The Fish

I dunno who or what you're flapping your gums about. Oh and I'm so chill I'm frosty.

Alreet Captain Sarcasmo?

But there'll be other Szoboszlais. Where we can both afford the fee and the wages without knackering our existing wage structure or breaking FFP. Hell, we might buy that Szoboszlai when he's younger/cheaper.

They're not in the Champions League this coming season. But they're an elite side and it's likely that they'll be in the Champions League spots this season. We have the parts in place, but we're not there yet. Oh, and we have that sort of signing in; Isak, Bruno, Tonali, Botman, Trippier. And there'll be more to come. Just maybe not this window.

Oh we're aboard the Elite-opolis express all right, but we're not yet at our final destination. e.g. I don't think we'll get CL this season (this prediction will be revised many times before the end of the transfer window) because Chelsea and Liverpool will likely have better seasons than they did in 22/23 (maybe Spurs too). We have a thin squad which is largely inexperienced playing in multiple competitions. Brighton and Villa may still be a threat too.

Not yet. One good season, in a crazy season, does not a summer make.

Honestly, I'm bummed that it looks like we're not getting Szoboszlai. He's a really exciting player. BUT, I have to remind myself that we're 3-5yrs ahead of schedule and Szoboszlai is the kind of player who moves to an elite club. We're not there yet. Patience and zen my friends, patience and zen.

My hopes of a Lee Ryder "He's a Mag-yah!" headline are up in smoke.

I like him, but we all know these days my opinion apparently counts for nought. FOR NOUGHT!

LBW Look, Beached Whale

Same positions but different order or priority (if yours wasn't in any order then I wholeheartedly apologise). I'd say if we can get a significant upgrade on Burn then that has to be the priority. I'd love Theo Hernandez, but it's unlikely. Then I'd like a right sided centre back. Schar and Botman are great, but the drop is quality is steep. Lascelles going to West Ham (if it happens) would free up a small amount of wages and wouldn't likely command a large fee. Burn is fine as cover, better than Lascelles, but I'd prefer someone better to step into that role. Has to have passing range, in addition to normal defensive qualities. How many chances did Schar create with his quality on the ball? Be handy to have more pace as well. At right wing, unless we can get someone cheap like Guler I think we have enough quality to get by until a top tier talent becomes available to us.

Two bits of advice here LTA; 1. stick to fetishising Saint Maximin 2. Don't fuck with me, not today.

Is there another Paul Pogba? Or is it the one who couldn't be arsed in 9 games out 10, who's a stroppy cunt and who would shatter our wage structure? Shelvey had some sweet sweet passes too, and at least he had a reason to be mardy.

And the same one my Karate sensei teaches at. Y'know, the one that awarded me a black belt at 13 because I beat up the Seaton Sluice biker gang?

Why do people do this?

And we've totally done it! You don't know her though, she goes to a different school.

I remember when my little lad first came into this world (3yrs and 363 days ago), I was stationed up at my wife's shoulders. Risked a look over the 'modesty sheet' and it was like a Geiger/Escher/Bosch mash up in there. Took a beat before looking back at her so I could stop my face looking like

They're playing Norway tonight. If the French put the Swiss away, which they should, Sandy might not be done with the tournament for at least one more match, against the Spaniards. Which isn't until the 5th of July, coincidentally, the birthday of yours truly.

Well, yeah PIF are in business Clearlake, in much the same as they're involved with Disney.

Honestly think we're trying to avoid the pupae stage of the evolution. No Jo's or Roque Santa Cruz's for us, thank you very much. We look like we've learned from your mistakes.

Sounds like we're following a similar tactic, Maddison bid goes too high? Walk away. Did the same with Diego Carlos who ended up at Villa. I guess when the owners have ambitions that lie beyond the next season or two it makes no sense to break your budget on one player or another. We've still spent big, but you always get the sense that we've never gone over our valuation.

I don't think signing Livramento spells the end of Harrison Ashby. How many games are we going to play this season? Trippier can't play them all and given Livramento's versatility I'd expect all 3 get a satisfying amount of game time. Even if that means Ashby goes out on loan for half the season.

Was just thinking about last season's oddness. MNU spent £228m on wages last season, Brentford £32m. Each Lg pos should equal about £10.3m, all things being equal MNU would finish top (their high expenditure should return best players, who deliver best results) and Brentford bottom. With that in mind, look at the actual final positions and see how much teams overspent or over performed. You'd expect Newcastle to have finished around 9th fwiw

So what now, he's off on a half season loan?

When he goes, @LongTimeAdmirer, who will you fetishise?