Hughesy

Certainly agree that there are deals to be had out there. You only need to look at last summer to see examples of good scouting that has paid off: Ousmane Dembele - 12.75m Naby Keita - 12.75m Mo Salah - 12.75m Wanyama - 12m Redmond - 11m Guerreiro - 10m Dzeko - 9m Rudiger - 7m Not saying we could attract players of that ilk necessarily - but 70-100m can take you a long way if spent sensibly.

Get in!!

Would be absolutely insane to pass up the chance to get Abraham on loan.

Would pass on the current version of Bony I think - just doesn't look the same player now.

How did Davinson Sanchez and Riedewald play? Always read quite good things about them, but never really seen them play. They the two centre backs? I thought they looked pretty raw still. Both were OK but their positioning left a long to be desired at times. The two full back were both superb though although predominately from an attacking POV. I think Riedewald can play centre half but was playing left back? I think it's the 17 year old kid at centre half with Sanchez - de Ligt?

How did Davinson Sanchez and Riedewald play? Always read quite good things about them, but never really seen them play.

Fair enough - looks like Costa was potentially going to leave Atletico in the summer of 2011 to Besiktas but it fell through, so maybe he meant then?

Just listening to one of those Graham Hunter podcasts and he mentions that after the sale of Carroll, Pardew asked him about potential strikers to sign in Spain to replace him and Hunter recommended looking at Diego Costa who was at Valladolid at the time. Wasn't clear what Pardew did with this information but thought it was mildly interesting.

How is that not a red??

What a hit.

Whittingham doesn't have the physique of an athlete..

Wow.

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/endendevertraege Nothing that promising..

They seem very upset on their forum that they aren't getting enough attention.

Maybe football isn't the sport for you. Says the fella who loved the pardew era. You know what I mean though... your club has had a successful season under the best manager in recent memory. Have to enjoy it a bit surely. Otherwise what will you enjoy? I'll enjoy being back in the premier, and constructing a decent team. What we've got now is s**** and could have easily gone the other way relying on a couple of key players and some lucky results. Basically it was all a little bit too close for comfort second half of the season. I've relaxed ten fold since our 3rd last night. We've also had some dreadful refereeing decisions that have directly affected games and lost games we should have comfortably won on the balance of play. That's football..

Interesting speculation regarding a potential takeover in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/apr/25/newcastle-premier-league-mike-ashley-rafael-benitez

That wasn't exactly an easy chance - he only had the keeper and two defenders on the line to beat on a header from about 15 yards where he had to generate all the power himself... I mean - at least criticise him for chances he should be scoring.

He really makes a huge difference to our team - we'd have been up long ago if he'd stayed fit. Each time I see him, I'm more and more impressed by his attacking drive as well.

I've enjoyed it - but I'm relieved to be out of it and sincerely hope we never return.

Is the money for getting in the Champions League even that significant now compared to the PL? I thought I read an article recently saying it's not even that important now, but could be way off.

Get in - like winning, but really couldn't have coped with another season in the Championship.

Hayden makes such a huge difference.

What a brilliant double by Perez. Better than Stockdale's.

Great save by their player.

Haven't been anywhere near as bad as people are making out.