Yorkie

I had wondered if we'd go after another young defender. Thiaw doesn't end our succession planning at CB and Hall is the only left-footed option you want spending any time at LB.

I think with the likes of Pedro and Ekitike long gone (players of indisputable quality), I don't think our approach is necessarily as straightforward as 'one to replace Wilson' and 'one to replace Isak.' We might not necessarily be aiming to reflect a situation where one striker is the very obvious first choice, supported by an inferior understudy. It's impossible to replace Isak's quality, but incredibly easy to replace Wilson's. The result is probably getting two quite evenly matched strikers who will compete against each other for top billing. That's why Jackson and Wissa kinda makes sense as a pair I suppose, though undermined by the AFCON thing. Bottom line is, I think people need to stop expecting us to get 'an Isak replacement'. We're replacing the whole strikers' unit.

If we're bringing former NUFC attackers back then Ayoze is the shout. Would probably be pretty well suited tbh. Would probably be expensive though.

I'd love to see us do what Rich is suggesting and get like a Daryl Murphy equivalent (in the event we can't make a truly progressive signing to replace a Isak), I just can't picture them going for it.

It would only be a disaster if they were as unpolished as Osula... I'm just not sure where I see any really big investment going in terms of strikers this summer.

The more I think about it the more I think Wissa is going to be our first choice this season come what may. We've been through the catalogue of high profile strikers and been denied every single time. I'm dubious at this point that there's anyone out there who's left that Howe et al would back to be their number 9. We'll get another one if Isak does go but I think it might be another Osula type.

The guy's highlights reel from last season is fantastic, like. Loads of goals and dangerous play. If the worst came to worst (Isak leaves but Wissa is the only striker we recruit) it wouldn't totally undermine the overall quality of the first team, particularly with our generally attacking play. Isak's magic and can out-perform his xG and there's no doubting that, whoever comes in, we're weaker, but any competent striker should theoretically thrive here. Clearly we'd be fucked depth-wise.

362k followers; send legit enough?

What's exactly is your issue with Howe? Just don't rate him?

Fucking hell!

I only actually saw the Cup Winners Cup one. Gutted. Think Ketsbaia missed a sitter. Bloody away goals.

Wish that had been three times as long. Loved the insight into training, would love to know more about his methods on the training ground.

Excited about this one! Give him the number 9?

Poor old Jill Scott can't get a word in edgeways thankfully.

Fuck me. have a day off man.

I didn't think he was one of the dominoes?

It is but you have to wonder about the longevity of it now they've reached that point, with more and more people seeing through it. I suppose when they're only particularly relevant for a few months out of the year, people will forget.

I'm not particularly up for it but that's primarily because of our mostly dire record at Villa Park than anything else. It's a stinky opening fixture.

That vocal fry though.

Class. Badges featuring a castle, castle-like building or otherwise indistinct broadly rectangular building: hundreds of billions Badges featuring a seahorse: Newcastle, Whitley Bay, a couple of Serie A/B randoms

Martin Hardy says we haven't bid again for Wissa but presumably that's only because we've been told not to bother until they've got Outtara, or whoever.

My money's on finding a loan for punctual Joe and getting another CM in. Miley pining for Palace by October.

Canny looking lad, mind. Timely given the Wilson departure.

Nice one, lads! We were looking for 'because we're a shambles,' but thanks for playing. Now that I'm done being a cunt; Villa not being as pressed to sell earlier I guess makes the most sense. Like Thiaw, feel really enthused by him being a long-term target. Cathartic as fuck to see us make some progress.