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@DrJ - that article was mostly indecipherable cobblers, but this summary was on the money. A theatre of the absurd indeed…
Who do you pity most, Solskaer, ETH or Amorim?
I thought Everton were similarly down the swanny this time last year but we got Moyes back in first, ha.
2nd season I still don't understand this Champions league - there's a big league, but not everyone plays everyone, & the teams you do play, you play once, either at home or away?
It's confusing & I hate the format, it makes no footballing sense.
It’ll no doubt make financial sense, isn’t making lots of money the point?
2nd season I still don't understand this Champions league - there's a big league, but not everyone plays everyone, & the teams you do play, you play once, either at home or away?
It's confusing & I hate the format, it makes no footballing sense.
Stepping stone to a European Super League
So the toon are about to sign the German Peter Crouch. Given Monday nights direct approach against Liverpool I reckon Eddie Howe is bringing route one football back to the Premier League. 😳
I watched some of the recent U21 Euros and was quite impressed by him. Like the aforementioned Peter Crouch he was surprisingly good with his feet.
I understand from sources however that there are still some contractual issues to sort out, specifically Medium-sized Dan Burn isn't overly happy at losing the rights to the Big tag.
I know the Isak situation has been done to death and people have valid reasons for considering Newcastles POV and sitting the guy on the bench for the next 3 years to rot.
But i havent seen much mention of the benefits to newcastle in the long term for selling him in relation to PSR. I dont know the exact calculations but from what i have read profits on players dont just release X for X amounts. Ie sell him for £100m profit, i believe translates to something like £400m in PSR leeway. Surely this is a huge benefit to a cash rich club in their accounting. Isnt this how Chelski took advantage and why they closed the 7 year loophole?
So Newcastle sell him for £100m profit. This £100m allows them to buy 4 £100m players with amortisation over 4/5 year contracts at £25m per annum.
Happy to be corrected as i have no ball in the game but i thought this was quite a big incentive to a club who are struggling to invest money they already have.
Happy to be corrected as i have no ball in the game but i thought this was quite a big incentive to a club who are struggling to invest money they already have.
The biggest incentive is getting rid of petulant dickhead who thinks he's bigger than the club. It's clear from his latest comments that Howe has washed his hands of him and he won't want him hanging round like a bad smell. He'll be sold by Monday, it's just a question of how much. For my money I just hope they force him to forego any loyalty bonuses in return for a lower transfer fee. The thought of him walking away with a percentage of the transfer fee as reward for his 'loyalty' turns my stomach.
Seems Xabi Simmons is signed for Spurs..... although no photo holding the shirt and shaking hands with Frank yet so I'm not sure i believe it.
3+ days to go..... Levy loves late deals.... will we see more through the doors yet?
We have an issue with a real lack of home grown players though, which will restrict the size of our CL squad by about 3 spots it seems.
@PrinceJohn yes a bid weird but, everyone plays 2 teams from each pot (seeding), one home and one away. So everyone plays a pot A team at home, a pot A team away, a pot B team at home, a pot B team away, a pot C team at home, a pot C team away, a pot D team at home, a pot D team away.
The motivation to use it (after money) was to in increase the apparent number of top team (pot A) clashes.
It means that your team's pot/seeding/uefa coefficient is much important than it was under the old system. Spurs crept into pot B i think, just, but that really makes no difference, we still play 2 teams from pot A, 2 from pot B, C, and D.
Top 8 in the final league straight to round of 16. 9 to 16 play off for a chance to reach the round of 16. 17 points upwards is likely top 8. So 5 wins, 2 draws and only one loss is the aim.
Yeah not buying it - the beauty of football is it's simplicity - the Champions league has become anything but. The only good thing about this format is that it stopped the ridiculous farce of teams knocked out getting to play in the UEFA cup (or whatever it is called now)
The only good thing about this format is that it stopped the ridiculous farce of teams knocked out getting to play in the UEFA cup (or whatever it is called now)
That's going to come as news to the twin powerhouses of Scottish football, defeated by those monsters of European football, Brugge, and Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan
Wow that Leeds Newcastle game has left me wishing I'd watched Michael McIntyre's Big Show.
I was a bit worried that following our relegation last season, Shrewsbury Town had decided to take inspiration from our overachieving neighbours and go for our own, special, version of Back To Back.
Fortunately, as we thrashed Accrington Stanley 0-0 at home today, we now have 2 points from the first six games and aren't even bottom of the league any more. Thr future's bright!
Wow that Leeds Newcastle game has left me wishing I'd watched Michael McIntyre's Big Show.
😆
Yep neither team was much good up front today but TBH I'm happy with 4 points after 3 games. Clean sheets a bonus after the Arsenal/Wednesday games.
Don't think many people would have had man utd above man city at this stage of the season
Much better from West Ham today. Forest fell apart at the end.
What a free kick from Szoboszlai.
James Milner is 7 years older than his manager
What he is is free money. The second he steps on the pitch I immediately bet on him getting carded. The odds are usually 2/1 or 3/1 but he rarely lets you down. The undisputed master of the ‘taking one for the team’ tactical foul
A good win for Liverpool though, 6 points ahead of City, having not played particularly well yet and beaten Bournemouth, Newcastle and Arsenal, all decent sides.
I, and many other Android users had difficulty in getting into Villa Park yesterday.
I wish it hadn't been resolved 🥴
The Forest fans in the office are strangely quiet this morning, which is nice.
Isak the **** finally gone. Won't be long til Liverpool realise they've blown 125M on a player who's massively injury prone, can't run for more than 45 minutes and regularly disappears when he's not in the mood. Wouldn't be surprised if they're selling him in a couple of years for <50M.
Well they’ve got him for quite a bit less than the £150m Newcastle were demanding. Not that it’s a bargain at all, he’s had a couple of good seasons, and has had injuries. And if he does well what’s to say he won’t down tools in a couple of seasons demanding a move to Madrid. Remains to be seen if Newcastle have spent the funds wisely on the German Peter Crouch and Wissa, a mid table forward really.
Will this latest £125 million transfer finally stop the scousers accusing other teams of ‘buying’ leagues every year they don’t win it?
Actually…. I think we all know the answer to that, don’t we? 😂
and Wissa, a mid table forward really.
He scored the same number of goals as Isak from open play last season and has a much better injury record. I'll take that even if I'm not enamoured with how he behaved to get the move (a bit different to Isak though if you believe the various statements).
Will this latest £125 million transfer finally stop the scousers accusing other teams of ‘buying’ leagues every year they don’t win it?
The perennial victims will always have some excuse to whine about how something's not fair. I'm not even sure they'll win it this year. Last year they won with Klopp's team by default and Slot has ripped that up so now we'll see whether he matches the hype.
Meanwhile Erik Ten Hag has walked away with a 10M payout after being sacked after two games. I really do wonder sometimes why I have any interest in this nonsense.
I never cease to be amazed by how these people continue to get jobs.
If the answer to the interview question ‘why did you leave your last job?’ is ‘I got sacked after 2 weeks because I was rubbish and it cost them 10 million to get shut of me’, you’d think that that’d be that. I’m sure he’ll walk into his next well paid sacking though
Even with Guehi and Isak in Liverpool’s net spend is less than Arsenal’s this summer. Who were overly cautious yesterday, they might be better investing in a braver manager. Like Eddie Howe? (Sorry dazh).
Didn’t know Ten Hag had been sacked. Two games in! Mad.
Will this latest £125 million transfer finally stop the scousers accusing other teams of ‘buying’ leagues every year they don’t win it?
Be interested to see what the total summer spend is if/when they land Guehi as well. North of £400m?
The spending is pretty unprecedented, given they won the league. Perhaps a tougher test for Slot this season, picking a team and system that works. Nice problem to have I guess.
Won't be long til Liverpool realise they've blown 125M on a player who's massively injury prone, can't run for more than 45 minutes and regularly disappears when he's not in the mood.
He completely disappeared for the last 10 games of last season and had to go after the last month's farce. Woltermade does look good from the clips I've seen on YouTube and he'd scored 17 goals last season compared to the 6 goals Isak managed in his last season at Sociedad, finger's crossed he adapts to the Premier League quickly. As for Wissa, he's had 1 good season, is 29 this year, had 1 year left of his contract and has shown the exact attitude we've been slating Isak for, Brentford have done well on that deal if it goes through. After 3 games and having finished with less goals or assists than Jacob Murphy did last season I've not seen anything so far to suggest Elanga at £55m is money well spent either and I say this as a lifelong Newcastle fan, hopefully I'll be proved wrong
It's exciting as TDD goes, but still lacks the classic moments now we don't tend to do the live outside the training ground broadcast
https://share.google/images/mcDhFALuE2WKvhFIH
As for Wissa, he's had 1 good season, is 29 this year, had 1 year left of his contract and has shown the exact attitude we've been slating Isak for, Brentford have done well on that deal if it goes through. After 3 games and having finished with less goals or assists than Jacob Murphy did last season I've not seen anything so far to suggest Elanga at £55m is money well spent either
Difficult to say that it's good business when we've finally settled on our 13th and 14th choices for strikers, but in Eddie we trust. He went for Elanga early and while I agree he hasn't fired yet I don't know if he's played in the right system either. I'm excited about the combination of Woltemade who has the ability to play back to goal and play balls for Elanga, Gordon and others to run onto as well as facing up and running at players too, with these quick men.
And Wissa - may be 29 but a bit like Vardy was a late starter - didn't really make the first team in France until 23/24 and doesn't have 10 years of accumulated fatigue and injury to carry as a result. And we love a French left winger, don't we?
I'm excited and was never truly convinced Isak wasn't a purple season either.
And Wissa - may be 29 but a bit like Vardy was a late starter - didn't really make the first team in France until 23/24 and doesn't have 10 years of accumulated fatigue and injury to carry as a result. And we love a French left winger, don't we?
Wissa has been signed as a central striker. I've heard several German pundits now saying Woltermade is more of a number 10 and that Bayern weren't willing to pay over 30m euros but I also remember a Spanish journalist saying Isak wasn't worth half the fee we paid and couldn't play as a lone striker. After the last game I think they'll both add something we've been missing so far this season and hopefully the 3 at the back thing was a one off, they were f****n awful at Leeds
Really glad Leeds managed to mess up signing a winger, 10 or reliable striker when we've looked toothless so far. Feels like a relegation battle incoming.
Imagine being Guehi right now. Shitshow from Palace pulling out so late. God knows what Glasner is thinking. Does he just expect him him to slot straight back in as if nothing’s happened? If I were Guehi I’d tell him to **** right off.
Can’t quite figure out how PSG have decided Donnarumma is surplus to requirements. Whilst they coasted the Champions League final it was down to 2 or 3 astonishing performances by him in the knockout stages that kept them in it.
"Newcastle United can announce the sale of striker Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a significant British record transfer fee.
The Sweden international joined the Magpies from Real Sociedad in 2022 and made 109 appearances in all competitions."
Ouch!
Always fascinating how clubs really mess up transfer day - it's almost as though they didn't pencil it in their calendars.
Apparently Donnarumma was ditched by Enrique as he's not great with his feet, which makes City and Pep wanting him odd. Its the old age conundrum though - do you want a goalie to be a goalie and stop goals going in the net, or be adept at passing out. Not many seem to be able to both well.
How do Chelsea do it??? Nicholas Jackson to Bayern on loan for £14m fee then an obligation to buy for £56m! £70m banked.
Apparently Donnarumma was ditched by Enrique as he's not great with his feet, which makes City and Pep wanting him odd
PSG tried to get him to extend his deal but he wouldn't sign, apparently he was on nearly 500k a week at PSG, city are paying him just over 200k a week which still makes him one of the best paid (if not the best paid) goalie in the world. I don't think it makes sense for city, for the money I would rather have we had Ederson see out his contract for this year and let Trafford develop.
City had a net spend of around 100 million this window and 70 million last season, and it is clearly the fullback positions that need strengthening and still hasn’t been properly addressed, Walkers loss of form last year was as big a problem as Rodri's injury, they could have brought in a right back even if it wasn't a long term solution, plenty of headroom in PSR after the success of the past few seasons.
I would have hoped with the attacking talent we would be looking to go the high scoring route and accept conceding a few goals, but there was no sign of that at weekend, we took the foot off the pedal after going a goal up.
Still with Liverpool not getting Guehi their back line can be got at as well, and the gooners looking like they still have a mental blockage and who knows what Chelsea will do, it is still too early to write anyone off.
That was a pretty wild window overall. Nobody seems to have tried to copy Liverpool’s tactic last year.
If I were Guehi I’d tell him to **** right off.
I know it’s very unusual, but he just doesn’t seem that mercenary. He seems very old school, the fans all love him and he’s obviously massively respected by his team-mates.
Having said that, in the final year of his contract, he can either see it out and leave on a free - generally resulting in a lot higher wages to compensate for the absence of a transfer fee - of use it as leverage for a nice juicy new contract with a wage hike. Despite seeming older and it feels like he’s been around for years, he’s still only 25
I know it’s very unusual, but he just doesn’t seem that mercenary.
Aye, but if fans and clubs expect players to be professional then it goes both ways. Otherwise we'll see more Isak and Wissa behaviour because players will know that's the only way to get a move. Being respected and loved by the fans is all very well but if it's costing you millions in lost wages we all know what the end result will be.
Mad window for Wrexham with 13 players coming in for a total of £32.7m and sadly the likes of Mullin, Palmer etc moving on but that's what success brings. But after all that spending we have the 12th most expensive squad in the division according to Transfermarkt. The money coming in from commercial revenue is bonkers and also shrewd and the club have just received an order for 9,000 third kit shirts from Argentina. The documentary played on the Patagonian links to Wales and the third kit is a light blue and white hoops similar to the Argentina rugby kit.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c0r7rg4z55yo
"And it can't be overlooked that for all the talk of record spending, the Reds are defending their title this season against the backdrop of immense grief and sadness."
Is there any end to the victim complex? Lets all feel sorry for Liverpool, the poor souls.
And down in EFL2, Newport County are selling their away shirt in big numbers here in Euskal Herria, after a collab with Athletic.
To my son's absolute disgust (Real Sociedad and Barrow AFC fan), I bought one. They have gone down a storm over here, the names of each of the refugees subtly in the stripes make the room dusty for older Basque folk (my MiL grew up during the war). Even got compliments from Wrecsam fans when I wore it up there last month.
That's a nice story bob. Bilbao is probably my favourite city in Europe and some people think they are called Athletico in stead of Athletic and were started by the british shipworkers and miners who move out there as well as Basque students who had studied in Britain.
How it started
no need for a How It’s Going. There’s too much evident soreness as it is.
Yet if Onana does complete the loan move, United could be exposed. Bayindir has made only seven Premier League appearances and has proved error-prone, while the 39-year-old Heaton last played in the league for Aston Villa in January 2020. The 23-year-old Lammens has never played in English football.
popcorn.gif
Apparently Onana (or more likely his agent) went to see Amorim at the start of the season and asked to renegotiate his contract to include a substantial salary increase.
Oh dear
I missed the proper football this weekend - Tuchel is clearly employed by the German FA to stop England being a threat on the pitch
There’s too much evident soreness as it is.
Yawn! We're over it, good riddance to him. Toon fans are very happy with how the transfer window went. 6 new players who will improve the team/squad and minus one lazy petulant child with a massively inflated ego. You'll soon be questioning spending 128M on a dodgy groin and even worse attitude.
If there’s one thing I won’t miss from the summer transfer saga it’s the reposted invective from the Northeast that seemed unavoidable at times. Unfortunately, it’s still unavoidable here.
You could just skip past it, or not comment, then there'd be no need to respond.
In other news, Italy living up to their ultra defensive stereotype again.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/cx27n02v373t
I think we need to find your Keeganesque “I hope you do a Ferguson” rant from a while back jon. It was one of the funniest ever things I read on the fitba thread.
I dont remember that? How long ago? Perhaps from the period last year when I had a bit of a breakdown, I got over involved in some stuff on here and walked away for a bit. If it was abusive or offended, I apologise.
Nuno Espirito Santo is the first, though not unsurprising, managerial casualty,in this season's Premier League. Big Ange Postecoglou is the favourite to takeover at the City Ground, though I can see him coming to blows with Marinakis, as he can be a little feisty.Mourinho also mentioned but can't see that happening. I wonder if Lampard will put an application in for another go at managing in the top tier.
Nuno Espirito Santo is the first, though not unsurprising, managerial casualty,in this season's Premier League. Big Ange Postecoglou is the favourite to takeover at the City Ground, though I can see him coming to blows with Marinakis, as he can be a little feisty.Mourinho also mentioned but can't see that happening. I wonder if Lampard will put an application in for another go at managing in the top tier.
Given Forests previous success under former Derby managers, my money is on Rooney.
And Forest hit the self destruct button... Well chaps it was nice being back in the Prem, but now we must return to missing out on promotion season after season...
Big Ange, christ I've spent too much time smirking at Spurs, at least Michael Spicer can keep his impression going...
After getting Plymouth into an unrecoverable relegation position hopefully his managerial days are over. The only job I'd like to see him in is the ManU one.
I think we need to find your Keeganesque “I hope you do a Ferguson” rant from a while back jon.
Maybe stick to the subject at hand (ie whether Isak will be any good at his new club) rather than baiting fans of other clubs? I know taking the piss out of opposing fans runs deep in football but I think we can probably rise above it here?
The perennial victims will always have some excuse to whine about how something's not fair.
Maybe stick to the subject at hand (ie whether Isak will be any good at his new club) rather than baiting fans of other clubs? I know taking the piss out of opposing fans runs deep in football but I think we can probably rise above it?
Hmmmmnmmmmmmmmm
The only job I'd like to see him in is the ManU one.
Don’t even think it! We’ll probably be looking for a new manager before Christmas
Maybe stick to the subject at hand (ie whether Isak will be any good at his new club) rather than baiting fans of other clubs? I know taking the piss out of opposing fans runs deep in football but I think we can probably rise above it here?
I'm still not really understanding but if I said something that went beyond what's acceptable, I apologise (again)
Looks like it’s big Ange to Forest. This should be entertaining watching them play a high line up by the centre circle for the rest of the season, until he’s sacked when they’re relegated
Pretty decent result and performance that, Serbia are no pushover.
Also quite incredible on someone brought up in an era of dominance by Liverpool and then Man Utd, that there wasn't a single player from either team in the squad (i suppose Rashford technically is still Utd, but is listed as a Barcelona player currently)
The perennial victims will always have some excuse to whine about how something's not fair.
That's very polite compared to what Liverpool fans are called on football forums. 😀
Pretty decent result and performance that, Serbia are no pushover.
Also quite incredible on someone brought up in an era of dominance by Liverpool and then Man Utd, that there wasn't a single player from either team in the squad (i suppose Rashford technically is still Utd, but is listed as a Barcelona player currently)
As a Liverpool fan it pains me the lack of British players in our squad these days, but I guess that's a reflection of the globalisation of the game and the lack of depth at the tue top level, looking at the England team played yesterday there's not many I'd drop straight into the squad, and those who I would are generally unobtainable (I'd have loved to see Guehi in red).
Having said that, it is refreshing to see that a side that looks rather uninspiring and goal shy on paper, is actually put together with players in form playing in their usual positions and England should perform better for that. I hope that once the egos are back they don't automatically walk into the team an upset the balance.
I’m truly shocked to discover that there were ‘financial irregularities’ at Chelski under the ownership of mate of Putin, Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovic. Aren’t Russian Oligarchs renowned for their totally above board and honest financial dealings?
Shocked, I tell you! Who’d have thunk it?
The England team got the result because……they played for the team rather than individuals within an eleven. For me, the one marker that it’s coming together is third man running and we saw some of that. Tuchel will win or fail if he can get the missing big names (I’m looking especially at you Bellingham) to follow the same path.