toonotl

An explanation from him would be nice. But we won't get it. There's a real cost associated with publicly disclosing our financial situation for all of our opponents. It's a shit situation really. Say nothing and get criticised. Hold a press conference and say nothing of substance to protect our interests. And get criticised. It's just one more aspect of following football that has arisen because of PSR. As fans we want exciting players to come to us. We shouldn't have to give this much of a shit about the club's financial position. This isn't to say that I'm arguing that these topics should be left alone or that Mitchel et al should be trusted because they are the experts. I struggle to see how specific expertise for our situation could exist. We are a unique case. Nobody in world football has experience with a club in our position. We are ManC after the rules brought in to stop another ManC. We're the test case for the rules designed to stop us. If Mitchel and co succeed they are succeeding against the intentions of the rules as they currently exist. Are they that smart? Maybe. But it's not a matter of blind faith for me. I dunno. It's a tricky one. More transparency would be great. But what they can safely tell us is probably the square root of fuck all.

As much as it's nice to move out players on the fringes of the squad, it is still a mighty underwhelming series of transfer windows we've had these last three windows. And I'm not convinced it becomes a question of simply turning on the money faucet come the summer. It's safe to say that PSR is properly doing a number on us at this point. One of the most passionately supported clubs in the country curtailed by the arbitrariness of historical timing. If we had basically any other owner than Ashley prior to the PSR era we'd be streets ahead now because we'd have had a much stronger base to build from with a PIF takeover. As it is we built to PSR capacity in a few windows and now suffer the penalty of a seemingly impenetrably low ceiling which is the product of 15 years of stagnation under that fat cunt. We'll get through it, of course, in time, but imagine if we were on the fringes of European spots rather than a fuckin' yo-yo club prior to the takeover. For one thing, we would have had players to sell to lower PL teams rather players that nobody wanted and others who could only perform above expectations in fits and starts. And the drop off between trying to sell to PL teams (or equivalent) and trying to sell into the championship is night and day because of the relative gulf in buying capacity between the levels. If we weren't a habitual basket case prior to the takeover the difference now would be enormous. As it is we have clearly stagnated and simply hanging onto what we have is viewed as a victory. Of course what money we have available to spend is the chief concern come the summer but it's also a worry if our buying capacity has weakened in terms of how we are perceived by the agents/players we're looking to buy. The possibility of Isak, Bruno, et. al. leaving owing to our stagnation is obvious but what about potential signings also not considering us for the same reason. You'd have to wonder if we had the money to sign an Isak/Bruno now and given our stalling project, would they come? Would they believe that we're a team capable of working towards challenging for silverware across the short term of the best years of a player's career? It's a question for sure. So when it comes to the summer transfer window, money to spend or not, I'll be very interested to see how capable we are of getting deals done for elite players if we can't show the type of trajectory such a player would desire. Not to be a complete misery guts but I think where we finish this season could be the most important moment for the takeover since we avoided relegation in the first season. I tend to agree with Gloomy, if we miss CL, we'll be force to sell in the summer. Then its about the message that sends to the players we manage to keep and the elite players of the world we're looking to sign that despite everything we're still a selling club/stepping-stone to the elite clubs of the world. I really wish that the PIF would just push the boat out on sponsorships and what not. Hopefully the new training ground and stadium are accompanied by some truly eye-watering naming rights sponsorships that challenge the "Big Club" lapdogs at the PL's administrative arm to go fuck itself.

I agree. And it's a massive benefit of Murphy's outstanding recent form. The recruitment net can be broadened to consider a youngster to develop and compete for Murphy's spot rather than an established replacement. Murphy has been nothing short of outstanding and one of our best players amongst some stellar performers in recent weeks. Perhaps it's wishful thinking but I think Murph's form is more sustainable than the likes of Miggy in his purple patch because his game is built on simpler principles. Most of the time he is looking to receive the ball and play it quickly to Isak. They have a wonderful understanding between them too which helps both of them. He seems like a very intelligent and very humble player. It seems evident in the sense of a humility to appreciate what works and to do it without any superfluous fluff.

It's nice that he got the chance to go out with a win and the away support singing his name after the game. Good luck to him. He'll be a top player in the US league.

Tonali's pace at 6 is such a massive asset. It seems like one of those things that you don't pick someone at 6 for specifically but if they have it it sends them into the stratosphere. He's brilliant. Fast becoming my favourite player. Looks like a roman God too.

I turn 40 today. Having breakfast with the family in Vanuatu. Not as old as most of you lot. Life's good.

Not our best performance altogether with the odd defensive lapse. But they worked hard and our quality showed when it mattered. Credit to @Dazzler. Man of the Toontastic Board. What a run of results!

Great save! Good to see Miley working his way up the midfield pecking order too.

Great refereeing. Named after England. But don't let that distract you. Not a bottler.

Two very easy goals. But equally very well taken. Great work to put them away.

Missed the first few minutes. Strong half from us against a side who are setting up for a 0-0. Let's hope we add another to really force them to come out.

If Debruv leaves that'll give him a place to stand. And if Pope gets injured again, Eureka!

The pundits livid on behalf of Liverpool FC. Beautiful.

Beat me to it @Toonpack by about a second. It is a great video.

Arteta is another one who Eddie has figured out. Like Emery and Ten H-Egg before him. Tindall dedicates himself to winding up the opposition managers so Eddie can calmly outfox them without breaking a sweat. It's dastardly. And I love it. The fact we scored from a free kick lumped forward was the most amusing part. We're a team that plays football. We're not the media-darling's version of a Fat Sam team, i.e., 'set piece masters' v boring football, 'game management' v time wasting gamesmanship. Then we score against them from a long hoof. Score again for the lols. Switch our formation to a literal 5-5-0 and just run a training drill for the last 30 minutes to save the legs. Tindall should turn up to the home leg with ten wrist watches on each arm.

Do you have siblings? Do you remember having a toy they wanted? It's basically that. I'll proudly say, I am not above childishness.

Get in. Brilliant.

Arteta the timekeeper. Count this cunt: 2-0.

Miracle.

Ref is a cunt.

Time for a defensive training drill. Eddie taking the piss. Really trying to goad helmet head in a post-match meltdown.

Shop window appearance for Miggy. Arsenal no threat so time to turn attention to other matters for Eddie. Efficient.

No card for foul on Gordon? Looked to be blocked off. Ref is so blind.

Howe going defensive so he can draw Arteta into complaining that "only one team came to play". Thus creating motivation for the return leg to show the free kick cunts some football. Genius.

Yeah. Surprised it was him tbh.