ponsaelius

Howe definitely has a blind/stubborn spot in terms of squad recycling to deal with PSR. He didn't want Wood to go either even thought it basically meant we could do the Gordon deal. I get it but we have to also work bigger picture.

Subs feels like something a very old school Italian manager would do. Or Simeone.

The £30-40 million bracket on proven players but still on the up has been the sweet spot for a while. That's where Liverpool have generally found their consistent value, and generally so have we. If they don't live up to expectations you don't lose out hugely in re-selling and there's still room for increase value if they're a hit. The lower end of the cost spectrum it's harder to get first team CL quality and tends to be more high quantity speculation (suits a club like Brighton) while higher than that it's much more likely that you get flops which lose money. The way the liquidity is being pulled from the market through PSR I think that value sweet spot might actually fall in coming years unless something changes because transfers fees are going to deflate. In this sense I would understand a policy pivot under Mitchell to more value signings as we build the squad.

We were very good for about 7-8 games in the second half of the season. But a lot of the rest of the time we rode our luck massively. The +5 goal difference says a lot - it's extremely poor for a side finishing 5th.

Yeah I tend to agree. He doesn't move his arm out of his body for me. It's in a natural position to the side anyway and then moves it backwards reacting to get it out of the way. I think it's a really cheap pen if you get one for that.

Was going to say, I don't watch them very often admittedly, but they've been poor every time

8 million would be an absolutely incredible deal in the circumstances. It won't be anywhere near that, be more like 800k ala the Shelvey sale.

They've been largely shite most of the season tbh. Inter still miles favourites ahead of them.

Arsenal used to be so fun to watch under Wenger. Now I find them one of those teams I barely find the enthusiasm to stick the telly on if they're playing.

Brighton have been unlucky with injuries to their summer signings but have generally been pretty unimpressive to my eyes. I think the home loss to them was worse than the West Ham one - they were poor and did a number on us tbh. Had our strongest XI out that day too.

Agree but I also agree with LFEE that he's unfortunately slipped out of the age/wage/price bracket for us in last 18 months. Think he'd also fancy his chances at a Liverpool move if Salah goes.

It's same problem in Italy, ridiculously north heavy at the moment (the north-south divide being the other way round). Investors buying up clubs like Monza, Como, Venezia, Pisa etc and exploiting marketable image of the places and/or the location near to major cities to attract players. However they all have very small historic fanbases in the same vain as Brentford and Bournemouth. Lot of the southern clubs have huge potential (particular in terms of fanbases and atmosphere) if they had similar investment.

Second half has felt so much like the Palace away game.

Oh aye my entire Xmas and new year was wiped out

Disappointed in the midfield mainly, they've looked like the ones who have had the flu. No control over the game.

I'd probably take a 3-2 loss having thought about it some more

Take a draw now

Second half has been poor tbh

As with Man Utd we're probably playing them at the best time you could reasonably ask for. Got to take advantage.

It's contract length though as well - if he can get the same wages he's on here for next 4 years or something there's an attraction. I think the bigger issue is probably his agent wanting a slice of the pie - I think when I looked Miggy is by far his biggest client.

50-60 I'd say.

I think he'll do well in a better team and is probably a good middle ground between Pope and Dubravka. City's jettisoned kids are pretty much universally finding their feet eventually, and his pedigree within the England set up is as good as any of them.

It's bizarre that he's having his best form for the club in years and undoubtedly contributed to our upturn in form (the improvement in possession/control in games has been pretty key) right at the point where he's going to leave. I still think he's basically done as a PL keeper, and will undoubtedly return to dropping in clangers at some point, but it it does feel a weird departure point given the various other times it has seemed like he was out the door. I do wonder if we're going to push for Trafford in January.

Olympiacos record signings, fwiw: https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/olympiakos-piraus/transferrekorde/verein/683 We'd not be getting very much from there.

Definitely think a RW who can play through the middle is the best bet. That's how Liverpool cover those forwards positions - as the likes of Gakpo and Jota can play through the middle or out wide. Mbeumo would be a dream signing but unfortunately I think we've missed the boat with him.