midds

Slightly alarmed at how isolated and ineffective Wilson was in that first half. Effectively snubbed out and barely got a kick. Really enjoyed the game though, result isn't that important but it's good to get that level of intensity into friendlies before the season, it'll help. I'd much rather lose that type of game in that type of atmosphere as put 5+ past Walsall and learn zero from it.

Sure I've seen that Wood header at least 10 times in the last 6 months. Doing the defenders jobs for them.

It's a good test this. Big team, big ground, big crowd and although it's only a friendly it'll help Howe to get a better handle on what he's working with. Far better to have this type of game than Chesterfield away.

We know why they're doing it and there's logic and reason behind it. They've done more in 8 months than Ashley ever did and I appreciate all of it. If we didn't sign another player this window then I'd still be grateful for the investment they made in January. I'd take a step back and look at the bigger picture and be more than satisfied. I'm just trying to say that they can't knock players back constantly, clubs know we're loaded, they know the Saudis are ambitious and that comes at a price. We're going to have to pay through the nose to get the deals done that are going to match the ambition of the Saudis. Yes, FFP comes into it but other clubs are essentially ignoring it and/or paying it lip service. Money in the bank isn't going to move NUFC up the table.

I think over the next couple of weeks they need to make some sort of decision about the strategy they seem to be using. At the minute they're digging their heels in and refusing to be bent over a barrel and pay more than they think players are worth. Whilst this goes on the squad remains strengthened but still a bit patchy in places. At some point they need to accept that it's either going to take longer to get the players they want or they need to start being more willing to cough up a bit more to get who they want in and move the club even further forward. It's all well and good being cautious and walking away from deals because they're too expensive but at some point they are going to have to start to overpay for the players on their lists. I'm not having a pop as I fully understand why they're walking away. But you can't constantly walk away from deals AND sign players to move up the table. It's one or the other in reality.

Asking precisely the wrong person for that

Should we do latest score updates and shit for this one?

Recommend Heworth for this if he's heading back down the A19. Town to A19 in about 15 mins

Watched that Kick Off preview and broadly agreed with about 85% of it. Bit disappointed that Bri seemed to be moaning a bit that more players in the final third hadn't been brought in, he's not wrong but came across as a little bit greedy and wanting everything fixed within a couple of windows. We'd all like to see exciting new strikers and wingers come in but it's not like they've been skimping on their investment, it's astonishing how much has been put into that squad in 7 months. It's understandably frustrating that they know that the key to unlocking the top 6 is signing 3 or 4 'difference makers' in the front few positions and they've not arrived yet. But it's still very early in their project and it'll happen. Just not quite as quickly as some would like. Just need a bit of patience. Booting off and moaning because they've not fixed every hole in the squad in 2 windows isn't a good look imo

Burn him

Must admit I'm warming to him a bit. I think the key, as previously mentioned, is to not take his stuff too seriously, he's lowkey hilarious without even realising it, it's effortless and absolutely not an act. He also winds up the Sunderland fans massively and also doesn't seem to give a single fuck about what people think which makes me like him even more tbh.

1.42...........1.43............love it..........1.44

Plus they don't need to play the first 2 rounds of the FA Cup this year too because they're so huge.

Lost it when he was tasting the potatoes

Is the fat pig 'doing it his way' yet or still blaming the mighty Ismael?

So you're fit and available if Howe needs you as an impact sub?

Any knocks or injuries?

Does someone want to message the cunt that golf doesn't have FFP and football does? Absolutely hate twitter like, full of utter melts like this bald prick just getting off on a a bit of negative interaction with thousands of people. I'll never relate to them or their mentality, they can all disappear up their own arseholes asap

Pepe's utter pigshit. One of the worst signings in PL history and I wouldn't want him if he was free.

Everton fans should be shaking like shitting dogs atm after listening to that. Lampard was looking and talking exactly the same in April and there's something fundamentally wrong at that club, maybe a combination of things going on in the background but they were utterly rank last year and this seems to be merely a continuation of that. Everton fans will have a better handle on it as they know their club better than we do but the whole thing still looks like a car crash waiting to happen.

You'd also think that if he hits the ground running he'd give himself a small chance of playing himself into a bit of form and maybe, just maybe, in with a shout of the WC squad. He'd be the star man there and he'll see plenty of the ball for the first 15 games or so. I can see the logic from all parties

Essentially puts Lingard directly back into the same situation he's currently in right now next summer. He's free, to do as he wants (any old time)

It's what they're pricing them at Obviously if they've all lumped on promotion based on a bit of momentum then it'll shorten the price. No idea who they've even signed tbh.

Speaks volumes of the recruitment policy that's been in operation for the last few years that we've amassed a standard of players that is literally worthless. Hayden, Clark, Hendrick, Gayle, Woodman have all left without bringing in a fucking bean. We've essentially given them away as no other club deems them even worthy of a nominal fee. Another example of Ashley being such a fantastic businessman - allowing a fucking moron to accumulate players who tank in value so much they literally worthless. Problem being is there are another 3 or 4 at least who are in a similar boat - worthless and unwanted, stuck on hefty contracts because they simply couldn't be fucking bothered to scout for better. It's fucking scandalous how they used to run the gaff.

Bookies seem to think they're just as likely to go up as go down. Chances are they'll become an absolutely bang average champo team for a few years yet.