Keegans Export

Is that the published accounts or the FFP figures?

Is any of that substantially different to the current regulations? Looks like they're just tightening up the protocols for the existing rules, which makes sense seeing as they were brought in with such urgency...

We could certainly use another quality CF but we aren't going to spend £60m+ on a 26/27 y/o CF when there are more pressing needs and FFP to consider.

Ederson I can understand, we seem to want another CM and need to consider someone coming in last-minute and paying Bruno's release clause. We don't want to be caught short. ESR makes no sense, a right-footed left winger with a shocking injury record. And we aren't spending the money it would cost for Toney or Solanke when we already have Isak.

They wouldn't be included in the PSR/FFP losses but they would be included in the published accounts, which is where the £119.6m loss comes from.

Right, but by the looks of things we're doing exactly the same if we've lost £150m in two years worth of full accounts

Are you not just looking at the actual P&L rather than what's relevant just to the PSR though? Haven't we posted two £70m losses in the last two seasons?

So even before all the clever accounting they've got £70m(ish) to play with?

The RW will also be the backup CF

We still might have homegrown rules to obey if we qualify for Europe. We've got Dummett (who seems to be on his way out), Longstaff & Anderson and I think that's it?

"Sue" was my attempt at a short-handed version of what you said, but trust me your opinions on what we will/should do regarding FFP/FMV are very clear. Obviously yes, any development would take a number of years but if they do start the process of adding 8-10k seats to SJP that makes building a completely new stadium (at the Arena site or anywhere else) incredibly unlikely?

I admire your persistence but I think between this and the club suing the PL over FFP/FMV you're setting yourself up for a disappointing few years.

He's possibly already 5th choice, Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton and Willock all potentially ahead of him. He'll stay and that's fine, if we add another CM to the squad then that's a pretty strong group. Obviously if Bruno or Joelinton leave then they'll need replacing.

I have to say, I love one that clatters in off the bar.

I'm still not 100% sure how the European places are going to work. Assuming; 1. England gets the extra CL place 2. One of the top five wins the FA Cup Would that be; 1st-5th Champions League 6th & 7th Europa League 8th Conference League

They could even do it within the current ballot framework if they're wedded to it. Set aside the area (or areas), give it some "branding", make it clear what it is and what it's for and allow people to seek out tickets specifically in that area.

If we keep performing like this then our poor form looks more and more like a blip and less like a trend. Two big PL games coming up, could put ourselves in a really strong position.

Like with most kits, I'll remember it fondly if we play well in it and vice versa. There are some exceptions but for the most point that rule holds true.

OK, thanks. So at least the costs are worked out the same way as the current PSR, they're just doing it 85% per season rather than £105m losses per 3 years.

I knew someone would have the numbers! I'm still not sure how transfer fees will come into it though. If we had t/o £300m and £200m on wages, is that £100m net spend available for transfer fees or is it still going to be based on amortisation?

So the new rules are (potentially) 85% of turnover rather than £105m "losses" over three years? 85% of our most recent turnover is around £210m which sounds like a lot but there's an article from last summer quoting our wages then at £150m(ish) although there are probably more up-to-date figures out there. And then would it be the whole transfer fee included in the calculations or the current amortisation?

No, I think there's a middle ground before "all our problems" being solved where we see a gradual improvement in performances as players start to return. We're in a better position squad-wise than we were in December for example, with less fixtures to contend with but we've only played well in maybe one or two games since then. We were very poor on Tuesday with only a handful of players missing, which is by no means a situation exclusive to us. As I keep saying, there is plenty of time to change the narrative. Wolves, West Ham, Everton, Fulham in the next five games coming up - improved performances, a few wins and then we can look back on a poor run of form and say "Yeah those injuries fucked us" but if we start seeing those players return and we still don't improve then it starts to look more like an excuse or papering over the cracks.

That midfield three still includes Bruno & Longstaff, who played a key part last season. Now Willock is on the way back, Anderson too. Plus Miley. As I say above, yes the injuries have been a massive issue but if that situation continues to improve with a decent set of fixtures coming up it's not unreasonable to expect a noticeable uptick in performances?

That's fair enough. I think we have a very favourable run of games coming up and sooner or later "Injuries" is going to start to wear a bit thin. edit - and on the GK issue, yes he's been a miss but we have been wide open through the midfield for a number of weeks now and that isn't all on Dubravka/Karius. Something is amiss and it's (ultimately) the responsibility of the manager to identify the issue and attempt to resolve it.

Are the mitigating circumstances not abating somewhat already? We haven't played European football since before Christmas, Tuesday was our first midweek game in over a month. We've had a weeks gap between five of the previous seven games. We've started getting players back from injury. Have the performances notably improved?