sixx

1. Robert's incomprehensible scorpion kick against Fulham. All time favourite player.

2. HBA against Everton. Made me so excited for times ahead. God how wrong was I.

3. Cisse against Chelsea. I made sounds on that occasion I will never be able to replicate.

Might sound a bit bonkers but Romelu Lukaku will definitely be available this summer. Not many teams will be able to afford him aside from us and he doesn’t suit Tuchel’s football. He also seems to like being the biggest fish in the pond which he’ll be here like he was at Everton and WBA. He’ll also want to be fresh for Belgium’s last push in this winter’s WC. 

Thought Gayle looked fresh in his few minutes. Refuse to belive he can’t be useful at least late in games.

16 minutes ago, HTT II said:

It’s down to the manager…

I think you could be right in the sense that it's not so much about the transfer itself but about the player's development that happens afterwards. I recall some serious doubts about Van Dijk signing for Liverpool and de Bruyne signing for Man City. I also don't recall that much excitement about Liverpool signing Salah or Bale signing with Spurs or when Bernardo Silva signed for City. There's also definitely an element of luck in this as I recall Salah not even being Liverpool's second or third option in that transfer window. At the end of the day a succesful transfer strategy is an extremely elusive thing but I do hope that the current NUFC brass have a better idea of it than I do 

1 hour ago, Kanji said:

I disagree with you wholeheartedly, I think they will spend a fuck ton and aren’t going to give any hints what the budget is or could be. I severely doubt there is a true firm number. The only way to grow this club is to be opportunistic and if there’s a way they can secure several top names they will do it. 

You’re essentially describing Man Utd’s approach to transfer the last few years which I think we can all agree hasn’t been very sensible.

I’m very unsure we can just ‘spend’ our way towards the top 6 or so. If you look at Man City’s transfer track record since their takeover it’s like they struck gold at least with a couple of signings each year and to be fair there hasn’t been many expensive Mangala-like flops. Why has it worked out so well for them while it hasn’t for Man Utd?  There are definitely some decisve factors behind the scenes in term of recruitment which I can’t really put my finger on. Why didn’t Chelsea recognize Salah’s and de Bruyne’s talent? I’m not entirely sure it’s very much down to the manager in charge each time as Citeh have had some turnover in management since the takeover yet always consistantly brilliant transfers. 
 

I’ve seriously no idea how to spend our newfound money and I’ve really no idea either how much money we are actually capable of spending. All I really want to know is what it really is deep down behind the scenes that decides a great recruitment strategy that City undoubtedly have. Everton have spent half a billion since their takeover and Man Utd have spent a billion since Fergie. Both clubs are worse off. Maybe it’s down to a great technical director. I barely even know what these guys even do. 

This midfield trio has a lot of future potential. Happy to see them all start and good to see Almiron getting a look in. Secure survival and send these in to the abyss please.

More than half of our best XI missing today. If Howe gets a result today he should be knighted.

On the whole he looked good last night. He's gonna need a few games to adjust to the pace, you're not afforded the same time on the ball as in Ligue 1. 

Man of the match yesterday for me. Proves we can rely on him for next season.

Murphy needs subbed at half time.

You don’t see a finish like that very often. Absolute class by Mbappe. He’s gonna link up well with Chris Wood next season.

Bargain for a good quality PL player at 26 years of age.

This is beautiful. I so wish Everton go down.

Btw I really like Kulusevski. Just does the simple things effectively.

3 minutes ago, Conjo said:

 

He showed some real quality for our first goal doing all of the things you say he can't do.

He has zero assists and zero goals in seven games. I’m not saying he can’t do it, he just isn’t good at it.

Great win but we let them have way too much of the ball. None of the midfield three had a good game so no excuse not to start Bruno agaist Southampton.

Fraser was great and Schar to an extent too. On a negative note - Wood is an absolute travesty of a footballer. Offers nothing. Actually can’t remember him even being close to scoring a goal since he came and his hold up and link up play is not good. Can’t wait to see us with a proper striker.

I genuinely thought he couldn’t play in a PL back four. I was dead wrong. Compliments Burn well. This is another one that has to be handed to Howe.

Voted for Watford and Norwich and Everton as a wildcard. More wishful thinking than anything else. They might get a spanking agains City next weekend and could crumble after that. It’ll probably be Brentford tho.

VAR fucking blows

Fredericks is fucking shite. Such a shame ASM isn’t out there tormenting him.

A defining feature of a good manager is the ability to make seemingly mediocre players play at their highest potential of ability. We saw it regularly with Benítez and so so often with SAF. Looking back he somehow managed to win the league routinely at a canter with players like O'Shea, Fortune, Cleverley and Anderson often playing key roles. Has to be handed to Howe, this transformation is amazing and is a testament to his ability.

Leaving aside me being a fan and speaking as an urban planner and a non Newcastle resident - SJP is unique in most every sense. I can’t belive this is even being discussed. It’s a defining monument for the city itself and the club. How it’s weaved into the fabric of the city and rests so beautifully on a hilltop visible from everywhere - from the outside looking in, this is almost unbeatable. It really gives a sense of what NUFC means to the community and the city in general. It should be a core tenet of the club and the city moving forward. 

Would like Bruno to start this. We need confidence on the ball when Trippier's out. Most of ours are quite scared of receiving the ball under pressure. 

1. CB. Hopefully Botman can become a kind of a legacy player like Kompany at City.

2. ST. Schick looks good. Can't say about other options.

3. RW. Ismaila Sarr or Raphinha. I like Fraser but I'd like him more as a back up player.

4. LB. Get Targett in.

This would be a great window for me. Other additions absolutely welcome like another CB or a defensive midfielder but not critical.

Very solid. Probably gives ASM a better platform for him to do his sorcery. Even chipped in with a good cross. Shame it went to the smallest man in the PL.

Can't believe we've managed to sign him. Brings absolutely everything to the fold we needed - leadership, set pieces, crossing, tackling and just lifts everyone around him to another level. You can really see how the other players look up to him and try to find him whenever. Like he relishes having the ball under pressure. Boy did we need that. And it seems Bruno brings similar elements to the fold. We've had too many players scared of having the ball under pressure. Massive big dick energy.