Hughesy

Glad we got this guy instead of Tuchel.

Never heard of anyone pronouncing Waugh other than how Steve and Mark Waugh are pronounced. Learn something new every day.

I thought Touching Distance was a really good read - managed to spot myself at one of the training sessions at Maiden Castle. I didn't personally think that Living on the Volcano was that good - starts off strong, but seemed to get a bit lost in terms of what it was actually trying to say. I'd say Calvin's book on scouts is a better read personally. I've just started Inverting the Pyramid, but I suspect that that might be a bit of a slog. Still, I've got the new issue of the Blizzard to keep me going for light reading..

Useful to have a look at Rooney's tournament record against Lineker's. Lineker produced when it mattered.

In fairness, the article basically says he isn't good enough and the writer has doubts about how good he is for us.

Hadn't actually seen the tackle - was expecting something far far worse than that.

Didn't actually hear the discussion but it was being talked about on The Game podcast where Wright maintained that the two month transfer window could not be shortened to a one month transfer window as that would breach EU regulations on freedom of movement..

Think we've got a squad with some very good players in it, but some glaring deficiencies that will stop us getting close to the top 8. One of the bigger issues that I think we really need to deal with in the next transfer window(s) is the make up of the two central midfielders. Ultimately I don't think either Anita or Colback are good enough.

Can't see the logic in this. We should be looking to keep hold of Cabella and actually use him properly.

Reading a few Roma forums last season and a lot of them seemed to think he was rubbish. Still wish we'd kept him though.

aye what I hate is people who feel like they have an informed opinion on everything football related. Lost count of the number of people who don't watch Belgian football who seemed to be experts on Mitrovic and Mbemba for example. Think I've been told about by a dozen people who haven't watched a single Anderlecht game how good those signings are. "They're absolutely quality they are." I've generally responded with "Are they?" Cue more awesome 'Geordies never happy' anecdotes from The Blizzard, Pickering branch. I agree to an extent, but... I've never seen Mitrovic play (apart from a few mins of CL action here and there), but I don't think not having seen a player means you can't have an opinion on him. For example - I've been aware of Mitrovic for a while through articles online, tweets from journalists or articles in magazines such as World Soccer that would, in my opinion, allow me to say he's a good signing.

Think I'm going to have watch that. Missing seeing him play..

I don't particularly mind him getting a new contract as I am sure there is still a good player if: 1) We buy another centre half and Colo is not automatically first choice; 2) He's on less money; and 3) We sell Williamson.

I'm sure I read that as a nation we perform exactly as you'd expect us to do give factors like population, wealth etc. I want to say the book was called soccernomics or something.

I assume Watford will play Deeney and then one from Vydra and Ighalo?

Who the hell is this muppet?

I don't know how anyone can really like or rate him. I mean - he's ok. That's it. We should be aiming higher than him and that's what worries me. He'll end up becoming the first name on the teamsheet despite his obvious mediocrity.

Premiership Winners: Chelsea Runners Up: Arsenal 3rd-6th: Man City, Man Utd, Spurs, Liverpool Relegation: Bournemouth, Leicester, Watford Overachievers: Villa Underperformers: West Ham Top Goal Scorer: Costa Break Out Year: Copied someone else with Ibe. Season to Forget: Firmino or Harry Kane PFA Player of the Year: Walcott PFA Young Player of the Year: Zouma Manager of the Year: Wenger First manager to quite/be sacked/'mutual consent': Quique Flores Newcastle United Where will we finish?: 11th Top Goalscorer?: Mitrovic How will we do in the cup competitions?: QF of both How will we do in the derby games?: Win at home, draw away. Domestic Championship Promotion: Derby, Middlesbrough, Brentford Championship Relegation: Rotherham, Preston, Bolton League One Promotion: Peterborough, Swindon, Sheff Utd League One Relegation: Shrewsbury, Blackpool, Crewe, Coventry League Two Promotion: Southend, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Wycombe League Two Relegation: Mansfield, Carlisle FA Cup: Arsenal League Cup: Man City Johnstone's Paint Trophy: Peterborough Europe La Liga winner: Barcelona Serie A winner: Juventus Bundesliga winner: Bayern Champions League winner: Bayern Europa League winner: Dortmund World Player of the Year: Messi Other: How will Bournemouth fair in their first outing in the Premier League: they'll do a Burnley. When will Crystal Palace fans start to resent Alan Pardew: Never - it'll be NUFC fans fault. How many goals will Balotelli score this season: 4 How will De Jong get injured this season: 4 injuries

Going back the Champions League discussions - I'll be interested to see what happens to football worldwide in the next 10 years or so. From an English perspective, I'm not sure when the money will begin to dry up, but I'm convinced it will as more and more people realise that at the start of every season there are realistically only 4 teams (at the most) who can win the league and then about 13 teams whose only aim is to finish above 17th. The longer that goes on, people will begin to lose interest and realise that paying £50 to go and watch Norwich vs Stoke isn't worth it or paying £1000 a year to watch every PL game isn't worth it. More and more people I know (who are massive football fans) aren't bothering with Sky anymore and I can't believe there won't be a downward trend if Sky continue to put their prices up and football continues to be spread among different content providers. It might be a product of getting older, being married and having a job, but I don't watch much CL football at all now. I'm not interested in seeing the same teams play each other each year. Not sure what the viewing figures have been like over the years for CL football, but I'd be interested to know how many people watch it on BT Sport this year.

He's only had about 2 months of football full stop.

Huge amount of potential and hasn't really been given a decent run in the side. Pretty much our only midfielder who is capable of passing the ball quickly rather holding up play. Hope we either put a huge sell-on percentage clause in the sale or a price to buy him back.

Interesting article by secret footballer on Sunderland and wickham (and Pardew).

Was looking on twitter and saw this - http://whatculture.com/sport/10-strikers-who-newcastle-should-sign-instead-of-charlie-austin.php/11 Not sure how realistic half of these are, but quite like the sound of most of them in preference to Austin.

Looks brilliant.

http://www.benefoot.net/eredivisie-exports-podcast-depay-clasie-and-wijnaldums-premier-league-adventures-and-the-big-summer-moves/ About 12 minutes in, some interesting analysis on Wijnaldum.