James

Rafa would have done better this season. Discuss

NJOY

His knees just exploded standing up from the contract table

I’d get the logic of having him as a 15 min option if we are trying to hold onto a win. but equally I’d get it if Howe wants to stick to a clean break from players he has no plans for.

don’t think David Cameron or Prince William can sing

don’t ask HTT he’s left the forum

We seem to be getting interesting draws other than Fulham, like we are at hot ball. I think we’ll get Maidstone away

So we were so scared of Dad Duncan’s reaction about releasing his son that we gave him another player?

£17 billion? fucking hell

bodies are not for the sake of it - it is so we can field a legitimate subs bench and give a little bit of rest and competition to some seriously overworked players.

Given the fact that a) we have no attacking options on the bench and none are returning soon, and b) we are FFP broke, we should be looking at short term bodies if there are no good long term deals about. I’d be reluctant to do this but it’s just the reality that we could be looking at bottom half and unreasonable pressure on Eddie if we don’t alleviate squad pressures. Ben Brereton Diaz who has gone to Sheff Utd on loan is a missed opportunity for a third choice striker for peanuts. Meanwhile I don’t like him, but if I had to choose between Hall or Ritchie of the bench, or Lingard of the bench, I’d choose Lingard.

It wouldn’t be Howe’s fault, one of the Gambia player’s read on their parent club fan forums that planes can quite possibly leave the atmosphere. This player told everyone on board and they all thought they should check this out

I’m on a street corner holding my baby boy waiting for my wife to pay for parking when there are two people walking towards me chatting. I start looking at one of them because I was convinced I had worked with them at some point (later I remember that he was a client of mine about eight years ago) Anyway the other guy has noticed me looking at them and as he passes he turns to look at my boy before turning back and walking off. It is only when he gets a little bit further down the road when I realise that was the Neviller himself. So sorry Gary I was staring at your property colleague, not you!

well he’s been a sick note since we signed him. Who was his last pre-NUFC manager?

Could we get a Saudi team to take a hit for us on Hayden? Wouldn’t be our fault if a Saudi team took him off us for a free and offered him a contract worth more financially for just six months than it would be if he stayed at Newcastle until 2026!

Never want to lock a thread but I don’t feel this is a football thread any more, needs to go on General Chat

we may regret that one, certainly one we should have considered

I think there are legitimate questions to ask (not just to Howe but a number of back room staff) but at the same time we are still having a good season and there a no need to be knee jerk. Would be a different story if this happened every season. But to date this is a one off.

NUFC 2007 to 2021. I wrote it, we all lived it.

The next stage of selling players I don’t think should be about who isn’t good enough - as all of our players are good enough relative to their squad status. The next changes we need to make is to bring in budget relative to the FFP by selling players who are not physically resilient. that means that Wilson an Willock are players I will be sad to see go. But they should go.

It will be Willock and Wilson

How long will it be before Bruce reveals he discovered Miley and recommended him to Howe?

Its win win win going into the last game. If we place 2nd, we exceed expectations in the CL this season. We claim a financial bonus and improve our European ranking for future seasons. If we place 3rd, we have always enjoyed the UEFA Cup and done well. More coefficient points and a genuine chance of a trophy. if we place 4th we can be proud of our performances in returning on the CL and can rest and refocus on a trio of domestic opportunities.

Reminder that in addition to our ongoing injuries, Gillespie, Krafth, Ritchie, Alex Murphy and Diallo are unregistered for this game.

Diallo and Murphy have not met the three year criteria to get an underage registration.