Conjo

Assuming it's correct that Tonali looks awesome in training and is fully up to speed with the midfield roles and the way we play - for me it's very dependant on our opponent what the best midfield is. Joelinton simply has to be in it against teams where we're most likely not dominating possession, most likely at Tonalis expense. Remember our form picked up when Longstaff came back after Tonali struggled to impress after his debut, so he'll have earn his place.

Has Tielemans been this slow his whole career? I mainly remember some good passes and screamers from outside the box from his Leicester days but little else. Has nothing to contribute with defensively, and nothing offensively unless Villa manages to set him up to have good time on the ball.

Not sure they are worse off than continuing with Beale like. None of them wanted him in the first place. Naturally they screamed for his head since there were no clear signs of improvement in their play and results. We'd have done it too, as any other set of fans.

pmsl when I thought it said Rodwell had scored two. Still funny though

Seems like it from a quick look.

Clearly didn't have the mental strength to play through adversity, a Burn who had full control and shitty weather against us so threw in the towel at HT. Not shocked at all he is magically fit again for this weekend.

Looks like you're right. Other media reported similarly to Skysports https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12945006/newcastle-transfer-news-lewis-hall-completes-move-from-chelsea-in-deal-worth-up-to-35m But this was directly from the club and Chelsea https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/newcastle-united-sign-lewis-hall/ https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/article/hall-departs-on-loan

Not that it really changes the point of your post, but at the time of his signing it was reported as a loan with obligation to buy, wasn't it? It was only once our injury situation started and he still wasn't getting a sniff that rabblerabblerabble emerged about it.

Joined us because he didn't get the game time he wanted at Dortmund. Don't blame him for leaving when he didn't get game time after coming back from his back(?) injury. Don't think he wanted to leave necessarily, but he wanted to play. Went on to bigger and better things so good choice.

He's really not. Just not as good as his initial record with Man Utd indicates. Don't think he would be able to get the team as it is now promoted, but he would still be a coup for Sunderland if they got him imo.

If he only misses Chelsea & Man City it's not a big issue. Probably do him good with a short period out to rest so he can better help us finish the season on a high. Tino with two motm performances coming up.

Maybe it's enough to put him in L7

Without reading it, I assume it's: 1. Buy young talent cheap 2. Loan out cheap young talent 3. Talent performs well at loaning club 4. Sell for big profit & FFP gains

I would much rather keep them both as LWs to have quality cover, and get a new RW in the summer. Both Gordon and Barnes thrives on cutting inside, which they won't be able to do nearly as good on their weaker foot.

Reasonable compromise from both sides if true, if the reports on where the club and Joelinton started off were correct.

Good luck getting any sort of fee for Fraser, Lewis & Hayden. Don't think we'd be able to get anything close to what we paid for Wilson and Targett either considering their injury record (and in Wilsons case age too) and wages.

Exactly. Further to that, it's incredibly naive to think he could do his job anywhere close to properly through sporadic "meet ups with a friend". It's a full time job.

Why do people assume this has anything to do with Ashworth not doing his job? I'd be more concerned if we just gave out contracts for the exact amount of money any agent asked for without challenging it. Joelintons stock is at an all time high, his contract is running out, our general injury problems this season has highlighted how important he is for us and FFP makes it very difficult to replace him - he sits with most of the bargaining tools, its only natural that the club eventually would have to move more towards his demands than their own valuation of Joelinton in order to retain him.

Kane Gordon Foden Saka Rice Bellingham Seems the obvious choice to me. But then I am massively biased. Wouldn't mind if Gordon wasn't picked for selfish reasons though.

It's like a mouse I think Bless

The more I see of Minteh the more I think he'd be a great fit to take over for Murphy or Almiron next season. A lot of the class wingers out there lack maybe the most important trait that is required of ours - work rate and pressing, which Minteh does great in addition to being athletic and good in front of goal. It would obviously also allow us to focus more on other positions that would be nice to strengthen. If it's too early for him, it seems, from the admittedly little I've seen, that Chiesa would be a great fit too. I don't see the likes of Diaby, Olise and Leao applying themselves the way Gordon, Almiron and Murphy does (too early to tell for Barnes). If Howe changes the system which allows one of our wingers more freedom and less defensive running it would be a different matter, but I don't see that happening in the immediate future.

We're only joint 5th together with Bournemouth, Brighton and Burnley in the injury table now. Howe out.

We don't know if Hall will be here next season. Livramento is a right back. Targett has been injured for a year.

In order to compete for the league title, a CL, EL, EC spot? I don't see us having 3 first team strikers on the books no matter what competitions we play next season. Not with Gordon capable of stepping in as a third choice. Unless we are able to sell Wilson in the summer I can't see us getting another striker full stop but agree it would be naive unless we're better at rotating them (and use Gordon rather than having one of Wilson or Isak playing 90+ minutes if the other is injured). With Tonali coming back from suspension I don't see us getting another midfielder either unless we sell first. I'd like us to challenge for a CL spot next season. Realistically with FFP and all that I'd like to see us: Buy a young big talent good enough to play now to rotate/cover/learn from Schar, preferrably quick. Try to sell Almiron or Murphy and get a top class RW in. A top class left back (or wide CB type like Burn - but a clear upgrade). Other than that, depending on outgoings, that we manage to replace them with better quality.

It would be great if you and others who constantly say we "need" this and that, to clarify what that actually means. We need it in order to achieve what?