STM

Cheers, well I guess that answers that then. Seems highly unlikely that Burn will go to left back. I'd love Howe to give the nod to Kelly (CB) and Hall (LB) in the first game. Again, it's just nice to have options.

Reading between the lines, I wonder if he wanted to leave last summer and was asked to give it another season, similar to Olise. It seems odd that they seem so resigned to losing him. It's like they have openly accepted that he's leaving, which is odd given the reputation of their chairman.

Are we absolutely sure that Howe will start Hall? What position has Kelly played in his pre season games?

Feels quite significant that they've already got an eye on replacements. It more than confirms that they expect him to leave.

Ryan Fraser is still on our books right? He never actually joined Southampton. We've also got Dubravka, Lewis and a couple of others that we haven't shifted. None of this helps when we are looking wriggle room, even just in terms of wages.

It's such a shame that he will pick Longstaff over Willock. Thankfully with Joelinton and Bruno in the side our midfield will dominate most anyway. Fuck me, I can't wait to see the strength on our bench. Barnes, Osula, Willock, Miggy and 2 or 3 decent defenders depending on who he chooses.

I've got 20 quid with a mate that he gets 9+ goals this year. Given Wilsons injury record, this lad will get loads of minutes and we create loads of chances. I know I'm being optimistic but I've just got a feeling about him. It's not based on much mind. I dunno, just hunch that he's going to surpass all expectations.

There's a good chance that we are negotiating so ferociously on a fee, specifically to leave us some wriggle room for a another deal beyond this.

No worries, we can leave it there. The only thing I will say is that while we may not have much improvement in personnel, don't be surprised if our performances actually do improve.. we shall see. And let's hope we make a signing or two soon.

Another insult. How child-like.

You are wrong. I wasn't desperate for Minteh to be sold. It would have been nice to have kept him but recognised the situation we were in. Once again, I was on the none-cryarsing end of that discussion. Also, saying "can someone help him out" is showing a massive lack of self awareness. You think you are in the majority? I don't want to speak on behalf of anyone, but I suspect that most are sick of needless negativity, something which you are doing. I don't know if you do this all the time or not, I've never paid enough attention to your posts to know that.

"Can't score". Your words, not mine. Not the "doesn't score enough", which is what your brain is telling you that you said. Next.

Precisely. No cry arsing required.

He's name calling now. Thats a W.

He got 11 goals two season ago. So you are factually wrong.

Making you look silly. Use as many smileys as you like. You've yet to give me a name of a Miggy replacement.

You are showing yourself up. Just whinging and bitching on, without really having any understanding of how a football club actually works. JUST SIGN PLAYERS MAN.

Decent sometimes, frustrating others. Like I say, it's a team game. I was taught that at about 5.

I've also severely under estimated how much people dislike Miggy. I mean, the guy frustrates the hell out of me, but not to the extent where I will be happy with ANYONE to replace him, regardless of cost, fit, price or whether they are actually any good.

More like it lad.

Any toy or do you want a good player? At what cost? Which player? What's there attitude like? Will they fit into the squad dynamic? Will we be PSR compliant come next July? Does the player you want, want to join us?

Luckily I judge my club on performances on the pitch, rather than transfer windows. Thankfully since the ownership change and Howe being manager, our performances on the pitch have far surpassed any expectations I had.

What does the optimistic side of you say? Or would you rather not share that?

I want a CB and RW who significantly improve the first team and if they don't significantly improve the first team, I'd rather we didn't bother. I don't want the club to tie themselves to players who are only slight improvements on the players in those positions already, causing us the same issues we already have further down the line. I don't think there's any debate that we should sell Miggy if we can and replace him with genuine quality if we can.

I think we also need to recognise that no sporting director can walk in and do a copy and paste job everywhere they go. We aren't Monaco or Spurs or Southampton, in the same way we weren't Brighton or England with Ashworth. Our situation and ambitions are unique to us, just as every other club has the their own unique requirements. For example, like it or not, at Newcastle we expect a certain level of marquee signings, that's because as a club we have always had this. Even under Ashley we pulled put a few really exciting players. As a sporting director, Mitchell can't just sign good young players to improve, in the same way that Ashworth couldnt just recruit players to sell on like he did at Brighton. Its not arrogance, its just understanding the culture of the club you are working at. Targetting and signing someone like Guehi would be a great indicator that Mitchell has got the memo. If we can have a little from column A (tried and tested quality) and a little from column B (players for the future), we have hit the sweet spot IMO.