James

Celebrating a great Newcastle victory when I was a kid would only feel complete and real to me once Tim Gudgin had read out the score on Final Score. RIP

Nah Rafa knows the importance of not rushing players back from an injury that could men to player missing even more time from another injury!

Based on some of the player sales Ashley has supposedly managed I fully expect that once everything is practically agreed and about to be signed off, Ashley will then request an extra £25m

Tomorrow is definitely happening people (in precisely 51 minutes)

Robson over Rafa for me however much I love Rafa

Jihordi John

If you look at the teams that have lost to Burnley over the past few years, yesterday is no major crime. Rafa would have wanted to win and perhaps we may have done if we played the game again under the same conditions. We have been competitive on every single game this season and have one of the best defences in the land. Days like yesterday will happen again this season - what else do you expect from a newly promoted club? But in the end if we keep doing what we have done so far this season, our losses will be far outweighed by our results.

Whereas defeat or a goalless draw may have felt inevitable under old management, I feel a growing sense of confidence that we could well grab the points tonight.

We won't be signing Shaw. He is one of those rare players who has peaked at 18. Rafa will be well aware of his bad attitude reported almost daily in the local Manchester press where he struggles to perform for the U23s

They will want something though. It could just be an ego-football manager thing. Or they could just want a successful football club to raise their profile. That is all promising for as long as PCP don't get bored. They may want to use the club as a corporate vehicle e.g. give away x% of seats to VIPs. That may cause some problems for fans It is not impossible to churn out a profit with the TV deal. It could also be argued that more money could be generated via sponsorship and significantly increased ticket prices. This could still be run less frugal than Ashley but still as a business. I don't think any owner will buy a club thinking they won't compete, but reality may eventually sink in. We don't really know how things will turn out let's just enjoy the ride.

Ketsbaia

I'm sure there has been interest when we have been in the PL, but Ashley hasn't wanted to sell e.g. Not turning up at that meeting set up with Middle East investors

Man City will win 2-1 with all goals in the second half

Barry Moat

27 year old Drinkwater for £35m compared to 21 year old Merino for £6.5m is a perfect case in point. Proven vs unproven, low-risk vs high risk. Won't work nearly as often as it doesn't. Not quite as clear cut as that though. Pay £35m and a player may have already peaked or may lose hunger now they have secured that big move. We could instead buy 3 players for £7m. A lot less money but with potential and hunger to improve and a manager who can help them do so. Yes one or even two may be duds (happens with Rafa fairly often) but statistically the risk is actually less than the single high cost option.

Never really a big fan of determining transfer market success via something as arbitrary as net spend. We have spent a lot less than many clubs yet have built a better squad. We simply have to have a very good manager (sorted) and give him the resources he needs to grow the side to where he wants the get us. Continual sustainable growth without constantly ripping up the squad.

Charnley forming his own consortium of Southgate, Jimmy Nail, Sting, John Major and Mike from Breaking Bad / Better Call Saul.

Yohan who?

From the sounds of accounts of his season at Liverpool before he joined us he was excelling as a CM playmaker with a great passing range but was forced to play up front for us. Was a bit harsh when Gullit threw an MBE party for Stuart Pearce and left Barnes off the guest list, even though Barnes had been awarded an MBE on same day!

Can not wait for Charnley's spreadsheet ejaculation when we sell him to Liverpool on Jan 28th for £14m

This got lost in the news that Merino signed as people were talking about square pegs in round holes in the Merino thread. Does anyone remember this sorry past?

I also remember a time when a significant minority of either this forum in its early years, or possibly its predecessor, wanted Shearer to play CB so Kluivert and Bellamy could play up front!

Don't forget Dummett at CB. David Edgar and Paul Huntington competing for LB Shola LW Enrique in goal

Huntington's is a very tragic illness so I hope this is not true. Sufferers are meant to become quite erratic as one of the first symptoms and then ultimately the club would effectively owned by someone else via power of attorney Safeguards would be needed on that one!

That won't happen because under Financial Fair Play. Look at what happens to PSG first.