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It's not like this form is just this season weren't we right up there based on our second half of the season performances across quite a few metrics this was brought home when I saw this on the BBC

Where is the goal scorer in him gone, squad player due to his age and how much we forked out for him but look forward to the day he's keeping the bench warm and comes on to see a game out.

If we fade away or injuries finally bite us result wise I don't in anyway see that as a bad season or failure. We were a laughing stock of the league at the start of last season what a turn around of fortunes. If we finish top 10 we have progress top 8 sets a clear progression/target for the next season. Top 6 feels like a dream that was only possible on football manager or fifa up until very very recently.

Don't remember much of him all game I guess that's the sign of an assured defender, still adapting to the league but certainly unphased by it all.

Is this the player Rafa expected or is this his purple patch before moving on but being remembered as the player that proved Grealish wrong and contributed to a top 6/8 finish??

Very snappy at times obviously young and trying his hardest to impress which can make you not look your best but he seems a prospect and want to see more of him........ before the squad is full of 40m+ players in all positions ?

We are lucky or style of play/philosophy is not to sit back in years gone by IF we did get an early goal it was squeaky bum hold on for the 90.

well the more winnable game on paper is tonight, but depends how we perform we could in theory start wood and hope quality across the pitch see's us through and Wilson comes on later if we cant break the deadlock OR you start with the strongest possible side and if you can be 2-0 up at half time take Wilson off to rest.

Its the give Wilson a rest and play wood that has me worried (suggest not confirmed unless it has been since ive been working) You don't want to give struggling teams at the bottom any suggestions your handing out a free handicap.

I respect your views as your entitled to them HTT and a food bank is a great and worthy cause. The Alan Shearer centre need 75k+ every year just to keep the lights on and operate more so with energy costs now. I am not an accountant or have access to their books but not sure if they do indeed have millions in reserve but sustained and annual money is difficult to raise. Unlike say a charity that is for a one off cause or purpose. Another prospective I like is that some of these charities cater to the wider community not every fan is in the city centre and would go or need "that" food bank. A lasting legacy might seem on the surface as an ego stroking exercise but it is nice to know that the fans fund will go towards hopefully a lasting change/legacy not just this winter or current financial year. I can see how passionate you are about this and know your an advocate of giving to charity. I can tell we arent going to agree on this and I am not sure if the fund has been sliced up correctly or not but I have no issues about the money being spread about.

My little boy is autistic and uses the Alan Shearer centre. Free to entry no barriers to entry except for over subscribed services. The charity needs annual regular money to maintain its offering and maintain and renew equipment. I live near a charity that offer a hydro therapy pool at a "discounted" rate of £60 for 45 minutes. It's free at the Alan Shearer centre albeit near impossible to get a booking due to popularity. I don't feel comfortable with putting a weight to which charity needs it most. While I agree the ability to feed and cloth yourself is a basic human need. The specialist and bespoke service on offer is vital for my sons wellbeing he regularly self harms and despite only being 4 has begun to hit his head when he is overwhelmed that all melts away when he goes to one of those sensory rooms. We literally would be lost without it.

Think any regret for me is how "close" we are to being even more competitive. If Europe was a possibility with another 60/70m spent now does that not make more sense than doing it over this and next season. Obviously all hyperthetical of course.

All for taking on a hungry young forward who can grow and develop with in some areas of the pitch an aging squad. My issue is more down to the fact we know Wilson will break down and would like to be relying on more of a "sure thing". Wilson automatic starter when fit and playing one central striker rules out a high calibre 24-27 year old who doesn't want to play second fiddle unless they can work across a front 3. This means we are better off as they are coming in squad numbers wise to replace gayle who wasn't getting a game but someone so raw with so few goals so far is still a little scary to hang your hat on. If this was a purchase to go along side another attacker this window it would make more sense.

If any of those bids we have made are true I wonder how many remain on the table I wonder if any of the selling clubs will be more likely to do business for lack of alternative offers.

I think you can tell from Howe's comments that he would love to have done more business early but has to admit the market and constraints (argue all you want if these constraints are the market or us and how we an operating) that the window has been at least frustrating. If we were going to spend in Jan I would be mad if we miss out on someone now for 5/10% more money offered just to risk spending again in a much harder market rather go hard now and pass Jan by. I could be satisfied with 1 more signing depending on the deal and the calibre of the player but I do feel we need 2 or 3 more additions. We could get 3 players in and I could be very underwhelmed due to how long they have spent just to get in player X, Y , Z. I think the fact I dont know how I will feel because I don't have all the facts and the window remains open I am prepared to hold off being opening critical until the window closes and we see where we are.

This has happened before the lack of new information drives infinity style arguments that cannot be won or lost. Bit like when the takeover went silent the "void" was filled with something not going to say that something was worth while or pointless for risk of creating a new loop. The lack of tangible links and the realisation that we are still heavily restricted in what we do is at times a bit of a downer. Wasn't expecting the whole squad to go or be replaced but wanted the current starting 11 improved more than what we have. Time on our side and if clubs blink we may get 3 bodies in but then again we stand firm and go again in Jan and get none. Both have their merits but still feel we are a few injuries away from a crisis.

Read a piece quoting Howe as saying loan market is fine but needs to be committed to the team and not someone who is hanging around for a short period. Loan with an option to buy would kick the cost down the road but get more quality bodies in hopefully. 1 player in and if we aren't going to be relegation fodder worries me as Amanda said they didn't like the winter window but needs must last time so in theory this recruitment now lasts till summer.

So if he means 1 player I would be underwhelmed seen as I would like 2 more possibly 3.

Wages maybe?

There is a line under the topic regards "last post by" clicking that part takes you to the last reply. Nothing overly complicated.

Click the topic title go to the last page at the top click on "just now"/ time of last reply then go to last post of page.. ...

We are still very much at the early stage of rebuilding and as such suspensions or injuries in a few areas have us relying on sub-par players but I think that is the same for alot of sides in the league. We dont currently have the luxury of 100's of millions sitting on the bench waiting to change the game, improving the first 11 is the priority, just so much work to do due to how little we have improved the side over the years at all levels.

While true we ain't penny pinching for no reason we obviously see the keeper position as a priority not because our current no1 is shit its the drop off in quality if he is suspended or injured. Too much of the squad needs big spends to go into window 2 of the new ownership and spend a ton on a keeper in a few windows we replace with a big money no1 a 10m fee has seen us through it won't be seen as a waste if we have no faith in our current backup keepers.

It's like HTT of old so much so I ashamedly can't read it all as too tired.

Not sure if it was on here or a Google search I read how deep and nieche sponsorship can be some clubs have sponsorship for official car, official male grooming, official post carrier etc. A sponsor for the ground, training kit, get into Europe and get an official flight partner even if the league presses the value down the lack of sponsors in an around the club due to shite direct does lend itself for a sudden cash injection regardless of suppression of the monetary deal. Could all the deals bring in 50/70m a season? Like others have said is that fair or not who knows.