Sibierski

Sign 3 top players (GK/CB/RW), potentially lose a good player (say Joelinton to Saudi for £50m) on top of aggresively selling the fringe players (Targett/Longstaff) and that used to sign 4 younger/on the cusp players (CMx2, ST, RB). Where after a few months, squad could look on paper very strong if those players perform. Think in a position of strength (cup win, UCL) we HAVE to be ruthless with the squad. There's so many we should move on if there's deals to be had and fresh players brought in, with likes of Burn, Bruno, Tonali, Isak, Gordon etc. all being the leaders. Like I love Schar, but if there's a deal for £8m+ on table and he's going to be back up CB next season, they're the sales we have to make.

It's a balancing act. Doesn't work, you are left with people who disrupt the changing room. Asensio / Rashford / Diasi are all short term gambles. It already lead to Malen not be registered for UCL squad, and Watkins not start the biggest games in club history. Those feelings remain after those players head back to their clubs in summer.

Sitting off and leaving someone unmarked in box Ipswich so shit.

Very fortunate to be there though. Don’t think they will win a final even against Spurs. Such a poor side under Amorim.

Bullet dodged? Still one of their best output players this season for a proper dull possession based side. He’s a great opportune market.

Ipswich such a meek side. We should be scoring for fun once we get first next week.

Should be the last time Hojlund starts a Prem game for Man Utd.

Leif Davis red card bit annoying, because Murphy would’ve murdered him with the space he leaves behind.

100% off, going down, so probably a case of working with players that will more likely be there next season.

Also worth remembering Villa are spending a fuck ton on wages, which we’ve refused to do. Means we can have more resilience, but for Villa it does mean they need to sell players that they consider key to them. Over time to keep replacing them and not the see the bar drop will be hard. Like there’s every chance Watkins will be that this summer.

Missed the game, caught glimpses on catch up and just seems a big L. Think it shows the lack of depth our squad has, because whilst they can be great and on it, when it’s the same XI each game it doesn’t get the opposition thinking and they know how to work on to play against us. Badly need some good signings this summer so we can mix it up and keep opposition guessing. Doesn’t change much to our chances of Europe, win the home games we get top 5. Especially if we can load up on our GD against Ipswich by +4.

Think he’s going to be loaned out next season. We’re going to sign a RW and ST IMO, and so he’s position in squad remains the same. And at his age, he’s going to have to be playing, especially if at worse we want to trade a deal on him. Like in championship and he scores 15 goals, we get £15m+.

They spend loads and pay loads. How it works in football, you will win trophies eventually. Just the real top ones (Prem / UCL), you actually need to put consistency together against sides that have equal spending power at the top end.

Think if it was going to be Alonso, they would’ve had it announced already. With Klopp out of work and Ancelotti leaving with 5 league games left, I think Real Madrid feel they have him lined up. Him and TAA double announcement would be pure jokes Probably have to wait and see if there’s a leak that Klopp has been learning Spanish.

Chelsea disdain for this competition is a joke. 29k there last night really hope they don’t win it because they don’t deserve it.

That Man Utd game just reminds me of last season 4-3 under ETH against Liverpool. Built as a big turning point, but most people outside of Man Utd knew it was the end days, followed by continued poor league form. Trophy at the end that just papered over all the issues.

Probably the weakest TIFO going?

Going to be our luck in that situation to then get one of the English sides away in the league phase

Feels when he’s on a cusp of a yellow ban, he plays really well because he’s more measured in his play. Ban over, he goes back smashing needless tackles, gets booked and has to play on edge which seemingly compromises him

They've been forced to by how things have gone. Quansah potentially off in summer, Gomez broken, Konate with a year left, so had to keep VVD for 2 years minimum so he's held the cards in the negotiations.

Willock will remain unless a bid comes in that makes us stand up and take notice. He at least still impacts games when he comes on with his dribbling with the ball from CM, and he's contract ends 2027 so we can play around a year.

He doesn't suit England, but he's a completely different option because of his directness. Tuchel has shown early on his all about assembling a squad that gets along and has dimensions/tools to win different games. There's a valid argument on this form, he ticks those boxes. Like Bowen is probably the better player overall, but he's stinky for England and it's still a player RW cutting in (which we have Saka and Foden for). There's no-one else that can offer what he does right now for England on that RW.

Think 2026 is a natural parting of the ways. He'll be nearly 36 then, with Tino another year experienced. It's great he's got his spark back, and if he's happy with his surroundings, him staying for final year is great for us based on this form. Means we don't need to make any moves for a RB, or if Targett was to leave, we could get a raw youngster in who's got 12 months training before taking over squad competition.

In next 24 months we will be the side that challenges the ‘sky 6’, then Villa will want to be there too. Can you see any of those clubs signing Barnes for £40m+, tying him down at 29 on a 5 year deal as a first name on sheet? Nope. So would be a step down required if he wanted to be a guaranteed starter.

Barnes will be 28 next season and playing UCL football. He’ll be at stage where he’s happy to be a squad player that’s challenging for the major honours or he steps down a level to be a regular.