sushimonster85

Adidas didn't put a foot wrong with the away kits for a long time. Wasn't really a bad one among their first 8. After that they stopped putting as much effort in.

Would love Hummel. It is likely going to be whoever gives us the best terms when the deal is next due though. So more than likely Adidas or Nike.

See, I think this is the thing where people attach the success (or lack thereof) of a period of time with the shirt that was being worn. For example, I always thought, based purely on looks, this was a banging top. But it was the one we were wearing during that relegation season so everyone associates it with shit time. On the flip side, I'm not a big fan of the current top, but you know in the future it will be looked back on fondly because of all the good memories being made in it.

I'd say less dying, more painfully evolving. Unfortunately for Luke he didn't get swept onto the 'The Athletic' life boat.

Think the sponsorless shirts are a huge hint at them being the front of shirt sponsor from next season as well.

Love the optimism, but we're not close to that yet. That's £100m initial outlay and likely £200k+ a week.

Would love it to happen, but really can't see it. Didn't the Shakhtar president say he valued him at £100m? Not saying that's what he'd eventually go for, but I can see it being north of £50m, which I don't see us paying for someone relatively unestablished.

Given this was supposedly on the verge of being done in the Summer would be shocked if it doesn't happen in Jan.

Yeah, was at the Palace game. No lack of effort from Wood, but we just can't play in the same way with him up there.

Not accusing Wilson of anything, but I do wonder if Howe feels like Wilson will (consciously or sub-consciously) have his head elsewhere for this game, with his first (and likely only) World Cup a week away. When you're as injury prone as Wilson is there must be something in the back of his head that would make him second guess every run/sprint on Sunday.

Gutted for Joe. But it least means we can play him v Palace and Chelsea, then get him primed to destroy the second half of the season.

Believe he said it was 3 more games (not sure it that's tied to a certain number of mins per game to count) he needed to get the extension in the Summer. Handy as, out of those 5 2023 expiries he would be the only one I can see being part of the squad for another year or 2.

I think the only potential mitigating factor in Jan may be our proximity to the European places. If they feel there is a chance to get into the top 6 this season (probably a season or two earlier than they anticipated), I can see them shopping for a more top level, established type signing in an effort to get us over the line. Not saying they're going to do something daft like sign Hazard, but can see them potentially trying to make another 'Trippier' style signing. Someone they know can come in and make an immediate impact.

I would be shocked if they don't pull the trigger on Karius on a long term deal in Jan. Only think I can see getting in the way is if he has an offer to be number 1 somewhere else. As for the rest of Jan. If you asked me a couple months ago I'd have said priority would be a wide forward/winger, then ideally a CDM. The form of Almiron (with ASM and Isak both to still come back in) means I'd actually say a CM is now priority. Question is do we go for a defensive player and give Bruno licence to push higher up the pitch, or for someone like Maddison, which would likely mean having Bruno play in that deep lying '6' role.

Yeah, they look a slightly different prospect now Gerrard is gone. Can see a draw.

Think Trossard is a decent compromise on having a real go in Jan if we're still around the European spots without breaking the bank whilst we continue to get our FFP ducks in a row. Could see it happening if he is only £25m.

There's swallowing your pride, then there's switching from PSG to Aston Villa... Not saying he won't have to consider dropping to a team just below that elite level before long. But I suspect that's more likely to be someone like Spurs or Man Utd than Aston Villa in what's shaping up to be a relegation dog fight.

Had a similar feeling these past few days. We may have the best defence records in the league, but Everton's isn't bad at all (only conceded 11), Coady and Tarkowski really seem to have shored them up. Got a feeling it may be a bit of dud 0-0, or 1-0 either way. Wouldn't be shocked at all if they nicked one on the break then just sat an absorbed pressure. Like a rerun of the Bournemouth game.

As a person, he seems alright enough (for a Tory). I think he and Gerrard wind a lot of folks up as they're handed opportunities a lot of other young coaches wouldn't get based purely on who they are. Fair play to Lampard though, he does seem to set his side up tactically himself, as opposed to Gerrard who lets other people deal with that.

So long as it's relatively tasteful, I can be bough off with the promise of larger transfer kitties/more for wages.

Honestly think Bowen would be more likely than Rice.

Least it means we won't have to worry about if/how Wilson and Isak can play together...

The big South American teams (Brazil especially) will often play friendly fixtures in Europe. With 90% of their squad playing in Europe they know its far easier for them to turn up to friendlies if its on their doorstep. I imagine the Brazilian fans feel about as hyped for international friendlies as we do, so don't really care. Back in the early 2000's the Brazilian national side almost had entirely different squads for friendlies vs competitive internationals as so many of the big stars playing in Europe would pull out of friendlies rather than travelling half way round the world and back in the space of 5 days.

Stone cold, man.