STM

What the fuck was he doing? Just hoy yourself at it.

Id like to think we've got all of these lads scouted.

Yeah i agree on the second part. I think the club are so used to Howe being the mouthpiece that they've not thought through this interim period. Also Eales ill health cant help.

Ive seen the club get criticism for over communicating in the past too though, especially pre takeover. I might be old school but I prefer the people at the top to keep their mouths shut as much as possible. Once a year will do me.

Isn't that because of PSR and overspending though? As opposed to a slow process? I kind of get the slow thing when it comes to CEOs etc, they do take their time.

Just to play devils advocate, apart from a 2 director of footballs, one was a turncoat, the other just not the right fit, they've barely got a decision wrong in my mind.

We've not missed out on any player because we've acted slowly, as far as im aware? Any player who's gone elsewhere has been because of more obvious reasons. As far as time goes, why does it make any difference when we sign players, until the 7th of July arrives? Even some of our better players won't even return to training on that date. Also this idea that we negotiate slowly isnt true, Liverpool Kerkez deals took weeks, even though we knew it was happening. Wirtz had like 4 bids rejected. Man Utd still haven't agreed a fee for Mbeumo, despite him making it clear he was moving there 3 weeks ago. Chelsea have been trying to sign that Gittensn for ages. Im sure Arsenal fans will be going wild at the fact they haven't signed a striker too. I suspect we are caught in a bubble, to which everything feels frustratingly slow and I absolutely feel it too. If by the week the players come back to training we haven't got one through the door AND another one looking likely, I'll be incredibly frustrated like everyone else but not yet. We've made numerous opening bids for players this week. I think the whole point of that is specifically to get a couple done before pre season.

It's been a fairly badly kept secret this one. I dont even think Burnley really wanted to put up a fight over it. I actually think from their point of view, getting 30m in for a keeper when they need funds for a survival push is smart business. I know they've signed a young keeper but I cant help but feel Dubravka would be a good signing for them.

Seems nailed on this is happening then. Just waiting for the old "here we go" treatment.

I never know how to feel when I watch back pundits opinions like that. I suppose we've all been massive wrong (well apart from TCD whos always right) in our footballing takes but there's an element cuntishness about them. Anyway. Howe is God.

Again, with these cunts that have been at Man Utd/Liverpool and won everything, they go to other clubs and have an air of pity about them. Nicky Butt, Bruce, McClaren, Souness... "Why would this club expect to win every game, they arent a big club. They should be happy with having a serial winner try and show them what to do". The managers who we have loved have had the opposite attitude, have ambition and belief in what you can achieve (Howe, Rafa, Keegan, SBR), so much so that in the cases of Keegan and Rafa they fell out with our own ownership over lack of ambition.

That real?

Bon voyage.

Souness is another one. Blames everyone but himself for taking us from CL places to 14th, despite spending 50 odd million, which was shit loads at the time.

Steve Bruce is worse than Pardew. Pardew at least tries to sound nostalgic towards his time here. It's the revising history bit that pisses me off the most. Be as shite as you want but dont bullshit people after it to save your reputation.

Out of all our potential signings, this guy is the one im most excited about. Hes got everything to become an absolute monster under Eddie. I cant wait to see him become a staple in the Brazil side because of us.

I actually think Ryder is one of the few that does have connections within the club. He's just such an absolute dullard.

Possibly because you are talking out of your arse?

What big club doesn't have this problem? Liverpool have paid what id consider a premium for each of their signings. Leverkusen rightly took them to the cleaners. The actually issue is that while certain clubs can pay that premium, we've got the threat of PSR looming over us. 2 years ago, under Staveley, we'd have likely already paid what these clubs are asking. Understandably we are being more thoughtful now. It trickles down too. Don't think Howe will let Willock or Longstaff go without feeling like hes really got the most back on them. Be thankful that we are being over quoted on good players.

This is a ridiculous post. It's a fairly common concept that the bigger fish will get the better deals because the clubs who are selling have very little in the way of resistance. How on earth were Newcastle supposed to get ahead of City or Liverpool for those deals? We cant even get ahead of Man United and their dog shite. In fact, how do you know that they weren't targets in the first place. It's been widely reported that we were in for Delap, but Chelsea would offer him a bigger wage than us and possibly a guaranteed spot in their side. The reality is that "bargains" are very hard to come by, because guess what? Everyone else is looking at those players too.

Kluivert.

Seems a nice lad but the Cumbrian accent is absolute rancid.

I think this had been covered a fair bit but it's assumed Joao Pedro would cover a few purposes. Firstly, it gives us quality cover for Isak. Secondly, it gives us the option of two quality forward players, whether that's 2 up front or more likely playing with a number 10 and lastly Pedro has the ability to easily cover in wide areas if required. Our whole attraction to him is likely his versatility.

Not a rumour, just a thought. Bobby Clark has had a tough time at Salzburg. Was signed by a manager who was sacked in 6 months. He's 20 years old and, formerly at least, considered a future wonderkid. He's also likely to want to jump at the chance at coming back here because hes rumoured at being unhappy. He's also a midfielder and wouldn't cost alot. I think they only paid 10m for him. If anyone can get his potential out of him its Howe. At the very least, he'd get some value back in him.

Precisely. I think this is our approach. I dont think we care so much about the size of the fee but the depth of the investment. All of the obvious targets are of a similar age: Elanga, Pedro, even Scalvini.