Marmoset

If you were in a nightclub and some randomer came up to you, criticising among other things the people you work with, the boss who took you from a s*** company to a top tier one, knowing full well it could get out in the press, would you lay into him?

I'm not saying he's making it up though. I'm sure the conversation happened and it went similar to how reported. But you think it happened word for word, tone for tone with the way it was reported?

So?

I've said it before and it was unpopular, but you're taking a conversation during a chance meeting in a nightclub as gospel. When something is repeated later especially online you can't take everything as verbatim.

perfect

I rated him for us and think he's got the 'good player criticism syndrome' on here, where he's been one of our most creative players during his tenure here but because he quite often has bad games he gets more negative attention than some players who have contributed so much less. Doesn't help with his embarrassing constant pleading for a 'big' club to buy him though.

Pretty much on this subject and it's a bit Milner, but recently met a Polish Brazilian, which I thought was a very unusual combo. Turns out due to immigration in the early 20th century, Brazil has the 2nd biggest Polish population outside of Poland. Would never have guessed that in a pub quiz and found it quite interesting. :milner: :milner: :milner:

I had little doubt he'd got for £30m+, he absolutely isn't worth that though and will fail in the long run, simply because he's thick as mince. You had little doubt he'd go for £30m+ yet consider him as thick as mince. I don't really want to equate you with the daft f***er who wanted rid of him for £3m but how does this compute? You've never known a player was going to go for a big fee, but didn't rate him as worth it personally? It's surely a very common thing?

Stray Mackem's publicist necking espressos and pulling her hair out at the moment generally seemed decent in the past though. We all have our regretful posts at some point I guess.

He's at least as good as Clark/Hanley at cb/lb and they both went for more than 4.5m. He's worth about 6m.

Yaya not going anywhere? Obviously not in Pep's plans atm.

Could well be mistaken as I've only seen highlights of Chelsea in the premier league this season, just going off what Conte has set his team up as in the past. Assuming he plays rw I don't think he's an upgrade on Lamella really for spurs but he could fit in well at Chelsea if they set up a certain way.

Cue horriffic Microsoft Paint attempts in 3... 2...

Makes more sense tactics wise than spurs imo.

Just got to have a lot of patience. Apart from the really top strikers how many are ready for the premier league, even to be starter for a bottom 3rd of the league, before 22/23? He'll probably have to go on loan next year too. There is absolutely no rush to get him into the first team. If in 4 years he's good enough to be a 3rd choice striker for a midtable team he'll have been a massive success.

Could get him more motivated than ever if he has to stay. Will have to absolutely tear the league apart if he wants a similar move in January.

Hmm depends how far apart the installments are. We obviously aren't going to spend it today anyway.

Yep, might not be the best option short term but long term it could do us the world of good.

So intrigued by what would happen if he stayed that I'm almost hoping no big offers come in tbh

There's no outcome from today which would particularly dissapoint me, I'd take 25m but won't lose any sleep if he goes for say 22m, pre euros I think most of us would have said that was a fair price. But if it was me I'd play as much hardball as possible, to set a precedent.

Plus he needs to stay near his banter boys and those lovely nightclubs.

Got a young family in London apparently and doesn't want too much upheaval for the sake of a loan, and they won't let him go to a rival, so I can see why it would make sense to him.

Long term it would definitely help send a message in future negotiations if we don't cave too much. Spurs get great prices because time and time again they've shown that if you don't pay what they're asking for then they won't budge.

As embarrassing as the way he acted is, everything he says is actually true. What's the point of all that work and celebrations last year if you go out in a qualifier? The biggest joy in football for fans of mediocre clubs is the European away days, I'd gladly sacrifice a few points and finish 14th instead of 10th to give it a proper go in a European cup.

More interesting games sometines in terms checking out teams you aren't as familiar with, but the higher quality football (usually), players and the higher drama of it being the pinnacle of club football make it so much better for me. If they were played at the same time, would you prefer to watch a Sevilla Benfica semi for a good but ultimately not as important cup or a Barcelona Bayern Munich one for the best possible European trophy?