TK-421

Grayson distancing himself from the job now... http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sunderland-snubbed-another-managerial-target-10636251.amp

Didn't even know what that was, but turns out its just the League Cup's new sponsor.

Call me picky, but whilst I do love those '96 shirts, the lack of the Adidas stripes on the sleeves spoil those replicas IMO.

Hope its the same result as last time we played them!! Just hope they don't move it to the Monday night now.

Aye, formal approach made... gonna cost them £1m in compo http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11695/10914312/sunderland-approach-aberdeen-for-manager-derek-mcinnes

£30m after basically his first full season, in a team that finished bottom. The worlds gone mad. Wonder how much Woodman is worth then... he's just won the (u20s) World Cup, FFS!!! Hehe That'll be £30m off their debt to Short, then.

Not sure what to make of this. Whilst Ashley has been a nightmare for pretty much most of his tenure here, things seem quite 'ok' at the moment... Rafa is being allowed to make us a football club again, and we just need some funds spent on the team/squad this summer. But now this, and it just raises a load of uncertainty... AGAIN! As for them using the term 'investment', has Ashley not mentioned that before when supposedly trying to sell the club? Pretty sure I remember then saying whilst potentially selling ,they would also welcome investment in the club. So perhaps if a sale doesn't happen, then maybe some sort of outside investment could happen, with Ashley staying as owner? Just hope this doesn't detract/derail our summer plans... or if things are going to happen, then they happen quickly so we can push on and move forward!

Is the opening weekend the 12th August? Just hoping our match isn't moved to the Monday night as I'm away on holiday first 2 weeks of August, and will be at the airport to come home on the monday evening!

Looks like they now have an iron on patch for the badge too, unlike previous fully embroidered efforts. Cost cutting to the max.

from RTG... "The back even clashes with the sleeves and makes it look like there's two different shades of red going. It's like someone decided to sew half a Jackie White's carrier bag and half a Man United shirt together. It's absolutely dreadful."

The back is solid red too, no stripes at all.

I think the 'too far north' line is an easy one to use, especially for the southern press. Its not like we have a squad full of northerners... we have a few other young southern born players here who have settled fine, and could/would help Abraham settle. Would be disappointed if that is a real reason for any doubt the players has, especially in this day/age.

Bloody hell. When I saw the thread title change, I thought it was some sort of wind-up. In shock at this.... RIP, fella. :'(

Mmmm.... Mackems or Boro, then?

Guess Moyes is helping find the replacement then, with a shortlist of scotsmen. Must think its like when Fergie wanted him to take over at Man Utd.

That's him staying then.

Yet the last home shirts to have red numbers, and some of the other favoured ones from the early-mid 80s had Red numbers on the back, and Blue Star on the front of a black and white shirt. I really don't think the sponsor logo being blue is so much of an issue, TBH.

Looks brilliant with the red numbers/letters back... might have to get that shirt, like. Was it 92/93 the last time we had red numbers (Barcode shirt, before the Asics Premiership shirt)?

Aye, basically he's an upgrade on Sammy, and arguably Gouffran who will both probably be offloaded for the majority (combined) of Atsu's fee. He wont be a regular starter, unless he hits/maintains a purple patch of form, which will benefit us anyway. The fee isn't that huge in todays terms, so if he doesn't do much, I suspect we'll be able to get the bulk of the fee back if we want to move him on.

We've made an offer for Aaron Mooy, allegedly, if you believe this Australian website.. http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2017/05/16/exclusive-newcastle-palace-table-bids-maestro-mooy

According to this they got £900k for one year (2014/15)... http://www.tsmplug.com/football/premier-league-clubs-shirt-sponsorship-deals/ But other reports when their first deal was done (2010-12) talk about a 'multi-million pound deal' . EDIT: £2.5m/year according to this.. http://www.dgsw.net/fun88-agree-pounds-2-5m-burnley-shirt-deal/

Anderson didn't even seem to know we are allegedly in talks to sign him, on TS earlier. Still asking the question, if we should be thinking about signing him permanently or not. Makes you wonder what prep they do for the show??!!

Had quite a few really... but think we could get green and yellow again. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Newcastle_United/Newcastle_United-change-kits.html

Aye... if they're celebrating the history, maybe we'll get another yellow and green effort... or the maroon and blue hoops?

Interesting (if true) of players being 'offered' to us, presumably by their agents. Those players must surely be aware, and thus fairly keen to join us. Another advantage to having Rafa, and a general good feeling about the club again. Better to have players who want to join us for us to consider, than constantly chasing targets, being turned down, or failing to get anything 'over the line'.