Checko

Wonder if there's some thinking about playing some 343 / 541 (however you want to call it) next year. Worked for Palace since Glasner took over and obviously Leverkusen this year. Think Inter did something like that as well and they've bossed it. It's very in right now. CBs like Tosin and Kelly who are fast and comfortable on the ball would work well with that on the outside and we have 2 very attack-minded fullbacks it would allow some freedom to.

40 million Euros is 3,407,000,000p at current exchange rate btw. Does feel like this big bearded Georgian one has some legs. He's clearly being sold this year.

Do we want to sign a load of Sporsy players though?

Yeah quite possibly. Just have some memory of us being stronger in the second half of the last 2 years of Rafa, but I don't want to look it up because I'm probably way off!

This cunt signed and done his hamstring yet?

Felt with Rafa that he took a little time to find out what worked best, but he'd tinker a bit and find a good system. Which is probably the sign of a good manager.

Seen Brentford have a 'director of elite performance'. Should get one of those rather than a regular performance director!

It's the premier league's money and the premier league's shareholders (the clubs) generally wouldn't want that money spent strengthening potential rivals.

He's a journo, and sometimes journos post bad news which people don't like. Injuries only happen if they're reported. I quite like him tbh. He has a reputation for being very negative but I don't think that's the case. Certainly watching his post match reports on youtube he doesn't come across as such. If anything I would say the fact he's a fan of the club (as far as I know, - his son certainly is) means he's not always the most objective. He does the thing you've mentioned all fans do of overrating his club's home-grown players a bit for example. He will be pro-Newcastle (he fucking loves Eddie Howe), so definitely worth bearing that in mind but he is knowledgeable about the club as far as I know. He was reporting about there being an informal agreement between Ashworth and Man U back in mid Feb for example (which turned out to be true it seems) before any official contact made, so he's not clueless.

In all seriousness though, if he decided our project wasn't for him, or he was loyal to palace in the end, or just played the contract leverage game then fair play to him. The grass isn't always greener.

They may have thrown in Bromley then

Gillespie had it by the end!

This is why McKenna at Ipswich might want to move to a bigger team: struggle with a newly-promoted team, which is to be expected, and suddenly many people think you're shit. From a very cursory glance Kompany did ok at Anderlecht - they came 4th and 8th the 2 seasons before he took over, 3rd and 3rd in both his years in charge, and 11th the year after he left. Lost a cup final on penalties. Did great at Burnley in their promotion year. Perhaps should have been a bit more pragmatic in the premier league but they were starting to turn it around by the time we played them. There is a big gulf between Premier League and Championship that's hard to overcome. Anyway, he could be absolutely fine with better players.

Yeah I agree, but it should also a consideration in the whole 'make him sit out his whole gardening leave and rot like his compost heap' school of thought, as hilarious as that would be.

Yeah I'm not saying we've actually been unreasonable, but from the perspective of someone not directly involved, they might see the base story and hear the perpetual moaning from Man U & it can create a narrative.

There is definitely something to be said for not wanting to look like we'll hold prospective employees hostage if they want to leave.

Fair enough, they probably gave him permission to urinate wherever he wants in the whole of Croydon. Pretty sweet deal. Get the bloke from that dodgy 777 lot in.

In his game against us for Chelsea last year there was one moment where he plays a 40 yard cross field ball over Dan Burn with his weaker foot. 1:30 here: Kid's got wonderful technique and looks physically solid. Think he could become really good with some more match experience. Needs to be playing going forward.

I asked Chat GPT who Chelsea should hire and they recommend Nagelmann. Hopefully their board aren't as thorough.

Champions League will still be tough without europe. Arsenal and Man City are a clear level or two above us. Liverpool too, though obviously transition year. Spurs, Villa, Chelsea, Man U all vying for that spot(s) and will probably all spend. I'd rather have the exposure (even if relatively small) of the Conference League - just having Europe could help with recruitment. Plus Eddie Howe's been a manager a long time, but does lack experience dealing with European football. I think it would useful just from that perspective. Plus it's a trophy we'd have a legitimate shot of winning and it's be an adventure for the fans to go and see some new places and teams.

Here's the press conference, he's asked about Ashworth at the beginning but 19:00 Is the relevant question and answer from that article. Might be something later in the conference I haven't listed to it all, just sped through looking for questions about Ashworth on subtitles. No formal approach for him had been made at that point, though the Mail's article that day says "We understand Ashworth has an informal agreement with Man United and their incoming co-owners Ineos. He is now waiting for them to make an official approach and agree a compensation package with his current employers." https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13091357/Get-Ashworth-Eddie-Howe-fears-Man-United-sporting-director-waiting-Dan-access-Newcastles-secrets-admits-concerns-intelligence-transfer-targets.html

It was in Hope's original article that broke the story: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-13443573/Man-United-chiefs-email-blunder-Dan-Ashworth-Premier-League-tapping-punishment-Man-City-Omar-Berrada.html "We can reveal the pair had a conversation in early February and Ashworth followed that up by sending an email to Berrada - at an INEOS account - making it clear he wanted to accept the opportunity of becoming Man United’s sporting director."

What do you mean if it's true? The Daily Mail said so. The Mail for God's sake. Who do you need reporting it? David Attenborough?

Perhaps he's hoping Ashworth's job at Man U becomes available!

If Berrada is doing Man U business form an Ineos account while still on gardening leave - would be interesting to see who else he's been receiving Man U work emails from.