sushimonster85

DO NOT PUT COCAINE UP YOUR LOOP HOLE. Trust me.

I imagine the issue with his ankle is having to be carefully managed. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Bruno is currently on a different/reduced training schedule.

Partly agree, think it's more to flush out other interest rather than a new contract at Barca. Assuming they make their big play for Messi, and find a way to get Bernardo Silva in they will be needing to offload.

It's going to all depend on what form of European football it is. If it's Europa or Conference I think 3 would be fine. If it's CL I think the only way 3 would work is if they're 3 Bruno/Botman/Isak type signing who are good enough to easily go into the 11 and improve us.

To be honest, the whole managerial search, whilst ending with a cracking appointment, was a mess with regards to how much it played out in public due to leaks everywhere. Had what was basically a blow-by-blow account of what was going on. Remember the heady days of it definitely being Fonseca, when it turned out that was just the last guy they spoke to and his people leaked it. Even when the morning when the initially Emery news broke and it looked like he was coming The Athletic had Howe as being second choice should Emery knock us back. How often do you hear not only the person who has been chosen, but the guy who's come second.

Once again going through my weekly ritual of coming in the match thread to say this is really tricky fixture. Probably the form side in the league right now. Think it's going to be very tight, can see a 1-1 if I am honest, and wouldn't be disappointed with that. 7 points from West Ham, Brentford & Villa would be a great return, and would set us up brilliantly for the final run-in. One odd quirk with Villa mind, yes they're in great form, but they haven't played anyone really tricky for a while. Chelsea away has a massive * this season, and outside of that they haven't really played anyone of note since mid-Feb when they lost to Arsenal at Villa Park.

Yep. These past few games he has really started to look like a blend of ASM but also a 'Howe' player. Always felt like one of the issues with Max is it was either a 10/10 performance and he looked like one of the best players in the league, or a 3/10 and he may as well not be playing. This past month he has started to put in solid 7-8/10 performances every game.

Maybe Bruno or Trippier? Not that they would be anywhere near that end of the pitch, but I think both have the composure and technical ability to pull it off.

I have come into these threads every match so far in this run and said stuff like 'bad feeling' 'banana skin' etc etc and every time the lads blow away my pessimism. So in not wanting to jinx anything I will again say... worried about this one, one of the toughest away days in the league at the moment, then at Villa next weekend, which you could say the exact same about. Feel like we'll know if top 4 is going to happen after these next 3 games (Brentford & Villa away, Spurs home). For this one going to predict a lively 2-2. Think it will be a cracking game for neutrals. Imagine Isak comes in for Wilson. Maybe a couple other changes, perhaps Gordon for Muprhy, maybe Willock for Longstaff.

Imagine if they go down the price will drop substantially.

Not sure about us, but there is absolutely no way Levy will pay £50m for a player out of contract in a year. He will barely pay that for players with 3 years to go on a contract.

I'd say he doesn't believe in rotation for rotations sake. He will absolutely pull people out if there is even a hint of injury though. Which is why I think Willock may drop to the bench and Joelinton starts tonight.

It's probably the lingering reflex developed over the past 14 years, but I have bad feeling about tonight. In theory this is the most winnable game of these next 3 away games, but tonight just feels like a banana skin in the making. And then we're in to what are, outside of City and Arsenal, two of the toughest away games in the league at the moment straight after. Still, I'm going to try and be optimistic and say we win 2-0 tonight. Isak with the opener, then another late one from Wilson off the bench.

I know people probably find it too wanky with it's irreverent style humour, but the usual host of the TIFO podcast (Joe Devine) has been away for a few weeks and I actually think it's been pretty good in his absence.

Think they looked at other LB options, but likely decided that big money would be better spent elsewhere given we could pick Targett up cheap and had Dan Burn. Imagine this Summer will be different with a LB one of the big priorities. So much of our attacks come down that right, imagine if we were just as lethal on the left.

I love Dan Burn, be he is being pushed to his limit every week. Think a top quality LB has to be a priority this window. Grimaldo would make so much sense on a free.

A lot of the business will be dictated on which European competition we are in. CL and we need likely need 4 additions that are first team ready (LB, CDM, attacking mid & wide forward) as well as reinforcements with the idea of adding depth. If it's Europa or Conference then its maybe 2/3 first teamers with more leeway for youth/depth options.

Can do that for you now: Lee Charnley

I'd say rather than any actual points total, we give ourselves a huge chance if we beat Man U on Sunday, and Spurs when they come up to visit. That Spurs game could be a 4th place 6 pointer.

You can have a related company, it just has to be deemed to be at 'fair market value'. Which is pretty much impossible to actually quantify.

This is going to be tight, but with no Casemiro, Sabitzer potentially out, and even potentially Rashford carrying a knock, I'd make us just about favourites. Like I say though, it will be tight. Going to go with 2-1, Isak and then late Willock winner.

To be honest, the human rights stuff protects clubs like us, City, Man U under Qatar. There is no way the UK government could sanction MBS for human rights abuses without it creating a big political mess.

This wouldn't have gone through unanimously if there were any actual teeth behind it.

One thing I find interesting about the Chelsea contracts was the wage drops if CL football isn't attained. I know most non 'big 6' sides have relegation wage reduction clauses, but I'd never heard of a reduction based on not getting CL. It may be a common thing among the more traditional top 4 sides, but it's not something I'd heard of till this new Chelsea ownership came in.