500bhp

The guy's a legend as he delivered that trophy last March. But FFS try something different to 5 at the back when Big Joe is not playing.

No, TBH I've been less interested since the cup final win. That day was amazing, as was being there, and I've sort of 'completed' football now! All this PSR, Cartel 6 and Isak shit has made me a bit flat about the new season. I'm sure I'll feel different at SJP at 8pm on bank holiday Monday six pints deep😄

We've got acknowledge and maybe accept that we are not considered a big enough club to attract the types of players we've been aiming for this window. We are in the CL and won a trophy but the pull is not strong enough. We had a good run post takeover when we could sell the potential of the project to Bruno, Botman, Isak, Tonali and the rest, but a few years in and it's apparent to players and agents that we are not the next PSG or Man City. We'd not be able to sign those types of players today, as is being proven on a weekly basis. Root cause is a mixture of PSR and the lethargic way in which PIF run the club. Looking from the outside there is no sense of urgency or football knowledge or a desire to push the boundaries of PSR or challenge the status quo. Its all too passive. Nobody in PIF seems to love this project/investment or want to drive it forward. That's how it feels to me anyway at this point in the ownership.

Must. Have. PL. Experience. 🙄

😀. SL 1210 and Gemini mixer 👍

But we can't sell him to an associated PIF club as UEFA will class the transfer fee as zero. Then we'll be fucked by UEFA for breeching their PSR rules. I know it's a fine but it could be tens of millions. We need a non PIF Saudi club to buy him. I'm sure our owners can facilitate that.

😀. Yes but that extra £5m was only £1m pa amortisation against PSR. I guess we decided that a 3rd choice forward was more important than a 2nd choice keeper.

We could have had him last summer for £20m but instead used most of that cash (£15m) to buy Osula. So we did have the cash last year to sign him.

You are only as strong as your weakest player(s) and PL managers will identify those instantly and run riot. Luke O neal or whatever he's called will be singled out. Remember how we suffered for those few games around Xmas when Burn played LB and Tripps didn't have his mind on the job. We got torn apart a few times like Forest on boxing day and other games around then. We still had Isak and Bruno and Joelinton playing (I'm sure?) but it didn't matter. Teams just target the weak links. The mackems weakness will be exploited from about the 4th game onwards once all the PL clubs data analysis teams have watched them.

Bloody hell. Its like being back in 2018. Same type of language used then. Let's hope the local journalists really are clueless to what's going on in the background.

I agree, but it's what our own PM was saying a few years back

Yes, not wise. The supporters need to get home tonight. Don't antagonise the locals.

So just like the rest of us! I don't change employers every 5-7 years because I feel more aligned to their values. Its because I get more money for doing basically the same job. Most footballers are no different

Interesting. We were never going to sign him, he always wanted London and Chelsea. Surely we should of backed off much earlier, was a waste of time.

Yes. Thinking the same.

Don't worry we'll let Palace have him for £40m, coz no PL experience. Then in two years when he's been brilliant we'll sign him from Palace for £80m, coz PL experience 😀

True, but fortunately for them we'll be on our annual cup final trip to Wembley that weekend 😀

Good one. And I'll raise you this! We should all watch this weekly.

That's absolutely brilliant. That's what football is all about, not finishing 4th or 5th in the league. I'll never forget that feeling in the stadium at 90+11 minutes. It was insane and 1000 rivers of tears all around. Fuck CL, give me a cup final trophy every time 😁

Next season we need to improve our away record against top half teams. It's shite frankly. P9 W1 D1 L7 and no clean sheets. If you include current teams at 11-13 it's still only one win. That's two thirds of the league. We lose too easily away at the top teams. I'm sure Howe will be onto this already.

A bit of tail risk from the old FUN888 deal https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce9vnk2pky8o

A favour for one of his American mates who owns Chelsea? £20m is peanuts to him but helps his mates justify the £200m valuation, just a thought!

Open to a move to Arsenal per 'well placed sources', according to the BBC live Transfer Q&A page. They won't leave it alone will they.

We need to finish above two to get 5th. People keep overlooking Chelsea.

If only football was played on paper 😁