Village Idiot

Having watched Griezmann, C Perez and Fati all play very well at the weekend - I don't understand the need for Neymar - unless its Messi who wants him Yeah, we don't need another forward. Rather we give the playing time to Dembelé, of which I really have doubts about, but his potential is undeniable. Fati looked really promising, too. The only thing I'd sign is a Rakitic replacement, since his legs are starting to go. His mix of talent/workrate has been key these years.

PSG have turned down our last offer for Neymar (which was rumored to be €130m + Rakitic + Dembelé on loan, other sources said we offered €170m in installments). That would be good news, but that probably just means we'll go back and throw in more money/players.

Showdown talks in Paris between us and PSG for Neymar

The transfer ban depleted a lot of the youth squads (which had become very reliant on signing foreign talent which was now deemed illegal). Then there was a reform of the academy 4 years ago which was very ambitious - implementing a lot of data driven coaching and development tracking -, but it is having a lot of teething problems. Now they have just made another reorg and I wouldn't be surprised if they walk back some of the changes.

Coutinho loan to Bayern completed. We'll get €9m as loan fee and they get a €120m buyout - which they won't use so whatever. Man, we suck so much at this transfer business. We're the New York Knicks of football.

Burned out as not being able to play with the kind of mental intensity he did in his previous years, always being plugged in the game. Even if his athleticism is still mostly there (he's just 30), his mind isn't.

Joselu fits Garitano's battleplan like a glove (a cheap glove bought at a Chinese outlet, which is the kind of gloves Alavés can afford), I wouldn't be surprised if he scores 7-9 this season. It really depends on whether he can hold that starting spot in front of Lucas Pérez.

Sánchez workrate was immense though. In his peak years he was always popping up everywhere in the attack, backtracking, etc... I can see him not being able to carry that kind of effort into his late 20s. I also get the feeling he burned out mentally.

Coutinho loaned to Bayern. Another one to add to our list of busted big transfers. This makes all but certain that we won't sign Neymar, fwiw.

Borja Iglesias to Betis for €28m. If I'm not wrong this is the largest transfer fee ever paid for a Spanish player outside Barça/Madrid/Atlético or a foreign team. He should do very well for them.

Looks like Betis, flush with cash with the Junior sale to us, are going to trigger Iglesias' release clause at Espanyol. He's the best "gettable" Spanish striker for a team aiming at the upper midtable/EL spots, but €30m is a hell of a lot of money. It's going to be one of the biggest transfers for a Spanish player not involving a foreign team or Barça/Madrid.

https://www.balls.ie/football/steve-bruce-novel-293169 So much gold in it. The English Stieg Larsson innit?

Jetro will give us plenty of Thick as a Brick puns though!

They are hated by fans. The FA is fighting the good fight here (although I'm sure there's a cynical reason they are taking this up).

In the next chapter of the battle between the Spanish FA and La Liga, the Spanish FA has banned Friday and Monday league games. Thing will probably go to court since La Liga says they are moving forward with the current format (that has la liga play Fri-Sat-Sun-Mon). The FA already scuppered La Liga's plans to play games abroad last season.

FC Andorra (owned by Piqué's sport investment company Kosmos) has bought Reus CF's spot in Spanish Segunda B. That's https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/49157454 Kosmos is also in talks to buy CE Manresa in the Spanish 5th tier to become Andorra's feeder team...

Steve fucking Bruce. Guy was past it 10 years ago, probably. Going to him from Rafa is like wanking oneself with a spiky gauntlet after being dumped by a supermodel. It's like a bad joke. Surely this is some kind of Truman-like reality show where the last fan standing wins something.

Ben Arfa linked with Espanyol.

I know it's just dummies being spat, but reports from Fox Sports in Argentina that AFA might try to join UEFA

Ajax has inserted this in our press: There's also a bus making the rounds in the city with the same ad.

seems because messi told them to. Not sure how the hell Barca can afford to mind Well, apparently we'll only buy if we move Coutinho on for a decent figure. PSG will rip us off, anyway, I don't think this will happen (luckily) but will probably distract us from other, better, targets. I'm really afraid they might sell Dembelé to get Neymar. Dembelé has a lots of work to do yet, and jury's out whether he has the right mentality to make the most of his talent, but his raw talent is immense.

Why o why are we pursuing Neymar?

The wage is absolutely sickening and it's caused a lot of problems in the squad and shattered any sort of wage structure. Once Sanchez goes the top earner will be Pogba on £250k which is about right for elite performers at the bigger clubs. The fact there's a £140k gap between the #1 and #2 earners is wild. That money for Alexis is ridiculous, that would make him second highest paid player at Barça... only behind Messi. Might be highest paid player at Real Madrid with Ronaldo gone, too (although I guess they're paying Hazard more now).

Looks like the rumours tying us back with Neymar are real