Froggy

I did see the report, and I still can't understand where the total came from to be honest. Even still, I've added up all the fees, assuming add-ons have been maxed out, which a lot of them haven't been. No idea where the total of £1.2b for last years squad is coming from. £880m is what I got, and that includes some players from a decade ago and others who haven't played games in years or were at other clubs. Trying to suggest Jones and Bailly were part of our squad is stretching the agenda extremely thin. Had a look at your squad. I'll use the same rules as above and include all loans and add ons. I'm maybe making a massive error somewhere, but I certainly don't see where our squad cost nearly a billion pounds more than yours. It cost double yours, and we have a much higher wage bill, but we have triple your revenue. From what I can see, it's in proportion. We've also pretty much spent the same since the Saudi's came in, and the wage bill and squad cost will start to close and quickly. Please tell me where I'm wrong, as I'm usually baffled by these squad cost claims as they're always miles off the mark and seem to be taken at face value by everyone.

But if you're a Man United fan, not very shocking.

Extremely short term thinking.

I thought Bruno was on near £200k? Casemiro is our highest paid on £350k. Of course not, and thankfully there are rules in place to stop football being ruined entirely.

Why am I reading on here that Newcastle fans want Howe out and Isak sold as he's too injury prone? Are they that dense? You see the issue with your blanket statement?

It's the same amount as us and we're maxed on FFP. So who's being protected from who exactly? You could have done what Chelsea did. The reason you didn't is nothing to do with the PL rules. It's because you want to be a well run, sustainable club.

No stirring. I just always find it funny when opposition fans try to tell us how we will react. I know how we will react. £400m in two years is fairly accelerated no?

I'm telling you that won't happen. Especially if he's on gardening leave for the time suggested. He'll slip into the background as soon as he starts with us. The media attention at the minute is a bit silly. Bringing in Omar Berrada as CEO is arguably a bigger coup and very little was made of it.

He can't lose coming to us, and it's a crucial point that a lot of people are missing. Newcastle are minted now. It's only a matter of time before you're at the top. This is expected by everyone. It's seen as when and not if. On the flip side, we've been so poor for so long that if someone comes in and changes that they'll be treated like a god. If they fail, fingers will be pointed elsewhere.

What doesn't make sense? Since the Saudi's came in we've both spent around £400m have we not? That's despite us having 3x your revenue. We desperately needed a striker and midfielder last January and couldn't afford it. Had to sign Weghorst and Sabitzer on loan. We couldn't afford to buy Amrabat outright in the summer for 20 odd million and had to sign him on loan. The notion that Newcastle are hamstrung by FFP and we aren't is nonsense. We can spend £150-200m each season, which is reasonable given our turnover.

That has to be Tuchel away now. His stats are way worse than Nagelsmann's as well.

Meh. See people saying silly things like we're spawny despite us having near double their xG and missing multiple open nets. Easy to have a bit of banter. This is true. To think you could be 13 points behind rather than just 7! hope you win the cup you beat us in though.

Round the keeper and an open goal three times and missed all three. awful finishing. Game should have been dead and buried numerous times. Good wee side Luton. You can see how they've managed to put 4 past some teams this season.

I actually met Gillespie when I was about 5 in Newry. I can't remember why. was thinking it was when a Man United XI vs Newry but that would have been a few years later in around 97/98. Still have Erik Nevlands autograph somewhere. Wonder how much that's worth? Gillespie was good for you as well was he not?

Erm... Nicky Butt? Alan Smith?? Gabriel Obertan???

Was it something I said?

I was going to say this. He's apparently mates with our new part owners. He's still going to be involved and you won't get compensation. I'd take the money now. Better for everyone involved.

I'm blaming Ashworth. It's certainly nothing to do with my arrogance.

He wouldn't get on. 5th choice CM after Scott McDominate.

It's any owner and club. It's not £300m straight into a transfer kitty.

I have absolutely no idea why.

@Scoreboard82 I haven't been to The Oval in a few years but last time there was no drinking in the stands. Two bars though and open during the game. Not the handiest from the centre. 5a bus (I think) will take you from the city centre to the ground. About 20 mins. Don't know if the Glider serves it since it came in. Shite area. I'd recommend drinking in the city before and after.

I would agree when he's at the top of his game, but the injuries are incredibly frustrating. The difference he and Martinez make is staggering.

Yeah quite easily. We're better than people think. We've been able to play our first eleven 1.5 times in the last 6 months. Villa obviously dominated the second half, with everything coming down the left hand side. You can say that's because we're shite, or you could analyse it properly and see that Luke Shaw is a huge loss and our only option was to play a centre back there who had played three mins in two months.

It's just pure luck mate.