STM

This is getting really fucking boring. Will see you all tommrow, for another game of bullshit bingo.

If Carlos can play a bit, then play Lascelles. I've always been a believer in the tough/smart combo. I really like Schar but I'm not sure he's what we need for a relegation scrap. Give me Fernandez every day.

Oh and just since we are talking about Leeds... in the highly unlikely scenario that we survive, we should make Rafinha our number 1 transfer target in the summer.

I'm not knocking West Ham, they have had a great season but I think their team performances have been way above par for the level of players they have. Declan Rice aside, they don't stand out as a squad. I expect their performance level to drop in this half of the season. Leeds will be the first defeat of a tougher run. Moyes has done great with that squad.

Play a 3 at the back and protect him for his first game. Let's use Lewis and Trippier, who will be arguably our strongest area of the pitch, in more advanced areas. Dig deep, keep it tight and pray that we can nick a goal on the break.

It feels a significant transfer this. If we get this one done, I think more will follow. We have put so much time and effort into a CB, hopefully we can start concentrating on other areas. The last few days of the window will be absolutely wild.

Botman also wanted to join us. Means fuck all unless we agree a fee. Hopefully he's doing this to wave his right to a loyalty bonus or some shit, which will in turn allow him to leave. The cards are stacked in our favour now but I also thought the Emery deal was done.

Trippier right back. Spanish will do.

Packed lunch is in the fridge.

Leeds aren't that good and we aren't that bad. We need to start scoring from set pieces.

Dubravka Schar Lascelles Dummett Trippier Lewis Shelvey Joelinton Fraser ASM Wood Please bring us some signings.

I will give it a look... when he signs on Thursday.

Has anyone mentioned our need for midfielders yet?

Is Manquillo back from suspension?

Unless this cunt signs, I'm not watching his highlight reel. Why would I put myself though that.

Time is ticking away. We are absolutely desperate for another 2 this week, if we are to get something at Leeds and avoid the drop. It's not a criticism of the owners. January is tough, they are clearly trying but time is of the essence. I know the debate is "we need this," or "we need that", but IMO what we need is a catalyst. We need someone who comes to us and hits the ground running like Willock did or like Lingard did at West Ham. Once the team gets that boost and lift which it needs, we have a chance, albeit small, to string a few results together. It seems fanciful right now but if we could get a run of 2 wins and a draw out of any 3 games coming up we give ourselves a chance but we need that player to come in and change our fortunes.

We have only been beaten once since 21st of August against a bottom half side and that was against Wolves who are now in the top half. We literally just can't buy a win. 1-1.

Howay man. Its nowt to do with understanding the position we are in. It's written on their faces during games.

Lascelles is shite, Schar is also shite.

Personally can't stand Peter Kenyon but the bloke knows how to run a big football club. Would have to have a DOF though.

He's got arguably the worst NUFC squad that we have ever had in the PL and yet some would have you think turning this oil tanker around was an easy task. Eddie Howe isn't perfect, is hardly a revelation either.

I find it laughable that anyone, when referring to the January window, says we should have had "X players in by x time". It's such vague bullshit which can only come from this idea that transfers are easy to do. If rumours are true, we have been hoying 30m bids for CBs right, left and centre but there are a few small matters getting in the way. Firstly we have to find players who are worth the money, then a club willing to sell and then a player willing to move. Sure, we could have had Phil Jones in 10 days ago but I'd wager that the ones who bitched about Chris Wood as a panic buy, would have done the same with someone like Jones. Hoying an extra nought on the end of the bid might look like solving a problem but in reality it will create more for us. There's every chance we will sign Diego Carlos next week and people will be happy. It still won't be enough to save us from relegation and then people will bitch that we haven't signed more. They are trying. It's difficult.

I wouldn't rule out wanting Rafa back, but I'd have to turn on Howe first, which is unlikely even if we get relegated. I worry that Rafa, like Mourinho, is a busted flush. Whatever aura and mystic these men held has gone. It happens to almost every manager. It happened to Clough, Wenger and it will happen to Klopp and Pep, its the circle of life. We need our own philosophy, vision and a manager on their way up in the game. I'd like to see Staveley getting some advice off Rafa mind. He has tonnes to offer in the short term about how to build a club but he and Howes footballing philosophies are so far apart he wouldn't work as a DOF. Once again, the stars of NUFC and Rafa Benitez just aren't aligned.

Despite the original ask being incredibly difficult? I'm quite the opposite. If we go down, I can't think of many managers of a better standard who would be prepared to take on the challenge.