STM

Its not down to the CBs whatsoever, aside the odd hiccup, which is normal.

I think Eddie Howe can have a two week holiday while Ross Wilson gets to work like. If they didnt have a plan, then that's undoubtedly a bigger problem. Fully expect to see some transfer movement from us very soon, but its easy to understand why there's loads we cant do until July, players are often on family holidays, international tournaments disrupt alot and then clubs are also playing a game of cat and mouse in terms of who blinks first. Im very pleased that weve made a big sale early because it takes away the last part. We've made our move, people know that we are in the market. However, it also let's everyone know we have money to spend but I think the "its Newcastle we can rinse them" will be well and truly over. Its already clear that we are focusing quite extensively on targets in europe, which im sure will be sigh of relief to a few on here.

Great stuff. Hopefully we can use him more sparingly and keep him fresh for certain games. Hes an incredible professional and leader, a true legend of the club. RCB: Schar/Thiaw LCB: Burn/Botman If we can add one more young CB to learn the ropes, I think thats perfect.

Bingo. Woltemade hasn't showed hes anywhere near deserving of starting in our side, let alone building the team around, although Howe might develop him further. Barnes is a great finisher but isnt good enough to play up front or on the wing for where we want to be because aside from goals the rest of his game is ordinary. Id sell Barnes, but that's with the massive caveat that we actually have viable targets to replace him.... then again, id sell half our squad on any given day.

Its incredible the difference in feeling between Barnes and Gordon when in on goal

Gordon: Pros: Electric Pace Big game player Great pens Very good at pressing Has a strong mentality (in terms of self improvement, belief in himself) Makes decent runs off the ball Cons: Not particularly good on the ball (at the elite level) Not a great passer Not a great finisher Not a great hold up player (if playing central) Very inconsistent Doesn't seem to turn up away from home Lazy when tracking back Seems to play for himself on occasion Has a somewhat marmite character

We can have whatever plan we want with regards to formation but if we dont get the players, its a rather pointless discussion. Ive heard a few saying "we cant play that 433" and that we need a big change but you don't always have to change formation, you can change profile of players. Instead of having 3 number 8s, like we have tended to do, we could have an 8 alongside a proper deep lying number 6 and another number 8 who plays more as a 10, if that makes sense. Im not wholly against a 4231 either, just making the point.

Is that stat accurate? Incredible if true.

A very effective footballer on his day but also not a particularly good footballer. His physical traits are 5 star, his technical and mental traits are left lacking. Thanks for the goals that helped us win the cup, for that he will rightly credited. Im actually really excited by the early swift action from us.

Sounds like exactly the sort of thing a Chelsea fan would tell other Chelsea fans to get them clicks. Bruno is going nowhere, Sandro is unlikely but if he does it wont be to fucking Chelsea.

You seem a very angry fan considering the success weve had in the last 4 years. Im not saying that to sound patronising. But why is that? We've had a piss-poor year, no question but everything about what you are saying suggests you expect way more. We are about 6 points off where par is for us given our finances. What would be your general expectation? Not so much in performance but in results? Also, I have to take issue with the "vast majority have been supportive", shouldn't they all be supportive of the best manager weve had in 25 year, at least?

Quite easy to pivot when you are given the keys to the kingdom mind. I know Arteta has just won the league and deserves his credit, but let's not pretend like Arteta is some great manager. Hes not. Its taken him a long time, with alot of money and resources and hes still won it with one of the most boring sides ever to win the league.

People said Howe was a problem at the start of the season we finished 4th, I remember specifically people whinging because we drew 0-0 at home to Palace. People said Howe was the problem when we finished 7th, despite getting back into the CL the following season and winning our first domestic trophy in 70 years. If we havent improved visibly, and im not talking about results but our general play, then Howe will be gone pretty swiftly into the new season. The revisionism isn't required though. Hes an outstanding manager, an outstanding person and if he does go he will go with nothing but respect. That also doesnt mean to say that it can't ultimately the right thing for us and Howe to part ways too. Sometimes change is just needed. What worries me most are those that are so desperate for an Iraola or a Fabregas but one wrong word, one bad signing or god forbid they dont pick the team some want and they will be called worse than shit too. Weve had managers like Souness and Gullit whom very quickly decided that they knew best because of their glittering playing careers or managers like Bruce or Pardew persistently dampened expectations of the fans, merely to protect themselves for producing shite football. Im not saying they arent better options than Howe, that's open for discussion but tread very carefully because its astonishing how quickly things can get worse.... even than the season we have had. What I sincerely hope is that the people who run our club have a contingency plan or a direction of travel should Howe go. We cant afford another "recruitment process".

Wanting to play Burn makes complete sense to me given hes our best defender and biggest leader in the back 4. Playing Hall RB doesnt make much sense.

A better example would be if someone with depression went into the doctors and the doctor told them to fuck off because they were rich or the job they had done.

The point is that one man's stress can be seen as another man's privilege. I would absolutely love Dan Burns life, but it doesnt make his mental health issues not real. You can be a multi billionaire and absolutely hate yourself and want to commit suicide. Why is that less important than someone who is on the breadline who feels the same?

Hes a footballer being asked about football. Fuck me. Hes saying its being a demanding season. He doesnt have to justify his thoughts and feelings to anyone. It would be like me saying "aye you cant feed your kids, but at least they are safe unlike them poor sods in gaza". Not everything is some "whos got it worse" oneupmanship.

What an absolute moron you are. Money/wealth has very little to do with mental health. The idea that Dan Burn of all people isnt in touch with how the average person lives is utterly stupid.

Good decision. Weve got 4 good CBs, id like to add a young CB into that group to grow into the team. Once the rest of the side is performing and has the correct balance, they should thrive.

I remember when it ended, I assumed they were having a clear out and restart.

I remember when we had THE OTHER PLACE back in the day, that was class. Until someone fucked it.

@Ronson333 weve all been in this place. Go and have a breather. You had a take, people disagreed with you, its got messy. Go and chill out for half an hour. Take it from me, nobody is coming after you, dont react with emotion.

Our transfers prior to last summer had been superb. Its easy to be critical of the club when entirely ignoring a rigged system or our problems with DoFs coming and going or our star striker throwing his toys out of the pram. Yes there have been mistakes but our fans vastly over dramatise them and vastly overestimate how well other clubs do in their transfer windows. Arsenal for example had terrible transfer business... until they didnt. Liverpool "won the window", until they didn't, Chelsea, Man Utd (until last summer) and Spurs have cocked up more transfer windows than I've had dinners. The only club that consistently get it right can sign whom they want, when they want, without punishment. As for looking longingly towards Brighton or Bournemouth, while there are lessons to be learned from those clubs, the day we start adopting their strategy is the day we might as well pack in. Weve made mistakes, its not (necessarily)an indicator towards the future.

Gordon being set aside so quickly speaks to a summer of already having a clear plan in place. Ive no doubt that anyone, Hopkinson, Wilson or Howe are under any illusions about how important this transfer window is. Once again, the success of it is unlikely to be based on whatever plan they have now but how they react to the things out of their control, I.e losing out on targets, players wanting to leave or even injuries. Im confident we will end up in a good place but its not going to be straightforward, its never straightforward. A goalkeeper within the first few weeks would be my priority.

I think this is possibly the first clear actions of Ross Wilson. The club likely need to shift a couple, Gordon likely fancies the move, and I think it seems fairly amicable from all parties. Its perfectly natural that Howe is thinking about life beyond Gordon and Gordon cant complain if his agent has been talking to clubs around Europe. I dont think he will be massively missed on the football pitch and I cant say im massively fond of him as a bloke. I will thank him for the goals which got us to Wembley vs Arsenal, and say thank you very much for the transfer fee.