kingxlnc

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.

They genuinely have a midtable XI now. Could push for top 10 next year as the team gels etc.

It's a shame as Neves would be a great purchase for us instead of Alvarez

I do think we need two 'big' players. The lack of depth is alamrming and Howe's all-action style will have injuries. Right now, we have no Joelinton replacement, no Bruno replacement, and no real Pope replacement (if Dubravka goes). And Almiron/Fraser needs upgrading. So a Haidara/Sangare quality mid, alongside a Pulisic level RW is the minimum requirement. A Joao Pedro / Kone pair of 20 year olds who can be called on would be great too and would pad out the squad nicely.

I'd add Lewis to that in the sense I don't mind when I see his name in the starting XI - I know he is decent enough and young enough to still contribute. I'd also now add Anderson and Willock. Lascelles is 'ok' too, for now. That's 21 out of the 25 man squad. So we're four short of having quality depth. One high quality ST, one RW, one CM and one GK would change the game for us and give us the strength in depth to achieve our goals.

I didn't mean you personally, I meant in general the wider furore that Saudi (and previously UAE) had gotten for oil and "sportswashing" whereas Chelsea never got anything of the sort even though it's proven with Abramovich selling the club his ties to Putin's (also murderous) regime (and he is linked to Israel, too who have horrible human rights issues). The US have got a despicable record with human rights, ditto China. Man City were previously owned by the Thai PM who also has huge controversies. These things never come up - I do understand PIF being linked to the national government whereas the others are private owners but no private owner becomes wealthy in those countries without links to high ranking officials / governement / royalty etc. Basically, it's all corrupt so it's selective outrage. You can find something to be offended at for anything if you look at it deep enough. Why are we not offended at the porn barons owning West Ham for how this corrupts morality and has eroded the fabric of society?

I saw a good thing on Twitter, showing PSG having a brown and white away kit in the colours of Qatar, Chelsea having a Russian colours away kit, Leicester having a Thailand flag away kit. It's pretty standard stuff - can't help but think it's based on racism, to be honest. Commercially it absolutely makes sense, it's not that big a deal and we've actually had those colours in an away kit before so it's not exactly breaking precedent.

It's because of exactly this why everyone has been begging for Paqueta. The versatility would have been perfect for our thin on quality squad. With Bruno out he would have been the 'door opener'. With Wilson out, he could play as false 9 instead of Wood so ASM and Miggy have more movement around them. And when Bruno / Isak / Wilson are back he could play with Bruno and Joe in an amazingly high quality midfield threading through chances for Isak and Wilson to finish. Everyone could see it, that's why there was so much clamour and thought porn. I can't think of one single attainable player that could have 'completed' this team's gaps as much as him.

Forest do look like they have some depth though, the subs they can call upon are all decent. I think there’s defo three weaker teams for sure

With Barca issues and registrations etc could they bring in Dest on loan as cover? As he’s 21 he won’t need to be registered either? And good for him to learn from Trippier

Worrying.

Naturally with an improving team that is getting rid of the mediocrity it’s a sliding scale, so he’s now in Clark and Gayle territory whereas he was passable this time last year as there were bigger priorities. Him, Ritchie, Dummett, Darlow and Shortstaff are the next on the chopping block.