Abacus

In some ways, you can understand the over reaction. It's a game we shouldn't have lost, and people get pissed off and need someone or something to blame when they're angry. It's genuine at the time but temporary. The subs have been criticised, but you can understand them in the moment due to players tiring etc. Nor was it some tactical masterclass by Klopp - it was a classic flukey suckerpunch by an individual error and an unlucky deflection. We dominated that game and with better finishing / luck would have steamrollered them. We did seem to step back a bit, but I doubt that was down to Howe - more the players thinking it was won. You can tell that because of Klopp's reaction in calling it a miracle and something that he's not seen in 1000 games, or whatever. Likewise, Pep was absolutely delighted with that 1-0 at the Etihad - we didn't start well but by the end they were hanging on a bit and he knew it. To say Howe was outthought comprehensively is hindsight based on the result in my opinion. We've played two of the best teams on the league, should have won one and taken a point from the other. That we didn't was fine margins and if you look at the quality of the 3 squads, we're still punching well above our weight with both performances. It's a few tweaks that are needed, not anything drastic - and Howe will be poring over both of those games looking for what they should be. Best since Keegan, and he might become better.

With Hall being so young, and Howe often ensuring new players are up to speed before integrating them into the team, I think it'd be a risk to move Target on just now. Post injury, he hadn't seemed the same player but often these things take time and matches, which is difficult if you can't get into the team. I can actually see the argument for him going out on loan from our perspective if it's games he needs. Also, he did leave Villa because he wanted game-time, so depends if he's happy here. Personally, I think he's a good defensive player who has been a bit unlucky to have lost his place through injury. Maybe a loan till Jan to give him games including a recall option if Burn picks up an injury. And if Hall is first team ready and working out by then, then maybe Jan is the time for Target to go. Shame, but longer term you maybe wouldn't expect him to be here either way.

If you put aside the FFP arguments and that everyone seems to have differing opinions on which bit of the squad needed strengthening (imo most of it did), it's been an excellent transfer window. Personally, think Tonali was the peak signing. However, I can't deny that some sort of explosive attacking player to get excited about would have made it perfect for me.

We were playing a very very good team, maybe one of the best there has ever been in club football. But I feel we showed them far too much respect in the first half and stepped off. We caused them problems when we tried to play our own game later. No grumbles with the result - they deserved to win. I just feel we could have given them more of a scare and would have done with the handbrake off. Still, there's the return leg.

Can't decide who I'd rather lose this one. I think it's Spurs, and for them to vanish without trace from any future Bollocks 6 discussion, but on the other hand Man U can also do one. Decisions decisions.

Happy birthday. But yeah, it's just a (deliberately crap) forum meme. Don't much like it either, but it's meant to be tongue in cheek.

I'd never heard of him before, or seen him play. But now I'm incredibly excited and will be gutted if it falls through.

What a bloody debut. Everything so economical and composed. Trying not to get carried after one game, but his guy looks like he could be pure class - can see why Milan fans were so pissed off now. I can't wait till see him against Man City.

Words words words. I'm hungry, what is there to eat?

Egg all over Bayern's face if he does stay. Making him their number 1 target, very publicly pursuing him, only for the player to turn them down for ... Spurs.

My guess is this whole rumour about Kane just now thinking of staying at Spurs was a ploy by him to hurry the transfer along. He stays for another year, refuses to sign an extension as Levy has messed him around, then goes for free after that. Meaning Spurs need to take the offer or leave it.

The pundits on Sky Sports were just waffling on about how it was a great deal for everyone on the grounds that they extended Raya's contract with Brentford for a year at the same time as signing it. I.e. if Arsenal don't take up the option and pay the £27m at the end of the loan, Raya goes back to Brentford with a year still on his contract and can attract a fee from someone else. So Brentford don't lose out. One after the other copied each other saying the same thing. Even when asked why Arsenal just didn't buy him outright, they said it again except adding that it would give Arsenal the chance to see if they wanted him. Not one mentioned the likely real reason - as you say it's obviously been structured that way for FFP purposes given how much Arsenal have spent already. Though, maybe it's hardly surprising that pundits seem to have less of a clue about the restrictions of FFP than the average Newcastle fan.

"Imagine how sickening it'll be. Bet they mention us within the first few sentences." Says one of them, within the first few sentences.

From the sound of things, it doesn't seem that it would need too much to go back to last season's system pretty quickly no matter how imperfect - because it seems nobody at all is in favour of the current one. It's the type of thing NUST should be all over if they aren't already, as well the likes of the Chronicle e.g. 5 things we've learnt about the ticketing process (but, seriously questions in a press conference could usefully raise the issue).

The other thing that we don't know is who we bring in. Howe has already said he hopes there will be more to come in the transfer window so, like everyone else, I'm excited to see how many and what level they are at. I think that actually makes us more of a wildcard than most of the rest. A couple of quality signings make far more of a difference to our squad than they do to, say, Man City's. I think the current squad would be disappointed with below 7th. Add two or even three quality players and it's a whole different bag of mackerel in terms of expectations.

Personally, I can logically understand and even agree with why he's gone but I'm still a bit gutted about it. It's a cliche, but he's one of those players where you get to your feet when he's on it and gets the ball.

Not sure what you mean by this? FFP has nothing to do with paying in installments. Unless you mean it's £23m with performance related add ons?

I don't really disagree - Liverpool and Chelsea are the conundrums to me though. Liverpool, yes, look to have bought very well, but my issue is that they have completely rebuilt their midfield and there's no telling how long it will take for them to gel. Another slow start and we could be ahead. Chelsea are a different kettle of fish. So many talented players but an unbalanced squad the manager had little part in assembling. They are really short in some areas and overstocked in others. Whilst I rate Pochettino of course, he'll need to rapidly hone that squad and find a playing style - which means the players not acting like individuals and the owner keeping his nose out. In other words, we can go at them both. But stepping back, yes it's almost incredible what we achieved last year, so it'll be a similar high wire trick to repeat that. As Stottie said, unpopular as it may be with some, I'd de-prioritise the domestic cups this year for league position and to try and make a splash in the CL. You're right about injuries, though. Hopefully that's something our recruitment can cover, as I doubt we're done yet.

We spent most of last season fairly comfortably there or thereabouts within the top 4 despite a cup run, and whilst our surprise factor might have gone, we have slightly strengthened since. Anderson and maybe Miley looking to be decent squad prospects, and Tonali plus Barnes added, with likely one or two more would be something the rest of the league won't be looking forward to. Man U looking OK, Arsenal stronger, Man City already miles ahead of the rest - think they'll be top 3. On the other hand, I don't see why we're so worried about some of the other teams "strengthening" when we are too. In Liverpool's case it's a pretty radical overhaul, in Chelsea's that's a mess of a squad (albeit with a better manager), and Spurs are likely to struggle to adjust without Kane, you'd think. Villa and Brighton will be tough competition too - depending if Brighton get raided for the likes of Caicedo. But even though it's a tall order with a CL campaign on our hands, don't forget Brighton and Villa are in Europe too and similarly to us not used to it. So I'd be hopeful of 5th. And at the same time desperately hoping we can help keep Liverpool /Spurs/Chelsea out of the CL at the same time.

Maybe there'll be another £5m for that giant flag of him.

Very much enjoying the 70's rock reference btw And, bye Darlow. Nothing against him - he'll be an OK shot-stopper in the championship, but it feels so good to be moving on some of these players who were mainly there to make up the numbers in the old regime.

Equally, if the players you go on to buy don't work out, there's a drag on what you can do later. Amortisation works both ways - you still have to recover their costs at some point. E.g. if you buy someone for £100m on a 5 year contract, you're down £20m a year for each of those years in the future. Plus their wages. Unless you're confident your income will go up by more than that each year to cover it all, it's not some magic bullet. So, it's only good if you're in expansion mode. We must be pretty confident we are.

Insider training?

Keeps their attendances up at least. It's obviously just a handful of people doing it for a split-my-sides joke. Not sure why anyone gets bothered about it. Pretty sure, years ago I saw a few Sunderland tops and a Fulwell / Man U branch end bedsheet banner in the Man U away end at SJP. Wasn't sure if it was tragic banter from mackems at the time, or just Man U fans having a joke. Which would also be tragic banter, now I think of it.

I'd stick the Henderson transfer on hold until it's sorted, and screw up Liverpool's rebuild.