STM

As is Bournemouths hope of staying in this league.

My reading of the situation is entirely different. Our scouting department has files on dozens of players, often different profiles; wingers, forwards, number 10s, players with potential, players with experience. Our recruitment team then spends time assessing the value of the player and making lower bids, seeing where the selling clubs value is. We've left things late, knowing that the market heats up, with clubs getting desperate due to their own needs. Isak was clearly a player we fancied earlier on but we weren't going to go in during June because values can be lowered. I suspect at some point in the last week, Ashworth and Co decided that it was MORE wasteful spending 30m on a player who might be decent, as opposed to 58m for someone we know is decent. Sometimes spending more money is spending less in the long run. Budgets have nothing to do with it. It's about value. We don't want to over pay on average players. In this scenario, we have paid the going rate for a top quality young striker.

The error from the ref on the handball, I can handle, the fact that the ref won't get punished internally and will probably actually get supported in his decision is what bothers me. The only time it's not hand ball is when the ball is kicked hard at a player with arms by his side. Anything other and it's handball, can the rule not be that fucking simple.

Team tommorow? Pope Trippier Schar Botman Burn Longstaff Joelinton Willock Almiron ASM Wood

90s: 1 2 5 6 3 8 4 7 11 9 10

Perhaps but even then the media still had no idea that there was a possibility of a change of budget. If you are in the media, you can't have the get out clause of "I'm right but things changed".

One way or another, the media got this wrong. They were briefing about their being 40m left or whatever and we spent 58. They can claim things changed after the city game, that doesn't change the facts. The facts are that they had more money to spend that'll what the media thought. Not one of them suggested that the budget could change... because they didn't know. Personally, I think the club have been playing down their budget, precisely for this reason.

Yeah I get it, Ricky Gervais. I didn't read it?

Couldn't really give a fuck what Shearer thinks after the way he defended Steve Bruce. He will always be a club legend but he can keep his in-depth analysis for Linekar and Wrighty.

Much more likely, in my eyes, that we go for someone cheaper and less risky. I'm not sure I could give you a name bit I wouldn't be surprised to see us try and get someone more "PL proven". Don't have a pop at me but I could absolutely see us trying to get McTominay.

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/sean-longstaff-newcastle-team-mate-21909278

Every game we have comes down to the midfield for me. The defenders and attackers days are completely dictated by what happens in the middle of the pitch. If Joe, Joe and Bruno can exert their physicality on them, we should be in for a result.

Ok, what do you know? Tell me Bruno isn't injured. You normally have an inside track.

Aye Ritchie has gone. He's a cheerleader now. Happy enough if we let him go.

Relaxed about any links from here on out. Pretty damn happy about the squad. One more who could play in either RW or CM would be groovy but don't mind if the club have decided that's enough for this window.

Tielmans is a great shout.

They already have a Roy Keane thread at the top of ready to groom.

Imagine being so warped thar you could still convince yourself that Sunderland are bigger than Newcastle. They'd be much better off accepting their inferiority and moving the club forward.

Pulisic or Gallagher loan would be nice. Who else have we been linked to that we may revisit? Loan deal with option for Asensio?

No wonder Netflix returned. Easy money.

I think it would be quite weird to complain about Isak potentially not getting enough game time through the middle, given the amount of whinging we've all been doing about Wilson being injury prone. Isak will just have to prove he's worthy of that central role, when he gets his chances.

2. Almiron, Fraser then Murphy. Besides which, if Wilson and Isak are fit. Isak could play out there.

Imagine his face, while sitting on the bench in two weeks time while Chris Wood is up front. A bemused Isak glances across and catches Brunos eye, then Sven Botmans with a face that can only be described as "what the fuck?" Bruno and Botman look at one another, laugh and share a look that says "been there mate".

Gallagher loan with an option is way more plausible.

Targett playing against Tranmere was an indication that he might not start on Sunday, although he was brought off at half time. I think Burn and Schar are certainties, so it's either Targett or Botman. Personally, i think Targett gives us more natural width than Burn at left back. On Isak, best we can hope for is the bench. Wood will start.