TheBrownBottle

Not allowing for what looks like some inevitable sales, CB and RW are the two positions in need of obvious strengthening. I wouldn't have been happy starting the season with Almiron, Murphy, Minteh in all honesty. So if at least two of those are gone but at least one quality RW comes in, then I'm perfectly fine with that.

I wouldn't swap Howe for Southgate - but I'd swap their luck in cup draws in a heartbeat

Honestly, the rumours are laughable - Chelsea couldn't pay what we'd want, and we wouldn't need to bring in Isak money to get over the PSR line. Absolute non-starter

I was at a Champions League game in the Nou Camp when Shola scored vs Barcelona. It isn't an ironclad proof of being first rate.

You must know that this isn’t either / or?

City’s current arbitration case wouldn’t have any impact on us in terms of meeting PSR this season

Meanwhile … this is a normal occurrence elsewhere https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ceqd09exwqqo

Didn’t they sign Jurgen Locadia and Alireza Jahanbakhsh off the back of good seasons in Holland?

If we need to sell for PSR, then I very much doubt Brighton would insert a sell-on clause. We’re the desperate ones - we’d have no leverage

I’d be surprised if PIF are happy at all re a rules breach. They’ve clearly been keen to play nicely with the rules from day one.

PSR doesn’t ’force’ any club to do anything, regardless of how shite the rules are I’d be amazed if Isak was sold

If we’re £30m in the hole, then buying Barnes didn’t make much of a difference

Still waiting on training ground sponsorship etc …

Downie isn’t the smartest, is he? If you’re say £30m under the FFP requirements, you don’t sell a £100m+ asset to pull yourself back in line. This would be the worst time to sell a player of that value, as you wouldn’t be able to take advantage of the amortisation benefits.

Agreed, but it does exist, so we aren't

We're not richer than them - Chelsea, Spurs and Man Utd all have turnovers double ours, have (in Man Utd's and Chelsea's cases) ridiculous track records of success, and are far bigger 'names' at the moment. It would be head-turning to our players for Man Utd or Chelsea to bid for them at the moment. That doesn't mean that they leave, but there isn't an argument that exists that we are bigger than Man Utd or Chelsea

FTFY

The trailer for the new Rain Man film looks shite

True, but that was the PL making the decision - the arbitrator will make a decision here. Both sets of lawyers will have presented their case, but they would have no clue as to the outcome until the judgement is given. I’ve been through arbitration and adjudication a number of times - no matter how confident you are, you’re none the wiser until the decision is given.

They wouldn’t know the judgement until it’s made - there wouldn’t be anything to leak

You’ve been hiding behind that the whole time. A bit like the Mackems talking about how long since they lost a derby while playing third division football. Definitely time for Britain vs America III. Can’t leave the series hanging.

This ref likes blowing a second or so before the half ends

Gordon playing like a Southgate player with his first touches

Referee buying everything as well mind

I don’t see any manager at a top club taking the England job these days. It’s for the about-to-retire or never-has-beens