ponsaelius

All pretty accessible from Newcastle too. Bergamo, Düsseldorf, Paris all have direct flights. Plus Eurostar.

It's not just that. People are shelling out £55 a ticket. At least you're getting value for money for these games.

Do we know what time it actually starts?

Would definitely take a draw now if offered tbh.

He's quality mind. Most I've ever felt being wrong about a player we've signed. I probably just didn't watch Everton enough to judge him tbf because they are shite. Love his dribbling, ability to go outside or inside, and willingness to attempt incisive through balls. Really hopeful he can thrive. He's doing well on that side but I do wonder if we could get him on the right with Barnes left.

Interesting. Feels slightly like a proactive move to lock him down.

Not that year, we were a good distance behind Man United.

It's fucking annoying and we messed it up undoubtedly, but equally those were two ridiculously ruthless finishes from Nunez.

Predicting any manager will lose their job in the medium term future is basically the safest, most milquetoast football opinion it is possible to have, mind. You pretty much can't lose and it's dull as fuck. There is far, far more chance of the above happening than Eddie Howe going on to have a Fergie/Wenger/Simeone style dynasty for the next decade. That's just football.

Deserved tbh. Feel like we've lacked the maturity to kill the game off.

Shite.

Gonna be a horrible end to the game

Buzzing they didn't send him off now

Our passing is shite

Not watching but I quite liked him on comms during the World Cup.

Definitely feels like there is going to be two clear groups of teams this year top and bottom half

There's no real guarantee this is down to Ashley. Many professional football clubs have a reputation for being pretty shitty employers for those that aren't the immediate playing/coaching staff and management, often paying under the market rate for the jobs in question under the idea that people want to work in football.

Dunno if it was posted but I noticed we now have the second most expensive cheapest ticket in the league after Everton. I did think this has gone under the radar a little bit, considering how they've made bit a of a pig of ticketing in general. Obviously it doesn't tell the whole story, and it may be that other clubs only have some token cheap tickets (and an average price would maybe give a clearer idea), but still.

Pretty sure the player himself pronounces it like that. He has lived his whole life in Europe, it's not unusual for pronunciation to change and/or be assimilated into linguistic norms of that country.

At lot was made about Kane leaving being a disappointment for him, I think it's probably the opposite. He plays in much of the same spaces on the pitch. This gives him far more of a clean slate to be the main player.

Confirmed

If we're looking at Nico Williams and Antonio Silva as our big targets then they will have to be pushed down the line. Neither Benfica nor Athletic are cheap sellers so you're talking huge fees for both.

I think everybody got used to a 'starting XI' last year. I think that guides us in wanting first choice upgrades rather than improvements to the overall squad. However with the games we will be playing this year there won't be anywhere near as consistent a first XI. That will have been behind much of the recruitment decisions too.

Lascelles isn't great but I personally think he's a better PL player than Manquillo. Similarly Trippier is older than Schar if you want to look at long term squad planning. Equally I didn't think any of last seasons players are suitable as the deepest midfielder apart from Bruno which put a huge strain on him over the campaign. Tonali can definitely play there and adds quality of a similar level. While everybody was staring at RW and LB as a first choice weakness, RB and DCM were also weakspots in squad terms that will be seriously stress tested over a 50+ game season.