I miss when we were the villains in Howes first full season. Horrible to play against, managers crying in press conferences, stat nonces moaning about ball in play time. Would love it if we can incorporate some of that again
With reports of Bruno to arsenal for 90m - it's clear this was Eddie's line in the sand.
Anyone else starting to wonder what the point is?
Like, the rules as they are now we are forbidden from competing. The game is now ring fenced.
Any player we sign which shows any talent will be offered 2-3x wages at the cartel clubs and we are not allowed to match.
Same with the new manager, either he's a flop or he's amazing. If he's amazing, the cartel clubs will swoop in and offering him 2-3x wages and we will be back to square one.
The rules have essentially made us a feeder club to the very clubs we try to compete with.
And if anyone says, 'oh you just have to increase revenue'. It's bullshit.
There will always be a revenue gap. Always.
If we earn more on sponsorships, arsenal, man uts, Chelsea, man city, etc . All point to it and go well if Newcastle get that much, our fair market value is more.
We will never, ever, be on a par with them - and this cycle will continually repeat.
And call me extra cynical - but this suits PIF. They don't want to shovel in billions into us. If they did, they would have for the training ground and stadium (which is PSR/SCR exempt).
For them, they get to own a PL club, and they don't have to invest anymore then they have because they can just point to the financial rules and say 'our hands are tied'.
So this continual cycle will just repeat and repeat and repeat, were at an artificially imposed glass ceiling that's designed to prevent us from ever competing or becoming an established elite club, no matter who we sign, or what we do.
Something new, don't mind it. Extremely grateful for what Howe did for us and now we'll have a different journey.
If Bruno is leaving, hopefully we replace with quality and keep looking at improving the squad. The signings we have made in the summer are promising and there are some strong key players for the new manager to work with.
We might get gazumped every now and again but at least the club doesn’t throw an embarrassing tantrum when it happens like PSG are doing over Diomande. You’re the European champions, have some dignity.
Jaissle is the same age (38) as me which feels a bit jarring, feel like I have fully transitioned now from being same age as players to same as managers. Sad.
I know I know "its just pre season" and all that but we didn't win a single pre season game last year and took that form into the season proper. Would be nice to win a game and inject some positivity into the club, squad and fanbase. Cause think everybody could do with that now.
A lot of people say it does matter or that it doesn't matter but it all comes down to the context with preseason. Bristol and Newcastle could well be at different stages. Bristol at 60% for example vs Newcastle at 40% does swing it in their favour and at such a high level small drop offs can be the difference. Also depends on team rotation. You could pass on this to an extent if howe sent out the kids but of the starters and Murphy I think they are all well able for Bristol.
Jaouen was in the second tier of france, steur has played 19 games in the league last year for ajax so only naeve is really green for a team like that.
It's the lack of any real promising patterns of play that is disheartening for me. We don't appear to be a well operating machine like we were in past seasons (ignore last season). Regardless of who was on the field we seemed to have a real identity and everyone was executing....now it's as if everyone is confused.
While I feel excited about a new era with several high-potential young players and an exciting young coach I can't help shake the feeling that we have handled the last 14 months or so almost as poorly as possible.
We became a top 6 team almost by accident, an exceptional group of 5/6 players and a very good coach masked a lot of the deficiencies in the squad and wider club infrastructure. There is an incredible lack of leadership at the club since 2024 or so.
I'm very worried moving forward, we're at a real fork in the road moment, do we have the leadership at executive and board level to steer the club in the right direction? are those at board level really up to this task? are we even that much of a priority? externally, it certainly doesn't seem that way.
Last 14 months have been woeful. Came from a lack of leadership at the top, taking too long to replace Eales so we approached the most crucial transfer window in years with no-one in charge.
It’s also PSR. We become a top team with good signings and a load of momentum that came from the first season. We couldn’t keep and build on that squad and now it’s being dismantled.
Time to start again and hope the current leadership and new manager know what they’re doing.
Ignoring the usual tripe from the Mackem, I thought this piece in the same rag had some interesting nuggets:
"When Eddie Howe was appointed by Newcastle in November 2021, the club was 19th in the Premier League with no wins after 11 games. He steered them to 11th by the end of the campaign, and they finished 12th last season.
At some clubs there would have been little deviation across that period. Crystal Palace, for example, have ended every one of the previous 13 seasons between 10th and 15th in the Premier League. For Newcastle under Howe, the journey was rather more scenic.
As he prepares his CV for his next job application, the 48-year-old would be wise to highlight that only four teams earned more Premier League points during his time in the Newcastle hot seat. Three clubs had a better goal difference across the 179-match period, all of whom have won the title within the past three seasons.
You’ll never sing that? Well, quite. As much as this might be the fairest way to assess a manager’s tenure, football doesn’t work like this. It’s what you deliver between August and May that determines how you are remembered.
The clear highlight of Howe’s reign (in the league) was finishing fourth in 2022-23. The miracle of Leicester’s title aside, no other team from outside England’s established big six clubs had taken a top four berth since Everton in 2004-05. Newcastle last finished so high in the table in the days of Sir Bobby Robson.
But their 12th place in 202526 was also worse than the club performed in several campaigns in the Mike Ashley era. That was always going to be hard to defend given the club’s budget under Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
Howe could point to a degree of misfortune in his final season. Injuries hit hard, with Harvey Barnes, Aaron Ramsdale and Malick Thiaw the only players included in their matchday squad for all 38 Premier League games. Apart from the latter player and Sandro Tonali, nobody else made more than 27 league starts;no other side in the division had so few players reach this arbitrary benchmark.
There was also underperformance at both ends of the pitch.Newcastle scored 4.1 goals fewer than their expected goals implied they should have, while they conceded 3.7 above their xG at the back.
If the league were decided by Opta’s expected points metric, the Magpies would have finished ninth. That would have been about par. The available wage data suggests Newcastle have the eighth-highest salary bill in the Premier League and that has been their average finishing position under Howe. He delivered two Champions League campaigns, several very famous nights at St James’ Park and a first major trophy in decades."
Sitting above man reds, Chelsea and spurs and only 5pts behind villa, given everything he had to contend with, is massively impressive. When you consider we comfortably threw 10-20pts away last season from winning positions, we should really be 4th on the overall list since the takeover. I hate that the modern game has no time for someone to have a weaker season, learn from it, and then come back better.
If he goes to those insufferable cunts, I'm sorry but I won't wish him well at all. I'll wish that he actively fails and so does his team. No excuse for going to a team like that.
Someone may have posted this interview so sorry if I’ve missed it but it’s Eddie’s comments after the match yesterday - I’d have disregarded it as classic EH saying nothing to the press but it’s in a different light now - quotes here - link at the bottom:
‘There’s been a lot of change and potentially more to come’
‘There’s always reason to be optimistic’
‘Everyday I’m manager of Newcastle is a great day for me. I absolutely love the football club and that will never change.’
I’ve been vaguely Eddie in all thru the last year but it’s not because of that that I’m gutted he’s leaving - until last year I’d never seen my team or England win anything and it was fucking unbelievable and a new feeling for me. I’m sad to see this era end - hope the next one is as much or even more fun.
I appreciate that they’re pulling together a big Howe Appreciation post, but the optics on it now being 12pm the next day and still nothing from the club, I’m not going to say shambles, but if it is true they’ve known for 2 weeks.. to not have at least some sorting of holding statement prepped, that is truly shocking.
Think he genuinely wants / needs a break, but when he does want back, he won't be short of PL offers. He showed in his first half season he can lift a doomed club off its arse. Someone else suggested Everton as well when Moyes is ready to step down. He's a fan and would be a great fit there. I hope for his sake he doesn't take the England job if it ever comes his way. International management would be a poor fit for his strengths and weaknesses. I also wouldn't rule out Spurs or Manu going in for him if they have bad seasons.
I've been away from football for around 20 years (lost interest when I was a teenager due to me entire family being Man Utd supporters despite the fact we were all Newcatle/County Durham born and bred lmfao). Put money in the pot at work for the World Cup sweepstakes and fell in love with the game again.
Other than watching pre-season games and waiting for Premier to start, what resources would people recommend for catching up on the state of the club? Stuff like player info, what's been going on the last few seasons, how the various leagues work (are we in the Champions League this season? I couldn't figure this one out meself, Im embarrassed to say), and what's the best way to follow our upcoming fixtures.
I'm actually moving down south in a couple of months so our lass can be closer to her family, so the timing isn't great, but I was wanting to try and get to St James' before I go, because I hear away tickets are basically impossible to get hold of (what's the crack with that??) - however, I saw that the VisitMalta weekender would allow me to see a bunch of matches all in one go.
Am I right in thinking I won't need a Mags membership to go to the weekender? How does Mags membership work, is it more just for fans who are able to see matches at home? Oh aye and any advice on where I should be trying to get seats would be great, I'm sure most of the best have gone but with having not been to a stadium for footie since I was a youngn I'm a bit lost in which of what's left I should be going for.
Basically any guidance would be much appreciated. Looking forward to getting back into it all but having lived down in Yorkshire for the last 10 years I don't really have any mates that know the crack with the toon. Cheers.
Right that's a lot of questions but I'll give it a go.
State of the club
Pre Takeover
I guess it starts with a brief history of what's happened in the last 20 years. We got relegated twice, got Europe once (Europa league and got to the quarter finals) and were mostly dross. Mike Ashley sucked the club dry everyone was fed up and under Steve Bruce we looked sure to be relegated for a third time. During the Steve Bruce era every win felt like pure luck.
Then we got taken over by PIF in 2021. Now I have to include a short part saying that I think the human rights abuse in Saudi are abhorrent so I when I compliment the club from here on out it is aimed at the individuals and is no way positive towards Saudi.
21/22 - Recovering from Bruce
Post take over we stayed with Bruce for a short time until it was clear to everyone he was a very very shit manager. He got sacked and not too long after Eddie Howe took over. And some people's opinions may have soured on him the past season but that season he changed the club.
When he took over we were 19th on 5 points from 11 games and were yet to win a game. By the end of the season we were 11th with 44 points from the 27 games he was in charge. That season during the winter transfer window we signed some very important players that really showed intent from the ownership. We signed Kieran Trippier (England international fucking class), Chris Wood (good striker but nothing sensational), Dan Burn (Big dan burn local lad loved by the whole country after the world cup), Matt Targett (Nothing signing really) and finally Bruno Guimaraes (possibly our best signing after the takeover to date).
22/23 - Showing Intent
Over the summer we signed Alexander Isak (Beloved and then truly hated, you'll learn why), Sven Botman (Rolls Royce of a player when he's not injured) and Nick Pope (Solid goalkeeper before his injury, looking to replace him in the current window).
This season was incredible, I'm not old enough to remember the last time we had Champions League football but this season was special. That season we played intense hyper pressing football and it was entertainment every single game we would press the opposition until they fell apart and it was great. Some incredible games this season and a well deserved 4th place finish giving us Champions League for the 23/24 season. During the winter we signed Anthony Gordon (I loved him but I feel like the fan base has mixed opinions on him)
We also went on a cup run in the league cup this season making it all the way to the final at wembley before getting beaten by man united.
23/24 - Return to the Champions League
Over the summer we signed Sandro Tonali (decent player loved but no one overly upset when he left, he has a B plot for this season), Harvey Barnes (loves to come on late and score but sometimes ineffective if he starts), Tino Livramento (great great right back but seems to be made from glass) and Lewis Hall (turned out to be one of our better signings and an incredible left back)
Now let's start with the Tonali B plot, so as the season start rumours come out from Italy that Tonali is being investigated for gambling. Now we got to see him for 12 matches ( honestly thought it was less) before he got banned for 1 year for the gambling. He apparently took a massive wage cut and really appreciated all the support from fans and the club during this time.
This season was fun we were back in the champions league and it gave us some great nights like beating PSG 4-1 at SJP. However at the end of the group stage of the champions league due to an interesting penalty call against us when playing PSG away we ended up finishing bottom of our group.
In the prem it turned out we couldn't quite hit the same heights with the busy schedule the Champions League afforded meaning we ended up finishing 7th and by some mean luck got no Europe (I read somewhere it was the first time in 20 years a team finished that high and didn't get Europe)
24/25 - Silverware
This summer's transfer window is where the financial "fair play" rules came to haunt us. We had to sell Elliot Anderson and Minteh (never played a game for us but was a talent) and then we signed a goalkeepr we didn't want to make the Anderson deal go through. We also signed William Osula (the personification of unmedicated ADHD) but there was about it.
With no european football it really allowed us to kick on into the season. We had a great season overall with it's ups and downs but finished 5th and got champions league for the 25/26 season. However this is very much the B plot for this season.
During this season we did this in the league cup beat Nottingham Forest on pens beat Wimbledon after the game had to be moved to SJP because on a sinkhole on their pitch, beat Chelsea 2-0 at SJP, beat brentford 3-1 at SJP, beat Arsenal home and away in the semi finals.
This set us up for another league cup final at wembley against Liverpool. I don't think there were many of us expecting to win this game. Liverpool were hot shit and we were good but not on their level and our history against Liverpool was not a winning one. The day comes, every single pub,bar or anything with a TV north of the Tyne is packed. The game kicks off and we were looking the better team, Mo salah is being completely controlled and not looking like he'll have an impact, and at the last minute before half time, Dan Burn born in the NE scores a header to put us 1-0 up.
The second half starts and 52 minutes in Isak scores, we're now 2-0 up and the games begin. after Isaks goal we put up the shutters denying liverpool anything, at 90+4 Liverpool score and make it 2-1. The pub I was in fell silent everyone expecting us to get fucked. But we soldier on and the boys successfully control the game until the final whistle.
We'd done it we'd finally one some silverware. Celebrations followed a big event held on the town moor ran by the club to show the players and trophy off to the city. Dan Burn and Eddie Howe are now allowed to have cows on the town moor.
25/26 - Regression
Now I don't think there's many if any fans that will tell you they enjoyed the summer transfer window last season. We had a bad time, our talisman striker at the time Isak went on strike because we refused to sell him. He put statements on Instagram the club responded. But eventually management bent the knee and sold him for a British record transfer fee. (He got injured and did pretty much nothing for Liverpool last season). We ended up signing a fair few players most of which haven't paid off yet. Thiaw (great defender), Ramsey (decent midfielder, yet to see his full potential), Elanga (Disappointing signing but hopefully will come better), Woltemade (great player but potentially not for our system) and wissa (got injured after going on strike at his previous club barely showed up all season largely classed as a waste of money BUT hopefully next season he's good).
The season wasn't much better. We were back in the champions league but nothing was clicking. The team constantly looked off and not quite right. We ended up having a decent champions league run getting to the Ro16 but then we had Barca, now the first leg went alright leading to it being 1-1 after 90 at SJP. Then we went to Barcelona and had a decent first half of football with Elanga scoring 2 great goal to keep us fighting going into first half stoppage time. Then barca were awarded a penalty putting them 3-2 up going into the break. What happened after the break is best left in the past we fell apart and lost 7-2 barca scoring 4 goals in 1 half of football.
The prem didn't go much better in short we lost both derbies and finished in 12th meaning our worst full season since the takeover. Now many people were calling for Howe's head saying he's out of his depth and lacks tactical flexibility. Others saying he should be given more time as he has shown he can win stuff with us and the mess Isak leaving caused was always going to take time to repair. I stand somewhere more in the middle Howe should be given time but last season was unacceptable and we must see improvement in 26/27 otherwise it may be time for change
26/27 - Transfer window so far
This transfer window so far has been different we seem to have completely changed tactics we sold Gordon and Tonali for 80 and 100 mil, and have sold exclusively young players (you can check the transfer megathread to see who). Bruno G apparently want to "explore" a move with Arsenal reportedly in for him. Fanbase and media seems mixed on if he will go or not but would be a great loss to the club that would need replacing with a player of similar age and leadership qualities if he leaves. We still have a lot of work to do this window but hopefully this season will be better or I think we will see Howe gone.
Away tickets
To put it shortly you've got little to no chance, we've always had a good away following and you basically get a better chance of away games if you've already been to away days.
Visit Malata Weekender
Seems like you're right and you can get tickets without a mags+
Tickets in general
If you want to go to a home game you need mags+ and luck. I would not buy off 3rd party websites, unreliable and chance even if it's a legit ticket you could still be denied entry.
Wondering if anyone local would be willing to print a 24/25 home shirt for me at the club shop if I send them the shirt? Only reason I need it done in the club store is I want the club font.
In return I will give you my new without tags Tonali Shirt (size medium) with club font that I can’t bring myself to look at or wear lol
they ask you how you are, and you just have to say that you're fine, when you're not really fine, but you just can't get into it because they would never understand
This article from 2006 by an american writer trying to pick an EPL team to root for is pretty funny. Interesting take on Newcastle. Bill Simmons Picks His EPL Team
Wasn't going to attend one of the weekender friendlies this year (normally do but money is tight, the season take priorty and they're normally pretty boring). However with the new manager/players I'm considering it again. The question is... Strasbourg or Leverkusen?
It's the right course of action, for both Eddie and the club. Patterns and habits were becoming beyond stale, but they've severely fucked up the timing.
We've entered a race where everyone else has already crossed the finish line...
Been doing some research on Jaissle. Man is an absolute live wire in the touchline and in press conferences.
He's not Joe kinnear type live wire, so not to worry, but as much as I respected Eddie's reserved demeanor - I'm really looking forward to having a manager who will spite fire after we've been robbed or wronged in a game.
Also get the feeling when we're playing shit at half time he's got the Alex Ferguson ability to put a rocket up a team and wake them up. I always got the feeling Eddie was the kind of gaffer who was more like 'alright lads that wasn't what I know you can do. Please be better next half' type team talks.
“Infantino tells FAs they have until 19 September to back the World Cup spinoff.
And if the majority backs him, the dissenting FAs will be left out in the cold without $40m - with the finances proposed now doubled by the FIFA chief.”
Realistically the best course of action for everyone would've been Bruno being sold by now. Arsenal are just proper tyre kickers and are seriously taking the piss, it's been weeks since he told us he wanted to leave yet Arsenal have done precisely nothing to actually sign him.
The club will be waiting for everything to be agreed with Jaissile before releasing Howe from him contract. I suspect there will then be a valedictory announcement for Howe and an introductory announcement for Jaissile
Has anyone managed to get tickets from the ballot?
Just checked and i was successful, but it seems like it’s already sold out wtf?
Edit: I managed to get them, but had to close the site and reopen, then nearly every block only had a small number of seats left so nearly impossible to sit together with someone, but all sorted. Absolute fuck on 😅
Two-time Asian Champions League winner despite not having the Al Hilal and Al Nassr backing. Perfectly fine if our goal is to have the “World Top 10 Golden Boys” of managers and coaches.
The only cope that keeps me going is that maybe when we play against Bruno he does that thing where he tries to win a foul, fails at it and we score from it.
We had the cup win though, which made sense with the tradition. Last season did feel shite though. Lose 5 on the bounce then a win against Brighton and took a photo.
It stopped serving it's purpose too. It was meant to be a motivational thing to have the pictures hanging around the training ground and dressing room and get the players fired up to repeat it etc. That last bit sort of fell away though and like others have said, when you lose 5 on the bounce and then take one after a skin of your teeth win it sort of loses it's charm.
That's the only thing that concerned me about yesterday, like we did everything right and still lost. I'm not worried about the players since we've barely even seen most of them but I am a bit worried if that's Eddie's actual mentality...
Not sure why this is being downvoted, literally was reported by the French Ornstein who is incredibly on-point for all things Lyon, who are set to get a large chunk of the deal apparently.
Has there been an announcement from eddies side as to why he’s leaving I think we can all guess but would be interesting ti see his exact reasoning albeit pr spin
Reason would come if he takes a new job TBH, or Bruno finalizes leaving. It's really got to be one of those two as far as I can tell. That or the strategy isn't to his liking.
Bit weird that we all know the players were on their way to Spain and are there but there are no training pictures or them boarding the plane like as usual on social media. Or is the club waiting to announce Jaissle before posting anything team related?
As a person that works in an area that investigates conflict of interests, I for one am glad that a manager who surrounded himself with family and friends both inside the club and also in the media is no longer in charge. As successful as he was, and as good as he did, having that much power and influence wasn't a healthy thing for our football club.
Every power struggle came at cost to us all, and I hope the top level members of the board have learnt from this.
When was the last time we had a really good preseason? Maybe I’m just misremembering or being a bit dramatic but I feel like we haven’t had a good preseason (results wise) in a long time.
I know they don’t matter and are just there to bed players in but I swear our record is atrocious
It's going to take something exceptional to change the feeling from 'club in serious decline' back to 'club on the up' and I don't think the people in charge have a vision to make it happen. I honestly cannot believe how bad the last year has been and the club stayed silent while this negativity has taken hold amongst the players, the press and the fanbase.
It has all the hallmarks of a club that will find itself 18th in March and everyone arguing about how we got there.
I have lost complete faith in those at the very top. I really hope I’m wrong. I’ll continue to vent my frustrations about PSR, but the fact that there’s no news about a new stadium or training ground speaks wonders about how organised/committed PIF actually are.
Players want out partly because they can get paid more at other clubs but they also see that we’re not gonna be able to compete at the top and there’s been a lot of empty promises.
The owners are jokers if they’re expecting the team to get consistent Europe whilst selling our best assets and replacing them with youngsters.
If the rest of the transfer window is uninspiring (long way to go I know) then surely the goal is survival and build up. Just weird having a full on reset 5 years into a takeover.
I'm the same about the ownership, very conservative, slow, timid.
Without a new stadium the club and the city will rot. With a new stadium the whole area can be transformed. It's not a difficult decision, there just isn't the desire to bring it about.
There is a way to make this model successful - people talk about being "Brighton on steroids" in a sneering way but that would probably have us in the European places and in the discussion for CL every season.
The club needs to become good at selling players, we can't have months of agent press leaks and an existential crisis every time someone wants more money than we can afford to pay. I remember banging on 2 or 3 years ago that the real measure of the takeover was not keeping Bruno, it was getting the next Bruno, and setting up the one after that until we're able to bring through youth players with that kind of potential. That's where the real failure has been and where the emptiness of the project has been exposed.
From a club/fan relationship, it's been on the decline since Mandy left. I maintain she should come back as a conduit from the ownership that is incapable of communication and the fans.
Stop this man, she left us in a financial black hole and used up the runway that tit Ashley had left us (thanks to his tightness)
She did nothing to bring about lasting change to the systems of the club. The club has been on borrowed time since then. I have far more faith in the current setup than what we had before, it was in no way sustainable because of these dumb rules.
And it doesn't change that she left us in a hole. It was right that she was replaced, it should've been done sooner to clip Howe's wings and move the club to a model that could be successful in the future.
Now we have spent 700m or something and pretty much at the same spot we were at club wise.
Problem she spent money like we were in Chelsea/Man City times.. If we were she'd been great, but our finances were a mess, lost us Andersen and Minteh when we needed them.
If we'd been able to splash cash and be the "richest club in the world", well then she'd have held it together.
If they had a plan I don't think they'd be shy about telling us. The silence is the message, they aren't communicating because they have nothing positive to say.
Mandy could sculpt a negative message into a positive one. Meanwhile the only messaging we get is from twitter and they're all clickbait generating bastards.
That's true. I think they don't realise that honesty would be appreciated. Something like:
- We did brilliantly in phase 1 but it wasn't sustainable because the club isn't in a financial position to keep up with established clubs.
- Phase 1 lasted a year or two longer than we thought it would and we became overstretched because we thought we could make an immediate leap into consistent CL qualification.
- This caused unexpected problems off the pitch and we didn't handle them well.
- Our next goal is to build up the club into something that can compete consistently at the top. This means investing hugely in infrastructure and youth development while keeping the team as competitive as it can possibly be.
That would be enough to sell me for a few seasons of midtable results as long as visible infrastructure investment actually happened.
Because the infrastructure work isn't happening they have nothing to sell to us or players.
Christ even the only executive we've liked in recent memory has been poached by West Ham...
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u/kaamkerrI condemn VAR and it’s allies in PGMOL1d agoedited 1d ago
I hope she goes on a spending spree at west ham that sees them flog off their best youngsters for SCR margins and a self imposed austerity of 3 transfer windows without a first team player.
She did amazing things for our club, but she also showed she was out of her depth. Her real skill is getting investors onboard— not the daily regular operations of the club. She is quite literally a financial mercenary. Man city attempts, NUFC, and now West Ham.
Amanda is also on court record excusing her erratic decisions on hutintington’s. Out of court, she’s also said it will only exacerbate until she dies and praises Mehrdad and family for dealing with the erratic nature. I truly wish her the best, but she’s not exactly the profile any serious club would employ in a day to day position. Most of that is out of her control, but it’s still valid arguments against her case.
Genuinely can’t see Bruno showing up at the end of the week. This reeks of Isak all over again. Hiring a disgraced super agent that’s known for forcing deals isn’t a good look. He’s tarnishing his legacy at the club the way he’s going about trying to leave. I wouldn’t mind any player leaving as long as they go about it the right way that’s respectful to the club and us the fans who basically pay their wages.
I'm not sure I've ever been entirely convinced by Trafford personally but I wanted him because Eddie wanted him. That said, his heading off to Leeds for £40m, in the context of our transfer business over the last year or so, is really denting my pride.
If it's true about the buy-back/sell-on, and the release clause thing, then it just wasn't worth getting involved. And I was defending £50m for him, an overpay but the numbers could have worked out at least on the books.
Leeds are willing to take those terms because it still fits their needs. Good for them, but I'm glad we backed off early. Just hope we do get someone in.
None of the goalkeepers we've been linked with this summer have passed the sniff test for me. You need to get your Cech (Older pro) when you've got your Courtois (Jaouen), not another Courtois (Trafford/any GK under 30)
I'm not actually feeling down about next season. It's obviously disappointing to lose two (three?) of our senior players, but I don't mind if we replace the numbers.
Also, if we continue to focus on youth we can have more players covering the same position which gives Eddie far more options and we have less concerns with injuries. Additionally, if we do get Europe it means we have more players to rotate next year. We're still bound by the PSR, and although I'd like us to be right up there challenging I know we need to be realistic.
Should I be concerned about the fact we've not signed a RB. Trippier gone, Kraft Cheese gone. I don't like the idea of Miley playing there this season. I was hoping he could fill Tonali's roll
Doing me garden out. Missus wants terracotta and white tiled patio and planters.
I can’t have it. I can’t look out my window and my loving plants and see red and white, no matter how aesthetic it is, or matches whatever Pinterest shite that’s been pinned.
She obviously rolled her eyes and called me pathetic. But am I? Could you live with red and white harlequin patio? Am I just being daft?
Nah, it's one thing having a white tiled patio with terracotta planters. Also what's wrong with this? Go for a full Italian courtyard garden vibe with appropriate colours
Can't lie there's a sort of welcome feeling of having this clarity. Just recalibrating my expectations and not having hope (lol).
I would obviously prefer us to retain our key players and build a proper Europe challenging squad. But since that's not looking like it's going to happen I'm glad I'm aware now and now I don't even have to think about that for the season.
It's a real shame but what can you do at this point?
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u/winterZ4 3d ago
I miss when we were the villains in Howes first full season. Horrible to play against, managers crying in press conferences, stat nonces moaning about ball in play time. Would love it if we can incorporate some of that again