TRon

I don't think we'll sign a RW either, imagine we'll use a combination of Miggy and Gordon to play there this season. If we wanted one I think we'd have gone harder for Diaby, but seems like Eddie puts more value on work rate, and that's not his strong point.

Thanks so much FFP, probably a big a factor as any when we have to decide who our priority targets are when the ones we like become available. I'm sure we'd have liked Diaby at that price, but probably couldn't do him and Barnes in the same window.

Obviously that will be tested more when the competitive games start against elite defenders, but even so he looks at least as ready as many of his higher profile team mates. The same can also be said of Miley tbh, and while we should be careful not to get carried away, there's no reason not to look on these guys as first team contenders now.

That's what you would expect from these owners, but there's not much they can do if we are restricted to a far smaller budget than our CL rivals, at least the established superpowers. They can still outbid us for the very best players, and without those it takes some pretty special coaching to make up the gap.

That's basically been my prediction for a while now. Not because we haven't improved, it's based more on Liverpool and Chelsea spending much more than us, and landing some quality signings, especially Liverpool. 6th would be a creditable position considering the extra games, many might even think 7-8th would be more realistic, but I think we'll still have a good campaign because we are so well run now.

Thought we might be able to start buying some players but Chelsea might have a 3rd spending spree bout in them yet.

Thought he defended quite well against Brighton in the first half.

I'm just a bit concerned he's bought into his media hype too much. He's a good player in this league but we are an evolving team. No one is irreplaceable.

He's made some decent interceptions dropping deep tbh.

Just read the play really well to defend a dangerous situation tbfg.

Ashby is defending really well.

Looked suspiciously like a pen that.

Barnes for £38m not looking so bad right now.

It was a dreadful tackle. Bruno needs to cut those out because it makes him look unfit or slow.

Which European team? If he's gone for the wages, then how many Euro teams would have touched him?

He's doing alright. I just wonder if he's figuring in this game because the Livramento deal is looking ropey.

Still not convinced by this argument. For one, the ball zips around much faster in football than rugby. Right now I'm watching us play in the green strip, and while it's distinctly a different shade to the grass colour, it's not as distinctive as the Brighton strip. Their players are much easier to pick out.

Barnes/Wilson combo looking promisiing as hoped.

Nice little reminder of what he was really good at. Defending.

Would they be able to give him the sort of contract he was looking for from us? I would think it would be around 100k/week at least. Not many clubs around the world can justify that, and the ones which can usually can afford a better version. He was actually signed by us under Mike Ashley let's not forget, his stock wasn't that high even then considering he was playing at a reasonably high level.

It's shocking because we expected to get an inflated fee from our Saudi brothers. Other than that it's quite informative that there wasn't more interest from normal clubs if the fee is shockingly low. Why would they miss out? I think the injury record is probably more of a factor than we realise.

"Tonali...blah blah We're going to conquer you up Arggh...tell me ma me ma ah've been stabbed in the arse the arse.."

Same. Also quite interested to see how the Barnes/Wilson relationship develops, think that has potential.

What we do know is that he wanted a new contract on higher wages at Newcastle. If another club in Europe had stepped in and offered that I think he'd have gone there.

Could have sworn I was watching games last season where the likes of Willock were selling dummies to leave the ball to an on-running player, some fancy flicks to move the ball quickly on one-twos...I mean we don't have the most technically brilliant players, but they were definitely trying to play...