TheBrownBottle

I quite like Carlisle too. Mrs BB did her degree there - always thought it was canny for a day out on a sunny day (August / May matches). Without wanting to upset any lurking Cumbrians, I know it is geographically in the North West but (accent and culturally) it feels more 'North East'. Also helped by the fact that the BBC North East and Tyne Tees also covered that part of the country.

Then bring them all on It’s not that I don’t think we can / will get out of it. It’s a sort of security policy. It could be a couple of years before we get back in it too - I really would like at least on supergiant in there.

I missed this one what did Eales say?

I’m not saying it wouldn’t - but I’d like at least one bone fide giant in there. I’m not thinking in terms of getting out of the group.

It’s been quoted by multiple sources. He hasn’t been the greatest value for money so far - though that’s not the lad’s fault

Perhaps - but that group looks very ‘Europa League’ to me All personal preference of course - but I’d want as many real heavyweights as possible; it increases the risk of finishing bottom, but any and every win would feel historic. All European nights really are something special, so it will always be great - but beating Barcelona and Juventus at SJP in the CL has the edge over the other European nights for me

It would be depressing to finish bottom of that group. I want genuine giants personally.

I know it’s a shit rag, but is there anyone of my vintage who doesn’t immediately picture the below when they see or hear that name?

You can't sue, but the club doing the tapping can be punished by the FA with fines and transfer embargos

I don't think he'll leave in the summer and I've always got the impression that the lad likes being here, but I also think the following: 1) 'emotional' ties don't mean a great deal when you're talking about massive pay rises 2) I don't think the club are looking to do massive wage hikes just yet 3) if he did leave, we'd just go out and spend money replacing him. This isn't Ashley's NUFC - I wouldn't lose a second's sleep re a single one of our players being sold. It would say nothing about ambition - and we're going to sell good players along the way. Bruno is not irreplaceable

I’d avoid Tielemans like the plague. Heavy Bogarde vibes off that one.

Huge natural oil and gas reserves probably have more to do with it than superb business acumen tbf

There absolutely will be. FFP, not the owners’ wealth, dictates this.

Szoboszlai would be an incredible signing - how likely is it though? It feels like we’re a year or two away from players like him, but perhaps the CL qualification opens up paths to this sort of player?

I hope he signs for the sanity of many on here. Personally, I still think he’ll end up somewhere like Spurs.

Yeah, I agree mate.

The only member of the press who ever went down that line was Edwards, who back-pedalled and claimed that the c.£50m was right because that was what actually got paid out in upfront payments. And we all laughed because we knew he was completely full of shit and was being disingenuous - it absolutely was not what he meant. Until Isak came in he was banging on about how right he’d got it.

Agreed. The old Tory hobbies of golf and casual racism just seem so staid these days.

Yeah agreed, which is why I think someone like ASM will go. It’ll be mainly players on the outskirts of the squad who’ll leave, but I can easily see Howe selling one player worth a few bob to bolster his budget. At least we know these days any fee brought in will be recycled straight back into the squad

The press have never referred to upfront payments as the budget - the transfer budget has always been the total value of the players being brought in. Only in articles where they go into further detail would they talk about payment structure. You’re honestly the first person I’ve ever seen who made that assumption - everything from the press to the likes of transfermarkt.com refer to the total transfer value.

FFP is pretty easy to calculate - Edwards was laughed at because he is full of shite. But if you’re waiting for a £150m+ spend you’re going to be disappointed in September. The only way that’s achievable is to do something as fucking stupid as Chelsea and tie players to eight-years deals. The budget will be just over £100m, based on likely income and the previous two seasons.

No, that is definitely how it always works. A budget of £100m means the total value of the players brought in, not the size of the available down payments. The down payments wouldn’t make sense, given that if you did so you’d then have to calculate that window’s budget all of the payment installations from previous transfers. It’s about purchase power as much as owt else. How much of a revenue making monster you are. And we’re still a long way off even Spurs - even with finishing third and CL qualification next season. That’s why we don’t have £150m+ to spend in the summer - our turnover is still dwarfed by a struggling Spurs. Spurs have roughly three times our match day revenues, and roughly the same multiplier against commercial income. There’s a long way to go yet.

Agreed. I’m honestly unconcerned with any player being sold under the present regime. Doesn’t worry me one iota - I’m confident any sale would be done with the notion that it is for the best for the club & team.

Which wasn't even the least likeable thing about them. They had David Evans as chairman who was putting up electrified fences and grumbling that he couldn't turn them on