KaKa

8 minutes ago, BrianSwan said:

Do you think Howe with the pressure of instant results off the table, and more, quality players, will go back to his Bournemouth style?

 

Bruno, Botman, Schar and Burn are all very good at recycling possession, add in another CM and maybe Newcastle can average about 50% of the ball.

I think just the by product of a full pre season under Howe, the removal of the threat of relegation, the addition of Botman alongside Schar, and God willing Wilson being more available will all already see our possession improve a fair amount.

Another central midfielder in the mould of a Paqueta, Eriksen, Aouar or Brandt and we'll see even better results as far as that is concerned, yes.

1 minute ago, Rich said:

I think he's at his best in the middle rather than in one of the two wide slots, personally, allows him to be much more involved in the game and he can still break forward.

 

It's as simple as Joelinton or whoever else just dropping in for him when he goes forward.

Yeah, just mentioned this in the transfer rumours thread. Think it might be worth going with him there, and adding another central midfielder that is forward thinking.

The likes of Aouar and Brandt are available for a relative snip. Adding one of those to the midfield three alongside Bruno and Joe could be very exciting.

Really beginning to come around to the idea of Bruno sitting in the deeper position in a midfield three (seeing as he still manages to contribute so much going forward from there), and getting another central midfielder that can play as a number 8 and add more assists and goals to the team.

The main reason for this is because of the calibre of players available in that role for ridiculous value this summer. Paqueta would be everyone's ideal option there, and Eriksen was probably one we considered for that role on a free, but with both not looking possible, we could still add either Aouar or Brandt at that RCM slot, as both are on the market for less than £20 million.

Think adding more attacking threat in that position, and being able to add more goal threat both there and at right wing to the first team, would be ideal.

47 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

This chap is far too good to be confined to a defensive midfield position isn't he?

The crazy thing is when he's played deepest he's still racked up goals and assists from that position. The guy is sensational!

2 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

I don't begrudge him for holding out for PSG, but his agent has acted in pretty bad faith.

Yeah, exactly. Just the way they carried on that was distasteful.

Will be really interesting to see how things play out for him there.

15 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

8 goals in 3.5 years. Powder puff finisher.

 

Miguel Almiron is not a PL level winger/forward/attacking midfielder imo.

 

He's not good at anything attacking.

 

 

 

To be a bit fair to Miggy, he has always seemed a lot more comfortable either on the left or just off the striker, which are the positions he had mainly played before joining us. 

He always seems hesitant in all the other positions he has mostly been used in, which is of course a huge limitation on his part, but he could have probably been used better.

Under Howe he seems to be figuring out that right hand side better and is at least playing in just that position consistently now.

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

People really rate Fraser & Miggy for no reason.

 

24 G/A for Harrison over the last 2 years.

 

Almiron has 12 in 3.5 years. Harrison did that in his first 8 months in the PL.

Man actually said 'no improvement' as in zero ... none. I couldn't believe it 

5 minutes ago, duo said:

Harrison is massively over rated and isn't an improvement on what we've got. Am hoping there's no substance to this rumour.

No improvement on what we've got ... but has scored 16 Premier League goals in the past two seasons. We don't have a single person outside of Wilson that has managed that for us.

3 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

 

This just seems to be flying over everyone's head. So would we be buying him then looking to sell ASM to fund our quest for a right winger?

 

 

 

Jack Harrison is left footed from everywhere I have checked this information, and he plays on either wing. If we signed him it would be to play on the right side.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/jack-harrison/leistungsdaten/spieler/417346

3 minutes ago, Thumbheed said:

Because like Wood, I guess the value is not in the specifics of the finances involved, but in how he helps us achieve our immediate goals. 

 

8th place and a cup run in a couple of years makes us more attractive both commercially and as a sporting project for the next level of players we'd need to take us to thr next level. 

We'll have to agree to disagree man. Just had a look at his injuries over the last year, and we definitely should not do this deal.

I also think there is a massive assumption that he comes in and performs as well as, or better than Wilson, which is no guarantee either.

1 hour ago, ponsaelius said:

Zapata is a good player but his game is all power and pace and he's already started getting injuries. Shouldn't be anywhere near the profile of players we are aiming for and i'd start worrying about the logic of our transfer policy if we signed him.

 

 

 

Just had a look, and you're right doesn't look great. Big increase in the last year.

https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/duvan-zapata/verletzungen/spieler/73794/plus/1

1 minute ago, Thumbheed said:

 

Actually totally disagree with this.

 

Bare in mind our very short term target is probably 8th places at best then signing a proven albeit aging striker is no less sensible than signing a young unproven striker - as long as they offer us something in helping us achieve that goal, which Zapata would. 

 

What is apparent, is that out and out strikers of the 'right profile' - ie young and proven- are at an absolute premium price wise (and availibltiy  for that matter) which we've seen with Isak, Vlahovic, Oshimen, Nunez and even a discounted Haaland going for 70 odd million, which at this point in time seems incompatible with our spending ability. 

 

Personally see no reason why getting someone like Zapata who offers presence on the pitch in the form of pace, strength and work rate wouldn't be savvy business for the next couple of years we aim for 8th and give us time to grow our revenue to be big enough to actually splurge when we need to make that bigger push for European places. 

 

 

 

I don't see it. So Zapata comes in for significant money and wages, and then what ... backs up Wilson? Or puts one of our better players in Wilson on the bench? Why put so much money into that? 

Just now, madras said:

Are players more likely to break a bone in their foot when tackling in their early 30s than their early 20s ?

Yes, definitely. Happy?

Just now, TRon said:

 

31 isn't like being a pensioner, their bones don't start getting brittle at that age. I mean if you were talking about a 34 yr old I would get it. But if Zapata is injury prone, then yes you want to avoid, same as you would if he was 27.

There is a greater risk with older players as well as a typically longer recovery period also.

We already have one injury prone striker and one who most of us don't want to see playing too often at all.  I don't think we should be bringing in for a high fee and wages, a 31 year old striker that is coming from a much slower paced league. I think there's a decent chance his fitness becomes an issue, and we can't afford that.

It was actually a fear of mine with Trippier coming back to the Prem from Spain last January, and sure enough, he got injured. We were just very fortunate Krafth stepped up under Howe and performed really well.

1 minute ago, gdm said:

If you look I added the word possible shorty after I posted it. I’m working so rushed it. Wasn’t putting it down as fact at all. I posted it for discussion. Give it a rest 

 

 

 

Please continue to post the articles it's all worth following and reading up on.

He's just upset because he's convinced himself we are going to spend another £100 million on strictly 'marquee' signings.

3 minutes ago, WillingtonMag said:

Quite short sighted aye I think this is a pretty crucial window, if we can get some top players in to close the gap we can look into bringing in younger players in following windows when we have a bigger profile or maybe European football to persuade them.

What happens when they all start getting injured, and we're left playing the likes of Chris Wood?

21 minutes ago, WillingtonMag said:

He's made 61 appearances in the last two seasons and scored 32 goals, anyone turning their noses up at him are mental.

You are being incredibly short sighted and are not looking at the bigger picture. 

13 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

Ake plays for Man City quite a lot more than you would think and will likely play more with the 5 subs rule coming in. He played 27 times last season and the majority were full matches. 

 

 

 

 

 

I hear you, but I was just saying for me if I had that talent, and knowing I was good enough to be a main guy at Chelsea, and most other teams really, I'd not be happy with that. He knew what the situation was going over there though, so he has to live with it.

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

Zaha and Pogba are levels above what we have.

 

If we signed both - we would be serious contenders for top 6.

The fact you actually think it would be worth forking out significant money on a fee for Zaha and wages for Pogba, to sign these two under acheivers, who are both heading into their thirties is actually terrifying.

14 minutes ago, TRon said:

 

Well you would be getting a world class striker who would maybe give you 2-3 good seasons which is pretty hard to put a price on. I mean this standard of player is transformational in results terms, you could genuinely beat anyone if you have that type of firepower in your team ( assuming you get someone like Sarr in for £20m in the RW slot).

 

I doubt we'd do it, but it's not out of the question if you believe we want to be in Europe at the end of THIS campaign.

I don't think they are in such a rush that they are going to bring in anymore expensive older players who would command higher wages, certainly not in a position where we already have two older players.

Europe is also not out of the question without having to sign someone like that anyway, so I just don't see it. The priority, as they have said, is to reduce the age of the squad, and bring in more players that can grow with the club.

2 minutes ago, Coffee_Johnny said:

Yeah, hoping Botman does well enough for us to get into that squad for the Netherlands for sure.

Just now, The College Dropout said:

Pogba wouldn't come. Zaha would be a great signing to get us into the top 6/8. Better shout than a lot of the wide players we are linked with.

 

I think Cesc would be great to have around the dressing room. Wouldn't expect him to play much. But we've got loads of filler CM's already. 

Man, I just can't believe you would even want to bring any of those to the club man

Cesc to have around the dressing room ... come on man. Stop it.

30 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

 

Man, I couldn't deal with being stuck at 4th choice for Man City and barely playing, knowing I'd be good enough to start games at Chelsea. Tough spot for him. Likely going to cost him a World Cup place.

1 hour ago, The College Dropout said:

Would take Cesc for a season.  

Of course you fucking would

We need to make sure you never get anywhere near anything to do with recruitment at Newcastle!

Left to you we would have signed Zaha, Pogba and Cesc Fabregas this summer. Goodness sake man

11 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

I'd be amazed if that's true. He doesn't fit our target profile at all.

It's actually embarrassing that they can be so clueless. How could we possibly go and sign yet another 30 year old striker. Such a lazy link from someone that's not paid any attention to what the club is doing. Awful stuff. Just throwing out made up articles for clicks.