Brussels Saint

That was my estimate if we sold the lot on relegation and just played an academy. Combined with parachute payments, its a lot of assets. Even if you think I have overestimated and priced it at 40m, I dont believe we have the debt to put us in danger. Think the OP was asking should we be concerned (I assumed meaning will the club risk bankruptcy). I'm not, due to our level of saleable assets. As Franks Cousin mentions, a lot depends on what your primary concern is. Relegation I can live with, putting the club at risk I have less enthusiasm for. As such I would prefer another 10m on Astori, rather than the experienced PL pro who has no value even if we still go down.

We should be asking questions and have healthy concern, having almost lost the entire club once. However, Cortese & the Liebherr family have earned some trust and whilst we will probably never know the exact financial position, what we do know makes fairly comfortable viewing. This is primarily the assets of the company i.e. Stadium with no debt, world class training ground, future PL income, 1st team squad with massive saleable value (i.e. no journeymen pros you cannot sell on huge wages). Even taking a fairly conservative estimate I think you could value the squad at around 61m maybe making the entire club even when relegated worth 100m. I doubt our debts are anywhere near that number. For me relegation would be serviceable.

It honestly works!......but as someone said, you need to be realistic. I eat about 3000-3500 cal on my non fast days. I'm 179cm, started at 84.9kgs, got down to 77 and now pretty much hover around 78. I think it does impact the amount you are capable of consuming however, as since I've been doing this, I cannot eat as much as I used to on the non 600 days even if I try to.

I actually agree with this. As you mention its simple science and ultimately why I don't classify 5:2 as a diet. It's a lifestyle change and its permanent. People don’t stick to fad diets, as for anyone normal they are impossible to maintain and sooner or later your life intrudes. The initial Horizon Program actually only talks about weight loss at the end of the program as a by-product of the general health benefits of fasting. It seems we are designed to need occasional bouts of hunger and the science seems to show if we do this it reduces our chances of contracting heart disease or cancer (and potentially makes us more intelligent) In terms of weight loss, 5:2 does cut down the amount of calories you consume in a week and needs less willpower than being careful everyday. If you do some exercise too that also helps of course.

I find it does not really matter. I always try to do 2 days together as I prefer it that way, but often do split days too. The good thing is that as its only 2 days a week, so you can fit it in with real life. If you have business dinners, friends birthdays, random nights out etc. you dont need to worry about being on a diet, just plan your 2 days around it. I usually try to do it Monday & Tues as these days are pretty quiet socially plus, if something does come up last minute, I can always push one of the days later in the week.

Give it a go DPS. For most people I know who have tried it, it really works. A few it has not, for a couple of reasons: 1, They really struggle when feeling hungry and typically on the 2 days, it does leave you peckish before bed. I counter this with a small glass of skimmed milk plus I can handle hunger for 2 days, its the constant regiment of cutting back on the food I love to eat I have difficulty with. If I waiver on a 2 day, I simply think about a bacon sandwhich etc. which I'll have in the morning. 2, Girls who already have a normal BMI, but want to lose further weight. In my experience as soon as you hit "normal" you kind of plateau. Also I found it does not matter if occasionally you only do a 6:1 etc so long as you normally follow the 5:2. I also gave up completely over the Christmas period for 3 weeks to concentrate on some serious eating. I put on about 3.5kgs in that time and am already shifting it quickly since I have been back on 5:2 after New Year.

I can fully vouch for the 5:2 diet, works like a charm and is easy to stick to. I started in Sep last year and lost 7.5kgs with basically little effort. Weight has now pretty much stabilised in the Normal BMI zone and just about a couple of kg's more than when I was in my early 20's. I keep doing the 5:2 regime each week and that’s it, sorted for life and there are supposedly many other health benefits too. Its based on the BBC Horizon program and the rules are basically to eat 600 calories 2 days per week and for the other 5 nosh whatever you like. For me it works as I can be disciplined 2 days a week no issue, controlling/restricting myself constantly however I find impossible. I eat a big bowl of complex carbs muesli and either a can of soup or a shrimp salad on the "2" days and seriously on the other 5 I eat steaks, crisps, cheese, chocolate, booze whatever and in whatever quantities. Links below if you want more info: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19112549 and I found the whole program here: http://vimeo.com/50912488 Thank me later (or the BBC!), as your non-lardarse selves tuck into a pork pie bonanza

Gazza actually reminds me of David de Gea a lot. They seem similar in their goalkeeping style and both have the same weaknesses. de Gea obviously plays more and has a better defence in front of him, but I'm not sure actually how much better he is than Gazza.

That's the one I think. Is it the one with the hut at the top and the compression at the bottom? Anyway the World Cup downhill course in Kitzbuhel was the toughest I've ever done, although on my snowboard I guess its easier than on skis.

I think we are looking at this from a slightly wrong perspective. Most say around 20quid is fair to watch 90mins entertainment and to me that seems a pretty honest rationale. The problem comes during the summer and in Jan. The majority I guess want quality players coming into the club and that costs. If we want to carry on competing in the 5-15m transfer bracket, 20 quid is not going to do it. Yes the majority comes from TV but the punter also needs to play their part in that 12m we spent on Gaston. 20 quid is to watch 22 players kick a ball round a park in a nice stadium, the extra 15-20 is to watch Gaston et al. kick that ball around. Look at the transfer threads, full of demands we buy quality x, y & z 20 quid a ticket would buy us a L1 club if we were to remain solvent.

What about Lee, our forgotton man? If I remember rightly is he not also able to operate on the left side of our 3 attacking midfielders? Mayuka is definitely right sided or an outright striker, so my guess is that it would be Guly, Lee or Ramirez. I personally would prefer Ramirez to stay in his central attacking role and see how Guly or Lee get on.

A CB, a defensive midfielder to challenge Morgan & Cork and an experienced GK if better than Boruc or Davis, in that order. I really think our recent improvement is down to having 2 proper DM's in place and using the PL 4-2-3-1 formation. Some have mentioned that JWP can play the DM role, but I'm not so sure yet. For me there is no obvious option if our 2 current starters get injured/suspended and they will improve if additional competition.. I honestly don't see a need to add to Lambert, Jay Rod, Mayuka, Lallana, Lee, Puncheon, Gaston, Guly & Davis for the 4 attacking positions. Obviously if our first team players get injured, we are weaker, but the quality of the reserves in that group is decent.

"Ah.........TopShop........I could have guessed......."

Yup, we need 5 points from the next 3 games to be at 20 for the half season mark. Definitely possible and I really think we will continue to improve as the season goes on. With such a young team, there are lots of positives. In January I think we need another CB & defensive midfielder (as no real DM cover for Morgan & Cork - 2 proper DM working in tandem has IMO been the prime reason for our recent improvement). Another experienced GK would be ideal too, but only if better than Kelvin or Boruc. With those additions you would have to favour our chances of staying up.

There is no doubt we are looking much more effective. There might be a few reasons, but for me the clearest is our finally adopted "Premier League" formation, namely 2 defensive central midfielders, one up front and 3 attacking/creative mids making the play.

We don't actually play with a winger, more a right sided attacker of a front 3. Anyone know if he can actually play in this position?

Seriously at 26 your friends are now settling down? I moved to Brussels at 26 and spent the next 10 years, pretty much living an out 3-4 nights a week lifestyle. There is a huge number of late 20's, early/mid 30's international people doing the same thing week in week out. It's only in the last couple of years I've slowed down a bit as we age and settle down, but am still out probable twice a week on average. My advice, would be choose carefully where you live. Follow the lifestyle you want rather than the job. If you are moving on and won't have friends etc. in the place you go, make sure you choose a location that has lots of people in the same situation. Most large cities or expat destinations will help. If you are on your own, follow the tried and tested worldwide strategy of spending a lot of time in an Irish pub, where you are sure to meet other like minded drunks. It does however take time and effort to make a new life, but if you put the effort in you will be fine. If you feel like you want a change, just do it.

I think this is a fair topic for a forum such as this and good to debate. Personally I think such groups can have a good place, but often unfortunately they seem run by the "axe to grind" types, which turn many people off. Publishing a league table and "reminding" the club, is an example of exactly how to come over as self-important timewasters. I do sense the club is pushing its "Together as One" mantra, which is almost from a fan perspective a "with us or against us" position. It gets results and so long as the vast majority of fans are in the "with" camp (which I think they are), NC knows this and will continue to run the club with this single minded purpose. I doubt he loses a wink of sleep over those "against" Premier League in 2 seasons, investment in the clubs infrastructure & 12m on players like Gaston Ramirez keeps me firmly in the "with" section that a few Customer Service annoyances, odd decisions & fall-outs with club legends wont change. There probably is a line which would see the fans turn, my bet is NC knows where that is. Lets hope so.

If Fox is injured, I would go with Shaw. If he plays well, great, maybe he can help us to get a result. If he has a mare, fair enough we dont expect anything from the game and Wenger may start having second thoughts about him!

Interesting to listen to that interview from the Italian journalist. I hope Cortese has set them a deadline to make a decision and walks away if they continue to play games. I dont think we can afford to wait for the last minute on the 31st Aug whilst Bologna see if any other club will offer them a better deal. If the deadline is set now and they prefer to take the risk, we can work on other players. Either way, lets face it, Cortese will know what he's doing. I'm quite happy to have him conducting these type of negotiations.

I think the key is who in our squad is ideally a PL first 11 level & who is a backup player (i.e. can cut it at PL level, but may be considered a weakness) As such I would say the following are more squad than first 11 - Davis, Fox, Fonveld (one or the other), Punch, Guly, Richardson, Shaw, Stephens, Sharp, Gazz, Chambers I'm excluding Hammond, Chaplow, SDR, Seabourne & Butterfield who realistically seem unlikely to be able to cut it. As such that leaves a group of 1st 11 players: GK: ? RB: Clyne LB: ? CB: Hooite M: Lallana, JWP, Davis, Cork, Morgan F: Lambert, Lee, J-Rod You could argue therefore we need 1x GK, 1x LB, 1x CB & one forward (as J-Rods best position is probably the same as Lambert) based on the 433 we play. As such I think this is what we will sign before the transfer window closes.

Dracula & Herman Munster look on as Frankenstein’s Monster floors Quasimodo at the annual Hammer House of Horror 5-a-Side.

LB is the tricky one. I guess all depends on how close Shaw is to being first choice. If he is at all close, is it worth spending the 3-4m needed for someone better than Fox. As we pursued Buttner I guess initially we felt he was not ready, but potentially maybe we have reassessed how quickly Shaw will be ready and prefer to focus the cash elsewhere. Ramirez, Phillips, Butland and a class CB would do it for me, but I guess you would not get much change from 30m for that lot. I think we as fans are asking too much.

That 68 comeback special (all the stuff he does in the black leather suit and his guitar) truely shows the magic he was capable of. It's a mesmerizing performance.

Could easily be this years league table but in reverse. Says a lot about how widening the supporter base is critical in delivering success at the top level. Down the leagues having a local hardcore is hugely important, but in the Premiership you can't beat plastic.