J7

Most of our CBs are 30+ nearing the end of their contracts, with two out with long term injuries. I’d say a new CB is vital. Imagine a Schar injury.

Am I really reading someone say Longstaff is better than him? That said, I wouldn’t be signing him when we’ve gone about 3 years looking for a RW and still haven’t managed to get one.

If the transfer window doesn’t end well, I can imagine internal finger pointing given the ‘power play’ earlier in the summer.

I think we’re screwed in terms of challenging for Europe one of 3 or 4 players gets an injury of a few months. Schar especially, but also Bruno, Pope and Isak. It’s a huge gamble not getting a CB imo, as I think not qualifying for Europe pretty much guarantees we lose Isak, Bruno and Gordon next year, and it’s a total rebuild.

Something has gone seriously wrong if there are no signings for the first 11. I suspect there will be, but it’s getting a little concerning.

Barrow at home.

Exactly, so I cannot call the last two weeks a waste.

You’ve no idea what else they’ve been doing, tbf.

He’s not a ‘generational talent’. Move on.

Imagine him captaining us to a trophy win and then lifting the cup.

Lots of people count their calories, so yes.

Haven’t been to a home friendly that I can remember since the Carrol Juve one years ago, but have to say I enjoyed the whole day, even if the game was a bit shit. Decided to avoid the city centre for obvious reasons and went to Jesmond for food, nice walk down to the ground, club shop to get new top, then Stack before the game. Took someone to their first football game and they loved it too. Looking forward to Southampton. Only real comments regarding the game, I thought Bruno looked extra motivated, if that’s possible, and Kelly was solid. Suspect the kid of the left in the second half will be around the team given he got so long after playing a part last night too. Close control is unreal.

Would be this for me. I was there in the small section we had along the side. I remember he had a shot that went over the stand, and it looked to a man, everyone in the stand behind the goal going crazy. Hauled off and never to be seen again.

I’ll always have a soft spot for Marlon Harewood scoring that goal at Barnsley. I was in the bottom corner next to the home fans where he went to celebrate after we’d been getting grief all game. Don’t think I’ve celebrated a goal more. 😂 Hottiger is the best that I’ve seen on here that I’d totally forgotten though.

We will ‘definitely chase Man City and Arsenal’ is a silly comment. Quite a long shot to expect that.

😂 I assume this is a joke.

He’d be a starter at a team challenging for Europe and on the way up. If he signed for Villa I wouldn’t have bat an eyelid, so I don’t think it would be that weird to have him signing for us. Can’t see him at City or Arsenal, Man Utd have just bought a CB, Chelsea have bought loads and I suspect Liverpool have other priorities.

Quite like the third one. Having been in the Nike and Adidas stores in Berlin during the Euros though, I was quite surprised the difference in quality between the ‘replica’ and the ‘authentic’ versions of each top. Assuming that will be the same here.

True, though there were noises at the time that he didn’t have as much control as he thought he would. Also around the PSR deadline, I read somewhere that one of the differences in views was that he was prepared for us to sell a ‘star’, whereas Howe and others wanted to resist that.

How many times now have we heard that a Wilson injury may affect our transfer business. It’s ridiculous. He’s into his 30s and this isn’t going to change. Great player, but can’t be relied on and we need players we can rely on when our squad isn’t as big as those at the top.

Given the Sporting Director will no doubt be a major part of the fire/hire process for a manager, I’m not sure they’re going to sit down with Howe and seek approval when appointing someone to that role. It’s quite a coup to get Mitchell and like it or not, he’s not going to agree to come here and take direction from Howe. I’d like Howe to stay and work in the structure the owners (and most big clubs) want/have, but it’s the job of the owners to put the best people in post, not have a manager calling the shots. Whether post-Howe starts soon or in a few years time, they can’t just wait until he’s gone before putting the structure they want in place. It’s the most important thing for the long term. We don’t know what conversations have taken place though. I doubt Ashworth leaving was just because a new opportunity came up. I think it’s safe to assume he didn’t have the control he thought he would. Staveley going is probably linked to it all.

Don’t get me wrong, I’d rather Howe stayed as he has been great for us, and because of the upheaval it would cause. But let’s be honest and removing any bias, any top job becomes available and Poch is higher on an owners list than Howe.

IF we could get Poch, he’d be an upgrade.

I’m not worried personally. If he leaves, he leaves and we replace him hopefully with another good manager. I’d like that decision to be made in the next few days though and not drag on. If Howe isn’t interested, he should rule himself out and we move on. If he is, replace him anyway.

I’m not sure where the logic comes from that buying up another 6% of the club shows that the Saudis are now less interested.