TRon

Yeah I just assumed it is going through and will be announced when the club are ready. It seems to be the way we do things now.

I seem to recall that he was brilliant in the air against bigger opponents, but then he got pulled up for holding players while they were jumping, and after that refs seemed to be pulling him up for it more.

Two really miserable managers there in Ten Hag and Klopp, no doubt about it, but as a club I just can't stand Liverpool. The incessant whine of their entitled fan base just grinds my gears. Klopp failing to give any credit or respect to their opponents has only made them worse.

Not to mention players who support their midfield like the full backs who are also the best of the best which adds to their dominance. They buy at the top of the market, we are shopping from a lower tier which means youngsters who will take a year or two to mature. Even so, you could see Howe was still disappointed we couldn't get at them more, will be interesting to see how we do against them at our place. Eddie doesn't accept being second best even if it's excusable.

They had two wins against us last season, one of which was just PL authorised robbery. Enough is enough. Put them down, or failing that instruct Mad Dog to plant a right hook to Klopp's grinding jaw at full time.

It wasn't just Bruno who struggled to impose himself, Tonali, who was superb last week, and Joelinton were the same. Kovacic and Rodri dominated along with Foden, but I think that's not only because they are class players, but Pep's coaching which has been drilled into his squad for many seasons now. They are one of the few teams who can pass their way around our press, and considering how much they've spent on their personnel down the last few years, there's no shame in it.

So have mine, but what do they know? That's why they're kids.

Maybe because Chelsea and Liverpool have bought them all. Not sure either team got the balance right, but they definitely chucked all the money at them.

Willock is really nimble on his feet, Joelinton has good feet as well, just he's a bigger unit so easier to catch in a press. Foden was probably the smallest player on the pitch today but we couldn't get near him.

Always been an Adidas man from since I was old enough to wear trainers, even now for me their stuff is the best. They stood the test of time for a reason.

Always thought he might have brought something different to our team if we ever considered signing him. He looks a feisty character with an eye for goal.

I guess we'll just have to come to terms with having Burns and Lascelles as back up CBs. Doesn't really solve our lack of pace issue there though, but I guess we managed well enough last season.

Also confirming there's no other signings incoming though.

That's it for me as well. This is the way the world works, we don't get much choice in it, you either do it well or you step aside and join the rest getting trampled on. At least we know these people are highly competent. Agree that we could probably see less of them and focus more on the football stuff though.

I think it might have swayed him to come here over going anywhere else like Palace though. Also might have persuaded Chelsea as they would have had a harder job rejecting the bid if they knew he was set on it.

Spot on there. Finally it feels like we are buying players we actually need in the positions we are short. Not just players who are at the end of their contracts so let's grab a bargain a la Hendrick and Colback.

He ticks all those boxes but you did miss quite an important one: He's a Newcastle fan which probably played a big part in this move going through.

Can't say I blame Fergie for that one like, the fan looked like a bit of a tosser.

Yep. Signing young players with huge potential like Livramento and Hall means our wages will be reasonable as they won't be on big pay, with the upside they are both serious talent. For established players of that type it would probably cost you twice as much in both fees and wages. With FFP we just couldn't afford more than one or two. I guess you would put Tonali and Bruno in that bracket.

Really surprised Chelsea have agreed to this, they must really need to claw some cash back for FFP purposes after their spending spree this summer.

It does if he makes it clear he wants to come to Newcastle, which as he's a toon fan you would imagine he'd crawl over broken glass to get here.

No idea mate. Initially when the charges were brought I'm pretty sure he was quite scathing about Greenwood, saying he'd treat him like a son and been repaid by his daughter being attacked. Then when for whatever reason the lass has changed her mind, he's gone along with it. If she's sticking with Greenwood and has a baby now, I'm just guessing the rest of her family don't want to become estranged.

For whatever reason she's decided she wants to be with Greenwood and has dropped the charges. Her family probably don't approve but seems like they are just accepting she's not going to leave him. Would imagine with the baby now, they just want to make the best of it and not cut her loose.

Become a winning team and we'll get a foothold into the Asian markets as well. It's win-win regardless.

Excellent thread that, some of us are happy that we have forward thinking owners who are trying to grow us into a big time club. We spent enough time cowering in fear of the Liverpools and Chelseas as a deliberate strategy under the previous regime.