Abacus

If you're sat on the fence, you'd better get in quick to buy Chelsea! Plenty of other buyers waiting!

It's difficult, because unlike Howe, it was a question she'd struggle to avoid as easily as his role is clearer. After all, she's a part of our ownership consortium and so a part of the PL now, also part of the decision making process about any new ownership rules. So when questions of ownership come up, she can't exactly ignore it, or straight-bat it away with the same easy logic. Although, she really should have - hindsight is a wonderful thing. She can't directly condemn the ownership of a fellow club either - what other PL club owner has done so? Ultimately, it was always down to the PL to comment, because her own personal opinions don't actually matter on this. A straightforward - "things are moving rapidly and I don't want to comment on other clubs or what might happen" would have been more sensible. A full time CEO would probably have spotted that trap she was walking into. It may be a lesson that she and Mehrdad can't do everything themselves.

I've really enjoyed his triumphant return to Man U. Excited for this Watford game, mind, probably more than for this always overhyped Manchester derby.

In some ways, that's one possible benefit of having a bit of a flukey win and not playing particularly well. There's no need to stick to the same line up or worry about dropping someone. Hopefully Manquillo comes back in, and Bruno to start. And a chance to see how fit St Max is - rather than change too much straight away he might be good to come off the bench again. Anyway, be very happy with a draw here. Or better yet, one of our new signings to bag a last minute winner

So, semi-seriously, what about the idea of a foldaway upper tier to the East Stand? Granted it would be an engineering marvel on the scale of Babs Windsor's bra, but they do love an engineering marvel in the middle east.

That's exactly it - they have been used as a billionaire's toy for so long. We might be about to find out what happens to the question everyone probably wondered about, i.e. what happens when that ends. Also reckon that, what with the current sanctions, it wouldn't be straightforward buy them and pay Abramovich even if you wanted to. Even though he's not directly under sanctions himself right now, this feels like a panic move thinking it will happen.

If the point of owning Chelsea through an alleged associate of Putin was to sports wash Russia's reputation, then they've royally stuffed it up. And by royally, I mean Prince Andrew style. The main point being that nobody is going to pay anywhere near that asking price - not if they want to run it as an actual business. That's one of the reasons they are so in debt to him in the first place.

That ball is a nightmare, mind. It's all round so it could go anywhere. How are you supposed to legislate for that?

This Jesse Marsch guy taking over at Leeds seems to know his onions. From the Times; “I just want help to take the torch to the next phase." Or "...I want to do everything I can to take the club into the next stage of our history." It's going to be pretty hard for him to not take the club to the next stage of their history. NB those are the kind of achievable objectives a certain Mr Bruce could learn from.

Lovely little Bruce cameo, that interview. Confidently declares his aim of winning promotion on appointment, but now 5 games in fan expectations are the main problem. Trying to blame the players and stating the players are only good on paper, not in real life. Whilst seemingly not realising that getting the players to play to their abilities is his whole job, and therefore admitting that he isn't any good at it. Offering no insight into the actual game, instead claiming that if only two things that didn't happen had in fact happened after all, that things might have been different. It's a good job he delayed the interview to give him time to think all that through.

He does have a system. It's to clap his hands on the touchline. Check.

I do think that a slightly sped up video of Brucey wandering up and down the touchline and licking his lips, all to the Benny Hill theme tune, is long overdue.

I'd written Fraser off completely before Howe came in, but he's been terrific in the last couple of games. More than happy to eat humble pie here, and admit that I know nothing. I suppose the lesson there is that every player should research their next manager before making a move. He could well have ended up on the scraphead under a Steve Keane/Phil Brown/Steve Bruce.

As loan signings go, this has to be one of the best I can remember for us - suddenly not worried about that side of the pitch. Be really happy to sign him permanently, I think he's excellent. Even if we don't buy him or Villa don't allow it, he's certainly put himself in the shop window, and as a player that's how to do a loan move.

Down to a 1.5. Just as Putin threatens nuclear war and I've just ran out of kitchen foil. Honestly, fuck my luck.

Think Leeds should have stuck with Bielsa till the summer at least, then reassessed depending on what league they were in. There's not much you can do re personnel now, and I reckon they are so drilled into a certain way of playing that it will be hard to change it fast. And, they're running out of games to get safe, so there isn't time to learn how to completely change things. E.g. imagine taking a punt on someone like Allardyce, and how long it would take the team to adapt to his 'pragmatic' anti-football. A shame, I liked to watch Bielsa and his style of football - it was an interesting addition to the league and he seemed a genuine character.

With any new manager, usually brought in after a run of bad results, there's a carousel of excuses that all fans will make when those results don't improve. First it's the players - all are either gutless or useless. No point looking at the manager as even Pep couldn't get a tune out of this lot, etc etc. Then it's the owners / DOF, who are clueless and haven't made the right appointments etc, leading to a hopelessly unbalanced squad. Finally, it turns back to the manager who was originally going to be the person to turn it all around. That's the gap, before the finger points back at you, where a serially underperforming manager like Bruce gets in and earns a living. I think the real trouble with appointing Bruce, though, is that it's a bit like not noticing you've stepped in a big dog turd. By the time you've realised that the stink is coming from your own shoe, you've already trampled it all through the carpet and it's going to take ages to clean up the mess.

He mentioned huge strides. So I'm saying Ashley.

Watford have a wily manager and a couple of OK forwards. Burnley have been here before, with a history of clawing their way out of it. But on the other hand, if you were either of those two clubs you'd snap our hands off to swap positions with us right now. I'm at a 2/3 whatever happens tonight. Beat Brentford and clamber past a couple more teams, and I'll be at around a 1.

Or this; Re: Steve Bruce - Manager 4 games in and we are no better... We are actually much worse as were conceding more and creating less chances. Any semblance of a team shape, tactical plan or clear instructions from the dug out has gone.. Or, succinctly; Get him out of our club now. Totally clueless and past it

Or the vaccine.

Hahaha, I'm so distracted gloating about Bruce losing that I don't know who to laugh at first

Love the thread title change

Proper therapy, this. Getting some popcorn in for the post match interview.

Some halftime talk this must have been. NB, West Brom have one of the highest wage bills in the league, and more marrachute payments to come next season. I wonder if Mr Stay-puft will be given another season to let it slip through his buttery fingers?