LionOfGosforth

Building from the back, love it. And honestly, all reservations about his reported desire to join aside, along with some questions about his overall attributes, if EH and his team want this lad and want to work with him and help him grow with us, that's good enough for me and i'm thrilled he's joining.

Title change

Casting my mind back to the summer of 92, I recall KK beginning our transformation with "non-sexy" signings like Venison, Bez and Bracewell (Lee soon after). The difference those 3 in particular made, was mad. He transformed us from the back first and more dramatic signings like Sellars and Cole followed later. Not saying this is the exact same thing, but our goalkeeping pool, both full-backs and CB's are slowly but surely being radically improved, big fan of this

There are times when it can be needed or relevant but the current obsession with, when a goal has been scored, the replay freeze-frame to see if a players lug might be offside as the final pass is delivered prior to the goal. Christ. They do it for literally every replay now, fucking sick of of it.

Think i'll bang on my Espana 82 tape and watch Honduras vs El Salvador again. Both more entertaining than this crap.

I mentioned those because they were in the BBC article about his sale, I haven't seen him much and not too familiar with his role at Monaco. And those stats are still pretty crap relevant to his transfer cost, Bruno G did more than that from a deep midfield role in a handful of games in a struggling PL team and cost less than half of that.

80m for Tchouameni. Can't say i've seen him play much, except a couple of unremarkable games for France. Is he worth that? 3 goals and 2 assists in 35 games last year costs 80m plus (apparently) 20m more in add-ons? Kinell

Thought exactly the same, gutted he went to Arsenal at the time

100% and I fucking hate it. Put your feet up and put on a video of the 82 WC and watch how Brazil played with Zico, Socrates and Falcao. Or France with Platini and Giresse in 84. Watch the Denmark team in the 86 WC take Spain apart 6-1 with Laudrup taking the piss. Modern football has advanced so much but in so many ways, give me international football from 40 years ago any day of the week.

Great question. As I recall, it was quite out of the blue, not much in the way of rumours, I think even the local reporters were somewhat surprised. In those days, you learned about stuff mainly on the radio, the odd kid yapping at school (ITK's even in those days) and a bit in the Chronicle when they actually had half-decent reporting in those days. Then again I was only 10 and the memory is a bit blurry. It was all very exciting though, I mean Kevin Keegan! Liverpool legend, played for Hamburg, Euro footballer of the year etc It was all kids could talk about at school. Newcastle had been depressingly shite for years according to my dad, late 70's to early 80's was a really dark era. Economically it was horrible, loads of people out of work, power cuts. Can remember sitting having my beans on toast by candlelight, like something from Oliver Twist. NUFC signing KK was incredible, even though I was a bit young to truly appreciate it at first. I remember wanting to go to his debut but at the age of 10, was a bit young and and I can vividly recall how upset I was at missing it, mam and dad wouldn't let me go. My first game was later that season, Oldham at home. I know we won 1-0 but had to look it up and can't remember a thing about it.

At NUFC it would have to be KK. The 83/84 season was the first season I went to most of the home games plus a few away. Watching KK was fantastic, he was still a superstar really and the way he came in and helped nurture the already brilliant talents of Waddle and Beardsley was incredible to watch. Some of the games I saw that year are just seared into my brain and KK was the catalyst for it all. Then 1992 happened and he took on almost God-like status for me. First non-NUFC hero would have to be someone from the 82 Brazil WC team. First WC I can remember. Probably Zico or Socrates. Watching them at the time was like watching aliens, they did things you just didn't see in a normal British first division game. Think Maradona played that WC but didn't make an impression on me at the time, think Italy kicked the fuck out of him, or he was injured or something. 86 changed all that though.

Most fanbases have a cunt element, some bigger than others. Always best to have the facts before making assumptions, especially when foreign law enforcement are involved.

Hate VAR sometimes/often, far too much focus on marginal offsides

Witsel off after doing about the same amount in the game as me

Martinez with a face like a smacked arse, nice

Brilliant composure by Blind to cross there

Netherlands look canny, great hit for the goal by Bergwijn. Belgium look like shit, filled with ageing tripe like Witsel. Fuck Martinez.

TAA with a little flounce, yanking the medal off immediately, little huffy wank was one of the worst players on the pitch

Whoever you wanted to win, you can't dislike or disparage Carlo, fucking giant of the competition, tactical genius.

How's that revenge feel Salah?

Courtois mint, a fucking giant

5 whole minutes worth?

5 minutes, there's barely been a stoppage I can recall

Courtois simply flawless, not seen a better goalkeeping performance in many years if ever

Carvajal colossus