The Prophet

I'm not convinced we'll go big on a forward, unless we consider Wissa a total write off.

They both look pretty raw based on the eye test, but I've not watched too much of Samu. Weren't Porto wanted close to €100 million for him? I think there's a lack of promising strikers on the market and why Ekitike, Sesko and Woltemade all went for massive money last summer.

Is he better value for money than Delap?

Who we thinking?

Certainly wouldn't grumble at Delap.

He's a club legend and has been excellent for us, but he was pretty poor at times last season.

If Tonali leaves then he can't really. He doesn't strike me as the kind to do an Isak either, I think he genuinely loves the club.

In terms of first teamers, could see Tino and Tonali going. Think everybody else stays for the time being.

Considering how excited I was for the game, the pure apathy being felt today is weird. I've been consuming much less football recently, with the cavet I'd watch these games, so I've been anticipating them for a while. We get battered and no anger, no disappointment, nothing. Just a bit fed up. Copium perhaps.

Breakdown each players limitations, without acknowledging any of their strengths, before chucking them on the transfer list.

Fair, but Liverpool were league champions and had a full time manager in place. There's also no way Bruno would pull the same stunt as Isak either. Real I'd get, but not Man United.

Why on earth would we sell him to Man United? Total nonsense.

The draw isn't dodgy, the whole format is stacked to maintain the status quo though. There's very little jeopardy in the group phase while coefficients ensure that the fixture list will never be overly challenging and that historically more successful clubs receive a bigger pay packet. It's not a conspiracy, it's there in black and white.

Look at how lopsided some of those ties are. We might not have the Super Leagur in name, but they've done everything in their power to maintain the status quo. Everything from the draw, to the coefficient to the favourable refereeing calls, it's a loaded deck.

It's tough, but it's very coachable. He might not work out here, but it feels way too early to say it categorically can't work.

Goals aside, it wasn't his best game, but it's mad there always has to be a caveat with him. He's scored twice at the Nou Camp. He plays well and doesn't score, we critique his end product. On the other hand, Barnes scores twice with little else in the way of contribution and we praise his clinical finishing. He's on a hiding to nothing here because no matter how good he gets, folks have already made up their minds about him.

Why can't he be coached to play as a striker in a 4-3-3?

Some good posts in here tonight. Football has been capitalised and is very much a reflection of society. The game has been incrementally shifted to serve a few wealthy clubs, everyone else is just cannon fodder. Fans, clubs, the spirit of the sport itself, they've trampled all over them and will continue to do so. If you can accept we'll be a club that wins the odd domestic trophy and regularly qualifies for Europe you'll be fine, but if you think we'll break the stranglehold on the elite you're likely in for disappointment, no matter how optimistic our CEO is. Barca had absolutely going everything in their favour this tie, they didn't even need it.

Think we've been a lot better away from home for a while now, even if the results haven't always reflected it.

I equally respect our balls to go toe to toe with them as much as I bemoan our nativity. All part of the growing pains. They were on it, we managed the game poorly, we learn move on.

Two goals from open play, Arteta will be seething.

Eze is such a joyful player, you can see why Arteta despises playing him.

The Bodo v NUFC semifinal dream is over.

Volume 129 of Football is Finished.

Europa League, Europa Conference. I'll take European football in any form it comes. European football is class for fans. It's a chance to win a trophy. It helps our coefficient. It exposes Eddie and the squad to the two games per week format with more opportunity to utilise the squad. Don't really see much downside to any of it.