pas5898

Thanks Tayls. A34 it is!

I missed the United game due to Covid. I'm Going Sunday. Almost guarantee we lose.

Not really mentioned by the media as they were too busy gawping over Messi. Very typical Pep Guardiola performance against the elite. Played with no striker to press, dominated the ball, but against a better defensive outfit with danger on the break they came undone. Happens every season since Barca in the CL It only worked at elite champions league level at Barca because he had the greatest false 9 of all time in Messi to score 40 goals a season wherever he played, since then he's struggled. Great manager but he just can't help himself but meddle in big knockout games.

He wants to win something before he retires. He has 1 big move left on a 4-5 year contract. Go to Man City he will win the league. Stay at Spurs he will win nothing.

Be absolutely remarkable if they could stay up despite the points deductions.

Agreed - But I see recent spend as us catching up, and now the in-balance is now being addressed and moving towards a sustainable model (which Purslow has always stated). Net 0 spend this summer. Ramsey has saved us 30million on a midfielder, Bidace will probably save us 20-30 million in a winger. El ghazi, Trez, Wesley, Gilbert and Davis will probably move on, allowing us to buy another 2 quality players for a net spend of 40-50 million. The master plan is moving into place. We also have big sellable assets which may force a move in the next few years for >£60million which allow quality reinforcements for a lower net spend.

Ramsey has saved us 30million and allowed us to move Connor on. JPB should save us a Cantwell type signing + probably allow El Ghazi to move on. Really exciting times. Obviously when you look at other good youngsters at Chelsea and co, I do have a nagging worry that he needs to play top level football NOW to fulfil his potential, otherwise he may become another wasted talent. I trust Dean Smith and the team, but he is clearly too good for u23 football now.

The Champions League with its new co-efficient rules on payments and qualification is effectively a closed shop now (and the revenue that goes with it). That's a massive potential money earner for us which will be very difficult to keep qualifying for. Listening to a bit on the Newcastle / Saudi / FA court case yesterday, effectively confirms other PL clubs lobbied the premier league against the ideas of the Saudis (and a new superclub). Meaning, those big 4/6 will do whatever it takes to stay there, not by bettering themselves but by lowering others. Unless big Wes and Nassef want to go nuclear with their spending (probably talking 1.5 - 2bn over 10 years with some clever accounting), the best we can hope for is the odd CL qualification and domestic cup run. Personally I'm happy if we get there and keep our authenticity, promote youth etc. I'd hate to become another Man City. With regards to commercial revenue, our target should be best of the rest and unless something serious changes at the top of the Premier League and UEFA that's where we will stay.

Appears Dean Smiths job (and his demeanour) is changing as we grow, and bring on different coaches. He is now more of a man manager to the players, a manager of coaches on the training pitch and clearly getting better with the media. I can imagine he spends more time on meetings with performance scientists and his coaching staff than on the actual training pitch now. Whereas probably a couple of years ago he would have took every training session and micromanaged accordingly. Only natural as we evolve and competent coaches are hired in their respective disciplines.

Parked at IKEA last time. Around a 20 minute walk to the ground. Ikea meatballs for lunch and managed to buy my son a potty. What more can you want? IKEA Tottenham (Edmonton) https://maps.app.goo.gl/mN3VJFNKtdHRXrP26

Could have signed Messi at that time and would have made no difference. The rot was in from top to bottom

Don't forget, they had a better transfer window than Villa . The prodigal prisoner is better than Ings and Watkins together. Mate

Starting at PSG away in the Champions League against Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. This is the stage he wants, this is the stage we can't deliver (yet). Good luck to him.

Think Wolves were also quite low on running stats last season. Its the sit in deep, shuffle across defensive style Nuno looks to employ then hit on the break. They came out a bit against Arsenal and were ripped to shreds, so expect them to properly sit in against us. Their squad need to show something on Sunday, be interesting to see how they get on against our energiser bunnies up front and in midfield. Without an early goal the atmosphere could really turn ugly.

Dubai company offering Barca 1.2 billion and this sudden drop of charges seem linked to the superleague or the Champions league (which is becoming almost the same thing). Barca are like a 5 year old in a toy shop with money, and have no permanent presidential structure. No one in their right mind would offer them money on favourable terms, unless they know something we don't. Champions league managed to sneak in parachute payments and normal payments based on Co efficient and no one noticed, so I highly expect something further is on the horizon for the 2024 champions league onwards.

Even if the loan is with a smaller interest there will be other strings attached. Its 1.2 billion, not a few million so will involve multiple investors who will want their money back and some more lobbied against the risk. Especially when you consider the risk of giving money to a club that acts like a 5 year old in a toy shop, with no permanent presidential structure. Laporte might be sensible (comparatively) but the next president just needs to promise the gullible fans Haaland, Debruyne and Mbappe and he's hired. Laporte is powerless and on the dole. I wouldn't be surprised if this somehow is linked to a Superleague 2.0 or Uefas decision to randomly stop prosecuting.

Gabby just goes on to wind up Arsenal, and Leeds fans. They call in, engage with social media content and station makes money. His rating go up, he's on more. Leeds are a big fan base to wind up. About villa he's generally completely clueless. Danny Mills does the same with us. Just a way to keep themselves on the radio.

Agreed. "PPV's" are glorified versions of Raw now. Nothing major needs to happen as it's not a one off purchase anymore. Peacock is another TV / sports streaming services in the US. Incidentally with a UK>USA VPN in the last lockdown (when they didn't show every game on UKTV) every premier league game was available for around £11 per month.

If the aim is Europe and Champions League, then there's no room for sentiment. If a reasonable offer comes in for a player who is unlikely to be CL ready / potential then I expect us to accept it.. Targett (need a replacement lined up), Nakamba, (need replacement) El Ghazi, Trez, Wesley, Davis are the obvious ones. Youngsters get a bit of slack, but they need to be proving themselves by 21,22 or the same applies.

Genuinely I think for various reasons, who finishes where from "the chasing pack" will come down to a bit luck, form and injuries, Not much to choose between Us, Leicester, Everton, Spurs, Arsenal, West Ham. Top 4 are in the distance. Leicester been brought down by Europe, missing Fofana and Evans continually struggling with Injury. Arsenal will Arsenal. Spurs have players who don't want to be there and I don't think Nuno's style will appease the masses. Everton and West Ham similar to us, West Ham probably a slightly better first team, but have Europe and a weaker squad. Brighton could sneak into the top half. If we keep the likes of Martinez, Mings, Konsa, Mcginn fit then we have every chance of "being there or there abouts" in 5th - 7th. 2/3 key injuries (like all teams) and we will be mid table again.

Someone Saturday was saying the Bailey goal vs Everton (Throw in - Ings ball) was down to Macphee as well. They have an NFL style "play book" from certain situations tailored against the opposition, which I guess includes throw ins from the half way line as well!

My only concern with Dougie is burnout. He's improved so much, but basically had no rest since lockdown 1. He definitely looks like he's maturing physically as well as mentally. (Easy to forget he's a young man). From his social media, looks like he's left some sort of plush City centre apartment and now living in a proper house, garden, driveway etc so he's clearly settling down here. Definitely needs to be tied down now to a longer term contract as the big boys will start sniffing around next summer if its not signed.

Such a remarkable talismanic player, we correctly built the team around him. We had to, he was so good. Now he's gone, our team in particular look so much more well rounded. Mcginn and Ramsey unleashed and causing absolute havoc. Ings dropping deep working hard, Watkins being Watkins and harassing CBs. And just to top things off we have Bailey, Buendia, Traore and El Ghazi so we can revert to a 4.3.3 or a very attacking 3-5-1 As @Olof82Mellberg4 said, this has worked out well for all parties. We are a much better outfit this season. Brand JG10 gets a few extra followers, he will win things at a soulless city and obviously will now start every game for England.

Definitely got a whiff of Sheffield United about them. Been worked out a little bit tactically, they look a few percent off since last season, and as long as you match them physically then most PL teams have better players.