Abacus

So is Mike Ashley. Not sure if anyone knows for sure what PIF/Ruebens are in it for, though we can all have a guess. Fully likely in the case of PIF they want to be involved with a successful team in the most watched league in the most popular sport. Also a chance, though, that their investment was to buy a club that's value could be increased massively. However, those two don't need to be mutually exclusive. Anyway, with the league being an increasingly closed shop to new entrants, I've been idly wondering about parachute payments and interactions with PSR and squad cost ratio. The idea of a parachute payment originally being to allow new clubs to spend a bit to compete, in the knowledge it wouldn't wreck them long term, either to not go bust or so they can rebuild the next season in the championship at unarguably an advantage to the others in the championship. And if they did stay up, they retain that crucial TV money, so could in theory carry on. But then, I'm wondering if that's the best plan - carrying on, I mean. Because if they did stay up, the season after that they don't get that one off protected spending boost and for PSR reasons may even have to sell some of their players who kept them up, in order to take their squad further, with a few gambles on who they replace them with. So actually, is really the best strategy to become a yo-yo club for a good while instead, because in the event of staying up you don't then get a second chance of further investment? If you stay up you're always guaranteed a certain amount of money and maybe if you're the one in a dozen to get it right, that just means maybe you then have a chance of competing in the lower half of the table but not going much further or breaking the next glass ceiling, because from then on, you're playing with the big teams, and it's unlikely your revenue is going to be able to compete to match. TLDR I suppose what I'm saying is which has already been discussed by others, the combination of parachute payments and PSR /squad cost only serves to maintain the status quo. Which isn't really exciting is it?

At the time, I was cheering on every word and it's an all time moment however you look at it. Legendary. Later on, people pointed out to me how it showed how the pressure and the baiting had finally gotten to him. Why do I get the feeling this would have been Howe's response?

What's gone on here?

This is the correct opinion, although Stiff Upper Lip was something of a late return to form. Come to think of it, Ballbreaker is a pretty good name for Tonali's strikes.

At the time I thought it was a daft charge out by Pope, but in no way thought it was a pen. The ref didn't, the players didn't. And even from the other end of the pitch it looked like he made contact with the ball. Then the VAR review, taking an age. So first of all not a clear and obvious error. Then, the length of time it takes while you're in the middle of the pitch having someone mark your homework, with them having had the benefit of already watching it multiple times before you've got there. It's going to take a brave ref to decide that they were right first time which is why it almost never happens. In which case, the whole pantomime of sending the ref to the pitch side monitor is completely pointless and just amounts to a public telling off. But if you'd got the original decision right, which I think was the case here, and then change your mind after VAR intervenes to then come to the wrong decision, you just look like even more of a fool.

Wow. Reckon we're on for this now.

Can't believe Eddie is not constantly on the phone here

Tonali - A

You never expect an injury update on your manager I think this will be a tough one - Lyons weren't great and nor were Man City but that's what's in front of them and they have ground out OK results. Not sure how much the league means to them now is the only thing.

Woof, that's another corker

Oh my word what a goal

laughing at your last sentence

Ooof

Cracking goal. Emery not getting carried away, I like that

Utterly ridiculous if true. Surely nobody believes in this farce any more.

Had to listen on the radio tonight and then watched the highlights later, so maybe this is nonsense. First penalty shout I thought would have been very soft. But if it was given, I can't see it being overturned either, so agreed that was daft. On the second one, even their manager didn't really dispute it - but it was an on the edge challenge where a fraction of misjudgement means a pen. He was just on the right side of that one, but it was still reckless. In general it sounded like Tonali was running the show, never mind that amazing goal. That fair?

I'll probably watch them all

I've only "seen" this goal on the radio man. MOTD for me tonight by the sounds of things

Tonali!!!

Isaaaak!!!!

I'll be listening on the good old wireless, having had to give my ticket up, so looking forward to knowing whether we've scored or conceded by the crowd noise before Ando and Razor confirm it. But yes, it is ridiculous.

What I liked about Rafa was that he was prepared to come out and challenge the regime. I'll be honest, I didn't always like the football he played but I know that's how he had to play, don't think he had much choice and knew there was always a plan, always the work. It's a crying shame he came at the wrong time for the club, but also a relief that he did and then provided a touch of class. I sometimes think of an alternate world where he was given the tools to do his job, and when he left I nearly checked out altogether. But, here we are, and he's a major part of where we are and could be.

Really hate that sort of pen - from Rashford, I mean. I think the award of it was probably right, the ball had gone but it was still a foul

Awesome. What a rollercoaster of a club to fall in love with. And what is a club anyway? Wish SBR was still around to see this.

I was idly thinking that a player like Isak will be wanting more trophies, but also that they'd not feel quite the same at a club like PSG, say, where trophies are expected. Maybe that's just with my Newcastle head on, but I'm not sure that for a lot of these players, including him, that they'll experience such an outpouring of joy as finally, finally winning something for us.