Chez

a `backs against the wall' display against a top side can often look better than a `toothless' display against a far lessor team. Expectations are much lower, so when you don't touch the ball for five minutes, never mind create a chance, no one is moaning. After Brentford though, any kind of performance would probably look good. We should not forget that Liverpool are possibly the best side in the world right now. They have spent a few bob putting the side together and their wage bill is three times ours. It's very much like playing a side from a different division when you come up agains these CL teams

what's Liverpool record like without Sala? He's obviously been a tremendous player for them, so it goes without saying that they are better with him in the side, than not, but whenever he doesn't play, they seem to be a hell of a lot less scary. They still have players that win games of course, but when things are tight, its often him that scores out of nothing. I guess the same question applies to Van Dijk. He doesn't miss too many games, but are they vulnerable without him? yeah, I'm daring to think we might do something. Why not? Until we kick off its 0-0 and all to play for.

Realistically, how much do folks think we will have to spend this summer - before any player sales are factored in?

Net spend (maybe over a three or four season period) would be better than just spend and then combine that with wages over that time period and that would give a pretty fair reflection of expected league position. Knowing the current debt (minus monies in bank) is also worth knowing. Its all very well spending these funds, but some clubs have to work to an actual budget and can't just build up the debt level. City, West Ham and Brighton (maybe an owner paying for it doesn't count?) got a pretty free ride when it comes the cost of the stadium.

Do you think he fancies a change? Who is buying him? We'd want a certain amount to make it worth our while - and a transfer fee for a player that can walk for free next summer will always be appreciated - but who has the funds to cover that fee and his wages?

we could probably match the wages they'd offer, but they are on a different level in terms of prestige. Transfer funds an issue for us too. If they sell their striker for £50m, they will have funds to buy another. Who are we selling this summer to fund our incoming transfers?

I guess a lot will depend on the percentage of the £65m loan they have to pay back this summer (should they go down), how much money is now left in the bank (the Chris Wood sale/Weghorst buy will have helped) and what kind of suitors they find for Pope, McNeil and Cornet.

How much do you think Burnley would want to allow Nathan Collins to leave, assuming they go down? Probably a number of other players they will sell well before letting him go, Cornet being one of them.

As you say, we need to go younger - especially as we have a financial model that relies on selling players. Having three keepers, none of which will/can ever be sold, doesn't support that model. He ain't going back to Celtic. They have Joe Hart on a three year deal. They are not paying both.

Never seen him play, but I really like his best of youtube video. Good feet, vision and seems to actually want to get into scoring positions, which is not always true of strikers. Looks two footed, plays with his head up and has that size. Looks much quicker than Crouchie ever was. 22 goals in 48 games in the Bundesliga top flight seems pretty good. Missed the entire first half of the season with a shoulder injury. Missed a lot of games in his first season with a cruciate injury. Done well to come back from that I guess. One year left on his current contract.

still got a situation where we can four jump places if we win the last two games and the teams above lose their games. Extra £8m in the transfer fund would be nice. Yeah, OK, just staying above Everton would be nice.

What makes you think McCarthy's wages were cut? When he signed it, he was our number 1. It wasn't a case of `who will take the least amount of money', it was a simply Ralph's choice as to which goalkeeper he wanted to keep.

how is that a penalty to Spurs. Handy though.

He made a real howler in this game (1;39), back in October 2021. Not sure how many other errors he made throughout the season - but that might be more important than the number of `regulation' saves he made.

You don't wait until a contract has expired to have a chat about what happens next.

where does he get games?

what a shame the skate missed the vital pen. Real shame.

they look tired. If we played them tomorrow, we might have a chance.

Less of a love in with Chelsea fan Matterface describing events.

the quality of individual players is on a completely different level to what we have. Like from a different division.

Milner is the `new' Gareth Barry. At least five fouls before the ref thinks about a yellow.

the game where Liverpool were running rings around them, before Chelsea got a grip and then in the second half ran rings round Liverpool, before they got a grip and its about even now. That game. You?

why sign for Newcastle ahead of Saints? They are going places. We're stagnating.

But he ain't coming to us though, even if we offered more money than West Ham and Newcastle.

fast, strong and good in the air. Knows where to be, reads the game and can control and pass the football. How do we sign that for £10m unless they are Chelsea youth players?