yuddie

Looking for six figures apparently...

He was a total bastard but Suarez was my favourite player when I was a kid. Him being a total bastard probably cost him a Balon D'or when he was at his best.

Idk if anyone's done this link but I'll post it anyways... U20 WC Winner for a South American side. All the hallmarks of a punt that could turn a huge profit. Pretty exciting tbh, we might have actually moved past the EFL jobbers market!

Suppose we'll go all in and look to Belgium for the next CEO. Similar to what Villa are doing with Emery, but on a budget.

I said it the other day - if we want a crocked scottish full back enquire about Calvin Ramsay. I think Liverpool would deal on breaking even after a seasons loan tbh.

The Serbian keeper we're linked with is knocking on for 6'7. A shade under 2 metres. No clue of his ability mind.

The players tops having huge sweat patches isn't a great look though. Villa binned them because of it.

That's a fair complaint. I can only speak for myself but whenever I've ordered stuff it's usually turned up within 3-4 days. I've only bought the home top, shorts and retro cwc Jersey this season and it all came within a week. Some within a couple of days.

I'll take stick for it but I think Castore have made some really decent designs. The fume is so apparent towards them because the teams been shite.

By all accounts, (his mainly, and those in the Netherlands) it's mostly due to him being played in his natural position. As @Rousseau has preached. Clement does shoehorn a wee bit, there's the caveat of injuries but.

I think the international youth setups count as well. It's probably how we got Jefte I should imagine. If not then would the sudamericana/libertadores score well on a merit system? It's basically the highest level of South American football.

Fair point. I'd also suggest that not backing Gerrard to get into the UCL the season after 55 hamstrung the club for a few seasons after - and probably convinced him to jump ship. As well as a fat paycheck from Villa ha. There should be realism for sure, but there's a case that we should make hay whilst the sun shines in regards to being the top dog for potential European earnings in Scotland this and over the next few seasons. Maybe this consistency in Europe is the new norm but it's just as likely that it isn't - investing and aspiring whilst the incentive is there is realism in a way. I appreciate where we've come from though, I just want to see us back on top mate.

With respect, that's a wee man mentality. One poor campaign and our fans are promptly bending over for the Europa League. A competition that saw us pump current UCL finalists Dortmund in their own midden not 2 seasons ago and also just saw 6 time winners Liverpool get their pants pulled down at home by a team with a smaller wage budget than ours. We talk about being best in class, being terrified of the UCL doesn't match up with that mantra. Again, I'm not saying we should be winning the bloody thing - qualifying for it should be the minimum and the aspiration should be the playoffs in THIS format. If we don't qualify - try and win the UEL. Seeing as we're top seeds and as you rightly say, KO specialists (for the most part) in that competition. But we should be trying to get into the UCL every season and investing to do so imo - which marries with what Bennet said about taking a more aggressive approach in the market.

Feyenoord sell Gimenez for a small fortune and then Koppen bends them over a barrel. Simple really.

Seasons just started in fairness. 3 league games played so far. Most of that will be cup games.

6 months left on his current contract too, hopefully we can get him for a nominal fee. Although whenever someone mentions Chilean defenders I immediately think of Medel and Vidal. If he has half the bite of those two then he'll do fine.

Good. I think it was Gary Neville who said if your academy can't produce backup full backs then you've got a problem. I tend to agree with that sentiment.

That's true enough but we get more games against teams that are in and around our level is my point. I'm purely coming at this from the point of view that we've been very consistent in European football for a number of years now - especially at Ibrox. Maybe I'm a deluded Bear but I have faith that eventually we will make the leap from UEL to UCL and be competitive in the latter whenever we qualify. In my mind that means making the playoffs in this new format. Maybe that ambition died a long time ago within the club though.

If we qualify it probably does us favours - easier to reach the last 16 in this format imo.

If we were to sell Butland for 10m+ who would you bring in as replacement? The one people would point to is Angus Gunn. I wouldn't mind Sam Johnstone as a keeper of a similar mould, especially as he's been displaced. I know a few baggies who really rated him as a keeper. A Czech keeper on loan at Sturm Graz from Liverpool called Jaros would be a good loan to buy option imo, all of his metrics this season were impressive for a young keeper. If that's doable. What you reckon?

Aye that's fair - we've gone too far the other way. As I say, a team with Butland and a Tav/McLean or whoever is fine - when it's 3 or 4 of those in a team all of a sudden you're chasing shadows against the likes of Ross County. As an aside, Hendersons been a terrible buy for Ajax by all accounts and has been bombed out of the England squad. I agree with your point though.

He does look about 12. And before anyone asks, yes, get him in the team.

We couldn't pick up a world class 33 year old either. The difference between the two, conventionally at least, is that the younger player gets better the more he plays with good coaching whilst the older player will physically wane - and usually that happens quite suddenly (Casemiro, Utd). After a couple of seasons the 33 year old has 0 resale value whilst the 19 year old can be sold for millions. Jeremie Frimpong for them being a case in point. I'm not advocating for playing the full B team XI btw, players like Butland, Balogun and Dessers I'd keep but I wouldn't add too many more who are pushing 30+ Also there's a difference between 'experience' and age. Most fans would say Bukayo Saka is a young player at 22 but he's played over 250 games for club and country. Is that inexperience? That's probably why Tav looks cooked, the miles on the clock in recent years have caught up with him.

I think I've just realised why the club were/are shit scared of developing young players in the lower leagues and to now btw...