KaKa

Joelinton again ... doing what he does best. Another simple opportunity again thanks to his effort causing problems for the opposition backline.

Oh yes!!! There he is!!!

Isak man

Completely blown away by that first half ... The Guehi bit is just so impossibly perfect too. What a way the remainder of the season is playing out man. Overjoyed. Hope it carries on right till the end. Even the goal difference has been completely flipped over the last few games. I can't believe it.

Yeah, I know quite a few people had said they'd prefer another striker that offered something a bit different as a plan B, but that also had room to grow too. Rather than going down the route of getting another older premier league veteran like Calvert-Lewin. Coming in from Belgium and not yet being fully established, a secondary role to Isak is also not likely to be an issue. The article says Genk would be after around £15 million, so indeed similar to the Osula deal. Wages would be cheap too. Another thing about this type of player is I think he'd be an easy sale to Saudi for at least double what is paid for him if things don't work out, just based on his season in Belgium alone. I think Howe and the recruitment team would really have to believe in the player's ability and potential to opt for someone like him as the backup ahead of a Calvert Lewin though. The article says Howe in particular wants him and so we'll see how true that is.

I remember reading about this back in March. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14550377/Man-United-official-Newcastle-CEO.html Sounded more like we had identified her as a replacement for Eales due to his health, as we have been searching for one. Reads as though she's well regarded. Might be returning the favour after they came for Ashworth

Yeah, I think Belgium in general really bring through some decent talent. I think it was one of the markets that was mentioned as one we would be looking more at with Mitchell coming in, as you can still pick up players for really good fees there too. I also wish we'd look at that league for the younger players we send out on loan, as they are far more likely to play a lot.

https://africafoot.com/toluwalase-arokodare-dans-les-plans-de-newcastle/ Arokodare at Genk linked. Top scorer in Belgium this season. Bit of a late bloomer, emerging striker that made his international debut this season. Different profile from Isak. Big physical presence at 6 foot 6, and has a huge leap so is really good in the air. Surprisingly mobile. Nice movement in the box. Can be brought along and developed further still as is only just now starting to make some headway. Probably one we are considering to replace Wilson.

Impressive fight back from Villa. Decent showing.

Dembele is so thick.

That's dirty from McGinn.

They had to go for it to some degree with being down 2 goals from the first leg, and they've got into some decent positions but it all keeps falling apart at the final hurdle.

How terrifying are these full backs going forward man?! My goodness.

Why is Watkins not starting any Champions League games?

Good result for us the Bournemouth win. Rather Bournemouth pegged Fulham back.

In my opinion, there has been both positives and some drawbacks. And we should always been looking to improve. Happy to make whatever type of signing, provided we avoid anymore PSR drama and scrambling going forward, and we should also avoid having to go so many windows without making signings going forward. Thankfully it looks like everyone at the club is in agreement on this, and so I think we're going to be in for some really good times.

Don't get rattled. You were talking about gambling and going for it, and so that is quite different from now saying if we can afford it. And so to clear things up, would you be happy to go with that approach if it meant we would potentially not be able to spend for the next 4 windows after that? Or would then need to start scrambling for Greek goalkeepers to sort out our PSR situation if things go against us and we don't qualify for the Champions League? Those are the type of gambles that are likely if we spend that kind of money. I am not for that at all because it isn't necessary is the point I have been making!

This is based on the assumption that getting more players of a high level is always correlated with paying more money, or can only be achieved with landing your first option. I don't know why most football fans are so married to this idea. Chelsea have literally spent one billion to remain in the same place and still no better than us. Man United and Spurs have spent crazy amounts only to go backwards. Trust the recruitment and build as strong a squad as possible and the rest of the league will be in big trouble for a long time. We identify and sign good players, so there's no need to gamble unnecessarily, because there's absolutely no guarantees with that. I think people are just addicted to those kind of "big" signings because it makes them feel like something extraordinary is happening, which I've never really understood.

I don't think it's an issue of age, as often gets confused on here. There are older more experienced players that can be bought for reasonable fees too. It's about managing the money we have available, and not always gambling on bigger signings, which will then cost us if we don't make Champions League. No more needing to go multiple windows without signings, because things haven't worked out, as that is too risky and could end up setting us back considerably. Fortunately Murphy has delivered massively this season and Burn and Schar have been iron men at the back and not suffered injuries. Not to mention Man Utd and Spurs being a complete shambles has helped massively.

I doubt Barnes gets the hump about moving to the right. I think he really just wants to play more. He seems perfectly fine shifting over, and I would not be in the least bit surprised if he starts to perform at a high level down that side if he gets more appearances there. I trust him more to do so than I do Gordon down that right side, as Barnes combines better with the players around him to work himself into good positions. Gordon tends to be more aggressive driving forward with the ball into space and loves cutting inside when he does so.

Tonali has been a huge hit and was the top end option we ultimately decided to go for, which is fair enough and fine when the finances allow for it. However, in and around the time there were also very strong links with Khephrem Thuram and Manu Kone from what I recall. These two are now at Juventus and Roma respectively, and moved for much less money. I think they have both been really good at their new clubs, and would have easily improved us significantly too and been great under Howe. Our talent ID is incredibly good. And the options we consider across different fees is still bang on IMO. Even without spending what we did on Tonali, I think we would have ended up with a very good player. And so, the Champions League money would be a bonus, but I don't think it will stop us making progress if we miss out here and there over the next few years. The people in charge of things behind the scenes across recruitment and coaching is really what is the difference maker. Between Nickson, Howe and now adding Michelle on top of that, with all working together, I think we're in a very strong position.

It's going to be fascinating to see what their approach is to signings. One of the advantages with Howe is that he creates an environment for players to develop and improve through his coaching. They don't have that and so bringing in players that still need a bit of bringing along is likely not going to pan out, as has been the case for ages with them now. Also, our style of play is easier to recruit for too, and will allow for players that are not necessarily the most technical to still be useful and effective, with the right attitude, application and physicality. It's all well and good wanting to play more of a possession based control style like they're aiming for, but I think it's much more difficult and expensive finding players that can deliver that consistently to fill your team, which is going to be another headache for them.

I was so shocked man. Imagine saying that only the so called "top clubs" should be winning the FA cup and featuring in the Champions League. Just tells you that was the only reason he jumped on the band wagon to support Man Utd, because they were winning at the time, and so he thought it would be that way forever or something?! A lot of these sorts of fans don't actually believe in any sort of sporting competition, which quite frankly disgusts me. PSG and Bayern are the clubs for these cretins. I hope there is much more suffering to come for them.

£12 million and you can have Longstaff.