OTF

Practically the Mediterranean climate in London

Up front the biggest mistake was making moves and spending time on players, agents and clubs who used us to improve their own deals. We went fishing in the big boys pond but they just used us a lure and we weren't properly in the running to make a catch. It has been a shit show along the way but as far as our signings go, they're all improvements with the exception of one who I'm super excited about. Woltemade brings that attacking wildcard element to our team, something that we have lacked for a long time and something that has become increasingly important as we evolve the way we play and have to break down more resolute defenses. We've got more than a week to integrate the new signings into our team and then a home game with the shadow of summer finally lifted.

Well said mate.

I know it sucks but no need to revert to name calling. Selling them our former best scorer fucking sucks, but there's not an outcome in the world that sees Isak stay and continue to be one of our best players. If he was forced to honour his contract the following happens: 1. At best we get the half arsed Isak from the end of the season. 2. His value goes down. 3. The manager and squad morale goes down as the media will continue to make everything about the rat cunt Also, he's a fucking cunt, can't believe you'd still want him in or around the team. Noone else in the world was in a position to sign him for this price. Despite him being a stroppy injury prone cunt we effectively got near enough to the £150 million that we were touting as the 'every player has a price mark'. Less than a year ago when they were tapping him up to be going to Arsenal the high figures were £110-120m and we've exceeded that easily. You can't flick a switch and say now we're at their level they can't touch our players. The rat wanted to go. Welcome to reality. We've done well financially out of it, we know that out owners will invest that money into the team.

Don't watch any of Elanga's crosses from the weekend.

You may have read it, you may not, but you certainly didn't comprehend it. Any outcome other than selling him would have done more damage to us than to them. We've already changed our position in the pecking order dramatically over the last 4 years.

Especially because the season fucking started three weeks ago.

Who exactly are you blaming for this? Players want to go to places where you're paid more and you win more, no fucking shit. Liverpool and plenty of other clubs use thier size history and buying power to their advantage, why wouldn't they. When they do it illegally and so blatantly it's fucking annoying but you have to fight back in a way that isn't also self destructive. Because any other outcome here would have been just that. The only way you can fight this is to pay more (this has been cut off for us) or you start to win more in order to increase your profile, your prize money, your sponsorship etc. That's what we're doing, and doing very well, but we still have a way to go to be close to their spending level. As much as it sucks that's what it boils down to. The gradual process that it has to be will make it all that much better when we reach that level. Beating them in the Cup was brilliant for the club but also extra special because it gave us a taste of what it was like to briefly unsettle the monopoly. They didn't like it and they've come hard at us to try to stop it happening again, buying our most prolific player and using their influence in the market to lure our targets away from us. This can upset us like they intend it to, or it can unite us further in the push to change the established order.

They're one and the same. Liverpool know Sala is pretty much on the decline. After an incredible opening to the season last year he tapered off as the season went on (2 goals in his last 9 of the season), but they had to extend his contract after that season. They're hoping that Isak will replace him as the prime goal scorer in the team. I can see Sala going somewhere for an even bigger salary after this season or else he'll be nothing more than a part player substitute.

I agree on this. Having seen his behaviour in the off-season I'm now fully convinced that he was not fully committed to the cause in the tail end of last season. He actually would have preferred if we didn't qualify for the champion's league as it would have made his exit a lot easier. I said this weeks ago and was partially joking, but his actions have confirmed it. He would never have been properly trying for us again, and even the consumate professional Howe would not have been able to course correct his flawed character. Thankfully even with him only going through the motions and Wilson finished we managed to scrape the champion's league qualification. If we sign a striker to go with Woltemade then combined with the other good signings we've made I'm still confident that we can make this a very positive season and build on it further.

Doubt it will happen but Jackson would have an extra degree of motivation to succeed in this league. We could build a squad as empowered by anger and bitterness as this board, what could go wrong?

The truly annoying thing is that it's pretty clear that Man City are not going to get their act in gear this season, and Arsenal are still the same Arteta Arsenal. Could it be possible for Chelsea to somehow finally turn their insane spending into a cohesive squad? I've never hoped so until now. It will not be easy to see the RAT lifting the Premier League Trophy which even at this early stage of the season is looking likely. We know they have the full support of the league and of the referees.

The useless Barnes has gone missing again © Wykiki

Agreed. The way in which this has played out has been hugely detrimental to the start of our season. In a competition where every point is hugely important we can't afford to give away points like we have. With a proper integrated premier league striker and none of the distractions of this saga at play we could well be sitting here with up to nine realistic points. Instead we have two and we're currently sat with our pants around our ankles. The frustration for Howe must be nearing boiling point.

It would be lovely if we pursued Liverpool for the very obvious way in which they tapped up our contracted player without our permission. As others have said this could make sense of we reveal a striker who we have signed. If not then I agree that it makes us appear weak. Setting aside pride and vindictiveness he needed to be removed from our club for us to be able to move on with this season. The media and the constant rumours and speculation about him would have been a massive distraction. Howe has been begrudingly dealing with this shit over and over in press conferences if anyone brings it up in our next one they should be immediately thrown out.

https://x.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1962402153412038764?t=ZlKxZXuDuwUvhZ1fWSsDtw&s=19 The RAT apparently didn't officially put in a transfer request but the loyalty bonus won't be paid. This make sense as far as the lower price being suggested. To have paid him a loyalty bonus would have been outrageous. I don't hope he gets injured, I'd prefer if he's fully fit but can't crack a starting spot over Ekitike.

If the fee of £125m with no add-ons or sell on is true then it stinks to high heaven. To him leaving I don't care, if we were stubborn and held him it would only hurt our own progression. The worst bit is that Liverpool have already played us at St James so he won't have to visit whilst the crowd venom is at a high. If we don't have a replacement lined up there will be a huge uproar over how it has all played out.

It was a Longstaff challenge to make things worse.

All pre-season we only played our strongest side for half a game, so can't really count those.

He's been very specific in his statement, and with only this year left on his contract it's wholly feasible that this would have been the clubs position in those discussions. It's frustrating for him no doubt because next year he'll be on the door of being 30 so will reduce his longer term options. That may cancel out based on there being no transfer fee, but if he has a lesser season the interest in him will decline and he'd not be able to secure a champion's league side in England. If indeed the extension option is unilateral then why hasn't it already been triggered by the club? They allegedly want to keep him.

West Ham are already amongst the favourites for relegation, this would surely advance it further unless they've some big incoming player movements.

Whilst listening to our supporters singing Isak's a cunt over and over

Fucking shit game. It's too early to say we needed 3 points here, but it felt like we really did. The experimentation didn't work. Credit to Leeds they were up for it and worked hard for their point.

Nice block Miley sparing Livramento's blushes.