Shak

Think Isak in particular was taken off early against Spurs with Eddie having one eye on this fixture. I'll be absolutely floored if there are any changes to the starting team for this.

Draw wouldn't be a terrible result but I certainly wouldn't take it right now. Bookies have us 8/11 for a reason, they'll make it tough for sure but we should beat this lot anyway as we're fucking quality.

We were linked a month or so ago but nothing too strong. His contract is up in 2025 so I guess if they're going to cash in on him this summer is the time to do it? I did only mention him as the absolute dream signing in terms of what I'd want from the position. I'd say Tierney or Grimaldo are far more likely.

I think he'd fill a very necessary role in our squad as someone who can play CF if Isak is out but is also able to play out wide. However, his wages and transfer fee would be too much IMO. Hoping Ashworth has his eye on a lesser known young player for the role.

Howay the Spuds, let's hope they rally and get a couple of decent results in the coming week. Be class if we've rinsed them so badly that we've forced a reaction from them and they go and take points off Man U and Liverpool

Absolutely mad posting all of this shite considering where the club (and my interest in it) was 18 months ago Like, as a collective group I realise that bringing in Davies, Rice, Diaby and Maddison is a bit far fetched but individually these four are all players we'll have a shot at luring here in the summer if we finish in the top four. Being realistic, the exception is probably Davies as his wages might be an issue, he's already at Bayern and would presumably have everyone else after him if he is available. But we've gone from an absolute non-entity of a club to on the verge of being one of the most attractive clubs in the world to the game's best young talents in less than two years and it's all a bit mental

Aye, I'm also very much of the opinion that Bruno should stay in the same position. I do think he'd still be quality in a more advanced role but the DM we bring in would have to be absolutely world class or we're downgrading that position in our team. Leave him where he is and bring in competition for Longstaff. It's why Rice would be ideal, for me. He'd be a beast in that role Longstaff plays but he's also tidy enough on the ball to play the role Bruno does in the event that Bruno gets injured without the catastrophic fall off we've seen when he's been out this season. The concept of going forward with Joelinton as primarily a LW is an interesting one to me. Generally I've been against it as I think that when teams sit back and we have to break them down he's not going to contribute much in that regard. However, if you added a genuinely top class attack-minded LB I think I could get behind it. Joelinton, Willock and Alphonso Davies down that side seems like they could do some serious damage going forward while being very solid defensively too. I think if you are going to use Joelinton on the left, you need a LB that is really good going forward. A deluxe Dan Burn type only makes sense to me if you're going with an ASM type at LW. Might be something that could make a lot of sense if Saint-Maximin does leave as has been rumoured? Instead of replacing him with another winger, leave Joelinton and Gordon to compete for that spot and see it as a spot that pays off mostly when we're out of possession and can cover a marauding left back. Instead of bringing in a winger to replace ASM maybe you bring in someone like a James Maddison, who'd give us something different in terms of his skillset and could probably play in quite a few positions in our team.

Aye. Like I said, those were basically my first choices of the players we've had any links with. Something like Kieran Tierney, Manu Kone and James Maddison might be a bit more realistic as our three major signings and I don't think that would be bad I actually think we'll sign Diaby though, for some reason. Seems like he's been a long term target since the takeover and we've been biding our time.

Aye, he'd be absolutely mental to want to leave IMO. He's never played a game in Europe in his whole career, surely he's going to want to be a part of next season at least. With five subs these days he could carve out a very nice role for himself as a sort of super sub for us for the next few years if he's willing to embrace it.

It's mental how much good will I have towards our current squad of players. Like, I'm at a point where even if it's financially feasible with FFP I think I wouldn't want us going out and signing half a dozen absolutely top class players Players like Willock, Almiron and Longstaff deserve to be in the running to play a lot of football again next season. Think so much of our success is down to how the dressing room is managed and we need to prioritise keeping that above all else. Quality over quantity this summer. Alphonso Davies Declan Rice Moussa Diaby Give me those three this summer and no significant outgoings please. Listed those three as they're probably at the top of the list of each of the type of players I'd want. A dynamic LB, an all-action midfielder and a left-footed right winger who scores goals. I realize that those three are all ambitious targets who may have better options but if we do get a CL place there'll be only half a dozen clubs out there that are out of our league in terms of pulling power in the transfer market. Add two or three tasty treats that Ashworth has hopefully identified that can come in and provide exciting young depth and we'll be golden. Maybe a CB, CM and a versatile striker that can also play on the wings. Only first team player I can see leaving is ASM. Just hard to call what'll happen with him IMO. Think it's all honestly going to come down to whether the medical staff think he can be got to a point that his body is able for what our style of play demands. If they don't think he can, we'll need another option for LW.

Aye, very hard to see Spurs rattling off a really good run so if they could take some points off Man U and/or Liverpool this week that would be great. Man United have four very favourable fixtures to close the season and should have enough to get the job done but their next four are really tough and could put them under some pressure going into them. Do think at least one of Liverpool or Brighton will finish strong so any slip by either us or Man United could be costly.

Feel we'll still be talking about Isak's first years from now. Some cracking other goals but that pass from Willock is going to stand the test of time.

Anything at all to be said for a big group wank on Zoom while we watch it together?

In a way it's nice that the forum also has its own Murphy that we keep around for meme purposes. Hopefully you can one day take the step forward and actually start producing like Jacob has, Michael.

Thought the timing of the pass was good but too far ahead of Gordon and too close to the keeper. Just a bit less on it and Gordon has time to pick his spot a bit more rather than just trying to nick it by the keeper. Do feel like he'll become a very effective member of the squad once he's had a bit longer under Howe and is used to playing with the rest of the lads. Have seen very little from him to suggest he's ever going to become a star player for us but think he'll be decent. Maybe not exactly what you hope to get from a £40m signing but his age and nationality will probably mean he'll ultimately prove to be decent value for money. (Also, there's a fair chance that after a year or so Howe will turn him into an absolutely world class winger, obviously )

There seems to be a 30 minute highlights thing on Sky at 10.30 this evening.

I'm willing to take forum funded trips flying to and from destinations of my choosing during Newcastle games. Ball's in your collective court, Newcastle-Online.

Hope so, gonna look into that now

Flight just landed. Got off to a brisk start, it would appear?

A far bigger concern with Felix would be that he hasn't done very well at Atletico and from what I've read seems to have clashed with Simeone about what's expected from him defensively. Given that Howe asks his team to do a lot of similar things, I'd worry about the fit. Place absolute zero stock in how he's looked at Chelsea, personally. Team has been a disorganised mess all season, almost impossible for a creative player to look good in a random assortment of individuals Chelsea send out. Mudryk is a prime example. Had he gone to Arsenal I'm pretty sure he would have been top class.

Felix is someone who could be an absolutely transformative signing for us IMO. I know it hasn't quite clicked for him at Atletico but the level of talent there is immense. Not at all hard to envisage a world where in a few years' time he's considered one of the best players in the game. Of course there's risk that comes with him given how he has clashed with Simeone but it's a punt worth taking IMO. Given his strained relationship with Atletico and him spending the last few months at that shitshow in Chelsea there might be a deal to be had at a reasonable price. Seems like the left side of a 4-3-3 should be his best position? With the rumours that ASM could be moved on I could see Felix making sense as the player to take his place and being our big splash signing this summer.

With ASM still out and Gordon not really impressing I wonder if this could be the game we see Howe start Isak and Wilson together? Obviously it's nice to have the option of Wilson off the bench but it does feel like this is a game that we might just be able to overwhelm Spurs from the first whistle and win easily given the disarray they seem to be in. Gordon and Murphy on the wings isn't exactly a pairing that I fancy to create a lot while Wilson has looked much sharper his last few games. Obviously a big call to start them together for the first time in such a huge game but given how bad we've been the last two games (only turned it around against Brentford by going with the two strikers) I do think it must surely be strongly considered? Feels like the best way to not win this game is by being a bit toothless up top and letting a fragile Spurs team grow into the game. Go at them from the start and we'll beat the shit out of them IMO.

I DON'T SEE HOW ANYONE COULD VIEW THINGS DIFFERENTLY TO ME.

Unlucky ArTITa. You big tit.