Jewel

The names I've been hearing about so far, the likes of Solanke and Delap, doesn't fill me with much excitement or confidence. I really hope we will be more creative than that.

He's our one and only truly elite player.

Looking forward to the day when top 10 gets you a Champions League place.

He screams Everton or Leeds Utd to me. The sort of player you sign if you want to entrench yourself as a mid-table club.

No thanks. He's looked shite everytime I've seen him, and I've never really rated him to begin with. Got to wonder what we are doing if we're willing to drop 50m+ on someone like that. EDIT: Re: Delap ^^

The only thing that could make it worse is if our owners bought one of their dross players off them to help facilitate the transfer.

Let's be honest here, we were never getting a new stadium even without everything in the middle east blowing up. We are not getting a new training ground either. I feel like a lot of people on here are still in denial about just how ambitious the Saudis are willing to be with us.

Losing this is unthinkable. They'll play a low block, which is something we struggle against. I can see us just about scraping a 1-0 win.

Couldn't we have tried to negotiate something much earlier? I'm sure even Liverpool would have preferred to have wrapped things up much earlier instead of matching our valuation at the very last minute. The way that whole transfer saga played out badly fucked both clubs tbh.

Completely agree and I felt the same way. When they scored their 7th and there was still about 20 minutes left to play, I fearing the worst. I thought this is going to be one for the record books here. One of those results that will be talked about for years and years to come. Thankfully, they eased off. 7 is still embarrassing though, I don't know how you can dress it up any other way.

Bidding should start £100m if these clubs really are interested.

We got smashed on the global stage last night, with the eyes of the whole world looking on. I hope it hasn't damaged our reputation too much. I don't want people lumping us in with the likes of Dinamo Zagreb and Stade Brest on the back of this loss.

Wasn't Wissa a Howe signing? By that, I mean he was someone that Howe specifically identified and wanted brought in? Like with Elanga? Eddie must be regetting the day he ever laid his eyes on him

Great. Expect them to go straight back down, if they come up. Another soulless yo-yo club.

Money at the top end has killed football tbh. So many teams, outside of 6 or 7 clubs, have simply no chance of winning the Champions League these days. And PSG and Man City only do so because theyve been pumped full of state money. Everyone else is there just to make up the numbers. We will never ever get teams like Celtic or Steaua Bucharest reaching the latter stages again, let alone winning it.

I believe that's the most we have ever conceded in Europe by a significant margin. I think the most before tonight was 4. I know we tonked 7-3 against Arsenal under Pardew.

Gives Danny Dyer a run for his money.

I thought Europe was gone after losing to Everton tbh. But just when you think you're out, they pull you back in.

Why would they sack him when he still has a job to finish?

And worryingly, the rest of the world is starting to sit up and take notice. He's going to be coveted by all of the elite clubs in the 12-18 months.

Not really a giant-killing. These two clubs were in the same division only about 5 seasons ago.

Wissa has had a better season than Isak so far.

Liverpool missing out Champions League football would be lovely...but that might mean Man U get in instead ffs.

Yep, honeymoon period is well and truly over. Time to deliver is now.

All not lost for Villa. They still have the Europa League which should be very winnable for them.