Upthemags

The suggestion, as I meant it, is that unfortunately our moves in the market require an exceeding level of caution and forethought - much more, in fact, than other clubs need to exercise. (Clubs against whom we seem to be measuring our conduct this transfer window.) It's easy to point at ManU, who might as well have an endless stream of revenue to re-invest, and feel sorry for ourselves because we aren't operating with a similarly light trigger finger. We're on the same page that the club/Ashworth mishandled operations and weren't prepared for the reality of PSR. But in our current scenario, where we have 10 pounds to spend, and the other giant clubs have 200 pounds to spend, then yes, I think we are, by nature, last-movers in this market. There will be plenty of clubs forced to lower their asking prices this summer as time goes on for talent they want (need) to dispose of. Not in all instances to be sure.

Fact is we have to be last-movers on account of how judiciously we have to spend our precious little money under PSR. If we had a revenue cushion of hundreds of millions, no doubt we'd be wheeling and dealing like the big 6, but we just don't, and so we have to be shrewd. Much shrewder, actually, than our competition, since we need to squeeze every ounce of value we have out of our spending budget. Makes for a boring transfer window when we'll swoop in at the eleventh hour to grab someone we feel has been undervalued, with a club eager to sell for whatever reason (PSR issues, logjam, what have you), but that's what comprises a successful window for us and where we are as a club at the moment. Mom gave you some pocket change to spend at the candy store, and the rich kids are grabbing everything off the shelf they fancy... We'll have to wait until the smoke clears, and see if we can snag a gem the others have missed/overlooked. Absolute faith in Mitchell to get it done

I'm skeptical we're going to pull the trigger on him. Have a feeling Mitchell will be looking for someone higher risk/more potential than Thiaw. The Thiaw interest, insofar as it is accurate and real, I would wager comes from Eddie and the coaching staff if I had to guess.

100% - look at what liverpool did with what was basically an academy team in the carabao. No reason talent such as here can't get some spare minutes with us, versus shipping them out to some farmers division.

Appointing a DoF and fitness chief is run of the mill club business. Very few managers in the world have the kind of pull, clout, talent, where a club needs to sit them down and get their approval beforehand. Eddie is not one of those managers, good as he is. This will all work out fine I'm convinced. Just need the new blood to settle in, and assuming their isn't a seismic shift in the way operations are run, looks like Eddie will be sticking around

Agreed, bit strange

Think Aston Villa will be mid-table or near it. Appreciable downgrade losing Luiz and Diaby, even with Onana in, and they'll have to do it all juggling CL play, and on the come-down from the high of last season.... Genuinely think it will be between us, Chelsea, and Tot for 4, and between us, I really think its a toss up.

Really dont mind southgate threw him in the doghouse since I'm not an England fan. Might inspire an AG revenge tour from now until the WC, and he could use the extra rest banked up before he starts Eddie-ball again for the next 10 months

He plays on the wing too no?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13630533/Julian-Alvarez-asked-LEAVE-Man-City-rejecting-new-four-year-contract.html PIF.... You know what to do....

This is a disastrous idea. It's already ruined basketball as a spectator sport in the USA, and the NBA doesn't know what to do about it, as star players will literally play half the season under the guise of "load management". If you're a fan and you bought a ticket to watch LeBron James play? Better hope he doesn't have the night off. I would sooner have star players elect to sit out, restrict their playing time in national team matches before they start fiddling with their obligations to their professional club... But that's just me.

I dont think it impacts at all - if anything, I feel we might see some more ruthlessness/underhandedness from Saudi now that Mandy isn't there as a check.

This might have been announced early as a cushion to the blow of Mandy leaving. The club evidencing to supporters that everything is going according to plan. Would explain why Mitch hasn't given an interview yet

He's far superior, as-is, to Schar at cb, who's fantastic mind. Room would be made for him in the starting xi were he to come here (pretty skeptical of the link).

Dont love it. Just let Paul Mitchell run everything and be czar

I think we're talking past each other a bit because I agree that investment in younger talent is the model we should be after. But as that pertains to Wilson I'm not sure. The model of the top clubs, after all, is not selling their "Wilsons" - older talent, cheap, and quality. It's to sell the youth they brought in for a pittance, or brought up through the academy. With all that said, we don't have that luxury yet, so maybe Wilson has to be flogged as sacrifice for the profit...

This is not how PSR works - it can be reinvested a few times over, but that expenditure is always brought to bear at the end of the three year accounting window. Re-investing is merely kicking the can down the road until you have to fire sale your Mintehs. Point being - I wouldn't be surprised if the club want to hold onto Wilson because anyone coming in in his stead will be a lesser footballer. We need to keep profits in mind as you point out, but the challenge is being profitable, while not appreciably damaging the quality of your squad

Would be pleased if ManU blew 50+ million of their budget on Branthwaite

I don't think that's true when it means the player walking out the door can't be replaced by someone of equal merit. With Wilson, anyone coming in to replace him, e.g., DCL, is a downgrade in terms of pure footballing ability

He's relatively cheap, why not extend him now a year or two? It's a gamble on his health but he had 31 appearances in 22/23. Just seems ill-advised to dump a top 5 striker in the PL when healthy because he had a nagging injury issue last season that was never really allowed to heal by the looks of it (and due to our crisis)

What's the temp on Wilson here. Totally content to sit tight with him and cross our fingers we get 27 appearances, and pour everything into RW and CB but curious what others think. Say a Saudi side swoops in and offers 15m would you bite? I think we're too quick to dismiss him. Arguably the most clinical finisher in the top flight. If he stays (reasonably) fit, our attack, between Isak, Wilson, and Gordon, goes from good to elite. Huge Wilson fan though so I might be a bit rosy eyed from 2 seasons ago.

You'd hope anyone costing you 60 million would be a banker tbf

Mate I think you'll need to be happy with one new RW. Would be thrilled to be wrong ab that.

Surely the reason you bring a guy like Mitchell in is to not do something like this. This has Eddie written all over it but I hope with Mitchell in its history at this point.

In what world can they afford Felix with their PSR stuff...