Nine

Concrete 120k, not a penny more. That guy completely missed the point anyway and got flustered about numbers, I think he had to scratch Mbappe off of his wishlist.

I agree with that to an extent, a push towards mid 100ks maybe at most. But as I said before - players on 200k or more this summer? No way. Im happy to be wrong like

Im in the minority on here thinking we wont break the low-mid 100ks this summer then, I guess time will tell. I just feel its not about what we CAN pay players, its what we will pay players.. not a case on if we can afford it, its a case of keeping the squad harmony intact.

Not always though, Bruno is on under that number. Its going to happen alright but I think that moving over that kind of number (120k) this summer in comparison to where the rest of our squad is would be moving to quickly and be a big risk as far as upsetting our current core of players, next summer? Sure, it will move upwards again.. maybe at a push we could see mid 100ks this summer? If Howe and co feel thats a safe move at this point then it would be great, I just cant see it personally. Like I said the first couple of signings will set the tone.

Was that Cornet sat with Pace and his wife?

I agree on big fees just not big wages, its much harder/slower moving to move upwards in the wage bracket than it is with transfer fees. It wouldnt be crazy to see a 150m+ spend this summer as we need big upgrades in expensive positions (ST, RW, DM/CM), the first 1 or 2 signings will be exciting to say the least as it will give us a real idea of the type of players they have been looking at.

Not crazy but its unreasonable to expect it I think, for this summer anyway.

Are you okay? I used 200k as a round number that would be out of our reach, I said multiple times that around 120k would be our limit.

Ah, someone who understands.

Indeed you are

And thats exactly what I said after that sentence that you quoted - 'a few brought in on around 100k this summer then next summer moving upwards into the mid 100ks and so on'. Are you intentionally being ignorant? I mentioned 200k as a round number that players like Countinho and the like would be on, to expect players on these wages is crazy. Im sorry if you think thats the route we'll take but its not. You seem flustered, its okay.

What? Thats exactly what I mean, people have mentioned Coutinho on the last page and he would be on around that number of 200k. Its an example. Around 120k will be our limit this summer. Its not me that is wrong

Just doesnt work like that lol, dressing rooms full of pro football players are a bit more complicated than that. Our wage structure will slowly progress upwards over a number of seasons, you dont just bring in players on 200k+ a week when your current core of players dont even earn half of that.. a few brought in on around 100k this summer then next summer moving upwards into the mid 100ks and so on. We are years out from being able to offer top players top wages and thats just the way it is, it will all progress as organically as it can with the amounts of money involved.

Howe has been very carefully creating a good feeling of unity around the dressing room since he came in, I cant remember a team feeling this united before. Number one way to fuck that up? Bring in new players on 200k a week. The current core of our squad earn less than 70/80k pw, we might see a player or two brought in on around 120k pw but expect more than that and you're dreaming.

The problem isnt really transfer fees, its that we must progress carefully with wage structure. Forget about players that would be on anywhere over 120k a week.

But it just doesnt work like that, football isnt that simple unfortunately

Negative isnt the word, its realistic

And it begins I will be happy with top 10

So you think he might work as one of the front 2 of a midfield 3? Him and Bruno as part of a 3 might only be viable in the PL with an elite DM behind them, would be pleasing on the eye though.

Paquetas natural position is a #10 which has no place unless we plan to change formation, he'd be expensive as well.

Europe next season is an exciting thought but I don’t think we should get ahead of ourselves yet, we’ve had an amazing run since the end of Jan but next season could be an entirely different prospect. I hope Howe hasn’t sort of painted himself into a corner and raised some fans expectations to much already as this is just the beginning and there will be bumps in the road, we have a whole summer window to get through and the squad will be reshaped again so Id be more than happy with a top half finish next season. What a job he’s done this season though, the pressure and management can be very different at the other end of the table but I hope he’s the man for us to try and crack the top 6 a couple of seasons down the line.

I get what you are saying and im not trying to suggest that Joe would be completely uselss from out wide but I just cant see how we'd be any more effective than just keeping ASM there, it just doesnt add up to me. I dont think the direction this team is headed will call for an workhorse type of the left of a front 3, we pretty much have that already on the right with Fraser and we have seen how that doesnt really cut it in this league. Other than today we have scored very few goals from passages of play or even open play at all since Howe came in and I dont think that will change by playing Joe in that position if anything we'd lose progress there, as you say he wouldnt need to be a focal point but hes not creative enough either nor does he make runs or have the movement to cause problems for PL level defenders. He could do a job there much like Miggy does (I think Miggy is a better wide option than Joe) but would not excel and it'd be frustrating to watch after a few weeks, I really think Joes future in this team is either at CM or coming off of the bench. I love the guy to death btw, my fav player currently.

As you say you've based that off of the last couple of years, so have you seen how Joe lacks consistentcy in the box over the last few years? I dont believe he can adapt his game in the box enough to be consistently effective on a front 3, he generally struggles in the box just pushing up from CM. He seems to me like he lacks the mental side of attacking, making the right decision quickly in terms of passing or shooting.. just lacks that clinical cutting edge you need in the final third. ASM while inconsistent also has bad decision making in trying to beat 3/4 players alot of the time (because teams put 2/3 players on him which we'd lose with Joe there) but in and around the box is 10x more deadly than Joe, CM is Joes best position in this side and with a new CM in the shape of Bissouma or Phillips (these 2 probably would cost to much but you get the type of midfielder I mean) this team can afford to play a luxury player like ASM on the left especially with Targett behind him. I just think its madness to expect Joe to perform consistently up top after what we've seen from him since he signed, while he could be industrious in that role its just not his position at all and we'd lose alot more than we'd gain by just keeping ASM there. Coming off the bench for ASM? Yes. Starting in CM? Yes. Starting over ASM? No.

And what do you suggest for ASM then? Sell?

Sorry like but Based off of one game against Norwich? (I know he played on the left sometimes in Germany).