The Fish

And hopefully we won't be decimated by injury. Howe will have more experience, won't be as naïve. Overwhelming emotion is pride. Local lads scoring in the Champions League, smashing PSG around like the cowards they are, were it not for injuries I think we would have beaten Milan to progress to the knockout stages. Were it not for inexperience I think we would have beaten them away and Dortmund at SJP. Add a bit more depth, a bit more quality and we'll be a threat.

They'll find money, surely? Especially if it would knock £££ off their value?

If Wilson is starting, you could play Isak on the left. Or bring him off the bench later on if needs be. Bruno, Longstaff and Joelinton in the middle, Miley on the bench. Maybe Hall at LB and Tino at RB. God I can't wait for the rest of them to come back.

I'll give you a concrete enema

Ok, but imagine a company with a global turnover of around €45.6bn, and a UK turnover of around £7bn, with multiple offices all over the world, who won't pay even pay for first class train tickets let alone hotels or flights. The events are usually held in London (where none of the team work). It's all shit Renton. All of it.

Had our Christmas do yesterday. Started at 2pm, bar was shit, food was shit, people started leaving around 4pm and there's only about 10 people in the team anyway, my train back wasn't until 6pm so me and the boss were the last there. He went to his hotel and I ended up sitting in the pub on my own at Euston station for about an hour. They wouldn't do it on a Friday because some arseholes think "the trains are too busy". These aren't people with kids or owt, just miseries who want to get back to their fucking cats or something. Utterly fucking pointless. Cunts.

I'm waiting until we've a full strength team and we're at home to Sheffield.

To be fair they are unbeaten against AC Milan, and Dortmund, and PSG. Barcelona, Feyenoord, and pretty much all other European clubs.

Check out Captain Hemipene, here.

Crystal Palace and Forest are surely more attractive prospects than Sunderland?

It's got to be difficult to find someone who has expertise, charisma and brevity. Made harder by reducing the talent pool to (generally) those who've played the sport at an elite level. Made harder still by excluding 51% of the population. Also think the nature of the sport and the format of the shows (Match of the Day, advert-interrupted live coverage) doesn't lend itself to anything more in-depth or interesting than the tedious clichés like , "He's got to do better there", "he's a top top top top player" or my personal bugbear "he's got it there and hit it and it's a goal". From a pundit/commentator, I want at least one of two things; explain to me something I don't know, or make what I'm watching more engaging/funny with their personality. McCoist does the latter brilliantly. Said it before but the best coverage of football comes from podcasts*, or youtube channels. Where they can take days to research and prepare, hours to record and deliver a 30 minute piece of content that ticks all the boxes. *no, not mine.

We've also got a host of new commercial partners, more money from the new domestic broadcast deal, if we get through in the UCL and FA/LC we can rely on more revenue from them too. Bruno, Burn and Wilson all signed contract extensions after the summer window closed I think there is money available and I think the circumstances this season will encourage the owners to spend now rather than the summer. Obviously this has the caveat that, if the right player isn't available, they'll not just throw money around in the hope that'll fix everything.

Fuck knows. Dunno what the budget is, who's available etc. There's rumours of Florian Wirtz, which would be odd given our strength on the left. He's undeniably talented, but I don't really get the rumour.

I don't think goal keeper is a priority to be honest. Dubravka will be rusty and, in his defence, the defence has been indefensible. Once we have Botman back, and a rejuvenated Trippier, plus a rested and recuperated midfield, we'll return to being one of the PL teams who allows the fewest number of shots on goal. DM is an interesting one. I like the idea of a Rodri-esque player, but I don't know if there's one available for a price we'd be comfortable spending in this window. I also don't know if pushing Bruno further up the pitch would be the best use of him considering the rest of our midfield. Joelinton, Longstaff, Miley, Tonali, and Willock are all variations on a theme. They're all types of a number 8. Willock and Joelinton drive with the ball, Longstaff and Tonali play deeper but neither are a true number 6. Play Bruno further forward with a true defensive mid behind and we wouldn't benefit from Bruno's late arrival in our attacks. He plays best about 30-40yds out, linking the midfield with the fullbacks and forwards. If he's already up there I think it's easier to defend against. Personally think a young striker, and a player who can play wide right is the priority. Also a centre back.

Got links?

I too would be afraid of anyone who has sex with one of the planets last surviving megafauna. Dat ass tho, amirite?

Gav's gone fully off the deep end hasn't he? Shame like, I thought he was a really good pundit before he began bothering God and shoving his wife into the kitchen.

I steer clear of thread starting. I want my record unblemished.

It's so fucking transparent. No managerial jobs because he's shit at that, no punditry jobs because he's shit at that too (and I'd wager a proper arsehole to work with). He's seen other washed up ex-pros carve out a niche with a dog whistle so he's figured he'll just give it a go too. It's desperate, pathetic and doomed to fail.

He's got some cheek mind, spends most of his podcast slating other players.

And don't get me started on my sisters.

I own the home too.

You've brought this on yourself.