Jaqen

Lodi and Raphinha would be amazing signings. We could easily go for short term options like Targett and Lingard who'd do a decent job for now but the fact that were at least looking at a mugh higher calibre of player from the off is exciting.

Leeds going down probably hurts our chances of getting Raphinha. Loads will be in for them with the price of his relegation clause.

I guess the real question is what Champions League clubs need a striker and could afford the price Benfica want. Arsenal if they finish 4th? I think he'll end up in the prem even if it's not a champions League side.

He's a good player but his 'value' is more of a reflection of his value to West Ham and the fact they don't want to sell him and strengthen a rival. Kinda like how Zaha has been stuck at Palace because they value him way more than any of the top teams would pay for him. We could potentially have a midfield three of Bruno, Paqueta and Kamara for less than the price of Rice.

If he plays any games beyond this season something has gone very wrong with the summer transfer window.

Is Woods head made out of Luuk de Jong's boots or something? How does he fail to generate any sort of power from every header?

Finishing 5th is still a really good achievement. They were 3 points off Liverpool and a point behind Chelsea. I'd hardly class that as a failure. You can't only take the bad form and not credit how well they done to get in that position in the first place. Two highest finishes other than the title winning season. They probably have the 8th best squad at best in the league and have had a few key injuries. He's done a pretty good job overall.

They got to a European semi final and only just narrowly lost to Roma as well to be fair. Think it's harsh to use not getting Champions League football against him. Moyes has done a good job at West Ham despite them dropping well out of the champions League spots at the end of this season. It's going to be tough for teams like Leicester to compete in both Europe and the league with a squad that lacks a bit depth and will constantly sell their best players.

Surely that's a red?

Thankfully I don't bet

Fancy Leeds to get something here.

Tuchel has been at Chelsea for a year and half and they've been in both FA cup finals, League cup final this season and won the champions League. I'd say they are comfortably a level above Arsenal and Spurs.

City are too soulless to root for. Wonder if they're fans will even bother turning up or celebrate when they win the title again?

City nearly threw it away against Atleti towards the end of the 2nd tie as well. Think they have a bit of a mental block with this competition, look like they can fall apart defensively under any sort of pressure. As soon as the first went in you could tell they shit themselves. 1st leg against Madrid was great for the neutral but terrible from a City POV really. Should never have been a 4-3 with how the game went.

One of the few managers where it doesn't look like the job has aged him at all either.

Not really in a bad spell is he? Was good for West Ham then just hasn't really played for Man United since and they wouldn't let him leave until now.

Richarlison has been one of the only Everton players this season who's give it his all everytime I've watched them. His attitude and workrate always looks spot on to me. Saw in the Athletic he's the player in the prem with the most 'game changing goals' in the last 5 years. He's pretty versatile and works in a number of positions and systems. Think he's a much better options than some of the other names we've been linked with.

That can't have been last season? Eriksen would have been at Inter and it mentions Sane for City. The speeds stats are always a bit hard to gauge much from. Wasn't Dummett the fastest player in the league a few seasons back? I think Bayern are the most suspect..the physical transformations some of those players made in such a small space of time is impossible without some form of juicing.

What are the stats like? Do Liverpool actually press way more and cover more distance than any other side? They tend to dominate possession and can win alot of games in 2nd gear which helps.

Was shocking in the first leg too, this 'keeper.

We are going to play differently and carry much more of a threat next season. That will give us a much better idea of what his level is really like. The whole attack is poor and disjointed. Doesn't really matter an awful lot which 3 you pick ATM they're all various shades of shite. The others you can argue fairly have worked harder, pressed better and fit the current system more overall but ultimately none of them are good enough. The difference is Maxi has proved he's got more than enough talent and ability to be a really good player in this league. I'm fairly confident we'll see him performing well again next season.

Moving Bruno to that spot would be a waste imo. We need a proper CDM ideally. A Fabinho, Rodri, Casemiro type.

Lyon are a pretty poor side to be fair. With the money the premier League sides have they should have dominated Europe alot more in recent years really. I guess the worry is now that might actually happen. Teams like Villa and Everton have higher net spends over the last decade than even sides like Bayern.

Ronaldo has the most goals in champions League knockout games by far. Over a goal/assist per game over 80 games is ridiculous. He definitely carried Madrid in a fair number of those ties.