Niall1905

Looks like Maresca has told him to move on

No literature I’m afraid! In answer to your question on transfers; Think of the original 100m as your total budget for the year, you’ve spent it all for now, but every week you get a transfer to use. When doing the transfer, you sell a player and therefore have that money to spend again. On who is up to you. Players values go up and down throughout the year, based on how many people are buying and selling them (a bit like stocks). Sadly though, if you sell a player whose value has increased, you only get a percentage of that increase. But that’s probably for another day, for now it’s only really worth knowing that you can sell and buy and you see fit. One last point, if you decide you don’t want to use a transfer for one week, it rolls over to the next. So you would then have 2 transfers for the following week. This can repeat up until 5 transfers.

I have only joined one new league this year, which is the 24/25 one. The other one has to be last years one.

No Rodri for them is huge, really gives our two 8's a chance to take control. I know they didn't have him when they beat us in pre season but it was pre season and we hopefully have learnt a bit from that. Got a bit of preseason optimism/delusion creeping in now, lets have them.

It carries over each year, if I remember correctly

I've gone 4th. A mix of delusion and not thinking the rest of the also rans arent actually as good as they are made out to be. Liverpool with the klopp hangover, Newcastles paper thin squad, Ange's spurs second season meltdown, United are sh*te, Villa have the europe distraction. Yeah we have a huge squad and a unknown in charge, but we have some very good players and a HELL of a lot of depth.

This reeks of Athletico using faux outrage to try and squeeze us on this. Not only hardballing on Felix's price but now trying to get a lower fee for Conor. f**k off. Owners have got to show some balls here otherwise they'll paint theirselves are European Footballs play toy. Wont be helped by the british media painting them as the villain when Athletico are just as much to blame.

Off to Southampton on loan according to Ornstein

Baffling isn't it? They often come so close to what is needed but end up so far away. I quite like the live start points option but thats only going to be a short term win as once you hit the next season, you're practically in the sam position as if you started as normal. It just stinks of loading it up after a bad real life result, setting the difficulty to semi pro and smashing someone 40-0. The player roles looks interesting, but id be suprised if theres a huge impact of what you pick, probably more superficial than anything. And the change to the academy training just sums it all up really. I dont want to play a 5 aside match to take make a 16 year old a wonderkid. Id rather scouting was more in depth and not just a case of sending a scout out and knowing a players exact rating after 1 week. And then Id rather be able to set a training schedule and not have to play each session to make it worthwhile doing/not have a negative effect on the players.

Chelsea 2 - 2 City Haaland 13'

I think there are 3 ways to look at it; 1 - The have been sporting benefits as a result of the supposed rule breaking and therefore a sporting punishment should be given. This will be the viewpoint rivals will take. 2- It was a self reported issue that happened under previous ownership, through which we have been assisting with the investigation and not impeding in anyway. Therefore this should be considered and a fine would suffice, especially as it will 'come from the previous owners' in the form of the £100m put aside for this exact thing. This is what Id imagine most of us want. 3 - Will probably be a blend of the 2 above. The league will want punishment to be percieved as strong enough so that it discourages future issues from us and others, but they'll want to be seen to be rewarding the way in which we have conducted ourselves as well as ensuring the integrety of their product. Especially with the problems they have had with City fighting them on the 115. I see a big fine and potentially a small transfer ban (that might help us). A suspended points deduction would be interesting, even a small points deduction wouldnt be the end of the world.

Is it possible that we are overspending on players to further inflate the transfer market, thus making Clearlakes prediction of footballs finances continuing to explode come true? Sounds like the sort of bone head decision they would make

You'd think that the self proclaimed experts in business would be able to navigate that though. Surely that contract could include certain clauses that in the event of achieving CL football, the value of the contract increases. Sure, they would likely need to set this below what they would get for a fresh CL contract for it to be of value to the sponsor, but its got to be better than this seemingly endless cycle of searching for options. Its a really bad look. They came in with no experience or knowledge of football so whilst the on the field issues can't be excused, they could be understood. But the off the field, marketing of the club was meant to be their specialty. Its pretty embarrasing being in this position again where we have no sponsor going into the new season.

Oh, I know. But it seems that the strategy has been dependant on selling players for profit in future windows, to cover our amortisation commitments each year. Getting rid of the sporting directors wont get rid of the commitment to the strategy immediately. Anyone who comes in will have to navigate that for multiple years before they can begin to shift our direction.

Still a lose in there though, because if the halfwits are sacked then one of the following 2 happen; - We hire replacements just as awful at their job, if not worse and the circus continues. - We hire suitable replacements, but the agressive nature of the project that has taken place till this point is going to mean a shift in direction will take years to even begin to show rewards.

We've got to be a due a clanger in our favour from him, right? ☠️

I think this is a tough one, I completely understand those that are aprehensive about signing him. He had moments in his loan spell here, but the overwhelming feeling was that he flattered to decieve. I don't know if I go with the whole he failed at Barca so what chance would he have elsewhere narrative though, there is still something about him that makes me think hes going to get it right eventually. So this is where the finances become the issue. Because we've had a test drive and read the reviews and he's clearly not a top of the market signing. But if we can get him for a reasonable fee, theres a chance he can add some value. Its weird, I end up fighting his corner in my head as if he's ours aleady, in a similar way that I would delusionally convince myself Mudryk will come good. I can make excuses for why things havent worked up until this point, but none of it then means we should spend more than 30/35m on him.

Probably makes more sense, could play anywhere along the front (maybe slot in the two 8s too) Still a bit worrying he’s never found his potential though, so wonder what sort of fee we’d be going for. Anything around 40 or under is acceptable

Ornstein saying it’s off now too, Fabrizio suggesting they’re trying to save it but he’s here we go’d it so probably saving face

Man this is rough, got to feel for him. Any other body part and I’d be less worried but hamstring suggests the surgery hasn’t fully solved the problem. Luckily we have gusto but we are at the point we are going to have to consider planning for life without him if this carries on

Yeah more than likely I suspect. My worry with a loan is that if it doesn’t work, then we’re really f**ked. There will be clubs thinking that Mudryk is failing in this pressurised environment and that they might be able to get the best out of him. If he goes on loan and still underperforms, then that temptation is gone

Non footballing reasons probably mean Sterling goes if we need one to go. Mudryk isn’t going to sell for any less in a couple of years time if he still hasn’t taken off. The amount will be as low as it is now. Sterling’s about to enter his 30s though, even with good form his value is going to start going south. The damage to the book cost with Mudryk probably means he’s safe from sale for a couple of years.

Bob - He's gone. As much as it seems like the club are playing football manager at times, we can't have all the best players. Take this for what it is, we are signing a very good player that is proven in the league. People have been crying for proven quality for a while, this is it.

Wait, what?! This would be, a good transfer decision? I have no idea what to do with my hands right now

The way I see it, Maresca shouldn't pay the price for the mismanagement of the club for the last few years. Everyone, in their own way, is right to feel however they want to feel about what’s going on at the moment. Whether you go to every game, never been to a game, or go here and there, of course you have a right to an opinion. You have a right to voice that opinion. However, I think criticism of Maresca needs to be contextualised and any early season 'toxicity' should be very clearly directed at the board and above if it is going to take place. Any that is aimed at the manager is only going to let them off the hook. If it gets to that point, the players, manager, media and the owners themselves need to be in no doubt over who people are pissed off at. I think it would be unreasonable to expect Maresca to hit the ground running and I think that would be the general consensus if we hadn't had the few years that we have. Sure, if anything transpires that you have a direct issue with Maresca about, do what you want. But its pointless to redirect frustrations at him when its only going to give the board an out and another opportunity to bring in the next failure.