Theregulars

I would actually take a cheap punt on Dele and see if a manager like Howe could reform him / get him back to where he was. Depends on his mindset, but consecutive mourinho and Lampard is a tough spot. Totally open to being wrong and him just having a shit attitude, but low risk high reward kind of thing if you got him on the cheap or an incentivised deal.

I disagree re: benchmark comment, because applying that logic consistently we’d field a team of about 5 players. However, I agree with the sentiment, and if anything I think we will see an overall increase of the benchmark standard due to Howe’s coaching, squad competition, squad harmony and collective belief and optimism. Shelvey absolutely has limits but so do all but a small handful of our players.

He has though. He was consistently reliable last year, in Rafa’s 2nd and 3rd years and in the first Bruce year.

Shelvey looked good under Howe, I think it’s churlish to suggest otherwise. Deserves to be a key contributor.

Well I suppose I best get on it quickly then. Do sales normally open at 9AM?

Do we actually reckon the Bilbao and Atalanta will sell out quickly? I’m coming up to Newcastle for them and had assumed it wouldn’t be difficult.

Fuck my life does anyone think they’d actually put this up publicly if there was any prospect of it not happening from here? Onwards and upwards!

Lack of personalisation grating, man. Makes no sense to hold it back.

Literally none of us know what's actually going on. If he signs, great, because the fact knowledgeable people have identified him suggests he will be useful. If he doesn't sign, then we will probably get someone else who is good too. It genuinely doesn't matter.

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

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

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

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.

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.