ponsaelius

Don't think Howe is ever playing Targett over Burn again unless Burn is needed in the middle. Left back absolutely a priority position for me. I know people worry about his fitness record but I think Tierney would be absolutely superb in our system. Bit of a shame it appears to have gone slightly quiet on that one.

To be fair that side is honking on paper.

Is that first NUFC goalscorer for England since Owen btw?

It's not just culture but language too. Italy in general has much lower English proficiency than northern Europe - particularly the kind of demographics who become footballers. Obviously this is not too dissimilar to France/Spain/Portugal but there's a much bigger critical mass of players who speak those languages because you have South Americans and West Africans in abundance too which makes it easier to adapt when there's already an enclave of players there too speaking languages and sharing culture. Italian is much more of a language isolate. Jorginho is Brazilian and moved to Europe at 16. Di Matteo was born in Schaffhausen and speaks German as a first language - didn't even move to Italy to play football until he was in his 20s.

I mean I definitely answered this. The real question is how many have there actually been? I can't think of a single first choice Italian international midfielder in the last 30 years has ever moved to England since PL began. Albertini, D. Baggio, Pirlo, Gattuso, Ambrosini, De Rossi, Verratti etc. Even players in the next bracket down there has been very few/none who have actually moved to England. You can probably say the same for most other positions on the pitch too like CB and centre forward. The kinds of players who have tended to move to England have been younger players, peripheral international players, or those in their older years. Jorginho and Di Matteo probably the only real examples I can think of first choice Italian midfielders who played in England during peak years. And neither of them are actually Italian so only reinforce the rule tbh. If we signed Barella he'd be probably the most prominent example I can think of as an Italian player moving to an Engish club. It's why I think it so unlikely tbh.

Almost goes without saying really. The main irony for me is that as money in football has ballooned as it has become an entertainment industry (particularly through TV and commercial revenue) it is actually perfectly possible for all PL clubs to sell matchday tickets at a reasonable price. They don't even need the money - but do so to keep up with the joneses on fees/wages and to squeeze everything for what it's worth. Conversely if you are going to watch lower league or non league football that money actually is needed to keep those clubs going. Like it was for top flight clubs in the 80s. Yet many actually begrudge the cost of football at that level more than they do in the PL.

It's probably in line with inflation if you look at CL ticket prices for our early 2000s CL games. But then they were expensive then - hence why we had a load of empty seats at the time. I think it's on the expensive side. Don't get me wrong I've spent more than that on football tickets before - sometimes from resellers and touts - but that's when I've been on a trip to somewhere and the match is the entire reason I'm there. In that instance you don't mind the cost because it's a special occasion and you're already sinking a load for the trip anyway. Same principle for dropping £60 on a ticket for the Sam Fender gig - it's a one off big occasion for people. I think the difference with supporting your team is that 'going to the match' is/used to be something that is/was a routine. A bit like going to church once a week. It's a commitment, and many have an expectation to be able to every match. For a lot of people that's not the case anymore and will become less and less so as ticket prices go up. When ticket prices go up to £60 a pop and beyond - it becomes the type of thing that you have to pick and choose when to go. A special occasion thing like a night out at the theatre, or going to a big concert. This brings it in line with what US sports are like. I think this can also begin to have a detrimental impact on atmosphere. Not just because of the demographics who can go - because it slides further into being a piece entertainment to be bought and those paying to be there expect value for money. That is not necessarily condusive to the best atmosphere - as is seen at many clubs. Just because there's enough demand, and the ground will be full at X price, it doesn't make it not worth questioning and critiquing the price point.

£55 quid a ticket for CL, good job I've got a dodgy box now then

I think Havertz is a good footballer but agree he suffers in not really having an actual role or position. Germany have become experts in producing positionless players.

He's also got even more minutes in his legs at that age than Dele Alli did, and already plays games with strapping all over his legs. Not to say he's going to go anywhere near the same way - but definitely needs to watch out for physical burnout.

Yeah I'd say pace on the transition both with and without the ball was probably his most definable attribute. Even now he's still got a decent turn of pace. Can't think of many at 35 who are quicker tbh

It's definitely a combination of both, tbh.

Di Maria slow? Definitely not. Even now at 35. He had absolutely no interest in being at Man United though.

Ravanelli's salary increase was about 6x when he went to Boro IIRC (7k to 42k).

Exactly. And their nonnas. Probably already begrudges having had to move from Sardinia to Milan, nevermind upping sticks to northern England.

Barella is already on 150k a week and the tax situation is more generous for professional athletes than it is in the UK. To give a significant salary increase you are looking at probably 250k+ a week. We are not at that stage of offering those kind of wages and even if we are I don't think it's a good idea to use money only as main convincing point. It's why I don't think this is ever going to be a goer personally (in addition to the fact Inter will want a decent bit more than £50 million). Milan is a great city to live as a footballer. Passionate footballing city, but not fanatical and oppressive to the degree where you can't go out and about. Great food/culture/nightlife, can live outside the city and have easy access to the lakes etc.

Think his priority is basically Argentina and having an easy life now, tbh. He can probably extend his international career a bit longer if he's coasting at club level. Easier to get to qualifiers too from Miami.

He had that bad injury for Leeds and then basically didn't play last season. Two years of not really playing football. It can be hard to get your mojo back after that. I'd heard from Leeds supporters that him coming to us was a done deal for ages before Man City swooped. I understand ego and wanting to not be seen to 'fail' at City but to me it seems more likely he becomes a Fabian Delph than a Fernandinho and he should probably look to move somewhere he will definitely play.

He did his ACL and was out for nearly a year. Great player but a lot of his game was his pace and work rate. Italy have not had much luck with players getting serious injuries - Zaniolo doing both knees consecutively has massively curtailed his original potential too.

Sardinian not Sicilian. But otherwise I think pretty accurate.

If City got Rice I'd imagine we'd be back in for Phillips.

City offered De Rossi a king's ransom to move to City under Mancini and he contemplated it but ultimately didn't. That's the closest I can really remember. They all appreciate the lifestyle and the weather too much, and are basically mostly little nonna's boys. I can see Inter as sellers (but not at £50 million - too cheap) but convincing the Sardinian Inter fan to commit to NUFC is fanciful IMO. He's already on money that would be the top end of our pay bracket too.

Brazilian and Swiss tbf. There has definitely been few. But very few top class Italian midfielders have ever moved to England. I can't think of any. It's why I can't see this transfer happening at all personally.

Doesn't count club grown, no.

He's Brazilian tbf.