Villaphan04

in the MLS, player contracts are iirc with the league, not with the team. That's why clubs can trade players (like in other American sports leagues). The draft is interesting because of all the rules with registration & rules -- Inter Miami got in trouble for breaching the salary cap recently and lost money and draft picks theoretically they chose not to protect his rights in the expansion draft so they *did* have a choice but the thing is that they (St Louis) selected his rights to begin extension talks. He still is under contract with us until June iirc so I don't know how that will work

think I might start with a lower league Brazil save this year

wonder if Unai had any influence on this

I think you make some great points & I agree with a lot of your ideas. I do, though, think that Luiz will be partnered with Kamara or Dendoncker and then Buendia will play a more advanced midfield position. I'm also interested to see what we do in midfield with Tim and Aaron returning from (what looks like good atm) loans in the Championship. Then add in Sanson, McGinn, Nakamba, Chambers (not sure he would but can play in the midfield). That's 9 players for 2 or 3 spots. I don't think Nakamba has a future here, and McGinn just isn't PL standard. That still gives a lot of depth (maybe not high quality) but I think we need to get a couple more out/loaned. Lo Celso just makes so much sense, considering his history with Unai.

also remember that Emery has worked with him before

he's good enough for what we want him to be (a backup LB). I'd be surprised if we got a "good / top class" LB because we already have Digne and we don't have the resources to have 2 better than backup Lbs (due to FFP)

Much rather him be getting the minutes instead of McGinn

disappointed in Olsen's performance. don't need to see McGinn in the starting XI ever again.

Don't think Dyche would've been a decent fit for what they are "supposedly" aiming to play like

there's no reason he should be getting minutes over Sanson.

the reality is they've really needed a complete rebuild for a while now & Roman kept on changing managers & they would have a good one or two seasons before flattening out.

it is crazy that the two major presidential candidates in the last cycle were old men in their late seventies, I agree. And throw in Bernie as Biden's biggest competitor. 3 men in their 70s. Terrible There is a long explanation behind that whole story.

This was quite the week for me to be teaching US history lessons on the Constitution & the structure of the US Gov. Very interesting real-life applications for my kids. Still bemused by the fact that 89-year young Chuck Grassley ran for re-election and won another 6-year term. an 89-year-old winning another 6 years? what are the odds he even survives it?

My first instinct is that it should've been the same as the Spurs one. -- But being able to overturn the call on the pitch? Has to be a clear & obvious error (i think that is still the language used) and has to be in communication with the ref on the pitch, who I would think said that he didn't see it as a foul and it was contact from both players (this is my speculation). That's why I think it was not overturned. He also can't just tell the ref to overturn it, he has to send the ref to the monitor as it's not a clear yes/no decision like offside). -- all this to say that I think it's the wrong call and should've been a red & PK.

I mean if we just compare Emery's CV with current PL managers, he's at least top 4 arguably 3rd imo.

full version just came out maybe an hour ago. Emery & staff is at Villa in the most recent update

the problem is that he wasn't reffing both games. He was in communication with the ref (Madley) in the Tottenham game & Madley probably was saying what he saw & England can't "overturn" what Madley saw

not sure about this. He flopped at stoke & really has that one club vibe around him

slide that through Leon and that's probably 3

Also, it's clear that we will be signing a winger in Jan. That extra injection of pace will make us that much better

followed through with the exact same.

This year is just so interesting because there aren't any "terrible" teams that are cut adrift, which makes it feel like the league is so much tighter. The quality in the league is just so much higher.

Ivan Toney being investigated for gambling...