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I agree, they’re shit with our without him.

take him out of that team and they'd genuinely have been in danger of getting relegated this season

The players own motivation will have played into it. He is going to Madrid for the profile as much as anything. This nonsense is only going to be every four years - could be only chance you get to play in it.

I’m guessing a sponsor is stumping up at least part of the amount. No way Madrid pay £10m off their own bat. The organisers want all the players they can get there and will have facilitated accordingly. They’ve even blagged a special stub transfer window to enable this sort of move.

They don't have a RB at all

The prize money for the CWC is insane isn't it? I'm sure I read the winner will receive £100m+.

I was in the home end at Dortmund, it was my first time doing it, and it was surreal! I was expecting to have to keep silent the whole game, then I get in the ground and there's 10+ people with black and white tops lol. Half-time in the concourse was wild, about 20 Newcastle fans going nuts singing Toon songs for the whole of half-time, completely took over the place, obviously joined them Their fans where just laughing at us. Sidestory, I goes to the toilet, guy on my left is a Toon fan, guy on my right went to my school, wtf! 2nd half there was Newcastle songs started on the terraces from a few in front and behind us, mental experience. Likely the score played a big part in them giving us a pass, and as said plenty grounds it's going to be a different story. I'll always have a soft spot for Dortmund and their fans after that.

There’s still seven teams to come through qualifying yet, which depending who makes, could slightly alter the potential pot make up. But what’s been shared is largely how it’ll be. Think Pot 1 is definitely guaranteed as it is. However, due to the new format, what pot you’re in is nowhere near as big a deal as it used to be.

That's an absurd deal. Do Madrid really think he's going to make that much of a difference for this CWC nonsense or that it's even important? I suppose what they've probably done is offer him 10 million less across the whole package (6 year wages/signing on fee) and he's happy to do that to secure the move now.

Newcastle is a sporting director graveyard. Might be the reason.

Our best players were signed from abroad. I'm happy to continue with that. Howe was happy to go for Etikite and JP previously.

The thing is, the chat's better off in here than clogging up Transfer Rumours, which must be infuriating to wade through if you're looking for actual rumours. #TeamShay

Richard Hughes doing a good job at Liverpool. Quite a few on here didn’t want him as our sporting director last summer when he was linked. Would have been the idea candidate in hindsight.

Would love a comfortable draw, go as far as possible. None of this hardest draw possible again.

I think those are all important inputs, especially when it comes to looking abroad. Howe generally wants proven PL quality which means buying Mbuemo at say £40m instead of £15m a year earlier when he's not proven he can adapt. That's just an example to make a point, it's not a legally binding statement with exact prices and quotes to back it up.

Great, cheers gents - I'm hoping for some tourist friendly places then. Maybe not Napoli away On a side note, if we do make the final (we can dream), I've seen resales on Ticombo on the day of previous finals go for much less than the face value, will be loads of sponsors making a quick buck on free tickets I believe. I got tickets for Euro final last summer at a pretty decent value on the day from there.

Are people just guessing the pots or are they already decided?

Is he the only person at the club that does this? Mitchell's job was to sign players, negotiate contracts and negotiate sales. The identification of players will involve numerous people/scouts, manager. No way does Mitchell lead the scouting, that's not his job. His job was to set direction on what the scouts should look for and decide who we should decide and work with CEO on budgeting and strategy. Mitchell might have an in with certain agents though.

Main thing I think it will affect this window is outgoing deals. That’s where they become important imo.

Yeah it’s important to do your research to make sure you avoid the ultras section

I did it at PSG away too, was right next to the away fans. There were loads of our lot in the home end and their fans didn’t really care. If anything they embraced it as long as you were well behaved. Could order a pint on an app too and it was waiting for you at half time. They were actually checking passports at the turnstiles but it was fairly easy to slip past them. I did see two of our fans get turned away, then just walked straight to the next entrance and get in no bother.

Pope's a good keeper, more than good enough for another season or two. We'd only be signing an understudy anyway, and if the Trafford price has gone higher than we originally budgeted for, then we might look at someone a bit less established.

Another point about going in the home end of a European game is obviously where in the ground you decide to buy your ticket. As above you're unlikely to have any issue in most of San Siro, but you'd definitely have a problem if you got a resale ticket in the middle of the curva.

The best thing we got with Mitchell was Bunce. I’m pleased to see he’s staying!

Gives us something to talk about if nothing else