FFP

[Chris Harte]

Not so much a free pass. Just felt the games I mentioned were more obvious draws that we could reasonably have expected to win.

[AV82EC]

Mostly cliche rather than analysis but not sure i can get too bothered about a remote comment piece about the Villa in the Guardian.

As for our PSR position I’m wary given so many presented such an optimistic view ahead of the summer which didn’t come to pass!

I’m wary too having been positive about PSR, and then being hit by UEFA’s SCR & FER. Difficult to post about specifics without up-to-date accounts and analysis, but the head winds are good. There are three pillars of revenue that always get mentioned - broadcast, matchday and commercial. Broadcast we’re okay and leads to us being firmly in that Deloitte Money League top 20. Matchday and commercial we’re behind but improving. But I’m massively optimistic about a fourth pillar of income that we do well in - player trading and academy sales. I’m convinced the current crop will either save or make us a fortune. We’re second only to Chelsea in recent years and I believe there’s serious talent among the present up-and-comers.

Just to add to Percy’s optimism, we’re on course to achieve our highest ever UEFA club ranking (5yr) if we do well in this years Europa League. Not in itself massively important but is crucial for UEFA value pillar payments. We’re currently 39th but could end up in the mid 20s if we go well.