sushimonster85

Didn't get a definitive answer to this the other day, but I believe Liverpool win the League Cup would drop the lowest European spot in the league (conference league) to 8th. That's assuming the PL gets the extra CL spot, which is looking likely. Not over by a long shot.

Apologies if this has come up already, but with Liverpool winning the League Cup (and definitely getting CL through the league), does that mean so long as the PL ends up getting the extra CL spot that the Conference League spot will go to 8th rather than 7th like it has done these past couple years?

Are you trying to prove that other side do have two "A standard" strikers? Because of those listed I'd say it's only the City lads who you'd say each players best position is as a central striker. The rest are doing what we do using a wide player to supplement in terms of depth. Also (again excluding the City lads) Gordon has out scored everyone listed there except Nunez (who he is only 1 goal behind).

Fuck me, Man U are fucked if that's his attitude. "Alright Rich, we fancy Hojland. Now, because we think he's really good at his job we find it a bit silly we should have to either wait till the end of his contract, or pay you any kind of fee for him." (Also speaks volumes I went through all of their starting 11 and only found one player id actually fancy us going for)

Goes back to what I believe Klopp said a few years ago. Don't remember the exact quote but it was along the lines of an aggressive/high press is the best number 10 you can have.

Managers having complete control of transfers was more the norm when it was considered hasty if you sacked a manager after a couple of years. When the likes of Clough and Ferguson had total control over everything that happened at the club. I totally get Sporting Directors/DoFs etc now. There does need to be someone with an overarching strategy. A club should be deciding on it's principles/recruitement strategy/even general style of play and building appropriately. This should include being able to change managers with minimal desruption. We're a little different in that Howe and his core team were in place long before the sporting director and, as countless articles have pointed out, established a power base far beyond what most other head coaches have at other sides. Not dissing Howe at all, feel there have been countless positives (just look at his first 18 months) to this. But it has now put us in this odd position where we will be looking for a Sporting Director who suits what is here now, which has largely been put in place by the head coach who, in theory, a SD could decide to sack. I love Howe, and I think he deserves a crack at going again next season. But I do worry for him with a new sporting director coming in, especially with the likes of Tuchel available in the Summer.

Think this will actually go quiet for a little while now. Early reports suggest Man U don't want to pay a daft sum and are happy to be patient. Even if they pay 20m I'm sure one of the pieces I have ready tonight said we wouldn't sanction him starting till after the Summer anyway. Think they will make an attempt in September to see if we have softened out stance.

I don't think it takes a tactical genius to see that without Joelinton we have a massive weakness down that left hand side. Dan Burn hasn't suddenly gotten slower, he has always been this player, he has always had Joelinton, sometimes even Joelinton and Willock, in front of him. We miss Joelinton massively. We will look better on that side when Willock is back. He isn't quite as much of a unit, but he is probably an even better athlete that Joelinton. He doesn't have the talismanic qualities of Joelinton. But I think the other thing him being out has highlighted is that few in the side do. The crowd purr at sexy Bruno shit, they roar/come alive for Joelinton harassing or clattering someone. He will never be Bruno, Isak, Trippier or even Schar technically, but in a time when almost every is being quantified somehow, Joelinton is that player who just is the heartbeat of the team. I have had a few, so I'm probably being over sentimental, but to cut a long story short, give the big bastard whatever contract he wants.

Just read some of the quotes from Howe's presser. Obviously will be easier to tell once the video is released, but reading it it seems about as blunt as Howe gets on this sort of stuff. Seems a little ticked with Ashworth.

Apologies. It can be hard to know who's joking and who genuinely seems to think Eddie is a member of the BNP because he happened to sign Dan Burn.

Ah yes, from that small English town on the coast known as Denmark.

It's highly unlikely the FA will add anymore time to his ban. They may charge him with something but rule that the current FIFA ban he has already served is sufficient. Think if this were even 2-3 years ago then maybe they'd add something on. Think public sentiment towards gambling addiction has softened massively, they'd look like proper bastards if they gave him a further 6 months.

Just a fantastic thing to read. And applicable in so many situations.

Bruno is likely leaving, but it won't be to go to Man U. Imagine he only leave for one of the truly 'elite' sides, reckon it will be PSG.

I imagine this Summer will be just as busy with outs as it is with ins. Think in terms of the first team Wilson and Almiron move on, likely for a combined 30m or so. Sadly I do think we lose Bruno to PSG, which will be close to 100m. Think we will end up spending close to 200m, but with outgoings think the net will be an outlay of 60-70m. Think the marquee signings will be a wide forward, a CM and a LB. Think there will likely be a raw young CB brought in with the idea they gradually take over from Schar. Same at striker. Think Minteh is kept in the squad next season as well.

I'd argue Minteh could end up becoming that. Obviously we need to see how he kicks on when back with the squad, but has the hallmarks (loan move in a lesser league going well, flying under the radar etc).

Micheal Edwards would be the dream, but that seems like a long shot given the sides he has knocked back recently. Whoever it is needs to be in place fast, this is going to be a busy Summer for ins and outs. I think they ideally need experience working at a side thats been regularly involved in European football.

Surely if Michael Edwards is interested he would be the logical choice. Arguably a better track record than Ashworth.

Think he is clearly climbing a career ladder. I do think it's a daft move for him given that Man U is really a final destination kind of club, and by all accounts he is probably good enough to wait for a safer bet than them to come along. Like if he were leaving to go to City, Liverpool or even Arsenal I'd think it were a smarter career move.

I'm not worried, if he wants to go let him go. Obviously after all the shite they pulled that first January of the takeover we should rinse Man U for as much as possible, but no point him staying if he has his head turned. Also not worried about the next appointment. The last time they appointed a sporting director they went out and got the person generally considered one of the best in the country/Europe. I believe they'd do the same again.

Jesus Christ.

Maybe, but I highly doubt Rafa gets us CL football last season. So he wouldn't have had that to deal with. But even then, as much as I loved Rafa and he was exactly what we needed at the time, the way we play under Howe is far more entertaining. And once we have more depth, is a far better way of going toe-to-toe with the big sides.

In general, or this season? Because in general that's super harsh. Pre-takeover his goals kept us up.

I actually think Barnes may have been bigger. Think his first choice front 3 would have been Barnes, Isak, Gordon. Super fluid forward line with everyone able to interchange at any moment.

Have people still not fully grasped that Eddie does everything he can to mislead opposition during his press conferences when it comes to team selection?