ponsaelius

It's possible, but I expected more chinks in the armour by now. Probably comes down to winning that home game against them.

Yeah you're right here IMO. I think he'd have been great for us. Don't think he's worth 50-60 million like, but he would have improved our team without a doubt.

I've given up on Forest falling away like. Don't think we'll overtake them.

Home loss to Brighton one of our worst results of the season, particularly given how we played.

A Maldini in black and blue is somewhat jarring.

Can absolutely see why Eddie wanted Elanga like.

If they hadn't already sold loads of players for stupid money in recent years giving them complete freedom in the market going forward then I'd agree it's daft to turn it down. But they have done, and it does nothing for them or the rest of their season selling him now. There comes a point where you have to not just sell. The player clearly didn't want to go either.

Brighton are already PSR teachers pets though, they absolutely do not need to sell, and for me Mitoma on form is their best player.

Forest switched to a back 3?

A decent fee would go along way towards us getting the RCB we actually need far more in the summer. Got to consider it IMO. I guess we've had our fingers burnt with Guehi now but I'm surprised there's been nothing more this January with that. I'd have tried to sign him with allowing him to finish the season at Palace on loan or with an agreed summer transfer. Every window that passes without him signing a contract is a depreciating fee, but the Chalobah/Radi situation means they can't afford to lose any defenders. Feel like there'd be opportunity to exploit that now we're not as urgent in need.

Still don't think an on site rebuild is possible due to 1. LP encroachment and 2. I don't think you could build it without at least some time at another ground. Depending on where the footprint sits you basically increase one or the other factor on a sliding scale. That's not referring to a gradual rebuild of all sides btw, which could be done, but would retain the capacity limits as discussed.

I presume you're thinking about the winger who plays for Juve? City are after the midfielder at Porto.

Mad that's two years ago already like

Yeah basically, because we'd struggle to get a fee to justify the sale as he goes closer towards 30. We're going to have this decision to make with all our squad players going forward. They do reach a point (due to age, injuries) where you might as well just keep them rather than sell. Been this story with Wilson for a while. It's why we've also got to be ruthless when there is proper cash on the table. There is always a right time to sell.

As frustrating as it is I'm confident we should be able to attack the summer and be much stronger for it. I'm just a bit frustrated we can't shift a bit more deadwood ahead of time.

Sorry I absolutely hate the Bernabeu. Looks great inside because it's basically still the same, and the functionality is great in terms of the pitch system, but it's fuck ugly IMO.

FWIW Chicago have a 15% sell on clause of any profit.

He was linked to PSG and West Ham very strongly for a big fee. If it hadn't have been to Saudi, he'd have gone somewhere else. And if not him they'd have sold somebody else. People need to stop getting their knickers in a twist. Particularly in this case where it's a promising 21 year old proven in the PL who is their top scorer and they've had to flog him. It's not like it's some old carthorse that they've got an inflated fee for. If anything I'm glad they've sold him rather than Watkins. While Watkins is a better player right now, his value is only going to decrease.

They navigate it differently to us. More wheeling and dealing. Selling and buying. Is it better long term? I don't know - it's a different way of doing things. They had more sellable assets to start with and a better academy so it gives them more wiggle room to move. We have tended to sit on our hands more. Sign/keep our star players, rely on Eddie to coach the limited players to bigger heights, far less player turnover overall. But equally we have got a lot less room to move due to the squad and academy the owners inherited. We've resisted the big sale to shuffle things up. Perhaps we won't be able to do that forever. The summer will be interesting. I think we're only 2-3 players off a very strong first XI, and we can recruit younger and cheaper profiles to build out the squad that can be the Durans of the future potentially.

The one caveat I would give to the above is we have two free loan spots, and getting some bodies in as temporary cover to any outgoing moves would be a good way to mitigate for those sales until the summer. It's not something we ever seem to explore though.

We're obviously just getting a headstart in clearing the decks for the summer as much as we can. Moving players on is hard, we've seen that for years. When you get interest in long term deadwood you want to upgrade sometimes you've got to just move them on while it's there if you can - even if it leaves you short. We have no Europe and one game a week for the rest of the season - this is the one time you can gamble on a smaller squad for a bit. It's a gamble no doubt, but I do get it. If you've got breathing space you can strike early and proactively in the summer to fill the gaps you've already made. Perhaps take advantage of any PSR firesales if they happen like last summer. Conversely if we've still got players we need to shift, it could take all summer until players are back from their holidays etc, and leave us with little flexibility.

Dunno Marseille have splashed a bit of cash recently, they might do a perm.

We possibly want to replace him with a younger player as part of a squad recycle come summer. I can see the merit in moving squad players on now in January if there is interest to free up head room to then strike quickly and proactively in the summer. Otherwise you might be waiting all summer for players to move and miss out on targets. The risk is of course it leaves us thinner on the ground for the rest of the season which could cost us CL if we have a run of injuries. It's a difficult balancing act but I totally get why Mitchell might want to clear the decks a bit this Jan and get fees in when the money is on the table, and while we only have one game a week.

Atalanta very unlucky to miss out on top 8 given they've played Arsenal, Barca and Madrid.

Great format!