Yorkie

I wish the players wouldn't speak so mildly about him but then again if they're not fuming with him, then maybe we can have license to not be fuming as well. I would generally prefer not to harbour hatred. That said, my lasting emotion is more of intense disappointment and a sense of being jilted rather than hate anyway.

@Kid Icarus Keegan still has it but a planck length imo but otherwise aye.

Unrelated but I really hope Howe does an autobiography at some point in the distant future. Absolutely loved Just Call Me Bobby and Keegan's one from a few years back.

Assuming we're measuring impact rather than solely talent; those five years under Keegan are the basis of the club that exists today and any manager that enjoys any success are (to an admittedly diminishing extent, as time goes by) standing on his shoulders. Howe belongs alongside him but could potentially surpass with sustained success. If we're measuring talent with less emphasis on the impact at Newcastle, then Howe probably takes top spot, then Bobby, then Keegan. Pardew placing there is obviously abhorrent but nothing we don't already know about the wider fanbase's view on the man. Most people have, at most, a tepid dislike of him, which is only reducing with his well-broadcasted media charm these days.

Pretty obvious he's been in line for months but we were waiting for Eales' contract to end, no?

Love Barnes but I'd be tempted by Murphy on the left. Maybe the game after if he doesn't pick up his performances a bit.

Sell Gordon for being unloyal, disloyal. And for joining in fun in a way that excludes his employer. And sell him for being an absolute idiot and inefficient.

I think the only ones that come close are the pairings in the two Championship seasons because the levels were so far above. Colo/Willo probably tops Lascelles/Clark.

It's going to take time for the team to settle I think. Hopefully people will recognise that and not go on like arseholes when we drop points here and there.

Not trying to engage in any mental gymnastics because I don't rate Wissa's actions, but the biggest difference in his case (for me) is that he was leaving a club that made it absolutely clear that they buy to sell and have no meaningful impressions on progress. Why wouldn't a player like him want to go to someone like Newcastle after the summer they'd had?

Really like Gordon and desperate for him to find his form again, cos when he's on song he's brilliant. Wish he hadn't posted that, though, he's literally costed you a load of points, mate.

Eh? And? We know he was fine, he played against Leeds?

Interesting that our media lads had Wissa talk effusively and at length about Brentford, presumably to distance him from comparisons to Isak. I only flicked through that interview above but assume there was nowt from Isak about Newcastle. Just such a weird turn. I've long accepted that players don't treat clubs like fans but the disrespect given everything that's happened is just so far off the scale. I really do think he's at the far end of that particular spectrum and represents a rare case.

If Edwards' account is accurate then I'm not sure what I'm missing when it comes to PIF suddenly becoming weak (or whatever adjective you want to use). It doesn't sound like weakness, it sounds like they took the decision that reintegration seemed impossible and keeping him could do more harm than good, so they sold him. We'll reluctantly take the £130million then, I guess. Where's the lube in that?

Do you have it? Would genuinely love to if so.

I appreciate what you're saying. I just think we were in a lose-lose situation and the level of aggro being thrown at us is incredibly unfair when we still managed to get a massive fee and got our own squad in order. We've not been immovably steadfast but we've not 'capitulated' either. I didn't know what you were on about earlier and I still don't. Arrr. Just want to be excited about our new strikers.

No we're fucking not. Christ!

Feel like I'm reading a parody with these constant references to capitulating, bending over, crumbling, parting our cheeks, surrendering, giving in, lubing up to Liverpool. It's so ridiculously over-the-top and, honestly, weird. PSR prevented us from offering crazy wages; meanwhile there was only one buyer and the lad pulled every trick he possibly could do pull his value down for them. Moreover, he made his position with the squad and manager irreparably toxic, to the extent they wanted him gone. He fucked us. And we still got £130m for him; an enormous figure that this club has never seen before all at once. If you hold the view that we should've acted all hard and kept hold of him - to the detriment of squad harmony and our financial position - fair enough. I suppose I understand that emotional take, even if I think it's really stupid and not remotely realistic in this business. But it was either that or what actually happened, where we get to move on with a colossal fee coming our way. Whether it affects our bargaining position in future remains to be seen. A precedent has been set to some extent, but I'd argue only if the player is an Isak.

Of course, but no one has worn the number 9 worse in my lifetime. All part of his mint journey.

Little jolt of heartbreak seeing him in that image, as expected, but quickly over it. Just someone else's player now. Really wish it hadn't ended like this but there you go. Had weeks to process it and we've got two new exciting strikers of our own to get behind. Curious to see if this situation has any ramifications in player contracts. You'd assume clubs will try and guard against this sort of behaviour; even the cartel clubs.

Joelinton has been the only outright bad one, I think? Cisse was pretty hopeless by the time he left but was brilliant and then okay for a couple years.

You fucking what?

I find the level of fury and abuse being chucked at the club genuinely astounding. Ah well. Thank fuck the most ugly transfer window I can ever recall is over and we can get on with supporting the team. Was feeling really optimistic about the season when the Wissa transfer broke but the bastards don't half get you down.