kingxlnc

The four first teamers are all great additions. We definitely needed that CM and RW so I don't think we can give it a 9 or 10. They've gone for quality not quantity. A solid 8 is decent. A Joao Pedro would have made it a 8.5, Ashby a 9 and then a 10 would have been a CM like a Kone or Haidara etc. Not all gaps have been filled - perhaps the players they have in mind are currently unattainable - e.g Diaby et al but may become available in Jan.

Paqueta would have made it a 10

Interesting... ok who's better as a trio? 1. Martins, Owen, Viduka 2. Ba, Cisse, Ben Arfa 3. ASM, Wilson, Isak 4. Rondon, Perez, Almiron For me, it is 2, 3, 1, 4 Struggling to think of other trios - we've always played 2 up top in the KK and SBR eras

It’s a world of difference having someone elite to admire in the team instead of someone who puts in the effort and has some decent quality. No disrespect to the likes of Wilson, Shelvey etc who were all good for our previous level, Seeing the likes of Bruno and Isak come in has really upped the standards considerably to the point of raising everyone else’s game too, like Woodgate did with Bramble

He’s a good pair of legs to bring on, instead of Murphy. Tall and tangy on the counter. Should never be a starter in the type of team we’re trying to build.

Completely out of his depth. If Isak and Almiron stayed on we would have got a point, as there would have been enough threat on the counter

Imagine the through balls from Botman to Bruno and then from Bruno to Isak

The thing is I don’t even rate the business done by Chelsea. They’ve done a Man U and vastly overspent on not world class players. cucurella - decent fofana - paying for potential Sterling - good signing Koulibaly - old and losing legs who else? Ridiculous money wasted ecen with losses on Werner, Lukaku etc one thing about their previous owner is that they were frustratingly well run, with a great academy and eye for smart signings on the up. Like Man City now. this reeks more like fantasy football and throwing money without a clear strategy. They will implode.

Also I like the age we are getting him at, he has done a huge lot of development elsewhere and now ready to come into him peak, similar to buying a Shearer from Southampton instead of when he’s at his peak from Blackburn.

Definitely got the case of the Geremi, has lost his legs and seems top heavy

BT didn’t even discuss the disallowed goal like it wasn’t even controversial. Shay Given genuinely looked gutted though

Luiz would give us that all Brazilian midfield we were desperate for with Paqueta…

Lol I thought that initially but he’s got a decent recent track record, he even had a cryptic message the day before Isak was signed

Pedro, Kone/Haidara and Tielemans for me please

Would be happy with either Haidara (my prefernece) or Tielemans

Agreed we are still very short of goals. Two loan players would do the job for now. Pulisic would have been perfect. But if we got a Haidara - we could get away with not having another RW - as then that fearsome midfield would supply so much ammunition and free up space for Isak on RW and Wilson in centre. Having said that I do still want Pedro however as he ticks a lot of boxes. Maybe do that loan and instead of 25+5, do 30M in a year. Incentivises it for them.

Something from Jacques Talbot about possibly going in for Haidara and Tielemans by tomorrow: https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2022/08/31/exclusive-newcastle-could-launch-late-move-for-rb-leipzig-star-or-leicester-city-midfielder/

Interesting comments. Can see a deadline day bid for Maddison or Tielemans for sure

I can't see us scoring without Wilson / Bruno / ASM

Cody Gakpo seems like a good link for the RW slot. A quarter of the price of Antony with better stats in the same league. Worth looking at for sure

If Fraser and Wood both play, that may be decent as he has a good cross on him, so could go a bit more direct.

To finish the window nicely, I would want Kone and Pedro. Two young players, under 21 so don't need to be registered. Highly rated, versatile too. Covers a lot of problem positions. Probably get both for the same price as one Lucas Paqueta. That would be a great deal.

Lewis is missing. Anderson doesn't need to be registered I would get rid of Ritchie ideally and bring in new AM. Get rid of Murphy and bring in new RW. Even Fernandez can go for a CB/DM hybrid like Dedoncker or Alvarez

I think he messed up his own situation by insisting on a move, he could have still got his agent to look discreetly for clubs, but have one eye on January so an amazing world cup could get him the dream move he actually wanted. Instead of 'settling' for West Ham which, even though they've had a good window, they've been operating at their ceiling for 2 seasons now, not sure they'll get to the next level. Whereas we're currently a bit further back, but the ceiling is a lot higher and it's a more exciting project to be part of. He left Lyon because they finished 8th. West Ham with the start they've had aren't guaranteed as high as that. So it is definitely a strange move.

Anyone think we could try and revive the Diaby deal? He also seems like a long term target which fits the strategic plan.