Kimbo

Fortunately Krafth is able to do a decent job during the periods Schar is knocked out.

If Elanga isn’t possible (right now it doesn’t sound like Forest are even naming a price), and we won’t shop abroad, then we may need to stick with Murphy. I’ve been trying to think of a domestic alternative and all I could think of was McAtee. Elliott and Buonanotte aren’t wingers and likely won’t do a better job there than Murphy.

They’re close in age and Elanga is far more proven, and athleticism does matter a lot with our style of play. Elliott over Elanga seems a tough argument to make. I don’t think we’re getting either anyway.

During the transfer window would certainly be the best time to do it.

If true I can only assume our scouts are on a watchlist and can’t travel abroad. He’s not even premier league proven.

I do find this stuff quite funny, as long as they don’t do it to us. They’ll do the same with Saliba who has 2 years left on his contract.

Lack of athleticism seems to be the criticism at Liverpool, and presumably that’s after being loaded with asthma medication.

His argument in favour of it seems to be the richest clubs in the world are getting paid a lot to turn up.

I doubt Howe is the one on the phone, but if we look at the players we MIGHT have missed out on this summer. Delap Huijsen Mbeumo Pedro Guehi We didn’t really stand much chance with any of them because we’re outgunned by our competition. Whatever fee or wages we could offer, they can offer more.

I assume we’re trying to buy the players he wants, but we’re finding they’re unattainable for us, which was quite predictable given we’re going after other premier league clubs best players. If it’s a case of us going after the wrong players then surely he’s also responsible.

Elanga is another one we seem to have been after for a while without getting anything accepted. I think Forest have a price in mind and we can match it or fuck off.

Disappointing this one as I’ve rated him for years. I was disappointed he ended up at Brighton instead of here. I think he would’ve fit us well and improved as a player with us. As it is he’ll be a utility player for a season and then end up in Saudi or in Turkey on loan. I think the main driver of this transfer is to prevent him coming here, maybe this is something we’ll have to deal with more in future. The game is broken to the point where the richest clubs can spend huge fees just to stop the non-ESL clubs from buying them.

I would assume back up for Palmer and Gittens for a year, prevent a direct rival getting him in their first team, then flog him to Saudi next year.

I would have thought Howe is in full charge of who we go after this summer, I’m not sure who else it could be right now.

I’ve thought that about the Saudi’s and the super league for a couple of years, the situation stinks to me, and the latter seems to make sense to me given my observations of how the club has been run. I also don’t know who is running the club right now given Eales illness. It’s just opinions, I’m not urinating anywhere I shouldn’t.

My prediction/conspiracy theory is that there will be a Saudi led European Super League within 5 years and these clubs are already in bed with them. That’s a realistic goal for them and it’s far bigger than Newcastle. As far as Newcastle is concerned, the club was sold to them by Staveley and I think everything needs to be pushed forward by a non-PIF person. They’re there to invest if someone sells it to them, but otherwise we’ll be a forgotten relatively minor investment.

With Delap I understood why he would go to Chelsea, but for Pedro it is a braindead move, he would literally just be a utility player. It stinks of the likes of Kepa moving to be a backup in his prime years.

We don’t have an option but to be parient, but we should also recognise that a third of the transfer window is gone and pre-season is about to start. We spent all summer chasing a lost cause last year and this year we need a number of players in, so IMO we should set ourselves a deadline. A month seems enough of time to get a player in.

It’s clear that there are a few players that we’ve been after for a few weeks now, and we’ve also had all season work out whether they would want to sign for us. I think if we can’t get Pedro, Elanga, and Trafford wrapped up by the time pre-season starts then something is wrong and we need to move onto more attainable targets. It might be that the players are too expensive, the other club is messing us around, or the player is holding on to see if there are other options.

This is what it would be, he’s not being bought as a back up.

Isak will start 90% of the games, it’ll be hard to get a forward with a good goalscoring record to be a bit part player. Pedro would be able to play with Isak, or fill in up front if required.

Us signing Guehi hasn’t looked a realistic possibility since mid August.

My only concern is how we afford everything else we need to compete across the number of games we’re going to have. I’d love Joao Pedro as well, but him and Elanga could be £120m, then the Trafford reports are talking £40m. And that is without the CB that we need, who really has to be a top player. I was expecting our plan to be a big money signing, along with a number of lower priced players spotted by our scouts that haven’t really proved themselves yet (Huijsen to Bournemouth type signings).

Seems obvious to me he won’t cost less than £55m, £60m will probably be needed. He’s a star player at a wealthy premier league club with no PSR problems.