KaKa

This DCL move seems very very opportunistic and cunning. I hated the idea of him as the main guy when we were being linked and it looked like either him or Isak, but this is very different. He'll be joining as a rotation option and sometimes partner to Isak. His stock is at an all time low right now. Been stuck in an awful team, not scoring as much, and last year of his contract. The supposed fee of £25 million is an absolute steal. His physical profile, work rate and character are all great fits. He's still just 27 and gives us much of what we'd lose with Wilson going. The one thing that really sticks out to me with DCL, was that period under Ancelotti when he looked absolutely incredible. Ancelotti raved about him at the time, and it's worth going back and reading some of those quotes. The downside is the injuries, but as already mentioned, it doesn't actually look as bad, looking back over the last few seasons. Also, to get a back up of this kind of experience and ability, you probably will need a bit of compromise somewhere. Having two starting quality strikers, that we won't be running into the ground probably works for both, as even Isak doesn't look like he's suited to that. I think this move only happens if Wilson is sold and we get some money for him. And so DCL would be a direct replacement. Even when we weren't sure Wilson was set to leave, there was talk of a younger, developmental striker coming in, and so could still see that happening also. If we end the summer with Isak, DCL and a young developmental prospect that's a cheaper wonder kid type in the Minteh profile, that would be a great position to be in.

Howe rubbished reports of him being unsettled or expendable after the match today, for what it's worth.

I agree. Be surprised if he isn't better than Pope at least a little bit, as Pope can be pretty poor. Popes body shape and everything, just looks completely wrong when kicking the ball.

They hate the new manager already! This just keeps getting better and better!

Interesting. I could see that too. Would especially make sense if he's been sold on coming in as deputy initially until he settles in and adjusts to the English game. Getting game time in the cup competitions to start with.

I'm not sure the playing out from the back is as much of a priority as we may have thought. I think the priorities are shot stopping, dealing with/claiming the ball from crosses/set pieces and then getting out to deal with balls in behind the defensive line to cover for our high line when pressing. Think our play out from the back will largely be as it is, which is pretty risk adverse and more direct when needed.

I agree. This fee for Mamardashvili is likely contingent on not having to commit any outlay to the centre back position.

Nice timing! At least when Spurs sacked Mourinho before the final they sent him packing. Imagine having a manager that's been sacked sitting in the dugout for the game still. The evidence against this regime just keeps piling up!

I've ready a number of them but can't really recall now which ones. I see some folks have shared a few though.

I meant qualified as far as what the club wants from the person that fills the role. Some of this has been mentioned in some of the articles that have come out. For example more experience on the recruitment side, particularly when it comes to selling players and getting really good value.

I wouldn't worry too much about this. I cannot imagine the approach is overlooking any qualified people. Giles might still be on the list, or perhaps getting him out of Brentford isn't straightforward, or it isn't convenient for him to move right now, or he is missing something key that we are after ... could be anything!

There were a number of really good articles posted yesterday on the whole situation. It turns out we are actually looking for something different with our next hiring, as Ashworth wasn't as strong on the recruitment side, and we really need that, particularly in regards to selling players. The main things he was good at, have largely been put in place, and we needed a bit more from him, rather than having him just overseeing what he had implemented so far. Looks like we are now targeting a stronger recruitment DOF along with a head of Performance. Looks like we've taken the opportunity to better address what is needed at the club. Will not be losing any sleep whatsoever over Ashworth going.

I'm pretty certain candidates will be graded on some sort of point system, and the club would then be involved in deciding who to move forward with. Can't imagine that would be left purely to the agency.

If Man Utd look elsewhere then Ashworth will remain on gardening leave until 2025, which is another year and so £1 million in salary. Well worth it to protect all the information he was privy to during his time with Newcastle, which is the whole point of gardening leave. As for having to write off what we paid Brighton, which was around £3 million. It's hardly some big disaster. Never mind the fact we still got some value out of the toad, as he put a baseline structure in place throughout the club and hired a bunch of new staff. It's not at all some catastrophic loss of millions for Newcastle. A catastrophic loss is spending £90 million on Antony.

It's such a strange outlook man. I'm completely dumbfounded by it all.

Not that I necessarily think we will go for him, but this is what Maldini has said about his next job ... “For my job, the alternatives (in Italy) to Milan are very limited,” he said in December. “I could never go to another Italian team. Possibly I would only evaluate the offer of a high-level foreign team. I like winning and building. Saudi Arabia could be a stimulating option, who knows.”

Didn't even bother finishing it. No idea who wrote that nonsense and what they were on.

Joe Aribo is never ever a winger! Why Southampton signed him and played him there that season in the Premier League, I will never know. Looks like they finally realised he's a central midfielder and he's been doing well there of late for them in the Championship. I'd have him ahead of Longstaff every single time.

I'll only really pipe up if I like a player though, so it would seem that way To be fair I wouldn't sign Awoniyi, but that guy is one of my favourite people in football. Such a good dude from very very humble beginnings. Adebayo came up because it looks like that is who Everton are targeting to replace Calvert Lewin, and some said they'd rather have him. He was causing Premier League defences trouble prior to his injury, and has the physical attributes that would work well in our system, so I get it. I think he'd be really useful as a back up. Would I actually want us to target him as a priority though ... not really, he'd be one to go for further down the list, only if we struggled to get better.

It's so incredibly simple man. Let's drag it out and go to arbitration. Already doing early business, while Man Utd are in limbo. It's all absolutely perfect.

We're cooking up a storm! Love some early business being done before all the summer madness starts with all the tournaments taking place.

Most of them are solid to really good players, so to not like at all in some capacity? I'd need to see a full list, there'd be a few I'm sure. Off the top of my head, I definitely don't like Ola Aina though. You seem to only rate super technical players at the very best clubs like Man City and Real though, so we have very different outlooks on things. I don't need a player to be perfect to like their game, and liking them doesn't mean they're necessarily a world beater or top player either.

He is incredible in the air too.

Awoniyi is also a handful and is a top guy character wise, but his injury problems are just continuous. I wouldn't be involved in any kind of deal to sign him. Wish him the best though. Really great guy is Awoniyi.

I'm pleasantly surprised others on here like him too. Thought he had a good season for them that would have been even better had he not got injured for a bit.