wormy

Particularly toward the end it drove me mad watching him dance in to a double team while Trippier just stood behind him waiting to be an outlet.

Bear in mind 'challenging for promotion' could even just equate to hovering in/around the top six which various teams can crash at any point in that league. I just think he's dumb enough to spend a bit the first couple of years, thinking it'll do the trick, and the fans will be placated by it. I don't believe he'll actually get them promoted though, that's for sure. And when they don't he'll let them rot like he did us.

I only argue for resting players in such games when there's fixture congestion. The team has had two weeks off. They don't play for another week after this. It's not like Trippier isn't match fit; he's been playing every week for Diego fucking Someone. Get him out there.

I'm sure their fans will love the first few years as he gets them back to the Championship, keeps them there and challenges for promotion to the PL with his sole goal of using them as an advertising vehicle in mind. Then he'll realise the money he's throwing down the drain with Derby being nowhere near our level of exposure and revenue (no matter how stunted by his idiocy) potential. Best of luck to their fans at that point.

What add ons are worth getting that hung up about if you've already agreed to pay the £33m base? Fingers crossed this doesn't rumble on much longer, whether that means giving in to the add ons or moving on to the next target.

Thank God they stuck it to the big, bad traditional newspapers.

I'll back any new signings until they give me a reason not to, but I really can't shake the feeling he's not what we need if he likes a penalty and a card, considering the state of our current backline and the way our games are typically refereed. Just feels like a recipe for disaster. EDIT: Caveated with the fact I've never watched the guy play and am basing this thought on nothing but second hand information.

Tbf there should be a commercial side that needs dealing with that doesn't need that person to touch the footballing side itself, headed up by the sort of individuals we as fans shouldn't need to particularly know or care about. I don't pay enough attention to know about Woodward other than his footballing decisions have been a mishmash at Man U, but if he was instrumental in their commercial side prior to being given the footballing reigns then I wouldn't be against it. Suppose there could be a worry though as to his ego now that he's had a taste of the footballing side and thinks he deserves another crack at that sort of role rather than fading back in to the background.

He and the Chilean for me. Annoying.

I was already weary because of the attitude concerns. Then my Arsenal mate said he's hoping those concerns are enough to distract people from the fact he's been shit for the past 18 months anyway. And now the attitude problems really shining through. Get the feeling he's just going to be seeing out the last 18 months of his contract at this rate.

Feel for the guy, and if he likes the vision they have for the club forward and would be happy to contribute in a backup role I'd be more than happy for him to stay. But we sure as hell need to be focusing on a striker or two of equal or better quality that can relied upon.

I hadn't even thought about the fact that this will be the first new player photo op without SD in the background.

Long live ignoring what poor little Man U needs. Back in your box, Frogster.

Way to bring the mood down, buddy.

The journalist's name at the end of the thread title couldn't be more fitting, either.

£13m sounds like pure madness. Surely has to be some very large add-ons based on survival? Also love how appreciated he seems to be at Atletico, from fans making signs of appreciation, to Simeone changing his system for him, to such an amicable exit. This all just feels very un-Newcastle United-like. Please don't let this deal fall apart.

I'm delighted to have reached the New Year and remained at a fairly neutral 5/10. Big month coming up with transfers and our fixture list so I don't imagine I'll be at that 5/10 for much longer.

Agreed on all of the above and wasn't meaning to blame it solely on the fans; badly worded. More that the instant pushback over his rumoured appointment alone should've set alarm bells ringing for him.

I get he loves his work but I find it mad that instead of just going and spending some time at his home in Liverpool whilst biding his time for a more suitable role, he jumped at a job that everyone (apart from him, I guess) knew would end in tears solely because of the fans just because said job is near that home.

God that man grates on me. So glad I'm not a Twitterer.

Where the fuck is he, @Yorkie? Edit: Fuck sake Joey. I should've refreshed.

I'm also at the final stage.

I quite like the dedication tbh. Definitely going back to his pals to brag about how rattled he got everyone.

Maybe I'm just yet to shake my Ashley PTSD but I'm in this camp. 2nd week, 2-3 players, £10-30m for me purely because I refuse to get my hopes up until I see evidence they're actually going to meet said hopes.