often, it's just more pronounced with him because he takes risks in a dangerous area of the pitch. That's necessary for us though because we push high up positionally so our deepest mid needs to work hard to progress play.

Don't think Liverpool have the defensive balance in midfield yet.

Think it's notable that the 2 standouts this preseason have been young local lads with a point to prove. Lots of the senior pros feel like they're preparing for a busy campaign. As you'd expect, he's very raw at certain aspects but that really could work to our advantage in the right circumstances this season.

I'm pretty neutral about him going in football terms but he was a fantastic personality and went above-and-beyond to connect with the community.

Think we'd have to go 4-2-3-1 or some equivalent to make it work which probably suits Tonali and Guimaraes but none of our other central midfielders.

Like the cut of Barnes' jib. Not a game where we had loads of the ball but liked his intent when he got it. Wilson already getting onto him about getting crosses in - love it. See Bruno has been getting some stick but I thought he played well three really nice passes to Barnesy in particular.

Brighton should be a bit worried, tbh. They played a strong side and had lots of ball but relatively little to show for it despite being up against Matt Ritchie in central midfield and a reserve defence bar Pope.

There'll surely be some daft add-on clauses in there to get up to €40m.

Found the latest Athletic article on him a bit weird, like.

it sounded different in my head compared to how it came across written down. Iirc, the only evidence given around his supposed attitude problems was that he was seen at a club on the eve of a game once and had some handbags in training. Both of these are standard fare across football, especially for teenagers, so it seemed an unfair characterisation at the time for what seems like normal behaviour for his age. His on-pitch attitude has always been fine, apparently.

Christ, didn't know he'd been here for 3 years. I actually still think there's some talent there that's just been wasted.

18 year old isn't a model professional. Shocker.

Have a feeling we'll see his class in the CL faster this season than the PL. You can tell he's working things out a bit on the fly. Feels like he's playing it safe while scanning others' movements.

Watched the match this morn and he looks full of ideas at the moment. Love that he got 20 mins up front during the second half and Isak switched out. Those in-match rotations (which are actually natural rather than forced) could really help us if we can keep the majority relatively fit.

Our lack of pace in defence won't be solved with just one player, like. We need it as an option but if 1 of 4 defenders is the only one with proper legs then there are still plenty of targets to hit.

https://youtu.be/nNnXTcr0DLQ?t=707

Makes it all the more tragic you conceded 3 last night to Jacob Murphy playmaking. In all seriousness, were you playing as high as that last season?!

Edward is crafty, like. Villa arguably beat our press better than anyone other than Liverpool and Arsenal last season and the shape change was perhaps a way to try a different press pattern to see how Villa's movement and passing changed without being able to prep for it.

Don't usually get bothered about this type of thing but it was absolutely relentless.

Haven't watched a Craig Hope YT walkaround video for a while so decided to catch what he said about it and he's talking about it like it was a league game halfway through the season Bruno and Tonali too similar, apparently etc.

Tbf, the press and 2 in mid left us canny exposed in the centre early on.