Viana

Surely if teams are willing to meet Southampton's demands then Man City will jump in and buy him back for less before turning a profit?

I remember you from NOFC - a safe pair of hands

"What am a sayin man, you probably just call them 'meatballs' in your IKEA."

Ugarte now off to PSG apparently. Millar firmly in the mud. https://twitter.com/JacobsBen/status/1665486768781635584?s=20

Could that be a way to circumvent FFP costs?

It's messy, and that's best shown by the fact they have two co-sporting directors in Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley. They'll likely lead on the targeting and negotiating. Scouts will remain in place pre and post Potter. You're right though, it's a maddening scatter gun approach.

He's a victim of European teams not focusing much on Asia and Australia for coaching talent. I do agree, I think he'll struggle. Postecoglu definitely has a few systems in his locker, but if Celtic was anything to go by he needs fullbacks that are good on the ball and a midfielder that can join the attack and be a penalty box threat - like Willock or Joelinton. Maybe he throws in Djed Spence and Udogie for those full back roles, but they still need to make several big decisions to replace GK/CB options as well as the Kulusevski deal. That's so much for him to get right in one summer and at a time when the top six is going to be ridiculously competitive next season. If Levy has the patience it can work, but I don't think so.

I've also found Pope to be a more commanding presence. That may largely be down to size.

I feel like we saw a few of these stories in January and when the takeover happened. Big teams peddling us their shite for over-inflated fees. Maybe he comes, maybe he doesn't, but to me it still feels like optimistic press briefings over a likely outcome.

I was watching a video this week of Pep as a player and how often he would look to find Ronaldo in behind when they were at Barca. It made me wonder if that was part of his motivation for signing Erling Haaland. It just changes the way City can play, especially on the break and I don't know if they've ever had that type of striker under Pep. Side note; this first 20 minutes is probably one of the poorer games I've seen De Bruyne have. Doesn't seem himself at all.

Money in America will be mediocre at best and I honestly debate on 'quality of life'.

It would be quite a depressing watch but I think Wood may shade him in a race. I also think Wood was - more importantly - the easier to flog. He had the better CV and that got a bite from Forest. Weghorst ended up in Turkey and even now I can't imagine Man Utd buying him. At that point another loan to Germany seems probable. Vincent Kompany may get him firing but I doubt it.

I feel like many a former pro has said training ground fights are par for the course.

No I’m not.

Then you've clearly not understood me. Rodri lead City for league games this year and he's played - but for two games - DM. De Bruyne has played either CM or AM. I didn't say we should never sign versatile players. I said we have several that fit that mould, now we need specialists. That's why Pep spent 100m on a player that he's only using as a left winger.

Reading his height in books was very Partridge, but I agree, he's better than what else is on offer.

Why Caleb Porter? I feel like he's still trading off his early success in MLS. Truth is I'm not sure there's a standout candidate. Even Marsch is coming off an odd time at Leeds where his attempts to not look like Ted Lasso made him look exactly like Ted Lasso.

Honestly, whenever I read or hear 'What I've noticed about their fans' I zone out.

At the end of the day Ashworth and co are business minded and we'd be mad to think otherwise. Here is my own curiosity. What do they deem as his market value and can Liverpool match or exceed that figure? They were priced out of Bellingham at 100m. They've already taken a financial hit with no Champions League money. In that case are they banking on us taking 50m-60m? I think we'd want close to 80m to start talking given what McAllister is going for and the truth is I can't see them paying that. Overall I sort of hate FFP, but if there's one crumb of comfort, teams like Liverpool and Man City can't just come in with daft offers for players.

Interesting. See what you said is also one of my concerns. We already have a few 'versatile' players. Give me specialists now. Give me players that are in the conversation for top 10 in the world. That's how you match City.

I've signed up for several credit cards with this name.

I may be wrong but I don't really rate Torres. I never saw elite potential in him at Valencia and I thought it spoke volumes that City were happy to cash in so early. We have to be careful we're not seduced by signing a player because they look good on paper. City fell foul of that a bit at first. I'd almost rather take a punt on a player trending up with Villarreal or Sevilla than I would a player perceived as being 'of that level' because he's at Barcelona or Real Madrid.

That was him and Besty right? What was the latest update? If they have the required footage there's really no excuse.

You can’t get every good player, but I bet there’s some angry owners wondering how we nabbed this lad for 40m.

I found this a good analysis of Ugarte, and makes me think he's not what we need in terms of a six.