42 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Thats one model but it's not ours. It's not going to change.

We're signing players who will become our spine. Caicedo, Palmer, Cucurella and Pedro are that spine. Colwill would be that if he hadn't been injured and I think Chalobah is severely underrated, I'd rather him than signing a 27 year old who might have done well in another league.

Who do you wish we had signed?

I wanted quality and experience. Guehi was available and cheap. A number of quality GK’s have been available. Osimhen went for the same money as Gittens, Rodrygo has been up for a move. Players who walk in the first team and immediately move the needle.

I know they don’t fit our ‘model’ but we imposed this model on ourselves nobody else.

I’d go for quality over quantity and they might be able to pay them a little more in order to be able to compete for the top players.

I also don’t buy the ‘this is our model and it’s not going to change’ attitude. It wasn’t the model when they first arrived so it has changed once….why not again? It certainly won’t change if nobody says anything.

I do think we have a good young team, I just think a few top quality older heads would have helped them no end.

Edited September 3, 2025Sep 3 by C3blue

Fourth place.

I think we have a decent squad. However,I don’t think we are realistically going to win the League.

I do think we could win a domestic cup.

Not exactly ‘in depth analysis’ that I fully accept! 😀

3 hours ago, C3blue said:

I wanted quality and experience. Guehi was available and cheap. A number of quality GK’s have been available. Osimhen went for the same money as Gittens, Rodrygo has been up for a move. Players who walk in the first team and immediately move the needle.

I know they don’t fit our ‘model’ but we imposed this model on ourselves nobody else.

I’d go for quality over quantity and they might be able to pay them a little more in order to be able to compete for the top players.

I also don’t buy the ‘this is our model and it’s not going to change’ attitude. It wasn’t the model when they first arrived so it has changed once….why not again? It certainly won’t change if nobody says anything.

I do think we have a good young team, I just think a few top quality older heads would have helped them no end

Dont think Guehi would have joined

Osimhen was not the same price as Gittens. Wages count. And I have never been convinced he'd be successful here.

Rodrygo, we 100% cannot afford him.

This model is much better than what you're suggesting. The model you're suggesting leads to us having players like Sterling stinking out the joint. And it means we don't sign Palmer.

They were just examples off the top of my head, the point being game changing signings were available. We know this because some of our rivals signed them.

It’s our choice to operate how we do, we don’t have to have a team of 20yr olds. We can easily afford the players mentioned.

Just because you sign a few players that improve your team today doesn’t mean you stop planning for the future.

Why do we not sign Palmer? We don’t stop looking for the next best thing, we just put them in a better environment to grow and improve when we do sign them.

It doesn’t have to be one way or the other. Other clubs do it all the time, build for today plan for tomorrow.

If we don’t start competing for the best players and big trophies Palmer and Caicedo will go before the rest of the team are ‘ready’ to compete, it’s not like we’re paying them top $ to stay.

12 hours ago, C3blue said:

They were just examples off the top of my head, the point being game changing signings were available. We know this because some of our rivals signed them.

It’s our choice to operate how we do, we don’t have to have a team of 20yr olds. We can easily afford the players mentioned.

Just because you sign a few players that improve your team today doesn’t mean you stop planning for the future.

Why do we not sign Palmer? We don’t stop looking for the next best thing, we just put them in a better environment to grow and improve when we do sign them.

It doesn’t have to be one way or the other. Other clubs do it all the time, build for today plan for tomorrow.

If we don’t start competing for the best players and big trophies Palmer and Caicedo will go before the rest of the team are ‘ready’ to compete, it’s not like we’re paying them top $ to stay.

Palmer and Caicedo are locked in because of the model. Them, cucumber, colwill, Pedro, will be the players we build around. In 2-3 years time we will have the ability to sign game changers without it hurting the finances.

I find this model much more exciting than the alternative. Because the alternative scares me a lot.

8 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Palmer and Caicedo are locked in because of the model. Them, cucumber, colwill, Pedro, will be the players we build around. In 2-3 years time we will have the ability to sign game changers without it hurting the finances.

I find this model much more exciting than the alternative. Because the alternative scares me a lot.

In 2-3 years do you think Palmer and Caicedo will stick around on average wages if we're not challenging for trophies or winning them. They are both 23 now and Isak is 25 and he threw his toys out.

Won't be long before the clubs that will triple their wages come calling if we do not succeed with the model. I maybe wrong but I get the feeling if a club came in for Cole and put down 150m+It would not surprise me in the slightest if Clearlake sold him as they know they can reinvest that into younger players. Sell Cole Palmer and sign the next Estevao for a fraction of the price is good business and I don't see the conveyor belt of younger players ending anytime soon and every summer we'll keep on investing with the hope we can flip them later.

3 minutes ago, Sheva said:

In 2-3 years do you think Palmer and Caicedo will stick around on average wages if we're not challenging for trophies or winning them. They are both 23 now and Isak is 25 and he threw his toys out.

Won't be long before the clubs that will triple their wages come calling if we do not succeed with the model. I maybe wrong but I get the feeling if a club came in for Cole and put down 150m+It would not surprise me in the slightest if Clearlake sold him as they know they can reinvest that into younger players. Sell Cole Palmer and sign the next Estevao for a fraction of the price is good business and I don't see the conveyor belt of younger players ending anytime soon and every summer we'll keep on investing with the hope we can flip them later.

Exactly.

46 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

Palmer and Caicedo are locked in because of the model. Them, cucumber, colwill, Pedro, will be the players we build around. In 2-3 years time we will have the ability to sign game changers without it hurting the finances.

I find this model much more exciting than the alternative. Because the alternative scares me a lot.

I’m not suggesting we spend anymore money than we are, just spend it slightly differently thats all.

I don’t see what’s scary about it, the club have racked up Millions in debt on this model why does that not scare you.

I must admit I’m very keen to see in 2-3yrs how much cucumber has grown😜

1 hour ago, C3blue said:

I’m not suggesting we spend anymore money than we are, just spend it slightly differently thats all.

I don’t see what’s scary about it, the club have racked up Millions in debt on this model why does that not scare you.

I must admit I’m very keen to see in 2-3yrs how much cucumber has grown😜

I don't believe you are factoring in wages to your calculation of spending the same. What is scary to me is signing Osimhen on 300k a week and him not working out. I don't have the fear with Joao Pedro on 100 odd k.

1 hour ago, Sheva said:

In 2-3 years do you think Palmer and Caicedo will stick around on average wages if we're not challenging for trophies or winning them. They are both 23 now and Isak is 25 and he threw his toys out.

Won't be long before the clubs that will triple their wages come calling if we do not succeed with the model. I maybe wrong but I get the feeling if a club came in for Cole and put down 150m+It would not surprise me in the slightest if Clearlake sold him as they know they can reinvest that into younger players. Sell Cole Palmer and sign the next Estevao for a fraction of the price is good business and I don't see the conveyor belt of younger players ending anytime soon and every summer we'll keep on investing with the hope we can flip them later.

I don't think Palmer and Caicedo will be on average wages. Their wages will be tied to their performances.

However no it wouldn't surprise me either if the ownership did that. I don't think they will though, I think Palmer will be worth more to them here than whatever transfer fee might be offered.

31 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

I don't believe you are factoring in wages to your calculation of spending the same. What is scary to me is signing Osimhen on 300k a week and him not working out. I don't have the fear with Joao Pedro on 100 odd k.

I don't think Palmer and Caicedo will be on average wages. Their wages will be tied to their performances.

However no it wouldn't surprise me either if the ownership did that. I don't think they will though, I think Palmer will be worth more to them here than whatever transfer fee might be offered.

I dont know how correct the wages are when there's reports out there from the media but Sterling is getting paid double what Cole is on. When Cole hits his prime, will the club be spending 300k+ a week to keep him because that's what clubs will offer.

If you have 50 good players on 150k or 25 world class on 300k your wage bill is the same.

Quality over quantity.

Look these are just numbers we are throwing around but as other posters have said at some point if you want to be the best team you sign the best players and pay them top wages.

If you want to keep your best players again you have to pay them what others are willing otherwise they walk.

This model is not designed to make us the best it’s to make money. We can only hope on field success comes with it but it’s not what ultimately is behind the decision making.

It’s ok to acknowledge this.

Edited September 4, 2025Sep 4 by C3blue

3 hours ago, Sheva said:

I dont know how correct the wages are when there's reports out there from the media but Sterling is getting paid double what Cole is on. When Cole hits his prime, will the club be spending 300k+ a week to keep him because that's what clubs will offer.

So my very basic understanding of our model is that Cole will be earning that in his prime

And if he's not playing he will earn less

Now when a player gets to 28/29 he starts to worry about the latter. Which is why players in their prime / latter stages of their career wouldn't join us.

At that point yeah maybe he wants to leave. But we're a way off that.

Hmmm, might have to revise my original vote of 2nd.

As each week under Mareca goes by, the position is likely to drop & drop.

Wolves and Villa are both in desperate form currently - they must be checking the calendar to see when they get to play us and get some points.

IMO it’s still too early to say.

The start to season have been pretty sh*t so far but we could pick up form and start getting results, even though that’s really hard to see happening with Palmer out.

I’ll give my verdict end of October.

Definitely not in top 4.

Both have played 5 games and we are still a point ahead of City.

We can turn it around though does not look likley at the moment too many holes in the team due to injuries.

I'll reconsider in a month.

32 minutes ago, strider6004 said:

Both have played 5 games and we are still a point ahead of City.

We can turn it around though does not look likley at the moment too many holes in the team due to injuries.

I'll reconsider in a month.

We have injuries, but so does almost every other team, yet we seem to be struggling more than anybody. I just don't accept that as excuse right now. With the amount of money spent, we should have plenty of cover and still perform at a better standard. I don't see Sunderland making excuses.

We are currently sitting 2 points off where we were at the same point last season.

Our first 5 fixtures last season were:

Man City (H) - Lost 0-2

Wolves (A) - Won 2-6

Crystal Palace (H) - Draw 1-1

Bournemouth (A) - Won 0-1

West Ham (A) - Won 0-3

You could argue that we should have done better vs Brentford away. However, Man Utd is always a bad place for us to visit, regardless of the players or coach. I'd argue that Fulham is a harder fixture than Wolves, so we are pretty much in a similar place as we were last season.

Our next 5 fixtures are Brighton (H), Liverpool (H), Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Tottenham (A).

We will have an idea of where our season is heading after the Tottenham game. To be honest, if we put up a good performance vs Liverpool and either beat them or get a draw, that'll be a positive. On paper we should be beating Brighton, Forest and Sunderland, but Tottenham away will be different this season due to Frank being in charge. They won't be making the same mistakes as they did last season against us at their place, so I expect a tougher game this season.

5th😐

1 hour ago, Sunspear_88 said:

We are currently sitting 2 points off where we were at the same point last season.

Our first 5 fixtures last season were:

Man City (H) - Lost 0-2

Wolves (A) - Won 2-6

Crystal Palace (H) - Draw 1-1

Bournemouth (A) - Won 0-1

West Ham (A) - Won 0-3

You could argue that we should have done better vs Brentford away. However, Man Utd is always a bad place for us to visit, regardless of the players or coach. I'd argue that Fulham is a harder fixture than Wolves, so we are pretty much in a similar place as we were last season.

Our next 5 fixtures are Brighton (H), Liverpool (H), Forest (A), Sunderland (H), Tottenham (A).

We will have an idea of where our season is heading after the Tottenham game. To be honest, if we put up a good performance vs Liverpool and either beat them or get a draw, that'll be a positive. On paper we should be beating Brighton, Forest and Sunderland, but Tottenham away will be different this season due to Frank being in charge. They won't be making the same mistakes as they did last season against us at their place, so I expect a tougher game this season.

Next 5 should be 12 points then, but probably more likely we get 5 or less

7th and back to the conference league

On 23/09/2025 at 12:06, Scott Harris said:

We have injuries, but so does almost every other team, yet we seem to be struggling more than anybody. I just don't accept that as excuse right now. With the amount of money spent, we should have plenty of cover and still perform at a better standard. I don't see Sunderland making excuses.

I'm not making excuses just commenting on where we are, only top class and previously fit CB is injured.

Enzo is not a midfiled player in a midfield two, is there political interference?

Lots of new forward players without a pre-season.

I think we will come good by Spring yet by then we could be out of several competitions though we might take a cup somewhere along the line.

There’s a series of polls on BBC Sport Football and the first question is Who do you think will win the Premier League? And someone must have been having a laugh because they’ve included us and Man Utd as options.

Villa aren’t out of it, but nobody seriously thinks it’s not either City or Arsenal, surely?

I think we will end up anywhere between 4th and 7th. As bad as we are, United right behind us can’t beat Wolves, so we’re enjoying holding onto fourth whilst dropping points left right and centre as so does everyone else. A great battle of ineptitude!!

I think we'll scrape Champions League qualification by the skin of our teeth (i.e. 5th), possibly with a record low points total for 5th place, and definitely <60 points.

57 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I think we'll scrape Champions League qualification by the skin of our teeth (i.e. 5th), possibly with a record low points total for 5th place, and definitely <60 points.

Have to agree, our season will be ‘saved’ by the fact the Premier League is probably in its poorest/weakest iteration since the late 90’s currently.