TRon

Until he gets in sight of goal.

You get the odd squeak popping through here and there, but no full words yet.

Pen. Nice.

We've bossed the last 10 mins in a very Newcastle sort of way. Keep the ball effectively down the channels then look absolutely useless in the penalty area.

It was all that jerky motion in the first 20 minutes, can't be good for the muscles when you aren't warmed up properly.

we really are a bunch of sad bastards watching this like.

You'll probably get a better stream there mate.

This is shite tbh, hopefully it will get fixed at half time by the time our first teamers are on.

Well at least he's up.

It's like watching them break dancing.

It would be a great way to avoid the Newcastle Tax tbh. Let other teams thrash out the terms and the fee, then step in and sweep him away at the last minute.

So you don't rate him, there's something seriously wrong with his achilles.....but you'd take him?

Just means we were (still are?) hopeful of signing someone even better. Unless we sign no one, I really don't see a downside.

Sound. We've had so many players linked, I wouldn't get too wound up until we know the links are actually genuine. Cornet makes a lot of sense to me tbh, unless we have a really big fish we are hoping to still land.

I'd take 8th as a bare minimum, but yes we need to be aggressively pursuing 7th and that final European spot. None of this 8-12th would be progress.

I'd certainly be disappointed if the signings stopped here. But I don't think for one minute we are done yet. The only question is, will we go for secondary targets if our primary ones are unavailable? I think if the price is right, and they are a significant upgrade, then we will. For that we need two forwards who will make us capable of hurdling West Ham and Leicester for the European spots.

Well that was my point - it's not worth getting pissed off about rumours.

Mad posts suddenly becoming more lucid as the thread evolves.....

His stats are good mind. I just think if we'd really wanted him, it would have been done already. If we are in for him, can only be because we aren't getting our primary targets. I'm still witholding judgement as I think we must have other irons in the fire.

You would think that, but Longstaff has always operated in more advanced midfield roles when he's played hasn't he? I think it will be Bruno in the holding role, and Shelvey/Willock in front of him.

We don't even know if we are in for him yet. It's just (yet another) rumour.

Well that was where I was coming from tbh, yes Brighton are entitled to put a stupidly high price tag on him, he's their player. But now they will have a full back on their hands who wants to be at Man City, and they are willing to pay £40m tops. I think Brighton will compromise, but let's see.

Honestly would love that to be the case, but I don't think he's ever going to be a team player, it goes against every instinct in his body. Even when he tries to look like he's following instruction, he still waits until the last possible moment to release the ball, and by then the opportunity has gone. It's just not how he wantst to play the game.

Makes you wonder why we have shown any interest in Harrison then? I was thinking maybe Howe doesn't think he's worse?