ponsaelius

10 goals in 90 league games. Some boy.

He looks physically ready which is usually the biggest barrier for a young player coming through. The loan, whatever the level it was at, has given him that over 6 months. We might find out he's not ready yet and that's fine - but he looked more than good enough against Atalanta. In fact he was the pick of the bunch.

Not gonna get us much that is it really.

True. But even so I don't think it's worth selling him unless they got 60 million+ offer. They bought him for 22 and Norwich have a sell on percentage.

Not good for DCL as a lot of his game relies on physical attributes.

Tbf there's a load of players they could definitely get buyers for before Maddison if they wanted to trim the squad. And that's before you mention Fofana who seems to me to be a more likely sale with Chelsea still after a CB.

Prudhoe YC have won their first two games in NL2 1-5 and 3-0. Attendance of 260 last night is an amazing effort. Not sure I ever saw Prudhoe Town break the 50 mark when I used to go (except when they played NUFC in the seniors cup).

it appears that the North Americans are at it again

I learned during last season that fivethirtyeight is basically garbage and that bookies odds are actually more accurate.

No kids yes. Being single arguably doesn't help if it means you're paying for all bills yourself. DINKs on that kind of money each will definitely live very comfortably in Newcastle.

Yeah I mean this/last year’s Rangers side is clearly miles better than any they’ve had in the preceding decade - considering they had to start again from div 3. Personally think it’s arguably better than those sides they had from 2007-12ish too tbh. No doubt that there’s far less finances than there was in the 90s and early 2000s though.

If we don't go up to 55 million including add ons over principle regarding value then I reckon my toys are going firmly out of the pram like

Aye and he moved for £4.5 million at 29 and 2.5 million at 35. And had rather flawless appearance record. You're not going to be getting much more than those kind of fees for an average PL goalie in their 30s.

Honestly I don't think this is anywhere near as true as people make out about 'keepers. 8 years left would put him at 41-42 when he retires. That's fanciful in the extreme and only handful of world class goalies have lasted that long. Keepers can last longer and often do - but they can and do just as easily decline physically particularly with injuries in the same way outfield players do. The keepers that last into their late 30s usually only do so in becoming reserves or 3rd choice. Dubravka has had injuries and probably has 2-3 years of top football left. Considering what we paid for Pope I think 5 million would be a fair price.

Would probably value Dubravka at about 5 million based on his recent injuries and age.

Fofana to Chelsea and a new contract for JMads seems the likeliest outcome.

Nah, not for me. Perez, if he hadn't left, would have been the ideal kind of player in a transition from the Ashley era to being a flexible squad player going forward and providing continuity within the club. One of few who wouldn't have needed jettisoning over coming seasons. He would have probably, in this alternate universe, ended up being one of our record appearance makers. However he went and you shouldn't go back. We need to be signing clear upgrades which he isn't.

We tried.

I think Maddison is easily good enough for a top 6 club but for whatever reason that hasn't materialised.

I'm not a big fan of Cornet personally but if you signed Maddison and him I think you effectively resolve our immediate deficiencies in midfield, out wide and reserve CF but do so by signing two players rather than three. It would make sense on that front.

I think Howe wants him to play nominally on the right - moving inside but with Trippier offering the width and the 3rd midfielder drifting wide. A bit like how Almiron has been playing. It might be why we've been linked largely to left footed wingers too. Overall though I think it's clear the most important thing is they want quality players first and foremost and are willing to be adaptable to accommodate them.

It could still simply be that, with Schmeichel heading for the door, Maddison sees this as an opportunity to become comfortably their highest paid player - and we're being used to that end.

Couldn't believe when I read the other day that they spent £12.5 million on him. Just another example of a crazy good sale from Liverpool.

Worth noting that Norwich have a sell on clause too I think. So would eat into any sale value.

I'm still not convinced by all this like. Part of me thinks it's either contract related or trying to draw out interest from other clubs.