Novocastrian

Just tell him he’ll be challenging for the No1 shirt straight away. John Ruddy has left.

We don’t do hand ball now then?

Exactly. Which is why transfer failures at our club should possibly lead to a bit more introspection. The failures last summer may take several windows to correct and may also result in the sale of key ‘purples’.

Doesn’t matter what your budget is, over £100m on Wissa and Elanga is scandalous. At times, we’ve had Wissa, Elanga, Ramsey and Woltemade on the bench at the same time. Over £200m + sat watching. That’s on the manager not on our budget.

Yet he got both. Who knows what went on with Howe, I’m sure Gordon must have had reassurances about his England place or he would have kicked off.

100%

He’s very career focused, no doubt about it. Wonder if he’ll ever be truly celebrated by a fan base though. You can’t really get much bigger than Barca so it’s downhill after this.

Not sure what to think about Gordon and he’s a player I liked from the outset. He can be effective but he can also be extremely one dimensional, he’s can bust a gut but can also look like he’s dialling it in. Watching him try to connect with a cross is sometimes baffling. I’m sure we’ll miss the version of him that’s interested but his reputation is probably ahead of his overall effectiveness at the moment. Great move for him though.

This wasn’t in the brochure when we were purchased by the richest sovereign wealth fund in the world. Getting our best players picked off by ESL6 flotsam.

There’s not many goals in the squad as it is without selling Barnes.

Not really fair to include Ashley seasons.

This cunt touched the ball yet?

One of those games where I’m not sure who is supposed to be playing where. Never a good sign.

Thirteen minutes of the season left and he brings on Neave.

I’m a right miserable bastard who would moan if I won the lottery. The new shirt is growing on me, I remember the pre-internet brouhaha around the ‘thick and thin’ 91-93 kit. Every now and again it’s ok to go a bit off piste. If we have a cracking season it’ll be considered a classic.