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2 minutes ago, Gottlob said:

So I'm guessing we bring in Ramsdale for £15 million, sell Pope for about the same amount, and then use the amortisation to bring in a genuine top class first choice goalkeeper?

Pope isn't going anywhere.

1 minute ago, joeyt said:

 

I thought the goal was to win trophies

Pope got us to a cup final though.

If he played in it we likely have a much better chance of winning it.

1 minute ago, joeyt said:

 

And yet I'm not sure either of them take us to the level we want to be

Well Ramsdale was in a title race with Arsenal the season before, so there's that. Pope led a largely unfancied side into the top 4 unexpectedly as a part of the best defence in the league.

1 minute ago, Ikon said:

I thought they paid 30m for him. 

Around 6/7 million was in future add ons. 

Arsenal only paid £23 million for him, and so it's possible that they are taking less with him not starting anymore there, and with him wanting out.

Article says he will come in to compete with Pope, with the view that he has room to continue to improve.

£15 million would be ridiculous value and nearer to half of what is being quoted for the Georgian, who people wanted because he'd be cheaper!

Once again it's looking like another sharp move in the market. We are possibly going to end up with both Pope and Ramsdale for less than £30 million having been spent on the pair.

4 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Are people really questioning Howe over a shit rumour linking us to Ramsdale ?

Yes, of course they are.

It's funny I was reading an article earlier where apparently on one of the Athletic's Q&As someone asked if the Liverpool interest in Gordon was real, and not only was it confirmed, but also that Man City like him a lot too, but they both know they've got no chance of signing him off us.

And I couldn't help but laugh recalling the reactions when we were first linked to him, and the things that were being said about Howe's recruitment.

And then I've come on here, and here we are again ...

Just now, Mazzy said:

I'm not entirely against Ramsdale. I would absolutely prefer Mamardashvili over him like most other people. What bugs me about Ramsdale is the potential fee we will have to pay AND the fact that it's to another PL team. 

 

Just feels like there are more cons to bringing in Ramsdale than there is pros.

Yeah, not bothered in the least if we opt for Ramsdale instead. He's a talented goalie with room for further improvement. Howe knows him going way back too.

Couldn't care less about giving these other teams money as long as we're improving our team. Don't think anyone else is as good as we are in the market right now, and a lot of them really don't buy that well.

32 minutes ago, Groundhog63 said:

I've never had jet lag ever. Either direction. 

Then again I'm not an athlete, can kip when tf I like and drink like a fish. 

Piece of piss 

Was having this discussion with someone the other day. Genuinely never had jet lag in my life.

23 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

Finishing very strong, come on now

No idea how that metric is calculated specifically, but I'm sure there is reasoning behind it. 

Been unlucky not to score from the chances I remember him getting, but for the most part is pretty composed in those situations and gets his shots on target.

What's far more impressive for me are all the other general play numbers both in and out of possession.

Looking at Longstaff's numbers in comparison was actually shocking.

10 hours ago, HawK said:

Needs some confidence and arrogance is all. I think he's trying too hard to just follow instructions and not go for the instinctive options.

This guy is going to be just fine.

I don't mind that he's being a bit more careful initially.

He's got a very mature way about him on the pitch. He will start picking his spots more and more, and getting into goal scoring positions more often too.

In the previous game I thought he had some nice interchanges with Gordon on the left, and played him in behind a few times.

Also thought he was disciplined in holding his midfield position on the left to cover for Hall, who is much more attack minded and gets forward more often.

I like Anderson still and trust him far more than I do Longstaff at the minute.

6 minutes ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

The thing that always gets forgotten in these points is that they're elite sportspeople, playing competitively at a level where every advantage counts. If you're flying for 25 hours there, 25 hours back you're automatically at a disadvantage vs players who haven't, regardless of their level.

 

The morality over how they're compensated is irrelevant really as it had nothing to do with the basis of the complaint. 

The club have taken all that into account and have made the decision.

It's a set of showcase friendlies at the end of the season with nothing at stake, and not a set of competitive matches. I doubt there will be any rigorous training sessions during the trip, and imagine it will all be pretty relaxed.

It's a part of the modern game for these clubs. A big part of the reason being salaries continue to rise and rise.

If the choice is made to be a pro footballer then this is just something you're going to have to manage, unless things change and clubs decide against it.

Like Zirkzee a lot. Have done since he was at Anderlecht, and the evidence is on this very forum.

Always like what I see from Gnonto. Whether on the left or on the right. 

All part of the gig and they are well compensated for it.

Don't really have time for these sorts of complaints really.

1 minute ago, The Prophet said:

 

I read Milan earlier today.

Damn ... looks like there's a ton of competition.

He has been brilliant this season to be fair. And the value is incredible really.

25 hours away travelling in complete luxury for a pretty relaxed end of season friendly.

Goodness grief man. Such a difficult life.

Just now, Jack27 said:

Ghuirassy is off to Dortmund I think

Oh man ... confirmed?!

Would have been a great value signing both fee and wages wise.

Hope discussing possible striker options if Wilson leaves. Sesko is a pipe dream at this point I think, but Ghuirassy is a great shout, especially for the £15 million release clause. Apparently we have had him watched a number of times in Germany.

47 minutes ago, Jack27 said:

This follows the model at several Premier League clubs, where a performance director oversees the likes of science, medicine, psychology and performance analysis.

Newcastle are determined to improve an injury record that has disrupted their season and seen them record the most days missed of players in the top-flight.

 

From Hope’s piece 

Really like that we are doing this in an effort to address and prevent the kind of situation we faced with injuries this season. Excellent news.

56 minutes ago, Ikon said:

That particular move was in a bit of transition though, with the opposition not so deep. We are quite good at those bits, especially with our better players available. What I’m talking about is more when we more or less  play around the opposition box trying to find openings. Having a technically composed player there that calmly can keep hold of the ball and drag the opposition out of shape because of the opposition committing players, and also be able create something individually. Joelinton does things well, but assisting goals doesn’t happen too often from what I’ve seen. The final pass. Even if his link up play is decent from a deeper position at times. I also think it would allow us to control games better having that option in front of say Tonali and Bruno for example. 

 

 

 

Ah, I see. It's a fair point.

Against deeper set blocks, Bruno is really the one player with the qualities you are speaking of. Hopefully Tonali can show some of that too.

If we can bring in a right winger that has playmaking qualities that would be ideal too really.

2 minutes ago, Fezzle said:

Lost count how many times Murphy & Longstaff attempted a pass to his feet only to miss by some distance in the first half, he was getting in some decent positions too

There were also times he dropped into space and Murphy hesitated and didn't release the ball. 

On that transition chance that Longstaff played a terrible pass, he could have looked for Isak earlier when he first made his move, and Longstaff hesitated and held into the ball too long before playing an awful ball straight to the defender.

Painful stuff.

2 minutes ago, Ikon said:

I really feel like a more attacking midfielder with some flair would be great for us, and Isak in particular. A player that has the ability to draw attention and drag defenders out of shape to create more space for him in central areas. As it is now he becomes slightly isolated in line with the opposition CB’s which makes it difficult for him to get any space or chances really. Especially if the opposition sit quite deep and we try to create something by playing around their box. It usually ends up with Isak getting the ball and being forced to go backwards to play the ball out wide but then it’s quite easy for the opposition to cut him off from getting on the end of the balls played in. We mostly attack from the flanks or in between their CB and fullback with one twos and through balls but rarely centrally as it gets a bit too crowded there. It feels like most of his goals are scored when we are in transitions, or in semi transitions high up the pitch. I think having a more creative attacking option in there would give him more space and chances with the things happening centrally as well. It would also make us less predictable imo. Having that more attack minded midfielder would also work very very well with Bruno in a slightly deeper position as he is very progressive with his passing as well as very very capable when it comes to creativity if he has a technical option to play with that is central and closer to him in between the lines at times. Bruno could then go for one two’s with player X and we would be able create more from central positions without forcing Isak too deep and playing with his back to goal. Just having that one more attacking minded creative player really would make a difference I reckon. Would force the opposition to defend with two players at times. Not only that, it would give us more space out wide as the opposition would have to get more compact centrally at times. I don’t think we get the best out of Isak as it is. Having a very good option there that is great in possession would create more playing depth and the option of playing triangles more often as the distance wouldn’t be too far from Bruno who dictates the play and tempo. This post isn’t so much about last night, but just a general thought of mine. 

 

 

 

Joelinton is underrated in his ability to link up with forward players, and he also has a knack for playing them in. It's been one of things we've missed with him.

In the lead up to his through ball to Longstaff, I believe there was a slick one two he played with Isak.

I also think once Tonali returns and now he is fully settled and more familiar with the other players, we'll see more chance creation from him too, as he loves to play those first time passes forward.

It's exactly the news I was expecting to see come out regarding Man Utd's bid for him.

Reports are that he spoke directly with Howe who laid out the plans for him clearly, which he appreciated and was enthused about.

Man Utd don't even know who the manager will be yet, or which defenders will be staying or leaving, and where Tosin would then fit in.

5 minutes ago, Holmesy said:

So let's agree that these two seasons cancel each other out, right? Then we need to look at more evidence/information. Bournemouth were consistently in the top 5 for goals conceded during their time in the Premier League under Eddie.

This man is talking about Bournemouth ...