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Not really thread worthy, so I'll say it in here. I hope we keep Howe's no dickhead policy permanently, even if that slows our progress or sees us win a bit less than we otherwise might. Thanks to the lucky situation we're in with PIF, we can afford to set some standards around how we conduct ourselves as a club. I never want the feeling we have with our current staff to be sacrificed, it's invaluable.

Definitely agree. If it's dialed up all the time every time, you get diminishing returns.

Could not begrudge him going to the world cup in the slightest. It's the sort of thing a player spends their life working towards. Totally agree he's our best CF in 20 years. Ba was great, but Wilson has a talismanic quality.

That corner routine is the sexiest I can remember seeing in a long time. @madrasI think I called it right

He's actually good throughout that segment, just scroll through and stop when you see him speak. Spoke with surprising awareness of us to be fair to him.

I agree Europe could make next season a struggle for us, but nevertheless we can't get it soon enough in my opinion. A bit like this season, my only concern is if people forget that and get ahead of themselves.

To be fair, he didn't need to leave Reims. Particularly with no more security than a weird loan deal.

Thought the same thing, but double checked and they very specifically say 'in the premier league'. So your hypothesis was right, basically.

Would not be at all comfortable going back in for him. Sounds like a shitshow. Not our problem now.

Yeah, I've always seen the world cup break as being a good thing for us. We can be sure the time will be used productively and it'll concentrate minds.

Fair enough to me. I'm loving his new lease of life but I'm not at the point of assuming it's like this forever yet. As an aside, and in my view it's a good thing, Howe seems to be very clued on the contractual and transfer side of things at the club. I don't like club structures where the manager/coach appears oblivious to what the DOF is up to.

Don't blame you. But our players got loads of attention in the 90s and it wasn't a bad thing then, so it doesn't have to be now.

I understand where you're coming from, but I think - with regards our current players like Bruno - you're thinking in a way that's too oppositional. Where possible we should be looking for mutual growth and players that feel the same way. I think, and hope, the aim of the game is to be more than just a larger Brighton. Not to say that we won't do it that way sometimes, but it shouldn't be the default assumption with all players.

I largely agree. I think this would be more about the club being sensibly proactive. It's easier to keep a plate in the air when it's already spinning fast.

Totally right. Our squad has been a lower end premiership team working on a championship budget for a long time. There are bound to be distortions due to the major positive changes. I'm confident - and happy - that the Schars and Longstaffs will be getting bumps too to spread the joy. But when you have a player like Bruno Guimaraes, who is a 3d contributor - on the pitch, in the dressing room and in marketing value - you have to recognise that it's people like him who are the tide raising all the ships. And unlike a hypothetical Johnny come lately, he turned up and did the spade work without blinking when we were at a very low ebb last January.

Gotta stick your neck out sometimes

Conversely, it shows prospective signings that we won't trap them in a contract they signed when in a weak bargaining position, and Newcastle's the kind of club they can grow their career at. Seems pretty obvious that we could structure any contract based on the club's position e.g. bump to £160k basic as a thank you, £200k if we make Europe, £250k if we make Champion's League. That sounds pretty reasonable, reflecting the club's trajectory and income streams. I'm in agreement with those saying any player getting bent out of shape about the breaking of an artificially-imposed salary structure should give their heads a shake. It should be handled carefully of course, but ultimately squad members should be seeing it as an opportunity.

I don't think there are many players we should write off our ability to sign right now.

I basically agree with you, but overall I think we struggle most with teams who aren't trying to beat us, so I can see the logic in not being too confident. It's definitely a game we should be winning, though.

It's a very welcome return, there's no doubt.

We really ought to take them apart so long as we use our nous and stick to the plans.

This thread is funny as it's just a procession of the highest one liner compliments. No waxing lyrical, no pontificating, no if onlys. Just admiration. Doesn't really get much better than that for a defender.

Hope there isn't any bullshit from people if he doesn't play today. We can't want him to form an emotional, even irrational, connection with our club and then demand he doesn't do the same for his son and wife. It goes with the turf for a passionate player like him. If he plays, lovely, if he doesn't, good for him and see you next week.

Belief is a powerful thing.

Saw some of his best and much of his worst tonight. Largely ineffectual unfortunately.