The College Dropout

Why didn’t Pope start?

Yeh. If it was the other way around they would look properly. Thems the strokes.

They didn’t want to see a foul.

Trippier has been poor man.

Spreading payments has no impact on PSR/FFP. Just the fee/years on contract + annual wages. Aye that too.

Saying that - we spent 40m for Barnes to sit on the bench so who knows.

I agree broadly with what you're saying. If we sell Wilson, I don't think his replacement will cost £50m. And neither Solanke or Sesko would join if they were to be sitting on the bench.. I think our net spend will be <50m. Unless we do something unexpected or sell a jewel.

Almost certainly talked myself out of a top 5k finish and winning the NO League by burning a transfer in GW37. I'm on a small red arrow and still ranked 8k. Those extra 15 points would've put me right up there. I'm praying for a Dan Burn goal and clean sheet tonight. That would all-but confirm me as champion in my paid leagues and likely get me to No. 1 in the NO league. Another Nicky Jackson haul would do the same but I don't want Chelsea to win. GW38 2 FT. Might not use both ffs. Defender Tempted to finally get Gvardiol for Porro. But also... fuck Gvardiol. Might go triple Arsenal defence. But SHU (A) is a good fixture. Attacking Transfer Most likely to make 2 transfers here. Fernandes finally out is likely. Any Arsenal midfielder is a good option here. The NO #1 has Havertz. If I'm behind him after tonight I'll probably have to go with someone else. I'm super loving Eze/Olise too. Using both my FT in midfield is my best route to winning the NO league assuming I'm not in the lead tonight. But that would mean not starting one of Jackson (H - Bournemouth), Isak (A - Brentford), Son (A - Sheff U) which I don't like. Son hasn't looked good but that is the best fixture in the league. How Isak/Jackson perform today might decide that. I could go rogue. Take Ederson out, replace Fernandes with KDB and pray for a haul. I might prioritise my paid leagues. This would mean Gvardiol + Ars/Palace midfielder.

They don't have our FFP constraints.

And even Willock - he's well positioned to be #4 midfielder in terms of wages. Tonali, Bruno & Tonali will all be on serious wages. A level-up Willock replacement is likely to cost a lot and be on twice the wages. If we could do our own Willock to Odegaard move that would be a no-brainer. But that doesn't seem likely. I guess if we are convinced we've found the next Paqueta or Bruno cool but that's a high-bar.

I must say. It's so much fun being a Newcastle United fan these days. We've spent so long being shit. I'm pretty happy just being a good team atm. I'm looking at Liverpool fans online encouraging Diaz to leave. And I'm here like... Trippier & Livramento might be best 1&2 RBs I've seen for us. Pope arguably no. 1 GK. Bruno the best CM I've seen. Isak the best in a generation. Wilson top 5. I'm enjoying it so much. I'd be disappointed to finish 7th and not get into Europe. I'd be disappointed to lose Bruno or Isak. But man... I've enjoyed.

Having the same agency is a massive thing though. Football is built on relationships more than people realise. The one Agency has Ange, his assistant, Maddison, Son, Porro, Sarr. They have a deep client pool and some big names (Cole Palmer etc.) but there's certainly something in that relationship.

I think some people are living on cuckoo land with their transfer expectations. Unless there's a raft of commercial activity, a change in PSR rules for next season, a mega-sale, a clear-out that includes active first-teamers - we'll not have more than 2 decent money transfers. I reckon there will be a bit of some of the above. Some commercial deals, and some first-teamers leaving but nothing crazy. If we sign a new first-team GK - IMO we sell Nick Pope to help fund it. A new CM would require a midfield sale.

I agree I don't like the blend but I don't see how we buy in midfield unless Bruno is sold. Bruno Tonali Joelinton (new contract) Longstaff - if we could get a decent fee, I would sell him, I don't see a decent fee coming though Willock - would be selling at the lower end of his value Anderson - selling at low end of potential value Miley IMO you can't add a first-teamer to this really unless you sell Longstaff, Willock or Anderson and I don't think we get good fees for any of them. If we loan someone out we could get in a loan like Spurs did Bentacur or Arsenal did Odegaard. But those are hard to come by and tend to be January type signings. Agreed. Also a GK is a luxury transfer IMO. From what we know about our FFP position, we can't afford those anyway. We are looking at free signings at CB/LB for a reason. The money pool will be limited unless we sell v. well.

We need Dubs tbf

Defensive lads + a top RW and I'm good. Keep the band together largely. Almiron out for 20m to Saudi.

Would love to finish above Man U personally.

Nigerian bias though init. I'm happy with the Tosin signing. Just don't want us to checkmate ourselves on silly wages. I don't think we will though.

Aye but Kamara is a starter and a top performer. Likewise though - Luiz and McGinn should want his money when they renew. The good thing about Tosin & Kelly is they won't come in as our highest earners like I assume Tielemans & Kamara did. Tosin and Kelly might move the wage floor for squad members. And better yet, the players they are replacing - might not get new contracts beyond their existing ones anyway due to age.. or will settle for a lower wage due to age (Schar and Burn). Tielemans and Kamara are top earners (I assume) and McGinn & Luiz are in their primes. They will want 3-5 year deals on the megabucks Villa have shown they will pay. It raises the ceiling. What should Watkins earn? Martinez? etc.

I agree on not spending loads no a backup striker. That Barnes transfer still doesn't make sense to me but they still did it so who knows. Still starting Murphy and Almiron ffs.

Stupid of them.

Cicinho. The pace fooled me.

Well deserved.

Did start at City but didn't go to Villa. That's more Douglas Luiz path.

I haven't seen anything from Tosin to suggest he's better than Schar. He's quicker and better in the air but I don't know his game like that. Doesn't strike me as a baller like Fabian. I like what I see though. I like his profile. I assume Tosin will compete with Burn to partner Schar at the beginning of the season.