Tiresias

Botman's had a full preseason, featured prominantly in friendlies and explicity has come expecting to be first choice, no way he will be eased in, he has already been eased in with preseason (well you've given me doubt now, maybe i guess)

Yeah I do think it will be Botman Burn from preseason which feels strange to me as as much as Burn was great think Schar quickly settled back into being excellent last season, we just extended his contract and Botman is a more natural left sided centre back. There are a lot of games and we need 3 quality centre backs but my other worry is Schar sometimes takes a few games to get up to speed, he is a bit of a form player so worry about the impact of benching him. Oh well, I still have trust in Howe and he could surprise me.

He was alright and the difference between us going down and staying up at one point. He is not a winger though, I am not sure he really plays in a position that gets much use in the premier league, a second striker more than a no 10, unable to lead the line himself but needs to be close to goal and not a massive provider either.

Absolutely fantastic, what a tournament!

It sounds like a sort of let's meet in the middle at £50m kind of bid

Is a big fee but new contract etc. I think any club that has had one season of a player and they're brilliant and have them on long term deal with plenty left are entitled to put a fuck off price tag on them

It's funny i remember loathing Pardew a lot more than some of the interim managers like joe fucking kinnear as he stuck around so long, looking back looks kinda glorious golden era of Ashley when we were in europa league, were signing exciting mercurial french talents etc etc. Of course Pardew was a massive prat. but considering what came after...

Good intense game for the players. I wish we had more central control and we definitely need more goals in squad too. Second choice defenders werent that great and pope wasnt great but it's a friendly happy overall

Absolutely disgusting that!

Come on need to not be offside there

Benfica have a competitive champions league qualifier next week dont they so they are a bit further along their preparation?

Miggy!

In fairness I just meant his intense stare

poor defending that. Howe out

Who is the Benfica coach, seems super intense lol

haha bruno

Bit of a risk of a miscommunication, what if he genuinely wanted grace jones to provide someone a drink and she just drops them into the sea

Absolute state of cabbagehead. Local lad coming through, expected to be a star, starts playing poorly and gets abuse. What does fucking cabbagehead do? Clearly absolutely nothing. No doubt thinks he was soft. Relied upon Ritchie to do his job. Wish Ritchie had punched Bruce out completely. I mean it's so mad. Arm round shoulder (and Bruce is apparently meant to be an arm round the shoulder style manager lololol) and he maybe could have regained form. But no. And even from a pure business sense, Longstaff was being linked to £50m moves away, if we'd sold him last window would we have got even £20m? Just absolute madness how Bruce's absense of coaching was tolerated for so long. Good on the lad, would absolutely love for him to come on strong again and shine next to the Brazilians.

Yeah fair, I am not saying they are incurring disaster, but I would still be surprised if they aren't fighting relegation all season. If they succeed they may well be in a great place as squad gels.

Depends on your financial situation if you go straight back down and can't afford the wage bill you look pretty dumb

Latest is De Jong is going to accept a pay cut to stay at Barcalona. Player must be mad, pleading to poverty to him while buying everyone under the sun. I understand him wanting to play for the club desperately but that is really shabby treatment. Also hahahaha Man U.

Premier League: Winners: Man City Runners Up: Spurs 3rd-6th: Chelsea, Liverpool, Man U Arsenal Relegation: Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Everton Overachievers: Fulham Underperformers: Liverpool Top Goal Scorer: Haaland Break Out Year: Elliott Anderson howay Season to Forget: Leicester PFA Player of the Year: Haaland PFA Young Player of the Year: Haaland Manager of the Year: Klopp for some reason (ok, probably Conte really) First manager to quit/be sacked: Lampard Championship Winners: Dont know enough Runners Up: don't know enough Play-Offs: don't know enough Relegation: Sunderland Newcastle United Where will we finish?: 8th Top Goalscorer?: Wilson Season to forget: Shelvey Who will be the first player to be sent off for us?: Schar FA Cup: Arsenal League Cup: Man City EFL Trophy: Dunno Europe La Liga winner: Barcalona Serie A winner: Juventus Bundesliga winner: Shock Bayern Munich Champions League winner: Man City Europa League winner: Roma Conference League Winner: Leicester World Player of the Year: Mbappe World Young player: Pedri

I mean if Chelsea were willing to swap him for 3 of their spare good wingers

I dunno I am pegging Forest to go down too many signings even if they have to try :P

With 5 subs plenty of opportunity for game time. I would assume best probably to loan to a good championship team, but if Howe thinks he's good enough by all means.