STM

Financially, its a no brainer. Over a 6 year deal he is incredibly unlikely not to retain his value or at least a significant portion of his value if he underwhelmed. He's also shown what he's capable of. If he can reproduce half of that over the course of the season he will have done well. Like I have said previously, he needs to get more involved when he's not scoring or he will get some stick. Saying that, as long as Shelvey is on the pitch, Willock will look like prime Viera energy wise.

Now we aren't loaning Willock, we will be 100% looking for loan deals.

It makes most sense for us, precisely because we have had him already and know what he is all about. As you say, other sides would be making a bigger gamble.

Good signing but has zero excitement attached to it because he has already played for us. Mind you, we could sign Messi with Bruce as manager and I'd be pretty underwhelmed.

Can't wait until we sign Scott Dann for free.

Don't expect the scoring rate of last season. His energy will be key on the counter though. If he takes 10% of a defenders eyes away from ASM, Almiron and Wilson, he will be doing a good job. He still needs to learn out to put his foot on the ball and slow the pace of a game down when needs be.

Pedant. Fair enough, we are still worse off. Willock is a good player but I won't be celebrating us standing still as a squad.

No Carroll, No Lejuene. When you don't improve, other sides will.

I suspect, this deal will allow any other transfers we have lined up to get the green light, albeit freebies and loans.

Still not on par with last seasons squad. Need another centre mid, centre back and striker.... and that's without showing ambition.

Says a lot about football that the world's best player will basically take the money and effectively retire. He could have done any number of other things; joined Juventus to play with Ronaldo, joined City/Chelsea and had a crack at the other best league in the world, gone back to Argentina for nostalgic reasons. He could have stayed at Barca and taken a small wage. Money shouldn't be in the equation either, the guy is a gazillionair, who's got a couple seasons left in him.

Good enough for a 3 year deal, not good enough to be given adequate resources. OK Mike.

Bruce getting a new deal is a clear sign that the takeover is happening. #positiveoptimism

Ironic that the lead singer of the joy division topped himself too.

See the away kit is black and gold. Black+Gold, Black Gold I.e Oil. If that isn't a sign that the takeover is happening I don't know what is. #positiveoptimism

I can understand journalists making stuff up to whip the fans in to a frenzy, it's some of the posters in here doing it which I question?

Reckon HTT has gone fishing there.

More good news I see.

Again signing a Barkley on loan would be fine, if it wasn't your only punt. My issue has never been with the club looking to be cute in the transfer market, its with the club ONLY looking to be cute in the transfer market. I can imagine Ashley justifying his strategy, "well spent money in 2015 and got relegated!" Leaving out the bit about having McClaren running the side. He just never gets it right does he. Its either shit manager + shit funds, shit manager + decent funds or good manager + shit funds. Never does the dice roll on good manager + decent funds, which would see us compete in the top half.

It's not binary though is it? I want a takeover to happen. + I don't believe from anything I have seen that a takeover will happen. Does not = I don't want takeover to happen.

If history is anything to go by, we will probably sign 3 players in the next week, which will be just enough to see us competing above relegation. Willock and 2 other half decent PL players but absolutely nothing exciting.

I've always thought Lemina looked like had something about him but perhaps wasn't applied correctly. Which is unfortunate because Brucey will make him fetch the babs after the match. Greame Jones might get something out of him but it's another NUFC throw of the dice. The fact that Shelvey is first name on the teamsheet basically makes out midfield selection null and void anyway.

If Lemina comes in, you can bet your arse that Hayden will leave.