TRon

It helps that the Reubens are on board as they do actually have local connections. But the limitations of FFP/PSR do mean that PIF themselves have no incentive to break any rules or invest huge amounts in a hurry, they can quite happily just treat the whole thing as an investment.

Technically Joelinton is not really a top level midfielder, but you could argue his wrecking ball physicality more than makes up for it. Teams must hate playing against him.

https://www.intelligenceonline.com/international-dealmaking/2025/01/28/dazn-newcastle-neom-the-line-mbs-s-powerful-financier-on-the-line,110368358-eve There was some suggestion right there a few posts back.

I think that might also have been the reason they bought us though. If it was a vanity project they'll have had no problem throwing money at it assuming that they could very quickly build a team that won everything. The cartel and their minions at PL headquarters have acted to make sure they can't do this, and I always fear that if they aren't allowed to win stuff, they might well sell up and invest in another club that can. Effectively it works in the same way as PSR. The best owners as well as the best players are prodded and cajoled towards the approved cartel clubs. This is just me speculating by the way, but it's the direction I'm seeing.

Except it means we are effectively scouting for Man City.

Fabulous. I think the only way the penny will drop for the PL is if they start losing players to other leagues because no one in England can afford them. There again, the cartel clubs will probably figure it's worth going through some short term pain for long term gain.

Ashley really did come at the wrong time for Newcastle. Shepherd tried to maintain our brand, but he was just too small time in the end, and couldn't think beyond running the club like it was a family business. Ashley was just asset stripping. We went from being one of the top 5 clubs in England to relegation candidates in the space of a decade.

I said a while back that it would make far more sense for City to target Tonali rather than Bruno for just that reason. But this is just fans/journalists having wet dreams about signing him, there's no actual substance behind them. It gets fucking tiresome though.

Sums him up perfectly tbh. I think many people have said more or less the same thing in non-graph form.

He makes those finishes look easy tbf. A bit like he made the penalty look easy.

We could maybe move Willock out there at a push. I think the bigger issue is if Isak gets injured, that will basically end our Europe hopes. Unless Wilson can stay fit for the rest of the season.

Bournemouth will definitely have more eyes on them after the last couple of results, hopefully that will mean teams put in a bit extra against them and/or they start to feel added pressure with the expectation.

You would have thought it would have happened over the last few weeks with all their injuries, but they seem to be going from strength to strength. Hopefully it's just adrenaline of winning and fatigue will settle in over the next month or two.

Spurs and Man U are probably seen as national assets, being one of London's premier clubs probably helped Spurs get govt funding for their stadium. I imagine Man U being the "north's" premier club might allow them to access the same funding for their development around Old Trafford as well, especially since Brexit Jim is a Sir.

This basically. I feel we had to sell Minteh and Anderson because we couldn't move Miggy, but it's water under the bridge now. I am more than happy enough if we can get £8-10m for him, better late than never. If nothing else we can appreciate someone who always gave everything for the shirt and ran his heart out.

Wonder if Paqueta's injury is genuine or some sort of betting scam?

Pqueta being a twat with the overhead kick attempt.

Get in.

Howe deserves massive credit in believing in him tbf. He obviously saw his raw attributes and has worked on getting him to deliver on those. He's had a couple of cracking long range shots with his left foot which have rattled the woodwork in recent games. Didn't even realise he had that in his locker until this season.

That penalty pretty much summed up his executioner mindset. Ice cold.

Don't really like to bump a thread of a player who never arrived, but he really did look a prospect.

Class!

Yep. Obviously tragic for Mings, but it's a boost to our CL hopes.

Same.

Might just be the wording of your first sentence which threw me then. I think outperformed is subjective for the reasons I gave.