SteV

FA Cup

Hopefully be on the bench v West Ham ?

It was definitely reported we’d had bids rejected for Pedro. At that point we may have been thinking we’d rather go for Pedro for 25/30 than Isak for, let’s say 90. Then Watford have said that’s not enough and Sociedad said we’ll take a bit less, so that changes things. Just like here. We’ll have a fee in mind for Gordon, but if Everton wanted more and, let’s say Leverkusen suddenly dropped Diaby’s asking price we might pivot. As I say, it’s very rarely a binary, ‘we choose him over him’, there’s always other factors determining the decision

If Watford had of accepted our offer we would have got Pedro though. Maybe we’d have got Isak as well (probably unlikely), but you can’t really say ‘they chose Isak over Pedro’. Not that it’s ever that binary anyway.

Which subsequently saw the manager sacked

Remember when Wijnaldum couldn’t get in our team and when we were shit?

Had quiet word with Neymar for us

Unless you’re in the shit (as we were last year), you probably shouldn’t really be bringing in more than two players in the January window. Obviously there’s always exceptions to the rule, but multiple signings in January suggests major problems within a team/club.

Willock must be Arsenal.

Wonder if Maxi gives him the 10 like Joe did with the 9 for Wilson?

How would you have felt if one of our players had done that?

Why was his situation “very different”?

Did we piss and moan this much about what Fraser did at Bournemouth before we bought him?

The only confirmation is the confirmation that there has been no confirmation.

HBA well known for his relentless pressing and intensity…

1990’s Fabian Schar

Dan Ashworth masterclass

I meant keep any communication with Wembley low-key, this week anyway. Obviously if we get there then go as massive as you can with any actual displays

If they have they would be wise to keep it very low key. The world and his wife would be ready to jump all over the ‘arrogance’

I’d imagine they’ll wait until we’ve actually reached the final…

You might be overthinking this a tad mate

I don’t know. I absolutely see why you would, but the team looked impenetrable first half. Not saying bringing them two in necessarily effects that, but Howe always seems reluctant to change something that’s working. Having said that, Isak is going to have to be starting regularly at some point soon you feel.

Watched it back again and you’re probably right. It wasn’t quite as late as I thought, so you probably could give him the benefit of the doubt.

He did. Told everyone it was for a “few days”. Yet he seems to have taken every bit of what they were/are good at and whacked it into this team, with just a handful of signings.

Are we sure Howe didn’t go watch Simeone at Atleti for six months?