TRon

Is it right that Ramsey is out for a month because of the Longstaff tackle? Clumsy fucking twat.

This is what I don't understand tbh. While I have generally been supportive of the owners - and still am - I don't see how we can become number one if we play by a rulebook which has been specifically designed to stop us becoming that. I mean it's actually referred to unofficially as the Newcastle Rule. We have built brilliantly since the owners took over, achieving CL football twice in three campaigns. But the loss of Isak, Anderson and Minteh when he had no financial reason to sell, shows the limitations of sticking to the rules. How do you build a side to get to the top when the cartel clubs can just keep taking your best players because we can't pay them enough? I don't pretend to know the answers, but we aren't getting to number one if we have to keep selling our best players.

Saw this mentioned on a podcast this morning, since Howe's been here, Burn, Tino, Gordon and Hall have all made the England team. Ramsey's not daft, he will want some of that.

He needs to be in the playing squad on Saturday, crutches or no crutches. We bought him because of his outstanding fitness record, so fitness and an outstanding performance is what we demand!

Yeah you could have said that if he'd come out of it unscathed but.....

I thought when played centrally he was able to see much more of the ball and from that position able to dictate play which he never really got the chance to do here. But it's a fair point about pace, Serbia looked really lethargic, so the question could be asked how his game would stand up in the PL. I know he had a good season at Forest, but they play quite deep so he gets a lot more space to work in than he would in our formation.

International weeks are pain like. We've had two weeks off and we are having to consider resting two of our first team defence, and might be without our first choice striker because he's played two full games in a week for his country with no pre-season.

Howe never wanted to let him go. I don't really blame the club either, we had no choice, as far as I'm concerned even Minteh looks like he is going to be worth more than the £35m fee we got for him, although at least that wasn't as much of a steal for Brighton. But the point is, we had no need to sell them, it was only to satisfy the PSR conditions which impose fake budgets on ambitious clubs. It's scandalous really, that's why I think we should be making more noise. Maybe coordinate with Villa and Forest who have been equally screwed by the cartel.

Best I've ever seen him play. Looked more like the player who first burst onto the scene when we were loaning him out to get experience. At Forest he's had the chance to play in his preferrred central position, and yesterday he seemed to be playing as the 8 conducting the attacking plays. Serbia looked a bit soft compared to the PL, but still, it does look like we've been absolutely screwed by PSR here. Someone at the club should be kicking up a stink about this.

Not the worst shout as it keeps Wissa in hand in case we need that goal against Wolves.

Owen glossy brochures of him wearing shite togs. Probably a fitting end to what has turned into a thread of rage and misery.

He's scored again today, there's just no stopping him.

Plus he'll be match fit through playing internationals.

Until I've seen how we would use him as a lone striker I have no idea what he'll bring to us. I saw him for Germany and he looked lost, but I couldn't work out if that was them or him. Looks like he would be much more suited to playing off Wissa, but not sure how we would accomodate that in our usual formation where we play with one striker. It might be we use Wissa a lot more early on while we are bringing Woltemade up to speed on how to play the lone striker role in our system.

Especially given that what passes for law in the PL is not decided by right or wrong, it's what the clubs collectively decide is good for them. City have joined the cartel basically, and we have one less voice which helps our cause.

We paid for potential as much as anything. From some of the goals I've seen it's not hard to imagine his value rocketing if he can reproduce it in the PL.

Imagine the fucking traffic chaos that would cause.

@macphisto raised a good point though, re salaries. We already lost one of our world class players because we are restricted from giving out superclub wages. It's arguable we could lose another two within 12 months. Does your scenario allow us to scale up before we reach that status? Could we hand out mega wages on the basis we have a ready pot to allocate from, or is there something in the turnover/wages ratio which prevents it?

Yeah unofficially. Would be fitting if they actually put that in writing.

Pretty sure he will unfortunately.

The release clause amount will be interesting. I doubt we'd have bid that much unless we thought we thought there was a good chance we could get the money back. £50m wouldn't be too bad for him, gives him a chance to get out if another big club comes calling.

At this stage the PL should just add a new chapter to their rule book called NUFC Appendage or something. At least they would only have to deal with one club.

This. I've maintained for a while now that Isak has a cold personality, he's just not the type to get attached to any club. If he moves to Real or Barcelona he'll drop Liverpool like a bad smell if Spain is where he wants to be next. It's just money or career progression for him. Owen never respected us and was pining for Liverpool even when he played for us. Not even a contest in my view.

We might have been waiting to see what happens with this case to see how to proceed. But there is some doubt as to how seriously PIF want to push the PL now. It might be they are quite happy just to build the club slowly and if we win stuff great. If not, well it's a steady investment.

Let's hope the new CEO does want to create a stir. He's reputed to be someone who doesn't shy away from a challenge, this might be right up his street.