Mattoon

We should have really stipulated it was "match highest wage at NUFC" that Ronaldo contract really killed our PSR.

This is why I think a new contract is so important, as much as Isak doesn't "deserve" anything for his actions, it is absolutely in everyone's best interest that the whole thing is renegotiated.

Was about to put something similar myself, we have absolutely got some game changers when you think about those games last season that went stale and we had nothing but dross to bring on.

I'd have hoped a bid would have gone in for someone, anyone, this morning, this is starting to feel desperate.

It looks messy on paper but it's really not, there's a set of requirements for us to allow Isak to go that all need to be met and we've not met one of them, in fact you could say we're on -1 due to the inability to replace Wilson yet. I think Howe is inferring that the conclusion is Isak will be told in no uncertain terms that he's going nowhere, there was a remote chance it could happen if those conditions were met but now its too late, we've exhausted our options and he'll have to stay, now its up to him to reintegrate himself into the squad.

Very well put and I'd venture to add to that, the indication that astute player trading can get you on equal footing is also a fallacy, sure it can get you a bump in PSR headroom in the short term but ultimately to be able to compete financially at the top table the only route is through sponsorships. You need sponsorships to keep the finances healthy enough to compete for player trading and wage structures but in order to do that you need to have a sustained level of success which in turn requires a healthy spend on the players to keep you there, which in turn requires sponsorships, that's why it's an unbreakable 6.

I'm up to £13.24 now, I'm glad that's looking safer by the day

I still think a lot of it stems from how useless Wilson was, we ran Isak into the ground, he doesn't have the best energy reserves as it is but we didn't have any options to bring him off, I'd imagine it was as infuriating at times for Isak as it was for us to see him ambling around. And I say that through gritted teeth as right now, I'd hate to give him any credit. He should have been supported better.

This isn't happening before Liverpool is it? I still think we'll get him but another game passing without a recognised striker is depressing and feels like an opportunity lost.

Can we send Osula the other way on loan?

They've already said they're prepared to do that deal

Is it though? Or is it required for both parties to trigger the extension?

I've seen a few of the media bin dippers sycophants posting about the first domino falling, sensationalist morons

No it's 12pm on the Friday, there was a Friday game last week but we still had until 12pm to sign someone for the Villa game

We have until Friday 12pm to get him signed for him to play, even a cameo would be better than 90 minutes of Gordon/Osula

Time to get this one wrapped up or shift balance very quickly, still chance to get someone in for Liverpool, imperative we have a competent striker if we want to get something from this.

Sweden also have Gyokores and Isak won't be very good at the WC with a year out of competitive football, rusty and gassing out after 30 minutes isn't a good look. It serves him no purpose to not play at all, its not even an argument.

He's an areshole but on this occasion he is our arsehole so I'm all in favour

Everything points to Isak and his team being the liars in this situation. If the club had known for as long as he states that he wanted out we'd have never let Wilson go on a free, you don't leave yourself in the position we're in with zero options knowingly, plus there's the promo material for the new season including Isak and his very own statements in the press at the end of the season. None of it makes sense except for under the conditions that Liverpool tapped him up and shook the tree, it was only when the media sycophants started printing the bin dippers desire to court Isak that the toys came out the pram so I'm not buying what he's selling. I do however believe that the mess at the top of the food chain means that a new contract that was promised maybe fell through the gaps and I can absolutely understand that being a catalyst to his unhappiness, but talk to the club and do it properly, this is amateur hour. As for the season ahead, we have no choice but to keep him now and he will have to accept that at some point, he'll have no choice but to play for us again or his career will go up in flames. At the very least he cannot go to a world cup without competitive football under his belt and looking at the wider picture, no one is going to want damaged goods next summer. He says its in everyone's best interest that he moves on, I'd argue Alex that it's in everyone's best interest that you play football, stop sulking and put yourself back out there.

Captain Steak Bakes Blackpoop FC getting thumped again, how long before they turn on him?

I see greedy people

Into these racist, phlegmy, perpetual victims and paragons of footballing goodness. This is going to be an epic game, a couldren of noise and hate, that first Joelinton crunch will tear the roof aloft. Let's batter these into submission, press high and hard and don't give them an inch.

I think it would be ideal if we could give him a small increase in wage but with heavy performance incentives to get the best out of him and then if he's still here past next summer his basic wage is increased as part of the deal.

As I said several pages ago, he's not our child to punish, he's a grown man who will understand the repercussions of his actions and I'm sure he'll be told in no uncertain terms how much damage he has caused. But there's an amicable solution to this catastrophe and that includes giving him closer to what he's worth in order for him to be fully committed at least for the season ahead. It's not rewarding bad behaviour, it's compromising in a difficult situation, the decisions made by the club will be without emotional charge and it makes sense to bring him back on side.

Absolutely this and we can use it in our favour to reintegrate him, Liverpool took his replacement and then didn't value him well enough to make a half decent bid, they've not come back with more money or at any time shown that they value him anything close to how we value him and I'm not just talking financially.