Theregulars

Shamelessly love it. Still no personalisation, which I find weird. I’m hoping the numbers are also in green.

11 minutes ago, duo said:

He's not harming anyone. Watch/don't watch his videos - the choice is yours. Simples.

Right? Jesus, he’s just a harmless kid trying to do something he loves and wants to make a career out of it. It’s not something I’d spend my time watching but fair play to him for having a go. 

I think whichever players are executing his instructions the most effectively and consistently will play, or he might rotate according to opposition strengths / tactics. The beauty of having an actual squad of good players as opposed to a squad with 2-3 good players and scrabbling together whatever else from the slagheap.

I’m also not remotely convinced by Leeds’ manager. Very willing to be wrong but they look like fodder

2 hours ago, The Prophet said:

Fuck me, can someone feed the lad?

 

 And then help him get dressed! Sweater vest is a guarantee of cunthood. I’m looking at you, Mean Street Posse

1 hour ago, Milanista said:

It is actually a frustrating habit (for many fans) that Maldini has in his negotiations. Milan has lost out on many targets because he doesn't deviate from the initial offer very much--the idea of Maldini heavily relying on data to make his selections, with a huge analytics team and insulated scouting to prevent bias in evaluations, is the centerpiece of his approach.

 

We missed out on players that most fans have wanted, the only one I, personally, wish we had was Wesley Fofana. Before breaking his leg, he was an amazing CB.

 

Maldini sells players on Milan, the club. He tells players that you can develop here, and that's why they come to Milan. Players he has recruited have not left the club, our loss of free players like Donnaruma, Kessie, and Hakan, those were players brought in from previous regimes, while Donnaruma is widely reported to have bluffed with Maldini to get a larger wage, which Maldini was annoyed with after Donnaruma and his agent (Raiola) continued to press for insane wages, when he was already one of the highest paid keepers in Europe. Maldini was ruthless with our homegrown talent. We desperately needed a RW in the summer, identified an underrated talent from Brest in France, there was some haggling, and then the player stopped going to training and made some inflammatory interviews. Maldini dropped his interest immediately.

 

I'm not sure why you seem upset that Maldini is recruiting players who want to do more than just get paid the most, he's selling players are becoming legends. Also, it should be noted, that in Italy, the current tax laws allow you to pay 50% less tax than you would in other European countries. My own personal socio-economic views on the viability of this law to trigger economic growth in Italy (or anywhere) aside, it allows Italian teams to have a sizable economic advantage over other clubs, even EPL clubs.

 

Wages in England are reported before taxes, while in Italy they are reported after taxes, it seems that many times what is seen as "undercutting" is really about having different financial figures.

 

Maldini is a notoriously humble man, he is confident, yes, but he is widely seen as a gentleman of the game. I don't think he is arrogant, but I may be biased--though it should be said that his positive view is widely held in Italy, of that, I am sure. Perhaps in England he is perceived differently? Regardless, Maldini pursues players who want more than just money--he also rewards players who prove themselves, which is why he is extending our key players, doubling and tripling their salaries.

 

Milan do not run on glamor like Real, nor do they operate with the fame of Man Utd, what Milan emphasizes its DNA, which is to push innovation (not always successfully, of course) in terms of tactics, to win with style, but most relevant to this discussion: that Milan is a family. Players who stayed short periods at Milan cried when they left, like notorious hard man Marco Van Bommel or Zambrotta, who made his reputation with Juventus rather than Milan, he also cried.

 

Milan is a big club that has a fanbase with a passion usually only found in lower league teams--which is a characteristic I think Newcastle shares with Milan, to be honest. Milan is historically the club of the working class side of Milan (the city) who play beautifully and value skill, while Inter, the club of the elite, play ugly and defensively. Correct me if I am wrong, the north of England is known for its hardy people, but Newcastle is not associated (at least in my mind) with hard-nosed defenders, rather, I think of Ginola, Shearer, and a fanbase that loves a gangly attacker capable of a flash of brilliance like Shola, Lualua, Ben Arfa, and the eternal "if he only got it together" Robert, or Saint-Maximin now? I'm not saying those are your best players in your history, but, those are the ones that come to mind for me--I associate attack with Newcastle, which points to the unique mix that makes Newcastle, well, Newcastle.

 

Maldini is selling players on being part of what makes Milan, Milan. He's telling them you can go to Real or Barca, but they churn through their players, don't remember them, but at Milan? You can rebuild Milan, with me, and become a legend for people. It's a hell of sales pitch.

 

Frankly speaking, I think Newcastle should be selling what it means to represent Newcastle when they are dealing with players. I get the sense (from reading here) that there isn't the same point person to recruit players. I'd be happy to work for you, if anyone knows where I can send my CV, let me know, lol.

 

I have great respect for Newcastle, your fans, and your club, so my advocacy for Milan I hope isn't seen as a contrast to Newcastle, because I'm not the biggest Botman fan, but I do enjoy talking to you all, quite frankly. I hope that after this summer, we continue to chat, before trading CL final wins back-and-forth. Cheers!

I love you just FYI

I don't think it's the end of the saga.

Sorry if already asked - does anyone know what the hold up with personalisation is? Absolute bonk-on to order a batch of Bruno shirts to indoctrinate the in-laws in Canada.

If I could be arsed / knew how, I would love to run the list of people complaining at this signing against the list of people complaining about the performances of Karl Darlow. I'd wager there would be considerable overlap.

It’s coming across that everyone is so hacked off with the ludicrous state of the country / wider world that Newcastle last season provided an unexpected source of joy and hope. Now it’s the off-season, we’re getting tetchy that we don’t get the instant hit, because we’ve almost had to become very quickly dependent on it as a rare source of good. I echo what other posters have said: they will buy good players, whatever happens.

Too early to say but, just as a matter of speculation, if there is any suspicion that he may be injury prone, I would walk away given that we need a reliable deputy to Wilson.

I’m going to go with mint trolling as my interpretation. You think we’re wankers? Let’s wank right in front of you, then. 

I thought we were completely outplayed in every phase and aspect of the game. Kept in it by some mediocre finishing from them and good goalkeeping from Dubravka. Big gap but we’re at the start of the catch-up process.

I think he did the job required of him, contributing to promotion and being a good enough player for PL consolidation. Personally think he's a good defensive midfielder and he usually played well enough when called upon. Feels like he should have left when he indicated he wanted to move back down south, but even this season he scored a crucial goal and played well when called upon. 

Right decision considering our midfield options now and that we're improving, but I hold him in high regard and wish him the best. 

I thought he was just stretching. He like bowed down while doing a hamstring stretch. I think he normally takes the knee - we’d have probably noticed by now. 

50 minutes ago, midds said:

At some point teams like Fulham, Watford, West Brom and Norwich need to decide if they're actually big enough to have a proper go at going up and staying up with a bit of proper investment. Constant promotions and relegations must wear the supporters out. That said, West Brom fans can forget about the promotions part of that until they fire the gormless cunt.

This, completely. What’s the point? I get trying the moneyball thing but at some point you’ve got to just meet reality on its terms. I suppose they’d counter that it’s dangerous to saddle the club with debt or contracts they can’t jettison - suppose the real problem is the total inequality that money has caused in the game. Best solution in my view is a salary cap and floor and spending cap and floor, but that doesn’t = instant and constant profit so bleurgh.

Don’t they know there’s a war on?

Do you like Marcelo?

I almost feel bad for Chelsea. Almost.

1 hour ago, Yorkie said:

Annoyingly, despite their issues atm I think it's only a matter of time until Man Utd sort themselves out and return to the top 4, reducing the room again as they replace Arsenal/Spurs. Meanwhile those latter two are looking increasingly settled in their management; Spurs in-particular could go from strength to strength assuming Levy etc don't prod too much at Conte's volatility. 

 

I've always hated the 'big six' suggestion because, despite that lot occupying the aforementioned spaces in 3 out of 5 seasons post-Leicester miracle, the likes of Leicester (again) and West Ham have proven that it's actually bullshit. However, sadly, I think they'll all have their act together next season. Maybe Chelsea's wheels will fall off but I can't see it unless Tuchel goes. 

Aye, that’s a fair point - you’d think at some point the Manchester United Experience Theme Park might get it right, or simply just spend enough to have a reliably decent team. I was talking to my brother who is a fan (I know, it stings) - he’s also a sports writer and watches every game of theirs religiously, so I think he’s pretty reliable source. His view is that it’s not possible

for them to compete properly again unless nobody associated with the Glazers makes any decision to do with players, coaching or football management - so if they just put money up for purchases and then let “football people” run with it, they’d be useful. He’s not sure they get desperate enough until they’re completely out of Europe, which may become less of an issue with UEFA’s new backdoor ESL rule. He thinks any manager is pointless absent that change. They do seem too toxic to sort out within one season to me, but I’m an outsider and there’s a lot of clickbait mileage in criticising them / writing them off right now, so hard to tell if it’s accurate.

They don’t half trot out some mediocre players for all the insane money they’ve spent - Lindelof is bobbins, Matic is barely mobile and McTominay is, at best, an OK water carrier.

It’s definitely better without the trousers and purple boots, although looking back to the full outfit picture, the coat also looks a bit like a dressing gown. 

Today I wore a Chvrches tour t shirt and my girlfriend’s harem trousers with adidas sliders, so again I shouldn’t be considered a useful source of knowledge.

2 minutes ago, Fantail Breeze said:

Just seen some sort of EDL banner was flown above Man City v Liverpool…

 

”British to be minority by 2026”

 

Here’s hoping!

I like DCL’s outfit. Davies’ doesn’t work IMO. But like 75% of what I wear is elastic waist soooo

36 minutes ago, Yorkie said:

If Palace, that Wolves team, an accident-prone Leicester and a Brighton side allergic to goals are capable of securing 8th-11th, then it shouldn't take a great deal for us to be among them next season. Once this season is gone, it's gone; if we have sufficient flexibility in the transfer market (i.e. a handsome budget and the ability to shift as much deadwood as possible) it shouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility that we even rival West Ham as teams snapping at the established top 6.

 

That's not my prediction as such, I just think there's enough mobility between 7th-13th that there are opportunities available to us if we make good decisions and invest effectively. As much as it pains me to admit, the top six is the top six atm and it's going to take a sustained calamity and/or disproportionate investment for any of the chasing pack to wrestle their way in as soon as next year. 

I mean I think we’re already at the place to which you allude in your first paragraph - that’s where we’d be, maybe higher, if we didn’t waste a quarter of the season on Bruce and Jones. 

I think we could crack the top 6 without a huge amount of investment - I think a lot would have to break right, but West Ham aren’t that impressive and Manchester United Football Mall are worse. We also have the advantage of no European football, and not being run by idiots and dildo salesmen respectively. 
 

That crude analysis of course doesn’t factor in improvement at other well-run clubs - I think Wolves fall into that definition and I think Leicester without European football would be difficult to surpass. Don’t get the hype about Crystal Palace at all, grotty club with a bang average side.

2 minutes ago, leffe186 said:

Naah, he looks like one of my daughters went through our wardrobe.

Worry about your daughters’ facial hair then man.