Doctor Zaius

Thats where I stand basically and I'm not opposed to leaving SJP. I dont have any faith in the architects or club not producing something that isnt quite ugly and soulless, with all the character that encapsulates the corporate nature of modern football. From the outside, its even more important than your average stadium as its such a big part of the citys skyline. SJP looks really good from afar. Bramley Moore looks alright (if a little souless from the inside), but fuck me, imagine this football stadium disguised as a bus terminal dominating the Newcastle skyline. Perfectly open to examples of modern stadiums that might actually A. Look good and B. Would be feasible though. Maybe im not looking hard enough?

Not the way things are supposed to work like.

People say Raahford is only 27, but it's less to do with age and more miles on the clock. He's played 426 games at club level, that's a lot of football. We see time and again, players fizzle out in their late 20's who have been playing first team football since their teens. It can be for a variety of reasons - hunger, professionalism, injuries or simply their body doesn't allow them to be as fit or explosive any longer and they can't adapt their game. Sterling is 30 but he's been done a while now. I can only imagine that you need to be a consummate professional in order to keep going past a certain point unless it all catches up very quickly.

It is yeah. Point still stands though

Four windows without signing a first team is ridiculous like. Fuck PSR like. Sham system.

Between this and West Ham for the most enraging loss of the season like.

Genuinely cannot imagine being inside St James and yapping about something that is not related to the game other than at half time.

There is something in this too though. Ideally Howe would rotate wingers and bring on fresh legs that are actually capable. It's why we signed Barnes. Obviously he's unable to build a squad because of PSR so our wingers, who are absolutely key to our press, are shot to bits after 60 minutes and look even more knackered as each game goes on because we have 0 options.

He has and it's not hyperbole. He certainly hasn't kicked on like expected this year. He doesn't look like the marauding right back we signed and isn't as defensively solid. Was in the England squad at the start of the season. Still young like, and there's obviously talent there.

He's had a poor season if we're being honest. Offers little going forward and the drop off from Trippier to him is stark. Anyway, we'll probably be alright for the rest of the season with Burn, Botman, Schar and Krafth if needed. Kelly never looked comfortable at centre half or left back, might be suited to a three. The West Ham performance was one of the all time worst.

Fuckin sign a player you div

His team are chronically unable to control a game. Rarely ever look comfortable. Signs have been there for a while tbh. Wolves managed a load of chances, Bournemouth took us apart and Fulham dominated for large periods of the game. Not sure what the excuse is given our midfield options.

Fucking garbage

Forget about top 5. Nowhere near consistently good enough.

Schar ball watching. Why was Isak marking Muniz? Abject performance

Absolutely fucking pathetic this second half.

Id have been open to selling earlier on in the window when we could have got someone in, but there surely isn't much point now? We won't sign anyone and we might leave ourselves short for a crucial CL push with no real benefit this season at least.

Any bubble wrap / bowl design will look shite from both the inside and the outside. SJP is iconic partly due to the fact that you can see these massive stands from across the city. A 'bubble wrap' stadium wouldn't have that affect. Has there been an new stadium built with steep, imposing stands? Or are they all these identikit bowls? These recent mockups are horrific.

Id take the money and run for Duran. Good player and strikers are hard to come by but the money being offered will be worth it for Villa.

I think it's easy to say that now with the stadium where it is, but it might be different depending if a new stadium is even slightly further out.

In posting that I'm not necessarily saying that we shouldn't move, but I don't like those who seem adamant that SJP (or a new stadium) should be the be and end all of the match day. Drink in the ground pre match, eat in the ground and then drink in the ground post match is valuable trade taken away from a city centre establishments that need it. I know there its each to their own, and we obviously do need better options in a new ground but every pint drank in the ground at the expense of a city centre pubs is a bad thing for the city imo, regardless of PSR. Everything just becomes that little bit more plastic and soulless.

People want this at Newcastle in expense of city centre pubs. Mental.

Goes without saying really but another season back in the CL would be massive for the club at this point. Extra pull to bring in/keep players and extra maneuverability in terms of PSR. Its huge. Fear we may well just fall short and were going to need some luck. There for the taking though.

I know they're shite but Leicester were 16th when they sacked Cooper. Won 1 and on to lose 9 since.

That is genuinely mad. I think we could be 2nd on goal difference without winning at home all season. Would anyone take it?