Yorkie

Like to see us appointing people to roles which are associated with ambition and being proactive, but you do feel like - theoretically - you fill these positions after the SD is in place. My takeaway from this is; I wonder (not for the first time) what the whole point is of a SD. If you have faith in the individuals at the coal-face, just leave them to it and replace them if they're not up to scratch. Do wonder if the whole SD thing is a bit of a phase, and they won't be commonplace in 10/20 years time. The concept feels flawed to me.

Trump hanging around with the team for the trophy lift. I'd love to believe we've jumped the shark but you just know it's barely the tip of the iceberg.

What in the blue fuck Why don't these people have any faith in the sport itself, like?

Nothing will ever bring Chelsea's chickens home to roost. They're bulletproof forever.

Celtic (a) in pre-season 1999/00 was on Channel 5. Marc Ziegler wore a cap, we were shite, lost 2-0.

Yeah, dismal stuff; embarrassing. Don't know the details, hopefully it was an incredibly small amount of people. The York squad is incredibly diverse too. Sorta shit that will keep them pinned down lower than they ought to be.

"Telegraph Sport understands Newcastle have made the player’s representatives aware of their desire to sign the France Under-21 international and will hope to agree a fee with the Bundesliga club." Means bugger all really. Again, very happy we appear to be targeting serious strikers though. Proper competition for Isak is a sensible investment.

That's a poor photo. It's an absolute banger

Yes I recall him doing his best to miss despite being practically in the net Live on ITV. Pretty sure it was the first Newcastle match I ever saw, at least the first one I have any recollection of whatsoever. Vaguest of vague memories of Barcelona but looking back at the fixtures, that Everton game was the beginning of it all for me. Thanks, Ian!

Off topic but fuck I hope we get a bit more out of Sven this season. Feel like I can barely picture him in a Newcastle shirt now.

It's Dinamo Brest in the qualifiers actually.

Almost feels pointless having any serious misgivings about their connection to us at this point, in the same way it feels almost pointless to feel like beating your meat over it ("oh Yasir "). We might occupy a greater percentage of their portfolio but their finance and influence is everywhere. Makes me chuckle at the accusations from the likes of Everton and Palace going on at us like we've sold out soul by remaining fans. No one is pure at the top level. As long as they let Eddie Howe do this job and eventually replace him with someone just as admirable I'm very much at the point of not giving a stuff. States and billionaires have the game snared, I'm just gonna try and enjoy it despite that.

£7 that was on for.

I'm rabid for Mexican shirts atm. Puebla, Pumas, Atlas, Cruz Azul, Tijuana, Tigres and Querataro all acquired in recent months. Got a Leon one in my favourites on Vinted, among others. When I got the Querataro one I knew I was cerealous about collecting.

Had forgotten about Gallagher. No idea how he's done for Atletico this season but I've always rated him as someone who'd fit like a glove in our team. Would be a terrific signing.

Oh, I get it. There's an argument that Abramovich going to Chelsea was the most influential/impactful thing that's ever happened in football. Formation of the Premier League probably the only thing that tops it. Alternative humorous response: you're just gutted he chose not to buy Spurs!

Honestly think they might be the worst club. I never used to think that, even with all that was associated with Abramovich etc. But in this day and age I think they're just utter poison. Hope at least one of Delap or Pedro have an absolutely miserable career with them.

Because we try to grasp opportunities when they're presented to us, sometimes at the expense of arguably higher priorities. Livramento is a great example of this, maybe Gordon and even Barnes too. The chase for Guehi another. Significant outlays on positions where the recruitment need isn't urgent, but where the player has been identified for the longer term and is available at a reasonable price now. Obviously Guehi didn't happen because the reasonable price bit wasn't true.

Howay. Really hope this gets done and pleased to hear it's not dead. Frustrating cos it seemed as though we were just waiting for July to seal the deal.

If it's not right for us, it's not right. We need to trade but we also need to not bend over and be lowballed at every opportunity. He's worth more than £12m.

If you're Como, aye.

I mean, it is a massive shame, like any of the innumerable incidents where the horrific culture of club ownership totally undermines the sport. Plus doesn't it mean something nice happens to Brighton? That I really can't abide

Downie was levelling criticism from that "prominent twitter account" at Howe in press conferences in 23/24.

I'm a bit done with ultra-clean and definitely think there's room for flair, but that Genoa one is stunning. The subtle stripe effect is wonderful. The best kits aren't made by the template twats at the top of the market, that's for damn sure.