The College Dropout

Could tank his value and cause mass injury the prick.

From the little i've seen, I think he wants to avoid a bit of contact at first. He doesn't have that Suarez bundle his way through defenders playing style, he's trying to beat them with skill. He's one i'm giving 18-24 months before drawing any major conclusions. He's not even scored 15 Bundesliga goals in his career. We may play him deeper at points this season but with Isak and Etikite as targets and Wissa, Pedro, Sesko to some extent, I think Howe likes a skilful 9. Which to some degree, negates the need for a skilfil AM/10. All hypotheses - exited to see how we play over the next few games. My feeling is a 60/30-70/20 split in a 433 or both in a 5 or when chasing

He doesn't play in any of their positions though. Anderson's competition is Wharton, Henderson, Angel Gomes, Gallagher... I think that's it. You can make an argument for Jude or James (Tuchel played him there for Chelsea) I guess, but not the others. If everyone was fit and the World Cup was next month - Anderson has a fantastic chance of starting. He makes the squad with ease. Unless Howe switches things up drastically, Ramsey will play LCM/8, LW or AM. Looks like Tuchel is trying to find more of a 6 to allow Rice to play more of an 8. Anderson is Bruno-lite as a 6. Ramsey can't/won't play that role for us imo. In our squad, Anderson would be a better 4th man than what we have - including Ramsey. Ramsey is only really a Joelinton alternative (which is grand as Joelinton can't stay fit long) or an upgrade on Willock. You can play Ramsey at 10 or LW but that's not really his position. Anderson can play the Joelinton role but also the deeper role. It would've cost close to Elanga money to get Anderson back in the summer so it was a non-starter. Still delighted for him. He wouldn't have progressed so much if he had stayed.

Did you expect him to become an England international a year after leaving us? I didn't see it. He played so well, I think it's his position to lose right now.

If he continues his trajectory he’s going to cost £70m minimum next season. He’s going to have to engineer his own way back via a release clause imo and that will be set high anyway. I think Minteh will have a breakout season this year or next.

I never saw him as a 6 either, but he actually has a great skill set for it. I've long thought players not quite good enough to be truly great at 10 or similar can be great at 6 or 8, with that bit more time on the ball. Pirlo, Scholes, Kroos for example all started pro careers at 10.

I don't think we have loads of room for "gambles". Our squad depth is mostly due to having older backups with low resale value. Trippier, Krafth, Lascelles, Schar, Burn & Murphy won't fund their own replacements. Most of these will leave for free. Going to enjoy them while they are here. Really like all of them.

DR Congo will go into the play-offs most likely, no? 3 more points against either Togo or Sudan should secure that place. Nigeria are almost certainly out. It would require a small miracle to even make the play-offs.

Also he's an england international, his wage will be low. I expect he'll want a new contract this season or want to move next summer. He's not running down this deal imo.

That wasn't really the point. We still don't have many squad players we could sell for good money. Although fees for Kelly, Almiron and others have been good

Jude Nolan is funny.

He's going to have better offers at that point.

You do know you don't have to do it exactly like them? Brighton's aims are to be safe in the division and make money. So their transfer approach facilitates that. I do agree that the most effective way is to sell players you don't really need/want for big money but that's impossible until you're a cartel club at the level required. Aston Villa have both the best squad and youth team outside of the cartel 6. They've sold well - rarely losing star players, selling youth products and they are still in the shit with PSR. Their overall revenue can be half of Spurs. Fucked.

Not really. We are worth more to Adidas than Nike due to our historical connection with Adidas sponsoring our best ever PL Era’s. So the throwback jersey’s is only possible with Adidas. There’s a heritage there. Likewise Newcastle’s presence in Saudi can be argued to be outsized compared to a similar nation. Hence bigger deals with Saudi brands. Edit: welll yes every deal is bespoke. But there are legit reasons why sponsorship is worth more to one related company compared to a non related company

Their current human rights violations - aye.

Palmer and Saka are both best off the right imo. But very different styles. Probably start Saka and have Palmer off the bench. Rogers and Jude at AM battling it out. Foden sat at home.

Chance Foden might not even go to the WC. Hasn’t deserved it based on performance.

Always been a good player imo.

As in where there’s a special connection between brand and club. So Newcastle brown ale and us or any Saudi sponsor. The closeness of the brands is unique due to location or ownership etc.

Stalling will be their primary tactic imo. City are litigious. We are not (yet).

You can see it but Dinho had a unique look to him

Finally read The Times article. It suggests ‘bespoke deals’ will be judged more leniently due to special considerations. To me it sounds like the PL will let City’s deal through. And any similar others would have to push legally a bit before the PL folds for them too.

That's not the case for the non-American owned clubs imo. Certainly not the case for Real Madrid as long Florentino is around (which won't be forever). Real, Barca, Juve etc. their support for a ESL is money-driven yes but also to ensure they remain top dogs, that's their brand. They need to win/be super competitive. The idea there is no use for additional PSR headroom is bananas and not worth entertaining.

Israel has been banned from whatever section it would otherwise have been because none of this is new. Israel being a UEFA country, has always been about whitewashing that country's PR - particularly within Europe. Why are they in Eurovision?

I think the long-term aim will be a bigger more regular CWC. The big UEFA Clubs won't want an annual CL level competition with Saudi as the Saudi's will eventually start winning. Any Super League has to make Real Madrid, Juve, Man U etc. happy.