ponsaelius

I thought he was fucking tripe

Why wouldn't they?

You're going on like this wasn't completely expected to happen at some point. It always was - just a matter of when. They are not wealthy enough in themselves to retain the stake in the club as we invest and grow.

Seems like the expensive alternative to Hawk Thiaw. I don't doubt we've genuinely had contact - profile is pretty much perfect if you're looking for a young right sided CB.

For me it's an exciting point. It suggests we're ready to kick into gear with major infrastructure projects that she can't stick around for as she doesn't have the cash to support her stake. I just hope they both remain involved in the club, even just in an ambassadorial role.

Is it? I'm pretty sure it has always been absolutely nailed on that she would sell her shares in the club. She is not rich enough to hold such a significant stake as the club grows - hence the gradual dilution of her stake even up to now. I'd imagine there's a pretty good chance she retains some kind of role going forward in the club even when she sells.

Was La Masia wasn't he? Odd move to make.

Why do you keep calling him Cherky

Threave Rovers Vs Whitley Bay at 3pm in Castle Douglas if you fancied a double header. I'm weighing up going along to the former, but have been to QoTS won't be bothering with doing both.

Remember when Portugal dropped Ronaldo in Qatar and won 6-1. Scored a hatful against Luxembourg though so run it back. Fair play to Pepe though - think he probably deserved to play.

Ronaldo letting France go first up there with him going 5th in 2012. Absolute weirdo of a decision.

80 million euros

Best two teams for me, shame this happened at QF stage probably.

Personally hate the obsession with CBs at full back. Calafiori has moved inside and flourished because of it. Moving him back out to fullback sucks.

Yes and also some of the reports have said Mitchell has been working informally with the club on targets for a little while anyway.

Could up it in a better team, like Jota. And he gets plenty assists. Cracking player IMO - but I think far too brittle to go near at the price they'd want.

I don't think we can justify the funds for Neto considering his injury record, as good as he is. If we were signing a player from Wolves I think I'd rather get Cunha as a versatile forward option.

Embolo under Eddie Howe? I genuinely reckon he'd be retired/dead within 18 months.

Yes this is exactly it. The two outward deals have clearly been lined up for ages - if Bruno's release clause wasn't activated. Anderson going to Forest seemed panicked because it didn't break until fake deadline day, but that's just because it wasn't in the public realm like this deal wasn't.

Was it though? I thought it might have been, but now I'm not sure given the wider picture. Certainly not to the extent that was made.

It's like everything has slid into play over a week or so. I think less than chaotic, it has been more cold and calculated. The fees we got for two young players will allow us to reinvest this summer. This is also a model that this new DOF will be entrusted to continue to deliver on - especially given it's exactly what Leipzig/Monaco/Southampton have done. It's one way we will be trying to bridge the FFP gap over next couple of years.

For all the talk about us being panicked and chaotic over the PSR deadline, we're suddenly starting to look quite slick again. I wonder if things have been overplayed.

Age and wages. Not having a go at you in particular but it's always surprising to me how many people are still struggling with the economic element of signings in the modern era. Paulinha might be at his peak now but in 4/5 years time at end of his contract he will be 32/33 so becomes an effective dead weight financially. Still worth it to a club like Bayern who have the money to burn and are looking for instant impact. Anderson will likely improve or at least be the same by year 4 of his contract, and will be only 25. Value either the same or more at that point. His wage package will be very reasonable for a PL player hence the high fee is more reasonable for a club to pay. The economics of the market is why we are able to find interest in our young players but almost none for those in their late 20s - even if they're good.

I'm not even now convinced that it was Bruno's side that pushed for the release clause. Given the timing of it before the PSR deadline, and our subsequent relatively panicked sales, I think we arranged it as a potential PSR solution that would be palatable from a PR perspective due to the clause.

Ah fuck sake