ponsaelius

Lascelles isn't great but I personally think he's a better PL player than Manquillo. Similarly Trippier is older than Schar if you want to look at long term squad planning. Equally I didn't think any of last seasons players are suitable as the deepest midfielder apart from Bruno which put a huge strain on him over the campaign. Tonali can definitely play there and adds quality of a similar level. While everybody was staring at RW and LB as a first choice weakness, RB and DCM were also weakspots in squad terms that will be seriously stress tested over a 50+ game season.

If we'd gone big on a RCB and a RW we'd have struggled to fill the positions we have done and then have looked very weak in terms of RB backup and with no effective replacement for Bruno. The Hall signing being a loan-to-buy job shows that we're right at the limit of what we can reasonably spend this summer. Not to mention the issues with bringing in 6-7 players in a window from a squad cohesion point of view. We're in a long term process that we all know will take a few summers to get there. We are in a process of signing the right players for each position, even if not in the 'ideal' order. We will continue to have gaps in the squad for a while, but they're getting less and less each year. I think if you're taking into account this context you can't reasonably criticise our business. Right players, right age, long term planning without short term fixes, covering as many positions as possible but without forgoing quality, all in well before the close of the window. They are working as efficiently as could be reasonably expected. And I'd retain that position even if some of the signings don't hit the ground running or if Schar's leg falls off.

Grealish 100 million Chukwuemeka 20 million Cameron Archer 18 million Jacob Ramsey 12 million Philogene 5 million Keinan Davis 1 million 160 million of pure profit. We need to sort out academy out asap. That being said - it's a bit sad how FFP almost means clubs are now prioritising the sale of academy players to pay for incomings.

Yup. Football for fans is an escape from everyday life be that school/work/whatever. When your regular routine is playing, training, travelling to games etc - you're unlikely to want to source that same escape.

Indeed. Plus from my experience your allegiances are properly forged when you start going to games with mates etc in teenage years. If you're an academy through that time you're possibly not doing that, and are more likely to have an allegiance to the club you play for - which is always different to being a fan.

I think his older brother is genuinely a big Toon fan. Not convinced Lewis is. Tbh it's not uncommon for lads who have come through big academies to not really be big football fans.

That was my main thought when watching it tbf. That if it wasn't NUFC related I'd be bored shitless and turned it off. To be fair I equally gave up on the Juve, Man City and Tottenham ones after about an episode each too. Dull.

I rated Tierney highly based on his career to date but I think there's clearly something wrong there with him. Can't just be tactical reasons for Arteta to have such little faith, and for there to be so little cash interest generated this window. It seems almost inevitable that he will be loaned out to a mid-table club at this point. As much as I liked the idea of signing him I'm quite excited that we've gone for a moldable long term option instead.

No chance we'd bring in Tierney now we've signed Hall unless we were able to shift Targett. Even then I'd be very surprised. I think we're clearly done for the window. I'd put my money on Tierney to West Ham on loan before the end of the window.

True. I guess not then

Your other option would be to team up with somebody who has a membership and link your dad's with theirs. Then apply in the ballot for the two together. Then if successful you could transfer your ST to that person. Saves needing to fork out for another membership if you could. Edit: although actually that would probably be technically illegal under the current system as the ticket would be under the wrong name. But I doubt they'd ever check this for a home game.

I think Germany have took in nigh on close to a million Ukrainian refugees.

You obviously didn't watch the game otherwise you would have known that Dias played

Ward Prowse will get WH some set piece goals but the loss of control and physicality in midfield without Rice is so glaring. I'm not sure you can play him and Soucek in a pivot in the PL.

If we'd get twatted by somebody at least I could get angry at what was unfolding. That entire experience just left me emotionally cold. Genuinely felt my eyelids closing at one point in the second half.

One of the dullest games I've watched in ages. Like a Spain group stage world cup match.

I'd probably rather lose 6-2 in cut and thrust game than lose a game like that. Suffocating, dominant, perfectionist misery. Really just feels like I've completely wasted my life watching it tbh Never at any point felt like we were going to score a goal, whereas City never really seemed like they wanted to pull us apart.

Feel like I've wasted 2 hours of my life

How frustrating is it to watch/play against. Wish Guardiola would fuck off.

Could be a genuine change of plan to drop them all today before the City game tbh.

Looks like they've fucked up and dropped the last two eps

Sheffield United have fifteen players out of contract next summer

I wouldn't say that's unusual attitude to them tbf. They're a big club, good fans but without having much chance of being successful again any time soon. The kind of club that you quite like to see in the PL but also love the schadenfreude when it goes badly for them. It's really not too dissimilar to a lot other clubs fans thoughts on us, at least pre-takeover.

That would be a bit of a weird one but would be brilliant for our travelling support if we were allowed a big allocation or to just fill the stadium.

No player we sign is ever going to be the finished article though. That's kind of our entire transfer model. Not even sure Barnes is.