ponsaelius

Not a bad shout, hadn't realised he was so prolific last year and thought he was older than 25 tbh. Still think there's better out there but he'd be a massive upgrade on Wood.

Did think that might be the case that a lot of players won't go on the tour to Austria.

Obviously I'm not sad enough to bother with it on a July saturday afternoon, but are the club live streaming the Gateshead friendly? I'm guessing not.

Most inevitable transfer trajectory ever that.

Might be a case of getting Broja in on loan first before we commit more money on a wide player. Or if loan options dry up - then we instead look at two permanent options at 25-30 each.

Leverkusen got 72 million for Havertz and 28 million for Bailey. Somewhere in the middle of those fees seems about right.

He obviously will go for a lot more than 10 million if they did sell.

In the short term Almiron might be considered as the 6th midfielder - switching to a slightly more advanced role in the 3. Or against bigger teams we'd revert to a back 5 like against Chelsea. I think signing a midfielder will actually depend on shifting players in other positions for £ and if it did happen would be later in the window.

Quite liked the idea of Woolsington Hall but that site probably has a more barriers both in planning and ownership terms. The Parklands land is already in Reuben's sphere of influence IIRC.

They'll both more or less sell out but it will be much closer to the day when they do IMO.

book.nufc.co.uk

To be honest my main issue with the pricing is the fact you're going to get two different teams on the two days. Either 1st XI and then second string, or a mix of the two across both games. At least with a single friendly before the season starts you know you're going to be watching the full team.

He's got two years left. Leave it for now IMO.

Nevermind taking a pay cut, I honestly don't think some players would be hugely keen to move even if we subsidised a % of their wages so there is no take home loss to their salaries. Gayle is contracted for another 2 years until he's 34. He can come in and train at a PL club and then go home and see his wife and kids every day who are settled here. If he goes out on loan, unless it is to Boro, he probably has to move down to wherever he's going and rent a place. If he moves permanently it would need to be on a long contract (more than 2 years) to justify it and then you need to be convinced of moving your family to said place. Obviously most players like a really playing football matches but also it's a job and at this point of their careers their families possibly take priority. Players with 1 year left might take the chance to go away and prove themselves so they can then earn another contract afterwards up to 34/35/36 or move permanent if a longer contract is on the table from the buying club. But either way they're probably set for life financially regardless so you can see why this becomes much more nuanced than fans think it is. Ultimately the blame lies at the previous owners for handing out these contracts - because they didn't want to pay transfer fees for upgrades as there was no desire to develop the team forward.

Based off the timemarks in the description it must be about 27th minute

Gayle's contract is until 2024

It's gone very quiet on outgoings. I think we're going to have a real challenge shifting players on. The players we need to shift are all on PL wages but in many cases are of Championship quality. You're not going to get fees for players like that. Particularly when every potential buyer knows you want rid. So therefore in many cases it's going to be a case of subsidising wages to loan them out or subsidise their wages for sales. However in a lot cases the likes of Gayle, Clark, Darlow, Fernandez etc have been here years and are settled in the NE. In their early 30s now they have young families with kids starting school. You have to convince them to go and play elsewhere or move away permanently. It requires motivation to want to go and play every week and uprooting their routines or families to do so. For no financial benefit will they do so? If you have a permanent contract here why move on? Instead come in and train near your settled home and get paid. There's also an outside chance you make the final 25 if you hang around right until the last day so there's reduced motivation to push for a move Asap. The ones that will move on are those still wanting to progress in their careers (e.g. Woodman) or who have long expressed an interest in moving back further south (e.g. Hayden). Our isolated location works against us here too. There isn't any other PL clubs nearby - and only Boro have the financial potential to take on some of the deadwood. If you're a PL club in London there's a whole host of clubs you could dump players on without uprooting those players lives.

Diaby would be an incredible statement signing, perfect for what we need, and at a great age. Still think it's a long shot for us right now but would be absolutely ideal.

Disagree tbh. Wide player would be my #1 signing.

Would be disappointed in Lingard signing. Think we really need to be looking at a younger profile of players.

2020/21 Man United scored 73 league goals and finished 2nd. With Ronaldo 2021/22 they scored 56 and finished 6th. So the 'where would they be without Ronaldo's goals' is obviously deeply misguided. This is groundhog day with discussing Ronaldo at Juve last summer. A team built around and to serve a singular goalscorer who doesn't press from the front. It's hardly a criticism of the player to point this out so I can't understand why the fanboys get so defensive. He's 37 ffs - it's understandable that there is limitations.

Ronaldo to Bayern to replace Lewa. Leipzig to deliver the title.

Ronaldo's trick at the moment is to go to a club, the team get worse, then he whinges to leave cos they're crap.

Leeds hiring and signing a few too many Americans. Makes relegation more likely as they don't understand it.