Cf

If you can't beat Harry Maguire 2 on 1 from the half way line you deserve nothing.

On balance the scoreline is probably fair enough. They've had a few chances and Fulham have been particularly bad going forward. Fuck off though.

They've sorted added time out at least by the looks of it.

He finished the season really strongly with Chelsea, and their numbers had been strong basically all season. He'd have had them up and about the top this season if they weren't such a batshit club.

Is Man Utd's game plan to just throw themselves to the ground in the penalty box as many times as they can until one is given?

So much for these new rules. Firstly let's wait for a VAR penalty decision despite it not being clear and obvious. Secondly let's have not the captain go and moan to the ref about it and not get booked. 10 minutes these rules lasted?

That's very much at the upper end of what we should be paying. Let them think he's worth that much and end up getting a fraction of the price in a year or so.

Maguire's fee is hardly some sort of benchmark. It was laughable at the time. Just yet another example of Man Utd massively overpaying for a player.

Gordon is clearly a better footballer than Longstaff. I hope I made that much obvious at least

After what Chris Wood did I dread to think what Gordon would do against us

City have certainly got previous for paying over the odds for English internationals that's true. I'm not sure who else is paying 60m for a CB though. Due to PSR only a few teams can actually afford that kind of fee. Though to be fair they're probably the type of club he'd want to move to. Just because they can afford the 60m though doesn't mean they'd pay it - there's probably better value elsewhere.

I'll preface this with I really rate Gordon. But of the players we could lose for megs money he's the one I could stomach the most. In some ways I see him as a more gifted version of Longstaff. That obviously sounds really unfair. Longstaff is a player who on his day (when he isn't being overplayed with injuries especially) looks a very handy player for us. And this is mainly down to Eddie's coaching and setup. And to Longstaff's credit he's very good at being coached and following instructions. In that sense whilst he's good for us I don't think he'd necessarily do well elsewhere. To a point I see Gordon in a slightly similar vein, albeit he's a much better footballer to start with. But I guess I don't see a "generational talent" there. Isak and Bruno for instance could walk into any PL 11 and not look out of place. I don't think that's the case with Gordon. If we were to get the mega bucks for him I think he's replaceable and would back Howe to get someone else up to his standard. The counterargument to this of course is we've struggled to get a RW in. Am I mad?

But if no one is willing to pay palace more than what we are currently it could lock him into palace for however many years. If he wants away they'd have to offer him very favourable terms to mitigate that. If Bellingham doesn't score that last second overhead kick his asking price is probably £10m less. His current price is somewhat artificially inflated by having a few good games for a defensively setup England side. Put a £75m release clause into his contract and he could easily never leave. Not saying it won't happen. But if a player actually wants to move the new contract isn't necessarily win-win for both parties.

I understand trying to hold out for what you think a player is worth fwiw. But equally it's true that a player is ultimately worth what someone else is willing to pay. And it's not like people are queueing up for his signature.

If the player wants the move I'm not sure why he'd sign a new contract with a release clause higher than what anyone is actually willing to pay for him. Palace finished strongly last season so it's possible he'll have a decent season. It's just as likely though he'll be just one defender in a mid table team who isn't riding off the back of England exposure. His value will just naturally deterioate a bit and that's without even considering his dwindling contract.

Yet the bookies seem to have him favourite as first to go... https://www.oddschecker.com/football/english/premier-league/next-manager-to-leave-post

As much as I want this signing I can't help but think we should show that we are willing to walk away and come back next summer with a £30m offer instead.

Tripper was a hugely important signing for us, arguably one of our most important ever, and he's been absolutely immense for us. However... He's nearly 34, and we have a ready to go replacement in Livramento who I think we all mainly agree should be starting ahead of him. So Trippier would be mainly as backup, and at 34 he won't be backup for long. With the PSR nonsense I can see the appeal in wanting to get a fee. This is the last chance to do so. And I suspect Trippier himself would want to start each week. So I think it's a move that makes sense for both parties.

I think I would. It sorts our defence out for the next 10 years.

What does "right to match any bids" even means? Anyone can bid whatever they like surely.

We're now officially part of the "big 7".

I mean they need to get you to share that link somehow

Whilst I appreciate there's other positions and priorities this is exactly the level of bench sitter we should have if we want to be at the top.

My "translations" were tongue in cheek to a degree and I imagine Howe cares deeply for his players, current and former. But you've also got to have that cold streak of doing what is best for the team. If that means someone is surplus to requirements then they have to go. It's possible to do this whilst being respectful, speaking highly of them, etc. He'll never say e.g. of Anderson in public that he was let go due to being the expendable one due to a factor of PSR and not being quite good enough, but I imagine in the background that's the conversation that was had. Obviously publicly he'll go with "good player, disappointed to lose him, etc, etc". I guess that's my point: we shouldn't read into such quotes as being Howe was against that transfer. (The quotes about club structure etc are a different matter - that felt like a kettle of fish he opened intentionally)

I never said he was a callous duplicitous liar, just that he lies through his teeth to the media