ponsaelius

Only just seen that Kolo Muani cost PSG 95 million euros the actual fuck. Prices really have gone absolutely insane.

Probably, yes. He doesn't look fit at all. Unfortunately Willock is also out which removes an obviously solution there to replace him.

FWIW I thought Villa's midfield also gave ours a bit of the runaround for large parts of that first game. We just flattened them once we got going, helped significantly by fatty Tielemans coming on.

I've got to say when we signed Tonali I thought he was coming to play primarily as the #6 (allowing for flexibility/rotation he would give us). At Ibrox I was quite puzzled to see Tonali in Longstaff's position and Longstaff as the #6. It didn't matter in that game because Rangers weren't very good, and I put it down to pre-season experimentation. But it had persisted and although Tonali has looked decent in terms of his individual quality - the midfield isn't working. I still don't necessarily think you need an exclusive holding midfielder, and I certainly don't think you should go out and buy an average one just for the sake of it. But you need to get the balance in there right - and it isn't right at the minute. So we're seeing a defense looking more fragile under pressure, and a more disjointed attack.

Hate playing against Brighton. Ball into forward, attempted tackle, fall over, free kick. So fucking infuriating.

May be a reason Pope didn't make the England squad...

We're after Hugo Lloris apparently.

All pretty accessible from Newcastle too. Bergamo, Düsseldorf, Paris all have direct flights. Plus Eurostar.

It's not just that. People are shelling out £55 a ticket. At least you're getting value for money for these games.

Do we know what time it actually starts?

Would definitely take a draw now if offered tbh.

He's quality mind. Most I've ever felt being wrong about a player we've signed. I probably just didn't watch Everton enough to judge him tbf because they are shite. Love his dribbling, ability to go outside or inside, and willingness to attempt incisive through balls. Really hopeful he can thrive. He's doing well on that side but I do wonder if we could get him on the right with Barnes left.

Interesting. Feels slightly like a proactive move to lock him down.

Not that year, we were a good distance behind Man United.

It's fucking annoying and we messed it up undoubtedly, but equally those were two ridiculously ruthless finishes from Nunez.

Predicting any manager will lose their job in the medium term future is basically the safest, most milquetoast football opinion it is possible to have, mind. You pretty much can't lose and it's dull as fuck. There is far, far more chance of the above happening than Eddie Howe going on to have a Fergie/Wenger/Simeone style dynasty for the next decade. That's just football.

Deserved tbh. Feel like we've lacked the maturity to kill the game off.

Shite.

Gonna be a horrible end to the game

Buzzing they didn't send him off now

Our passing is shite

Not watching but I quite liked him on comms during the World Cup.

Definitely feels like there is going to be two clear groups of teams this year top and bottom half

There's no real guarantee this is down to Ashley. Many professional football clubs have a reputation for being pretty shitty employers for those that aren't the immediate playing/coaching staff and management, often paying under the market rate for the jobs in question under the idea that people want to work in football.