TheBrownBottle

I still Manchester is the fucking midlands tbh, regardless of what the cunts who live there think

My folks still work at the ministry. I’m going to call them out next time they call it Longbenton

Still love that he was that overjoyed that he was about to take his shorts off too - then somehow the rest of his brain kicked-in It’s my favourite moment from the last couple of years tbh. I went fucking crackers

Sorry, I was genuinely being tongue in cheek with the ‘somehow’ comment. We know the key reason why Chelsea won things. But I really do think that the ‘stability’ argument isn’t as solid a premise as football’s collective wisdom likes to think. Real Madrid has had 16 managers during the same period. Yes, they win things because they’re massive. Chelsea won things due to financial support from their owner. It’s money that dictates success more than any other factor, of course. Yeah, I think there’s a good chance you’re right (it’s unprovable of course). I do think that changing things up every few years at successful clubs can be a positive (Chelsea’s chopping and changing of late defies logic).

Yes, ‘somehow’. I’m referring to standard football truisms, not my actual confusion as to how it occurred. I know how it happened; again, I’m not daft.

They won both their European Cups years after Man City’s Abu Dhabi takeover

Chelsea’s insane managerial record - sacking and appointing more than twenty managers (including caretakers) from the day Abramovich bought the club - also shows that one of the standard football truisms re managerial stability and success has no correlation. They’re the most successful English club of the 21st Century. edit: I’m not suggesting that we do this. I’m not daft - just that somehow, Chelsea has made it work.

Tbf I was only responding to Huss - who was the one who made the point. My reply was just being polite. I don’t give a shite either way

Gordon looks sensational on the right to me. If Howe keeps him out there, and perhaps Minteh returns as back up, I’m wondering if we desperately need a RW. We’ve enough options for LW in any case. With the need to replace Botman rather than buying cover, and likely a secondary centre forward, I don’t know if RW would be the same priority. Depends on Howe’s thoughts re Gordon at RW I think.

Great stuff. Watched it last night, well past my bedtime on a Sunday, late for work as a result, completely worth it.

Got you. Yeah, it is a bit surprising that they didn’t push the messaging more

Perhaps, but I wouldn’t expect the BBC to make any mention of a sponsor’s actions, even if they were a positive. They’re a public broadcaster

Same I’m afraid

I know there’s three potential bites at the cherry, but it would take a hell of an upset not to seal the deal today HTL

Nothing at all. But it wouldn’t count towards FFP - which of course what matters. The regs state which income streams are counted in the assessment, and which aren’t.

It only needs to be assessed for fair market value - which it was. It’s not crazy sums for hotels in London

Yep. It’s not exactly Corinthian the idea of ‘winning’ a penalty

Yeah, I agree - I think ongoing European football will be a big factor in keeping our best players

Yeah, that was great. Almost Supermac vs Burnley - just shrugged it off

Europe has to be the target, 4th is crazy talk at this point. Finishing 7th or above would be a real achievement.

Yep. And while they’d quickly plug that loophole, at present there’s nowt stopping us.

The money isn’t in the system, which is the problem. Most football clubs lose money - and the % of turnover quota should be limiting wages and agents fees

Tbf I blame you and your missus. You should’ve been trying to conceive in October / November to hit that June / July birth date.

At the moment, yes. But they’d still be subject to fair market valuations. So you couldn’t sell Benton Park for £1bn.

I had a Quick Look on there after the match - before they pull it There’s a few who genuinely seem to believe that every game we win is down to bribery. It has to be an exhausting way to live. They need to just get over it