Hughesy

Seems a decent article about him here - https://bundesligabulletin.substack.com/p/v2-on-gladbach-sputtering-joelintons

Wonder where Bruce ranks in Ashley's most expensive signings.

16m is way too low. Reckon it should be in the 20-25m range, given other prices for players. He's still got 2 years left in any event.

As a lawyer, KYC can frankly piss off. Shouldn't be a lawyer's responsibility to spoonfeed that shit. Shouldn't even touch our desks. I'm on the banking side, so we don't get much choice. Likewise on the banking side in the legal world, but it's infuriating that it's become our responsibility in the last few years. It takes a hell of a lot of time (and therefore costs a lot) but we never make any recovery on it.

As a lawyer, KYC can frankly piss off. Shouldn't be a lawyer's responsibility to spoonfeed that shit. Shouldn't even touch our desks.

People generally don't incorporate in these circumstances until they need to. I've worked in plenty of processes where the binding bid document simply refers in general terms to 'a UK limited company, to be incorporated in due course' because it saves the hassle of setting one up and then closing it all back down again if the other conditions of the sale are not fulfilled. I'd disagree with that slightly. I agree that in a normal bid scenario you would establish the company and acquire within a few days. However I've seen clients establish just to reserve the name and then never use the company again. It's really not that much hassle - it costs £40 to incorporate a company (£120 same day) and not much more to terminate. For large corporates that's less than 15 minutes of legal fees. Not going to hugely disagree, but you're probably going to use bespoke articles so it might cost a little more.

Totally agree. In any event, I thought Ashley was using Dentons as his lawyers, so Pinsents will probably be acting for the buyer - I think they do this type of transaction anyway (mid market type work with a sports angle sometimes).

I am slightly surprised at some of the timelines in the press about how long it will take to close the deal (not commenting on the Premier League checks as I have no idea about those). Given the relative simplicity of the business of NUFC and the fact that it would appear that no debt is being utilised for the acquisition, it shouldn't take that long to agree an SPA and get the deal done - obviously caveated by how willing the parties are to complete the deal.

Should raise his asking price a bit.

I think central midfield is our real opportunity to push the squad on if we invest (ha ha) some serious cash. We don't seem to have really managed to consistently get a decent blend of creativity, stamina and defensive solidity - which is obviously going to cost money. Obviously Longstaff has shown great potential, but I don't think we should be going into next season relying on him maintaining that level of performance or as an automatic starter. If Rafa stays and has any kind of budget, I'd love it if he focussed the bulk of the money on the central midfield. Unearth the modern Rob Lee from somewhere...

Always been quite impressed with Billing from Huddersfield whenever I've seen him play. Wouldn't mind seeing him come, given we probably need to replace Shelvey, Hayden and Diame.

It was handball but the rule is just wrong, there was nothing unnatural in Rose’s arm position. Us humans have arms and they tend to flay about when we run and jump about. You can almost always tell when a player leaves an arm there to be hit. I get your point but, to me, it seems unfair that Aguero has a great chance, gets a shot off and it’s blocked by an arm. Yes, it’s probably quite hard to slide and block the ball and ensure your arm definitely doesn’t get in the way, but it’s not impossible and has clearly stopped a shot hitting the target (that probably has a very good chance of going in). Seems different to me to a cross hitting an arm by someone’s hand side on the edge of the box. I suppose that’s the roundabout point I’m trying to make.

Apart from the fact the rule is "deliberate" handball, never heard of a rule saying if the ball is going on target it's handball. I didn’t say the rules said that the fact it was on target made it a handball. That was my opinion on why, regardless of the rules, I think it should be a penalty.

His arm blocked a shot hitting the target. It’s clearly a handball.

I don’t get how that’s not a penalty to be honest.

Thought he was absolutely fine on Saturday. Slightly bemused as to why people would be in any way concerned by his performance.

Site I checked said 1.95-1.16? I saw 1.4-0.9. Which tallies with how I saw the game - the idea we were outclassed just doesn't ring true.

Don't really think 2-0 was a fair reflection of the game. Thought they were pretty average and the score line flattered them. Games like this and the wolves game show that we really aren't far behind 7-12th at all.

Set Piece Menu is definitely worth a listen - quite like the fact that it's not just a discussion of the previous week's games. And Rory Smith is excellent on it.

Thought Wolves were pretty unimpressive. With a little bit of investment from Fat Mike, there's no reason why we couldn't be challenging for 7th quite comfortably. Just a shame that investment isn't forthcoming.

Agree with this. He looked assured bar the odd time he came for it and then backtracked. Handling was really good. Then that in the 95th minute. He’s trying to relieve the pressure. They were getting a flurry of corners and crosses in, he’d been taking everything. If he’s not fouled he’s catches it, falls on top of the ball, launches it and it’s game over. Spot on.

God you talk some shite. I hold a similarly high opinion of your output.

Can just imagine the reaction if he punches the ball out for the corner and they score from the resulting corner. Then everyone would be banging on about how he should have caught it.

Beat Huddersfield, beat Burnley - we're safe.

He was barely touched though, and he sat underneath it. He needs to high point it, not wait for it to come down That's not being stronger - that's jumping earlier.