Novocastrian

There’s a reason Plymouth Argyle have never played in the top flight.

Top 5 could be enough for CL next season, we should be targeting that. A regenerated Liverpool and Chelsea may be hard to resist but I'd be disappointed if Villa and Spurs finished above us, I know they are good teams and will also improve but so will we.

He's obviously a glass half empty type of bloke.

Compelling viewing, the club is ran so professionally now. Although Tonali was cool as a cucumber I bet he’s thinking ‘wow, these guys mean business’.

Must be able to spend a lot more than the current noises suggest unless he can play LB.

Shit Coloccini.

I’m sure the recruitment team have a few irons in the fire but at the moment this looks like one of those wildlife documentaries where the lion pride have brought down a wildebeest and those at the top of the hierarchy are feasting on the choice meat. We are waiting patiently to see what’s left over after the big boys have had their fill. We may furtively sneak in and grab a half eaten leg if we are feeling brave.

Hope we've got something up our sleeve.

Guehi is Palace’s main CB, they’d want £50m, no chance in this window.

ESL clubs also realising that FFP applies to them, might not be a bad thing in the longer term.

Agree with the person who reckoned this proposed East Stand expansion is what will be used to declare a major increase of the current stadium capacity impossible. There just doesn’t appear to be any way to increase the footprint of that stand without directly interfering with the buildings behind. I get there’s been advancements in engineering and architectural techniques but even mathematics and physics are against us here.

Up to 70k should future proof us.

Moving to Leazes Park, essentially a goal kick away from the current stadium, is close enough to our historic home to not make any discernible difference to the match day experience. Although I can be as nostalgic as the next bloke I’ve no more attachment to the current stands, which are by their very nature temporary structures, as I was to the old wooden West Stand which was there when I first went to SJP. Let’s tear it down and start again but stay in the city centre.

Would be totally underwhelmed by this. Plus I don’t rate Italians in the PL, they don’t seem to take to it.

I’m sure I bought the bar code shirt in 1990 for about £20-£25, shirts in the mid 90s around £30-35. Sizes have definitely changed over the years. I tried on my 97/98 shirt that I wore at the 98 Cup Final the other day (L) and it swamped me. In the Castore shirts I’m an XL.

Anyone ever had one of the pro shirts? I know the price is insane even for a regular shirt these days but just wondering if there’s any significant difference - bar the stick on crest.

He’s this season’s Paqueta.

Back in the day was playing football in Killingworth and heard the Bruce Springsteen concert from SJP.

ASM was the one player I really wanted to see playing with better players post-takeover. I hope he stays, he’s been inconsistent but the few highs we’ve seen dwarf most of his contemporaries.

Never bought a Wonga shirt, thought the Puma shirts were pretty awful in the main. Whilst I hate the tackiness of shonky gambling sponsors I have bought the last two Castore shirts.

Or the 357 that Jimmy Greaves scored.

Good luck to Wood, he seems like a solid bloke and there’s no doubting his commitment. I really don’t think he was an effective player for us though. His ability to hold the ball up and be that ‘target man/focal point’ was vastly overated as was his heading ability. He huffed and puffed, lots of perspiration and not much inspiration.

Championship looks tasty next season.

Bet Bruno is delighted for him. Always hoped he’d breakthrough at some point. Will be a massive buzz them travelling together. When he comes back as a full international he’ll be 2 feet taller.

Are City really ‘hoovering up the best players across the world’? They’ve got a great squad and have strength in depth but there’s plenty of great players to go around and lots of other teams have spent a lot of money. Are we ignoring the ‘Pep effect’ here?