Alex

Quiff, is that you?

Thanks for clearing that up

Man Utd look so open defensively whenever I watch them.

re: the rest I think a lot of people assume the Saudis have been interested in football for 5 minutes. But iirc Al-Hilal are the most decorated club in Asia and were the most successful club of the 20th century from that continent. So kind of the equivalent of Real Madrid or Penarol in the last century. Not saying the competition is the same but an illustrious history nonetheless and no shortage of investment going forward

I meant loans in relation to this window. I think we’ll already be working hard on securing them. But we’re not going to get Phillips in if there’s a compulsory buying clause, as has been suggested. Ewerk also makes a good point (might’ve been in the transfers thread) re: the Saudi league. The PIF have spent more on that and it may be the priority. At least until it’s more established. And with their hosting the World Cup in 10 years time too, they’re no doubt wanting to raise the profile of the domestic game

We’re not going to manufacture sponsorship deals that’ll likely be blocked. We’re not going to sign stop gaps this January that’ll hamper our summer spending power either. Unless there’s a player we’re really after who becoming available it’ll be players with potential and/or loans. Not having a pop at you and I absolutely get the frustration on your part. But FFP and our being hyper scrutinised forces the club to play the long game. There’s a decent chance that’ll be better long term too. Which is not to say I don’t also find it extremely fucking annoying. As it would be totally different if they’d bought one of the media darlings

Already deaded?

Dwight Yorke definitely went there for ‘footballing’ reasons too

Annie Nightingale

Jet. Alan Partridge’s favourite

Quite the post this, btw: simultaneously showing a complete lack of understanding about what is going on whilst inadvertently revealing the only thing they’re actually bothered about Thick as fucking mince

A trequartista?

I think he means being fair to them

Whereas inventing the notion that we are isn’t strange at all

Fuckity fuck

The best thing to do with people like her and Barton is to ignore them. I know it’s not feasible to expect everyone to do that in the world we live in but we can all play our part. Engagement and therefore earnings via controversy is what they’re all about.

That and revealing how bereft of knowledge they are

I don’t think it’s played anymore ( I think a combination of covid and the schedule has finished it off). But the opening first class game of the cricket season in England was traditionally an MCC side v the previous year’s county championship winners. Played at Lord’s. In 2010, and for about 7 or 8 years in succession it was moved to Abu Dhabi. LWhilst weather was cited as a factor (why didn’t they play it in the West Indies, for example, like they did in 2018?), this was clearly about money. There wasn’t a peep about this in relation to ‘sportswashing’. Edit: by that I mean from any quarters, not just the up keepers of the eternal flame of morality from down the road

Ah, another example of inherently moral behaviour

Trent was part of their youth set-up wasn’t he? Anyway, re the spurs thing and cash injection, didn’t we already do that with the issuing of a single share? I can’t quite remember the details but you’re able to do that, up to certain limit within a certain timescale. I think that’s 3 years, which I also think ties in with FFP, which is a rolling 3 year thing iirc. I don’t think we’ve reached our limit, so could feasibly do it again. And that’s without impacting FFP. No doubt someone will put me right if I’m talking shite (wouldn’t be the first time), but that’s my vague understanding

Tbf that’s pretty decent progress in a short amount of time. Especially when you think of how far we’d fallen behind under Ashley. Also, this current year would be a significant improvement on that, wouldn’t it?

Possibly the biggest confidence player I’ve ever seen too. Less than ideal for a central defender. He could absolutely ping a long pass though

Aye, and it wasn’t fucking fashionable then either it does make me feel old, however