TRon

I think some fans just have real trouble digesting that tbh.

I'm sure they'd love to, but Lingard himself would probably prefer to come here. They have to be reasonable otherwise he's quite happy to sit on his arse and run his contract down.

That's because they don't want to sell unless they get a stupidly high amount. We are agreeing terms with the player to unsettle him and put pressure on them to be reasonable and agree a fair fee. It's called negotiation.

Well even if they are the best players in the world, there's nothing to say they will settle into English football in the first game. You can't guarantee they are going to lock out a clean sheet no matter how good they are.

Can't really argue with that at the end of the day. All of them are taking up precious attacking slots and producing in maybe one game in five. If that.

Yeah the only thing which could work in our favour is if he actually is keen on coming here.

Nah. If there was any chance of lining up Botman and Carlos together, I would definitely have tried everything possible to make it happen. It's 2 games man, we could easily have lost them regardless of who we sign.

Doesn't sound like it's going to happen just on the basis of that tweet. Man U are reluctant to let him go? I think they'll let him go, just to some other club, not NUFC.

So then your claim that sports performance was valued more than financial was incorrect, do you agree? That was the only part of your post which I disagreed with, I don't mind anyone saying Sevilla are far ahead of us as a football club. For now anyway.

He's a forward not a midfield player. More of a wide man or playing behind the main striker I would say.

Well yes....isn't that the point?

Yes I can respect that, you are far more successful than us today. But try renewing his contract on the same wages he is on currently if you really believe finances are less important than sports performance.

I don't have any issues with most of what he said, but the last line struck me as a bit petty: "maybe He values more his sport performance than the financial" Then why has he asked for a move to Newcastle?

At Newcastle he will be able to manage his sports performance as well as make life changing advances in his financial position. Let's be realistic here, professional footballers are always going to put their own future first. Yes you can keep hold of him and force him to his contract, that's your right, but Newcastle will only offer a very generous price, and from what I am hearing this is the final offer. If you keep Carlos you will have an unhappy player who will leave anyway in the summer, and probably for a lot less money. We will move on to someone else.

It's not the worst idea is it? Who would you want in a relegation scrap, look at our current bunch, about as much fight in them as a 15 yr old poodle.

I think you are in denial mate, it's just a matter of when now, and how much for.

Been saying this for a while now. I know it's not sexy football, but it suits the players we've got. The defenders get a bit of extra insurance in the middle, wing backs can bomb on knowing there's three behind them, and it also gives pacy forwards like ASM and Willock a bit more space to attack on the counter. The midfield is going to be shit no matter what formation you put out so might as well bypass them.

Only click on this thread every now and then, always get a feeling of dread for some reason. It's like entering a virtual wearside. I know it's just our lot in here, but so much of that RTG stuff gets posted here, it still feels filthy.

Yeah that's been quite noticeable, he's definitely trying to mend fences. Don't think it can be done though, he nailed his colours to the wrong mast, no coming back from that if you ask me.

Very important point this, our best football under Bruce was when we came out of lockdown and playing in front of empty stadiums. These players wilt under pressure, so no crowds definitely helped them and made it feel more like a training session where they could express themselves more.

Honestly, I think it will get really exciting in the last few days for us. We haven't even seen much loan activity yet, but that usually comes in the last week.

Hazard can't be arsed to get in shape for Real Madrid, what would motivate him to do it for Newcastle?

It's what we're doing tbf, but those clubs will string us along until the end of the window because they don't really want to sell. It would be great if we could get them to say ok let's do it right now, but why would they?

After the Leeds game there's still 17 more games left. It's far from all over if we can get enough quality in. Still not easy as getting a bunch of new players to gel is a challenge in itself, but it's a long way from done.

Tbf, I can see the logic in it, but I suspect he was the number one target only to fight relegation. Proven record of goals in the Premier, but if we were mid-table, we'd be looking at a different type of striker altogether, the likes of Vlahovic or Martial who could take us up another level. As it stands they won't even consider us, Wood will.