Novocastrian

The current Membership came in around 1999/2000 IIRC. I’ve still got my original membership number. One of the selling points was to go on the season ticket waiting list. I then got a season ticket after the expansion to 52k.

Didn’t we bid circa £80m for Kvara a couple of weeks ago?

I get a bit nervous when Burn is on the ball but in fairness to him as a defender he’s more than adequate. I’m surprised he wasn’t exposed more often last season but he largely held his own even against the speedsters and Saka’s etc. It’s going forward where I think Burn’s shortcomings lie. We need an energetic, over-lapping LB to complement the threat down the right.

Yes, even if someone came in tomorrow they are going to miss the first 3-4 games at least. This isn’t Bruce ball, they aren’t getting thrown straight in.

Fifth this season with, touch wood’ CL qualification would be a fantastic achievement. Then we bring in another 3/4 purples and establish ourselves in the top 4.

Either way you want but if we are including Shearer’s 23 Div 1 goals then we need to include Greaves’ 357. Kane still miles off.

Checked, in the 2002/2003 season we were unbeaten in the immediate PL game after a CL fixture. That’s two rounds of groups plus a preliminary fixture - 14 CL games in total. We had two draws in the following PL game an won the rest of the fixtures.

Might be imagining it but I’m sure last time we played CL we had an excellent record of winning the following PL games. Just a recollection that might not be grounded in reality. Point is, CL doesn’t automatically mean a PL drop off.

And some people want him to start using his right foot!

I would think he’s on the ‘list’ of players profiled for different positions and with the right characteristics. We are told even ‘unobtainable’ players like Rice have been profiled. He was excellent the season before his injury. He was probably thought of as unavailable but Saints relegation and concerns over his injury have changed the situation. I’m sure the club believe in a couple of years he could be £50-60m player so even at £30m we are still sniffing around at what could be a great opportunity.

£6m - feel quite confident that with some creative accounting and the sleight of hand that is amortisation we will be able to cover Chiesa, Todibo, Kvaradona and one of those Brazilian wonder kids (the ones that aren't going to Chelsea).

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.