Froggy

He genuinely has been. Fans have been very pleased with Zirkzee's effort since the last game against Newcastle and it's annoying he got injured as he's the only other player along with Bruno that is capable of unlocking a defence. We paid £29m split over 3 years for him. Potentially a very good deal, and at this moment in time and infinitely better deal than Hojlund's.

I haven't heard anyone doubt him apart from faceless fans on the internet. Things have been improving slowly. Goals are a huge issue, and a striker in the summer is paramount, but we've become much harder to beat. Obviously that seems laughable given what happened at the weekend. But you're better than us in almost every position and were hungry in a game that was meaningless for us. I'd be expecting a totally different performance on Thursday. If we showed up and performed like that on Thursday the hope I have for the future would take a huge hit.

I honestly don't think it did if we're talking about this current Newcastle team. Ole knew how to set up to play perfect counter attacking football, but if you took any of those players and asked them to play a high intensity style like Howe's they'd fall apart.

He mentioned Bruno Fernandes mate.

Your board does a good job of moving players on before they become duds, that's for sure. We just give them a new contract.

What if Tindall is the real mastermind?

Corruption.

What about the 30 year old, third choice keeper that cost £20m and is on £50k a week? Just a PSR write off?

As per usual, I didn't start any games. I said Eriksen doesn't get near the first team, which is true, and people brought up his wage. I'm just pointing out there's poor wage decisions in every team. Our wage bills won't be far apart after this summer either. A lot of increases coming on your end and when Casemiro, Rashford, Sancho etc. leave as expected it's huge amounts off our wage bill.

If only it worked like that. Targett still getting £100k a week?

It's not even about how competitive we could potentially be, it's the financial benefits of qualifying for the CL. It's worth a fortune, and allows a lot more squad development.

Eriksen was very good in his first season and has just started to decline naturally with age. He's behind Fernandes, Casemiro, Ugarte, Mainoo and Collyer in the pecking order now but it wasn't always the case. The game meant nothing yesterday so there was no point firing in Collyer to get bullied by Joelinton and destroy his confidence. Bit different from putting in Amass vs. Murphy which was a good test for him. We'll see in the summer if INEOS have a clue what they're at.

Easily man of the match yesterday IMO.

Brilliant business by you, but the contract was the discussion. Of all the awful contracts we've handed out, £150k for Eriksen when he was signed on a free wasn't a bad one.

Would take Tonali if he's available? What a player.

He's considered that now, as he's 33 and coming to the end of his contract. You paid Lloyd Kelly £150k a week and he probably played less than Eriksen.

Fairly decent contract for Eriksen on a free transfer. Already confirmed to be leaving in the summer though.

Does he fuck.

That was basically his testimonial. He's not getting near the first 11 for the important games.

I really don't care. All I could think of during the game was "I hope we're not like this on Thursday."

So it wasn't a done deal.

There's three things here. 1) It sounds like a Norway vs. Denmark thing. 2) A goal every 204 minutes for a 19 year old in a top five league is nothing to be sniffed at. Neither is finishing as top scorer for Man United in your debut season. 3) A season or two before this you were advocating for us to sign Josh King (while also saying it was a done deal as you knew the agents dealing with it). Pinch of salt and all that.

Amass looks like a Shaw clone. Great little arse on him.

I wouldn't be so sure on that. Hojlund came in and scored 16 goals as a 19/20 year old. Aside from the first game or two, Dorgu has been absolutely rubbish. Just think it's much too early to completely write off the lad.