Keegans Export

It was noticeable in one of the Austria games (the second I think?) that we were very much 4-3-3 out of possession, but when we had the ball Anderson was pushing up into more of a #10 position. If we pull off a deal for Maddison I can see him playing that same role.

Always ignore the headline, rarely written by the article writer

His pace on the break means he can misplace the final pass or shoot straight at the keeper even faster

I think Werner operating in a sort of inside-right position with Wilson to his left and Trippier to his right could be quite a handful. Add ASM doing his various madness on the left and that would be an exciting front three. He's also more similar to Wilson than Wood (obviously) so we wouldn't have to change our 4-3-3 to accommodate him when Wilson is out. Wood just isn't capable of playing the lone CF in that system.

Maybe it's time to log out of NO/Twitter for a bit? There's enough to get annoyed about out there without football adding to it.

Cornet ticks a lot of boxes. ✓ Can play across the front three ✓ PL experience ✓ Decent price (and wage?) ✓ The Burnley thing

Surely you know by now, every thread is the Official Lucas Paqueta thread. Even the James Maddison thread.

Not a link I was expecting at all. Would take a hefty lump of cash and for a player most suited to a position we don't really use? If we could still bring in someone like Dennis who can play across the front three I guess it could make sense, but even he would be £20m+ you'd think and I can't see us spending another £70-80m.

You got a surname? I'm going tonight and it would be nice to know who to look out for!

Surely it's better to wait in the hope of nailing down one of our top targets rather than just go with whoever is available for the sake of 5 extra games? This is a long term project, we don't need to panic over 13% of the first full season.

I'd rate Sarr above Cornet but I'd be happy with both. I know he plays mainly on the left, but as a left-footer do you reckon Cornet could play RW?

I guess if you viewed the Leazes stand sort of sideways...through the Matrix filter...in a really strong wind that was in the process of blowing it down?

I think he means why did Chelsea have to offer him that much when they signed him from Leipzig

Villa are in a similar position to us - rich owners (I think?) but no clear path to just loading money into the business. I wonder whether the PL are also starting to scrutinise things like owner loans to the business? Would explain why two clubs with fairly wealthy owners are turning to the banks.

I should also add that, although Bompeter is right about the 80/10/10 thing I don't agree with his conclusion that this loan shows that PIF are not fully invested (financially or otherwise). It's a quick, easy and uncomplicated (in terms of the PL getting pissy) way of getting some cash into the bank account. What we're going to do with it or how much it's actually worth, who knows.

Right, but what we're talking about here is whether PIF putting money into the club directly would force Staveley & Reuben to do the same. If its a loan then no they wouldn't. The quote was ...to which I'm saying it wouldn't have to be funded 80/10/10

Absolutely, and it could be that the 80/10/10 split is what has been agreed between the three parties but it doesn't have to be.

Your assumption about the split is wrong. It means any money taken out (eg dividends) is split 80/10/10 but not money going in. For example, I own 60% of a business, my business partner has the other 40%. If I chose to drop £600k of my own money into the business, my partner doesn't have to add £400k of theirs. It just adds +£600k to my Directors account (which is basically a record of who is owed what by the business or vice versa).

So he's either going to take a ~£150-200k/week pay cut to join permanently or Chelsea are going to subsidise his wage by the same for a loan deal? I actually think he would be a really good option - I think he'd fit in our system much better than he has Chelsea's - but it's a complete non-starter.

I was thinking about that appointment, plus the fact that Eales has only just been brought in. I wonder whether they really are just going to use this season to get everything in order - give Ashworth & Eales the time to get everything just as they need it, the new Council is there to oversee the legal aspect etc then see a real push next summer. Explains why there was no mad rush to end the Fun88 deal before this season. They may even have explained this to the players they've brought in - use 22/23 to bed in, then we all push on the following season. Like Mehrdad said - building the skyscraper starts with the foundations...

Agree 100% We also have an advantage over Dortmund & Leipzig in that we are in the Premier League. Obviously in the position we are now that isn't enough but if we can consistently offer European and Premier League football, it gives us a better chance than those two clubs of holding on to our talented players.

Unless I'm misreading it, the paperwork lodged at CH is Burnley taking out a loan and using the future installments in the Pope transfer as collateral - basically "You know we can pay this loan off because we're getting these payments over the next three years". Seems to me that if they'd got the £10m up-front they'd have been better off.

I had an old lady stop me as I was walking down Clayton Street. Must have been at least 80. She grasped my arm, looked nervously into my eyes and said "Pet, where are the goals coming from if we don't improve our front three?" I told her not to worry, to trust the process and have faith in Mandy, Dan and Eddie. She smiled politely and nodded, but I could tell I hadn't reassured her. I hadn't even reassured myself. Troubling times in NE1.

Pepe is on about £140k/week so either Arsenal are going to loan him but pay a share of the wages or he's going to have to take a pay cut to come here. Can't see either of those happening. Out of that whole list I'd have Sarr pretty comfortably above the others.

Let's look at the teams we expect to be competing with around that 7th-11th area; Villa (14th last season) Coutinho, Carlos, Kamara Brighton (9th) Encisco, Baker-Boaitey, Adingra Out - Bissouma Leicester (8th) ...? West Ham (7th) Aguerd, Areola Wolves (10th) Collins It makes complete sense to go after your ambitious targets first. That may well mean you are miles apart on valuation (Harrison) or get quoted fees you aren't willing to go near (DCL) or have players who currently don't want to make the move (Diaby). We'll have our alternatives identified, they may not be first or even second on our shortlist but they can still come in and improve us & they may well be deals that are much easier to do (I'm thinking players from relegated teams like Cornet, Sarr etc, those with release clauses or clubs looking to cash in on assets) tldr; calm the f*** down.