Gallowgate Toon

The few times we've used it, BIG looked pretty dynamic to me. Even with a new RW, I hope we see it more.

I think Chalobah would be an incredibly smart move from the club if we can get him for a good price. Underrated player.

Feels like his comments, which I don't think were that bad, were really aimed at YAR who I imagine Howe has no consistent direct line to in reality. I think Eales is in for a tough year, like. I'd wager AS and MG were a bigger comfort blanket for him than anyone else.

The setup definitely didn't suit Kane but rather than adjusting as a senior leader of the side to help others out he just seemed to go walkabout loads making everything worse by getting in others' space. And then when we were in decent positions around the box, he was miles away from where he needed to be half the time. He reminded me of latter years Rooney. Lots of performances and decisions throughout the tournament were just really weird. The instruction to keep fucking wellying it from goal kicks being right up there.

Wharton looks like he could be the one to break the mould.

Fully deserved. Southgate is a lovely man, I'm sure, but he's just not a winner. Tactical, risk-averse bore managing a team brimming with attacking, exciting talent.

Wow. What a finish.

Bowen would be absolutely class, man. Also, he's a big DJ Spider Radgie fan.

Something is definitely off with the Gordon situation. Got to be his post-match interview - it was far too courageous for Southgate.

Immense. He's seemingly a pretty strong advocate of getting good processes in place for cheap talent on the continent? Nickson may be head-over-heels. I wonder if we've changed strategy a wee bit with PSR troubles to be more value-focused.

Gordon still has plenty to prove and he knows it - his next challenge is to show last season wasn't a one-off and he can at least match it. Of course he'd be tempted to go to a team in the CL back in his boyhood city but I've no doubt he'll be all-in at the start of the season for us.

It's been a sobering week but it's this shit that'll make it all the sweeter when we win something.

You just know someone on the board will have used the term 'low-hanging fruit' for this

Struggling to get past feeling sad seeing a local talent go even though it is a fantastic price. I feel a big part of the last couple of years for me has been the sense of pride in seeing more local lads and boyhood fans in the squad, even when Longstaff had me tearing my hair out last season. Good luck to him. He seems a great lad and he has talent imo.

Champion. Ended the season so well - he just feels like an NUFC full back to me. Unless he gets injured, he should have some serious impact over the course of the season. I still think Howe will protect him a decent amount, as he should, especially with Kelly knocking around, but if he has a good preseason then he should have well graduated the 'not being used for months on end' role

If we're still in trouble then it's absolutely appalling by the club and heads should roll. Actually, the fact we were waiting until today is already appalling enough for action. Amateur at best. Seems to me like we were banking on a major player to go. We've actually got lucky Minteh had the form he had.

Sad it's come to this but it really was better than many alternatives.

If Minteh does go, I expect we'll have a very preferable buy-back or some equivalent. I'd love to keep him now but I'm not sure we have any current buyers for the players we'd ideally get rid of. I think DCL would be steady. We create well for our strikers, he won't need to be anywhere near as much of a workhorse in our setup, and he's good foil for Isak if we ever need to play them as a 2 as he's more of a target man.

I can maybe see see why he doesn't give Palmer a go if he's worried he won't do the work the other way, but Gordon is awesome both ways. I would've thought he'd have been a Southgate golden boy for it.

Midfield is nowhere to be seen, up front one-paced and too similar.

Chelsea have just chucked away a seasoned manager that showed excellent form for half a season for... Enzo Maresca. He's a totally unproven gamble they've employed to not push back on transfer choices. It shows that they're still running at least a portion of a clown show. Olise showed last summer he takes his career seriously, I think he'd want more assurances of the stability of the project.

Bellingham just feels like he has something that nobody else in this team does and it's pure self belief. He doesn't seem to need system safety blankets or feel scared of consequences - just pure he is him stuff and he loves it.

I have a feeling we might bring out a back 3 more this season and he seems absolutely perfect for a LCB in that structure. Very, very handy player if he can stay fit.

Tomorrow is going to be a struggle in the self-restraint department.

Still occasionally think about him pinging a sweeping switch with his left against Villa like it was nothing. Can't wait to see him back.