timeEd32

I'll preface this by saying I'm very into the idea of us exploring out of contract players. Tosin and Kelly seem like they'd be great business. But I beg people to stop thinking of them as some kind of PSR/FFP cheat code, especially when they come with a higher profile. Kamara was mentioned a couple pages back so let's use him as an example. Wages are approximately £8m per year. Reporting is all over the place on signing/agent fees, but seems like it was at least £15m combined. That means his annual cost is more than Tino and within a couple million of Gordon. In the headlines he was 'free'; in the official books he's no different than a £35-40m player on sensible wages. It's probably appropriate to describe a player like Kelly as free given he's currently on very reasonable wages and is unlikely to command a big sign-on fee. But Tosin, with suitors that include Man United, Chelsea, and Spurs plus reports of 'demands' about a package and negotiating agent fees, seems like he's going to cost at least £8m per year. Is it a discount compared to a similar player? Probably, especially if wanting PL experience. But it's not free; it's Lewis Hall and maybe more. Now the math on these become much more favorable if they are taking the place of someone who's on the higher end of our wage bill. For example, if we got £12-20m for Wilson or Miggy (or a magical world where we can shift Targett) then you're creating a net profit that can provide some flexibility elsewhere.

Similar praise for Emery. What the two of them have done in consecutive seasons is outstanding.

Villa losing (and losing emphatically) is good for the reputation of that tournament.

I don't think it's ever been harder to finish in the top 4 or 6 either. I believe the only two clubs outside the big 6 to have consecutive top 6 finishes since Man City emerged are Leicester (2019-21; 5th / 5th) and Everton (2012-14; 6th / 6th). Maybe even more incredible (and something I didn't realize last season) is we're the only club outside of the big 6 other than Leicester in their title winning season to qualify for the Champions League since City's takeover. Everton in 2004/05 the only other one since Roman's takeover.

Good for him. He has a chance to be a bit of a cult hero here if he comes back and plays at a high level. A 'I'm homesick' transfer request in the next 15 months and he'd probably be one of the most hated players in the club's history. Quite the crossroads, but all the right noises so far.

Agree with this - it shouldn't be a common occurrence that the YPOTY nominees include some of the best in the sport. U21 makes way more sense.

There’s a reason Eales said the goal is to establish the club in the top 6, and he means off the pitch as much as on it. There are levels within that group, but for the most part if you’re there then you’re a series of coinflips from winning anything. We’re not there and, frankly, we’re not all that close financially speaking. But for 2.5 seasons now we are there on the pitch and that’s mostly down to one man. So if your expectations are a trophy or a top 4 finish then you need to realize those expectations are based on over two years of overachieving. Over two years of Eddie Howe distorting the perception of where NUFC sits in the current pecking order.

It's probably my biggest fear in life right now, which is probably why I'm dreaming about it.

We've already discussed this multiple times. In short, that's not true.

I don't think so because the specifics of their case can't really be replicated. The rules have evolved to prevent a good amount of what they did in the future, so Man City II would have been stopped or punished along the way. And, thus, they would not have become so big / successful, which is what has made this so messy.

Had a dream last night that Bruno left and I had to break the news to my son. If my dream is right then Bruno is off to Forest this summer.

He framed that more as Gallagher as a Longstaff replacement and Tonali would be the Bruno replacement. Not really a scenario I'm ready to think about though.

I don't know if he actually thought that or just assumed they'd be in it every year. Either way it seems clear that their 'plan' was predicated on Champions League revenue flowing in.

PSG xG 3.22 to 0.77xG for Dortmund 30 shots to 7 5 big chances to 1 70% possession Not too dissimilar from the night we were robbed.

What is our argument? That Australia is so far away it's basically behind closed doors?