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Klopp complained about the hectic schedule no doubt.

Yup, me too. I think Ings will be really useful for us so no complaints there but IF it was him or another top midfielder I rather have the midfielder. 2 weeks left of the window thou so we'll see.

From the press release: "Using a white-blue colour scheme, a stylised mountain world is incorporated into the innovative design, symbolising the home ties and roots of Germany’s record champions as well as their demand to always aim for the highest peaks. FC Bayern draws its strength at the foot of the mountains before heading steeply upwards. Bavaria is an attitude to life, a lifestyle, and that is transported to football grounds all over Europe with the new kit, sporting a cool look when the floodlights come on and Champions League matches kick off." Ain't just adorable what they come up with.

Looks like a kids pyjama

Haven't we already signed Chukwuemeka 2.0 since then?

Also, things can change. Since those vague happy with the squad statements we've lost to Watford and got Traoré injured and out for 3-4 weeks. Not that those things would cause us to panic but I also don't think the club stops from working on improving or is against making transfers if the right deal comes up.

To put in context our transfer spending since NSWE took over is roughly about - £210m since 2018. Or £345m out and £135m in going by Transfermarkt's guesstimations. It's not like the club is making any money either, and even less due to Covid.

Wrong Turn 2 is among the worst films I've ever watched. Or I should say I turned it off after that inbreed, incest sex scene. Wrong Turn 1 is pretty good, also Eliza Dushku. Not seen any of the sequels or the 2021 reboot.

The midfield 3 Italy used against England in the Euro final was Jorginho 5ft 11, Verratti 5ft 5 & Barella 5ft 8. Not exactly behemoths either of them, just very good players who worked well together in a system. As mentioned if the formation thread I think the guys we have will work much better in a 4-3-3 than in a 4-2-3-1. We don't have players to carry a #10 and while this leaves a very good attacking player on the bench, so be it. Every top half team had a couple very good players on the bench. Still would not mind another CM signing thou.

Corriere dello Sport claiming that Mendes is offering CR7 to Man C for £30m or so. Can't see them going for that but who knows.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/russia-says-afghan-president-fled-with-cars-helicopter-full-cash-ria-2021-08-16/ Perhaps take with a pinch of salt but wouldn't surprise me either.

Is it the Rwandan autocrat again?

I hope we bring in someone experienced with a specialized skill or area rather than a player who is learning the ropes.

Personally find them uninteresting but for those who don't Foo Fighters are coming to Villa Park next summer

Same here, even thou Buendia (or maybe even Ings) is a improvement on Barkley I don't feel we have the midfield to carry a #10. Using numbers for simplification the "6,8,10" formation is too open and also doesn't get the best out of any of our midfielder imo. With the current players available I still think Luiz in the deep role with Sansaon and McGinn ahead of him in a midfield 3 is the way to go. All 3 share the defensive job but Luiz is the one who starts the build up play and McGinn and Sanson are free to maraud forward once we get the ball. Not perfect and leaves either Watkins or one of our big money signings this summer on the bench but still the way to go imo. A new type of midfield signing changes things but atm this is how I'd go.

Over the last 2.5 seasons we've supposedly tried to sign Rice, Phillips, JWP along with a bunch of other names including the ones we've been linked with this summer which suggest that Smith and the people who handles transfers at the club, including the sport scientist are not oblivious to our issues in midfield. They probably don't think that just anyone and everyone is better than the ones we current have thou like some seen to believe. I know it doesn't have to be explained but neither West Ham, Leeds or Southampton had any interest in selling these players to us, hence the transfers never happened. Instead we have signed players where there was a possibility to make deals as we had/have other holes to fill than just CM. If there is a deal to be made to bring in a quality CM I'm certain we will, but it's not as easy as it is on FIFA or FM. The player some are describing we should go for is a £45m-£70m player if he is to tick all the boxes, and most of those guy will not want to move to Villa anyway. They want CL football or obscene money. And we are not the only ones looking for this type of player. Leicester snapped up Soumaré who I've been bigging up for the last 2 years, Chelsea are apparently looking at Tchouaméni, another one I've been banging on about. Zakaria has CL clubs after him and so does Kamara from Marseille, as does both the young guys Sarr and Doucoure. Now I'd be delighted if the club decides to splurge out on one of these guys, even if we have to pay over the odds, but in reality we do have to manage the finances. Gets a bit old when part of our fan base goes all Veruka Salt just because our owners have given us a golden ticket.

Those who don't like the UAE and their views on human rights and stuff like that probably.

And a new ally in China. And the opium trade, nothing has flourished like the opium trade.

Watched them live against IFK Göteborg in CL in the mid 90's, they had a very good team back then too but think they only won the league 1 or 2 times during the 90. They won the cups a bunch of times thou. Rai was a fantastic player.

Lionel who? Barca have Braithwate.

This aged well.

47.4 °C in Cordoba, Spain today. I know Andalusia is hot this time a year but that's crazy.