timeEd32

God I'd love to see some rants tonight from Mancs about how they just lost to a team with Ritchie and Dummett.

It's somewhat comical how ridiculous this is but we're also an injury to Wilson / Bruno / Trippier / Schar from our season going off the rails.

I agree, but also in a world with more normal injuries the backline would have Lascelles, Tonali would be in there, and Murphy / Barnes / Wilson could all have a chance.

This isn't really a fair way to look at it. We finished 4th last year exceeding everyone's expectations after 18 months prior heading straight for relegation. The team needed serious investment to make up for the preceding years. That investment happened in consecutive windows in 2022 without any real progress on the revenue side. We've been playing a revenue vs. outgoings balancing act ever since then. On the bolded bit - per all reports everyone involved in running the club is involved in our transfer strategy. It would have presumably been a group decision to take the approach we did. I'm sure Yasir has asked why we didn't know about Tonali's gambling habits but ultimately that's a bad break as is Barnes. We've had additional bad luck with Willock, Joelinton, Botman, Murphy, and Isak. Our two most promising youngsters are also unavailable right now due to injury / illness. It seems pretty disingenuous to question why we signed two extremely promising fullbacks when we have almost an entire XI unavailable for various reasons.

You're missing a whole matchday - they need to go to Milan. I'm also not just granting them 3 points against PSG (though PSG may have qualified by then, which would not be ideal).

The next 2+ weeks are going to be very tough. No Tonali, no Murphy, I'm assuming no Isak, and maybe no Botman for some of it. After an intense effort last night we have: 2 days off Wolves (a) 3 days off Man Utd (a) 2 days off Arsenal (h) 2 days off Dortmund (a) 3 days off Bournemouth (a)

They aren't invincible, but Dortmund haven't lost at home in over a year (August 2022). That includes games against Milan, Chelsea, Leipzig, Man City, Sevilla, and Bayern. A draw would be an excellent result and keep us in the mix.

Obviously we're not just going to not pay them with no leg to stand on.

Suspending payments to Milan makes a lot more sense. We also might be paying him less if his contract is written with any form of "match payments" plus any bonuses will be out the window.

Seems impossible this game ends 1-0.

Tonali awesome now that a ban is coming

Willock!

I thought it was a gambling joke that went over my head.

I'm not convinced Tonali has any idea what Eddie was telling him to do

Quite a few posts describing that as some variation of 'crap,' which seems incredibly harsh. It wasn't great and we need to work some things out, but Dortmund needs some credit.

Yup, everything they've done has come in that space.

Paramount+ trial?

I think we would have if we thought he was the best option. I think this team is Eddie's first choice XI right now (Botman aside of course).

There is a very good chance of this being the case and yet it still seems almost impossible to believe.

I'm guessing we know he's not available.

I like our chances, but this thread is giving me Man City pre-match vibes. PSG away is the only game they've lost this season. Also, unless I missed one, I don't think they've lost at home since August of 2022 for those thinking about doing the double over them.

In our last 40 games played we're 4 points better with a +37 GD compared to them. Since the cup final they have a -1 GD and we've collected two more points even if you give them 6 points for their two games in hand. This calendar year we are basically identical to each other at home: +20 GD for us and +18 for them. Away from home we are +9 and they are -10. This season they are 12th in xG, 9th in xGA, and 11th in xPTS. We are 1st, 2nd, and 2nd. I know which team I'd rather be looking at literally every metric other than points. Just a slight improvement from us in turning draws into 3 points and we're flying. Combine that with them turning some of these narrow wins into draws and it won't be close. Barring a drastic uptick in form from them I'm very confident we will be finishing above them.

If he bet on Milan (or even Serie A games) he deserves it. There's no argument about a global ban at that point. All attention on what Milan knew and what payments we can get out of.

I'd be very happy with him, especially on loan. I have no doubt Eddie could get him back to his best.

It was generally regarded as one of the most surprising deals of the summer. Boyhood fan, never wanted to leave Milan, etc. There was a very plausible explanation with a big fee for Milan + big wages for him + new challenge, etc. Not ruling that out, but this certainly provides another reason.