Benwell Lad

Simon fucking Grayson man And only after the Aberdeen manager had turned them down

Think I mentioned that as Ritchie would definitely fancy the role. Personally I think he's good enough to play it, but more importantly he has arguably the most intense "winning" mentality in our squad and should be involved in a pivotal position.

I see their latest sad attempt to be friends with some big lads (Millwall this time ) was an embarrassing debacle and ended with some serious macktracking by those involved

When you are paying £12m in this day and age, hope has to be a big part of it. I'm glad it's Rafa taking the punt though, his judgement should be better than most. I wouldn't doubt Rafa's judgement and certainly not his ability to manage or coach, but in fairness it was mostly his decision to go for Sels, Lazaar and Gamez.

Neither really, he mentions Jan and the 30mil profit & they tried to go early (this summer) but sometimes you have to wait. He knows the numbers and what resources they have and still remains confident. It was on sky sports. Thanks Hopefully catch it. Just seems that (pretty much as normal) one small bit of the interview is seized upon. Had he had a real serious/frowning look when he said it, it would carry a lot more weight than had he said it lightly or with a smile. Ahh the joys of close season analysis......

Strap yerself in

Is there footage of the interview ? As that line in the title is the one being seized upon, was he smiling or frowning when he said those words ?

No one will buy us for the price the fat fuck wants and Benitez will be long gone come august Wow!! Gone well before August on the strength of that statement. Next week must be it then. Poor old Rafa really is going to have to be careful when he speaks to the press

Because he's under contract, they can justify what ever they like. They can ask, even demand, whatever they like for a contracted player but justify it ?

If anyone needed further illustration of how fucking mad the market has gone or explanation why so few premier league players are moving, then there it is clear as daylight.

Brilliant

Know it's not football like, but the shortlist for the 2021 city of culture is really strange I know the poor Sunderland marketing team have to put as positive a glow on things as they can, but hasn't someone just taken sympathy voting to ridiculous new levels and and nominated five of the biggest shitholes in Britain to scrap it out ?

The market is a very, very different place 12 month later. Not just in terms of the fee and salary inflation but the quality we require for the season ahead. Like everyone I'd be happier to see improvements made already, but while squad fillers are readily available (albeit a lot pricier than last year) and 60-70M bids will get quick results, the market we're in is still largely log jammed. Almost no one is prepared to commit with six weeks still to go, hoping better offers will come along. It will give, and when it does we have to make those key signings and they have to be better than what we already have. Lejuene is undoubtedly an upgrade but I'm not sure that some of the names being bandied around in the press would improve us.

Abraham and his agent got greedy (hardly unusual) and it all came down to who would pay him the most in the end, rather than coaches, location etc. Rightly or wrongly we wouldn't shift and get into a bidding war. Time will tell, but for a player who at this stage of his career isn't any better than what we've already got what would have been the point ? Last thing we need at this point are squad fillers, especially those whose motives may be questionable, it's improvements that are needed.

Ritchie may fancy that role and I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. He's good enough to do it so maybe the emphasis will be on a new wide man ??

Thread title says it all actually (well when it's "transfer" anyway ) We've got to remember just how many regional journalists absolutely depend on NUFC stories and how many national ones also love writing about us. Essentially they have three months where there is next to fuckall to write about so we will be fed an endless cycle of "interested in players X and Y" then "players X and Y haven't signed yet" then "reasons why players X and Y haven't signed". It's never going to change.

Yeah. It's also worth remembering that with Rafa any incoming player will also have to meet his personality and character standards and be able to fit in with the group, so just being a good player will not always be enough. In early July the market we operate in is still "log-jammed" to an extent, but as deals complete elsewhere things will start things moving down the line. Much to everyone's frustration of course but that's how it is at the moment.

Like I said, I really like Gayle, but I'll be surprised if Benitez will be happy to go into next season with him as our main striker plus Mitro and Perez who were the strikers who took us down last time round in this division. No I don't think he would be. The other two players you mention are certainly at an age where they can improve. Mitro may need to be part of a 442 to progress and that probably isn't going to happen here. Ayoze? While few players can be more frustrating at times, he really could become a very decent player at PL level. There was something different about him in the closing stages of last season, more physical and more serious. Add that to his intelligent play and there's a very good player there.

We need strengthening, but we do have players already here (Gayle included) who are at an age where they can improve and are working with a management team that can ensure that.

Nothing wrong with hammering home the point of how much more loyal our fans are than the other 2 major North East clubs are though. Only on here would people have a problem with that and it's something I've come to expect now tbh. I'll leave at at that. ...But less loyal than the 52000 West Ham fans that have already sold out their stadium? Nah, we have a lot to be proud about our support, and f*** the mackems, but it can get a bit murky when kicking smaller teams for their comparable ticket sales tbh. Wet Spam being in London will have a massive portion of tickets sold to tourists who will then swop them game by game also there's the fact that our catchment area of around 1 million people or so up here is expectant of many people travelling tricky routes at massive distance and it is just not feasible for many. There is under 300,000 in the area classed as Newcastle which spreads around 5 mile North and West from the Quayside. It also goes a couple of miles to the East. We also have about 200,000 people in North Tyneside, 316,000 in Northumberland, which is a massive area to travel by the most part. and 150,000 in South Tyneside. Durham like North Northumberland is a canny hike from the most part and shouldn't be classed as solely our catchment as Sunderland, Middlesboro, Darlington, Hartlepool, York and co can be classed as closer. Still, it only houses around 500,000 people. London alone has a population of 7m and when they think of the surrounding areas as well as the great links from around the country, even the world. There's no limit to people they could or should get. But what about human mortality, the North Sea and the 1992'ers ?

Very decent, neat and tidy footballer and a really nice person as well. He definitely fit the Rafa template as far as personality and character were concerned but obviously, and unfortunately, not necessarily the football part.

Being the only PL club for hundreds of miles also considerably strengthens NUFC's corporate marketing position which will have a very positive effect on match day revenues. Like was said though, most important thing is to compete with the other 19 teams in the same league to underpin and grow those revenues.

Grayson's not the brightest like. He should fit in well down there.

Definitely wins the contest :lol:

Deserved IMO. I'd heard from a decent source that a couple of Premier League clubs were interested in Dummet so he may well have acted on that. Although many criticise him and prefer to highlight his limitations, within the game he's looked upon as a reliable defender and a good pro. No world beater but there's been a lot worse in the PL. The problem I have with Dummett is that he has very few attributes that are needed to play full-back effectively in the PL. Apart from his decent height and left foot, he almost has nothing else to play that position. Very early on when he made his first few appearances, he put in a few crosses and showed some pace down the flank. Hasn't been seen since. As with everything else, if he's good enough for Rafa, he's good enough for me. I still believe though that his best position is as a left-sided CB. Those limitations are very easy to highlight rather than the positives and we probably have to ask just who or what we are comparing him to ? Very few out and out left backs, even in the PL, check every box. As you mention, him also being comfortable as a CB enhances his usefulness to a squad and therefore his market value.