shurlock

What a rally!

Clearly an offer will have to be acceptable to us, though our bargaining power will be reduced. With relations already poisoned, can you genuinely see us holding firm for another summer, if our target valuation is not met? I can't. That's not to say that we'll be lowballed (though can see some clubs -cough Levy- trying their luck). More likely that it will be a messy compromise -and any figure that's agreed will look modest relative to other transactions for comparable players and will certainly be lower than the types of fee that some are hoping for here. Second, assuming he comes in from the cold, I agree he can make a difference to our performances, league position and any prize money we receive. Of course, how much of a difference he makes remains to be remain. Some argue that you can get still get the best out of a player after a transfer dispute since they are ultimately professionals (see Schneiderlin); others argue you get a less than committed player, slightly tainted goods (see Wanyama). It'll be a fascinating test of these competing hypotheses. I tend to subscribe to the first view -and never got the Wanyana hate FWIW.

Probably some truth in this. For all intents and purposes, he's off next summer -regardless of whether there's an informal agreement. Can't see us holding him to his contract for another summer, however much we're entitled to and I'd love to see us try, without it causing a shîtstôrm and being counterproductive. One summer maybe; but not two in a row. Other clubs know this, though it's doubtful that it'll lead to truly pîsstake offers. Way too much faith (usually by nonlawyers) put in the force of contracts.

Wijnaldum?

The latter - gives him Hoedt a year to acclimatise and prepare as successor to VVD, hopefully by playing alongside VVD. Better than being thrown into the deep end. Also makes financial sense: the way the market is headed, a £15m player this season will be worth closer to £20m next summer. Good to do our business now as we know we'll need to buy a CB with VVD's inevitable departure.

Uncle Les has been an animal this window.

Would suggest Wimmer is going somewhere.

If you were telling a story, it would make for a nice cliffhanger...

Don't think that's a lucky name for Chairman Gao.

Seems like bit of a c**t tbh.

No longer a full member pal? That's a shame. Guess the £5 gets you an extra bucket of balls down the range

Had you heard of Hoedt a few weeks ago? Or Lemina? Had you heard of Gabbiadini when we signed him? Or Cedric? There's your answer, pal.

It remains to be seen whether you are in fact a professor.

Is that meant to be ironic and self-deprecating? You've been banging the drum on here for years that Rooney is past it, that successive managers are too scared to drop him etc.

Not sure we'd play Clasie if he's off.

Comparing the Bertrand and Zabaleta incidents is ridiculous. The speed at which contact occurred and the change in body angle are completely different. FWIW the ball was going slightly behind Yoshida. As I said at the time, I can see why the penalty was given but it was at the softer end of the continuum. Graham Poll wouldn't have given it.

A real who's who there. Nothing ad hominem - only that the assumptions and modelling choices underpinning these types of estimates have been throughly dismantled on here before. Criticisms range from wishing away the effects of distance on trade patterns, misunderstanding the role of standards and attributing all differences in producer prices to trade barriers (rather than also to differences in tastes and quality) through to ignoring the importance of services and FDI when estimating welfare costs from lower UK exports to the EU 
after Brexit. Minford and fellow occultists forecasts are a throwback to the 1970s and early 1980s when you could wing it with a highly simplified theory, a bit of A-level maths and a ZX Spectrum. They basically represent everything that is micky mouse about economics as a wannabe hard science. They are not grounded in facts or data about how the world actually works which are the basis of modern trade models. I wait with bated breath for their autumn paper. Perhaps you can fill us in on how they'd defend their assumptions as you're so heavily invested in the substance -and reject ad hominem attacks, except when its on those who are in burning tower blocks and look a bit different from you. Or maybe you only know how to cut and paste the bits of an article that are not behind a paywall If so, suggest you go back to playing businessman or shedding a tear for Diana, little kipper.

Gabbi missed a pen against united, though from what I can remember, it was more a good save than a bad miss. Would still have him take pens over Tadic any day, if Austin or JWP are not on the pitch. Otherwise I prefer Bertrand to Tadic.

The rest is relevant? English still not a strength, is it little fella? Glad, though, you're showing your true colours. Your argument basically amounts to saying that because the ref gave it, it must be correct and the rest is irrelevant. Was it correct that Noble wasn't booked or we weren't even given a free-kick for the challenge on Lemina? There's drivel and then there's drivel and then there's ALWAYS

It's pretty obvious what it is meant by 'soft. Some decisions are clearer than others -and this one was not clear cut. Many refs wouldn't have given it.

They gave Chelsea 3000.

Game getting tasty.

Come on Tom, you can be more forthcoming than that without giving anything away, compromising sources etc.

At which end?