King Kante

Nah, Dortmund by all accounts want the fee upfront. Utd work on a debt model, so buy all their players with it and spread the money out over the duration of the contracts. Barca and Real also use this method. That is why all three have massive bank debts. Utd also have the problem that the Glazer's are currently pumping over $100m into the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the moment to circumnavigate the NFL cap rules. They are doing this by signing a lot of expensive players with 'signing on fees' with contracts with voidable years rather than giving them a fixed salary for each year. This works as follows: Tom Brady - $50m signing on fee with something like $9m incentives. They gave him a 5 year contract with 3 voidable years as the geezer is 44 in the Summer (thus meaning they cancel his contract in 2, which is when he wants to retire.) That consequently makes his cap hit for next year as approximately $11.8m rather than $29.5m (approx.) as this then allows them to sign more high quality players to the team as the NFL have very strict salary rules. They are doing this as their team is in a 'win now' phase where the owners have to pony up right away as they only have 2-3 years before they have to rip the side apart and rebuild (owing to age of players and the salaries.) This is great news for the Bucs as their team is now an absolute powerhouse. However, it is costing the Glazer's serious coin. Here is the signing on fees they have laid out in the last few weeks (all approx.): Brady - $50m Suh - $5m David - $20m Gronkowski - $6m Barrett - $38m Succop - $4m Godwin - $15.5m That is around $140.5m they have shelled out on signing and they still have other players they have to sign/restructure to get under the cap and have a full squad. So, essentially Utd cannot finance it as all the Glazer's money is going into the Bucs and they cannot buy Håland with debt. Barca situation is also bleak. Laporte got £100m+ loan but that need to finance existing debt, Messi's new contract for the first year (his re-signing was a pledge) and they have to buy other players, whilst the ones they have got won't attract much owing to contracts (similar to us with the dregs.) Real also have similar issues with their stadium build/debt payments/existing costs etc. That consequently only leaves City, Chelsea and PSG as options who can finance it this year. By all accounts Håland won't go to PSG due to the quality of the league (although this could be BS) which then just leave us and City who can do it this year. If he stays at Dortmund this year, then 8 clubs could probably buy him as the buyout is low and they can finance it with debt. They are: Munich, Utd, Juve, Barca and Real, along with the 3 that can afford him this year.

I would hope: DCL, Kane (even more impossible than Håland), Kun, Ings. Those are the only options imo. Maybe Martinez but I am not sold on him at all. Personally, I would be hyped if we did get Håland as I think he really is the type of player who could take us to the next level like VVD at the Dippers. Look at the first 18 with him in it: Mendy AC Silva Rudi James Kova Kante Chilwell Mount Harvetz Håland Subs: Kepa, Dave, Alonso, Jorgi, Puli, CHO, Werner After that, all you really need to do is maybe get a LCB and a No.6 who is bigger and more athletic (although I could see Mount move there to allow Puli/Werner more time.) A new GK2 may also be required but that is peanuts. The big loser would be Ziyech as I could really see him struggling to make the bench. If not him then Puli, but I reckon he will be safe. Zouma's days also looked numbered as well, although he will still pick up decent money so he is not a major worry.

What is interesting about Håland is if you read on Redcafe a lot of them think we are his best option (although they think he will go to City owing to money/Pep.) Reasons they make for this is: A) If his fee has to be made upfront, only City, Chelsea or PSG can afford him. B ) No one really thinks he will go to France as it is a poor league. C) Of City and Chelsea we play a style more suited to him and have the greatest need for a CF. Honestly, after reading through their thread, it has kind of made me think that from a footballing perspective, we may actually be his best option.

Yeah, but there next game is to Frankfurt who are the team 4 points ahead. They lose that it is 7 points with 7 to go and Dortmund have a slightly harder run in than Frankfurt. Wolfsburg's (in 3rd) run in is very difficult but if Dortmund lose to Frankfurt, they could be 10 points ahead if they win their next game. Also, Dortmund and Wolfsberg have to play each other in 3-4 rounds time so it would all in Wolfsberg's and Frankfurt's hands. FFP is dead. Good riddance as well, it was a cartel system that was illegal. This is why Juve, Barca, Real, Utd and the Dippers are now trying to create permanent places for themselves in the CL/pushing hard for league reform/a Super League.

His dentist must be like:

Well he doesn't strike me as the most initelligent player, so it is not surprising.

Down the road from me. Best way to say Cray, is with the most chavy voice/accent you can imagine and put Boi at the end of it.

Tbf, I think he has been caught out by the pace and physicality of the league and it has got to him a little. I have said elsewhere, I expect him to end up like a Pedro type player for us (which is not a slight against him as I always rated Pedro.) However, the boy does need to be given credit in that he is still doing the basics right, even if his first touch isn'tthe best. Imo, next season he will be a lot better. Maybe not a 20+ goal player, bit certainly a 12+ one who gets a lot of assists for a CF he plays alongside (if we can get a clinical CF.)

Away kit wise I prefered the pinstripe black and silver 08 kit and the yellow 15, but for sure, Adidas sh*t all over Nike.

I don't think it matters that much. At this point I think TT puts out a strong team regardless. Only risk I guess is extra time and penos. However after getting Porto and having had Morecombe, Luton, Barnsley and Sheff Utd we are probably due a City.

Nah, Penandez to the rescue today imo.

I think 2011-12 was saved for me by the season. Kind of grew to like it in a strange way.

Whilst I want Soton, I am not too fussed about City or Utd either. At this point you need to beat the decent teams and I prefer a semi-final loss than another final loss.

Sad thing is, their first set of kits were good. That said, I was never a fan of the move away. The only home ones I really didn't like of their was the 08/09 kit as I hate shiny kits and the 16/17 home as it looked like a pyjama top with all the crests on it.

Have the designers at Nike been ordered to take LSD or something?

That does worry me a little bit. I have been a very big AC defender/supporter but there is a bit of a pattern of him becoming ill before big games.

Serious question. Does Chilwell know how to play a 1, 2? I ask as when he gets in the opposition half he just gets the ball and lays it off and stays in position. Only time he seems to run forward is when the ball is played in front of him and he has no option but to go after it.

Gilmour should really have been loaned out. That said, happy to see Kepa has been recognised as the liability that he is.

I would say two, we've closed the gap on the Dippers.

Yeah, sod that, just play Cech.

He did play well, but there were occasions that he got himself out of position again, but owing to our dominance it didn't matter. Imo, Zouma is still CB4 atm. He is still someone who is very handy for more physical teams and if you want to switch things up in game, a player that is better suited to a back 4. However, I still think he is one of the most likely to be sold if Tomori decides to come back and we decide we want a left footed CB. This is not only because he is CB4 but also because he is going to bring decent money and we do not have many players we could lose and nit affect us owing to the number of dregs we have still coining it in.

Not sure we need a RB/RWB before a CF or a technical and physical No.6 like SMS. I would also take a left footed CB before as well since we do not have one and that would open up more passing lanes. For me, James is doing a great job at the moment and is still only 21, no need to cut off his minutes. Furthermore, he is also pretty solid so injuries do not look like an issue, whilst that also means we can ensure that CHO gets time if we stay with a 3atb (which we should do.)

I hope it was a Dipper.

For sure, I am amazed it wasn't given and Dave wasn't sent off. If we were playing Real, Barca, Bayern or Juve it would definitely have happened.

To be honest, knowing our luck we will get Bayern. However, it is pretty insane we have only ever played Real three times and those were ECWC Final 71, ECWC Final Reply 71, Super Cup 98. Odds of that has got to be insane.