80

Plus, one thing you can say for Wood is he has an impeccable fitness record. Like it or not, he made 30+ appearances for a top 4 team. Can't say that for Fraser unfortunately, even though he played his part when available last season.

Agreed. But we might get £17m for Wood so anything goes...

Can't stand that, like.

Lovely. As others have said, probably our most important overall signing in.......... How long? I think the answer might actually be Shearer.

I wonder if that's one consequence of this deal. Howe seemed pretty adamantly against it when it was suggested recently.

Bearing in mind Southampton need to come here and attack, leaving themselves open at the back, and we have a crucial game half a week later, you'd think it would be ideal for ASM to start. Giving Longstaff or Willock a rest in the process. If that doesn't happen, you'd have to think that means something for the long term. Unless whatever injury or illness he's been dealing with has been even worse than we realise.

If I had to put money on his future, that's where I'd put it. As things stand he can leave here with his head held high, though. And therefore, I still hope he does get back in the team as he's clearly got a lot to give. But it might just be a style incompatibility.

I'm intrigued. Excited to see where all this goes. Hopefully the first 40 pages of this thread will make hilarious reading in a few years.

The sun always shines on Eddie.

Yep, I never did get that one myself.

Well, running with the idea, it would screw things up for the selling club if he picked up a last minute injury. Quite common to protect players in those circumstances.

Yeah but it's the other team with the ducks right? So our chances in the Carabao are over, basically. Wilson to miss a key penalty.

I don't believe he can due to his already being fielded by two teams this season.

I think the bolded part is key. It's why I think a couple of signings of similar quality to our first team could still make a big contribution. And this season may well not be the same as next season, in terms of teams like Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham being at 6s and 7s. So I would like to press home the advantage where possible.

If there can't be any display at Wembley for whatever reason, the scarfs would be great there anyway. One half of the stadium showing up Man Utd's contingent as they slink away early at half time 3-0 down (I can dream...)

Best guess is it's his Leicester goal? Probably just trying to drive Geordie engagement after us not needing to get too involved in these votes for the past decade... Seeing as the writing is well and truly on the wall about our ascent, the establishment and sponsors will want to recraft the narrative so that their history shows us naturally emerging as a top club rather than gatecrashing the fenced off 6 six.

...and he may well think himself that they're taking the piss valuing him at £60m if he has a head on his shoulders, and feels he has to help knock some sense into them. I don't know the full details. It's true that I'm not wild about players going AWOL to force moves, but I also know there can be much more to these situations on every level so I don't think there's any good in us getting too judgemental about it.

... And that was in the days of back passes to the goalie and only two points for a win.

Put Colleen in charge.

Have to say I'm impressed there's been no sign of a bad attitude creeping in. To be honest I wouldn't have been surprised if he had spat his dummy out by now, so full credit to him for that.

Remember the controversy about us wasting our summer transfer funds on him

Was giving Burn a masterclass in how to avoid giving sensitive information away in his post match interview.

Thank fuck for that. Can't say I'm content with starting line up and use of subs at the minute. Would like a bit of variation, not least as I'm worried about physical and mental burn out.

As a club, we were so shit to him.

Thanks for the links, hadn't seen. £60m is comedy money. £25m conditionally rising to £38m seems more reasonable.