So the scum have even more Euro trophies than us.

[IUFG]

How's Balogun doing after his one good season in France?

Not so well, I understand. However, at 5 ' 10", I wouldn't describe him as a big lump.

I wouldn't mind a Chris Wood type player on the bench tbh.

[Peter]

Not so well, I understand. However, at 5 ' 10", I wouldn't describe him as a big lump.

I wouldn't mind a Chris Wood type player on the bench tbh.

The dreaded 'Plan B'......

[redgunamo]

A fully fit and firing Odegaard would make a huge difference

A fully-fit and firing hundred million pound striker would make a huge difference to Odegaard

[redgunamo]

Not so well, I understand. However, at 5 ' 10", I wouldn't describe him as a big lump.

I wouldn't mind a Chris Wood type player on the bench tbh.

Right. A competent journeyman would do. Somebody like Diego Milito; not too much money, huge impact.

[redgunamo]

How's Balogun doing after his one good season in France?

Nothing to write home about, plenty of injuries.

[redgunamo]

Very true. Jesus is actually a very fine player. But his finishing is just not good enough and he cant stay fit. Havertz is a very good centre forward. Like many others, he wasn't at his best this season but he was superb in the second half of last season. I am not convinced that any of the strikers we have been linked with (excluding Isak) are better than him.

We shall see. But without question, Saka and Odegaard are exceptional players and the most important in our creative third. A striker who works well with them and puts away chances is the priority. Some big lump who scores 30 a season and does sod all else wont necessarily make us better.

We don't want to be better, we merely want better results. Everybody knows we're a decent side.

Imagine, despite winning every game, performances failed to improve. That would do, that's what our new 30-goal striker would be for.

[redgunamo]

It will boil some people's piss but the striker might not be first choice as you say!

He will be, if we pay enough money for him. And there's the rub

[redgunamo]

True. But their cost in the market massively outweighs their value to us.

Fair point; I gather the difference in prize money between first and second is just three million quid.

[Peter]

Fair point; I gather the difference in prize money between first and second is just three million quid.

And there is the fundamental issue with how football finance works. The financial gap between winning rhe league and coming second is small. The gap between finishing 5th and 6th is gigantic.

If you are an owner, and finishing second, why would you not be happy witg that.....

[Peter]

We don't want to be better, we merely want better results. Everybody knows we're a decent side.

Imagine, despite winning every game, performances failed to improve. That would do, that's what our new 30-goal striker would be for.

If one manages to completely divorce performance level from results, yes.

I think it is best to play it safe and try and play better.