mighty__mag

It's over.

Who can spend all week teaching a team to be utter shit. It's remarkable.

Harsh, the ? has never been much of a nuisance.

Boom

Palace piling it on.

It's absolutely pathetic, how they'll move on players nobody wants I'll never know. Saudi or bust.

This has shown for a while now. The odd one or two who aren't key players try just in case they get selected again. Appears like many can't be arsed. He's losing the dressing room?

C'mon don't spoil the fun.

I should be looking forward to it then. Casamiro at CB will be beautiful with Gordon's pace.

Will we be this fortunate with your defense when we meet?

Personally think we're getting one over on Man Utd, I'd bring him here as head of recruitment, and still bring in a sporting director to work alongside him. Pretty much what they wanted to do with Freedman and Ashworth. Freedman and Mitchell Forgot about Nixon, can we have two head of recruitment? Head and Deputy head of recruitment

Fair enough, but surely you can see its less to do with him going out and buying a load of tall boys, and more to do with him converting players to be adaptable in various roles. People think its genius that all these players can do all this stuff, and that players can only play one role etc. but, the same way Pep has asked his players to play fullback midfield Centre back, it's not much different to Joelinton transforming from striker to CM, he could even play CDM for me Joe, absolute monster. People might laugh but I think Livramento could play right mid ahead of Trippier but with the ability to cover him and vice versa, but obviously Howe doesn't see it like that. Each manager has their own methods, I'm definitely a believer in this trying players in other roles and having hybrids, Peps certainly made that obvious.

I'll be so annoyed if Palace turned it on for us, and then don't put that same mentality in for these tonight, history says we've never finished a season above Man Utd, but with bald hag, and this side being their worst in history, I hope we finish above them.

Real Madrid: Fran Garcia/Vasques/Carvajal Leverkusen: Frimpong/Grimaldo Inter: DiMarco Liverpool: Robertson/Trent Just thinking of a few of the great shorter fullbacks around, take the point about big or small, what you need is adaptation, and choice, but I wouldn't just convert Akanji and Ake to fullbacks, its not what Pep has done at all, even Gvardiol, they're all traditional CBs Pep wants them all to be comfortable in covering all defensive positions, over time even Walker became a hybrid, used to be traditional RB but slots in at CB, I don't think for Pep it's a height thing, it's having a back four confident in switching and covering, even stones dropping into the middle, same with Rico Lewis covers fullback,midfield, Pep wants players who do everything well, and are adaptable. For us we've not just shelled out on two young fullbacks that aren't over 6ft for nothing, Burn is versatile, but in no way shape or form he's a proper LB in the way we play, he's done extremely well considering, his recent stints covering CB make him look a lot more comfortable, if we did have the option of taller fullbacks, you'd have to consider Antonee Robinson of Fulham over 6ft and plays like a fullback, rapid and up and down, Lloyd Kelly also started his career at fullback with Bristol, as did Tyrone Mings at Ipswich, Kelly is quite similar to Mings. Don't really think it's a major thing and that everyone needs to mimic Pep or Arteta, as Arsenal would rip your hand off for Frimpong and Grimaldo. I do believe Pep uses many of his players as hybrids, and expects them to slot in where needed. My opinion for what it's worth.

We should be targeting players with potential who will flourish under Howe, young talent that can grow into the side or be profitable. Antonio Nusa of Brugge, see teams like Brentford being linked in January for €25m but then holding off until the summer, we should be all over that, he's got huge potential. Likewise with this Dean Huijsen, Hope we're braver on youth than in the past, much rather see us target talent with potential, than paying over the odds for squad fillers, or relegated teams wantaways.

Couldn't think of anything worse.

@PauloGeordio You're his biggest fan

Last season he managed to play the majority of the season cracking in 18 goals, this season he's had a few niggles and the odd weird injury the pectoral recently. He's still better than half the Premier league strikers, if you were to go through each teams main strikers he's probably better than most even playing half a season. I could see him at West Ham, better than Antonio, but also pals with Antonio, Bowen/Kudus would be a huge help to him, and if Paqueta ends up going for a few quid, West Ham would be in the market to buy again. I think many sides would be in for Callum Wilson, exceptional finisher, and poacher, just needs to stay on the right side of injury. I also wouldn't begrudge him staying on with us and playing a more conservative role, he's not got to be second in our goal charts for nothing.

Wyness claimed that Newcastle are close to breaking financial rules but are not expected to be deducted points or demoted. He said: “I think Newcastle are right on the edge of the FFP regulations. “I believe they’re going to be just about okay. “Newcastle should have done better commercially in the last year, especially since they were in the Champions League. “They could have been more aggressive with sponsorship and other revenue streams. Not heard much about us being in breach by any amount either?

They've been a bit of a weird side this season Brighton, they started off well, absolutely battered us down there, and you would assume Ferguson was going to have the breakthrough season after hitting that Hattrick totalling 4 with a goal in their opening game at home to Luton, after 15 starts and 12 sub appearances (27) he only managed 2 more goals. There was talk he was the next Harry Kane? Without singling out Ferguson a few have gone through similar periods, but it seems De Zerbi likes to mess with the team a fair bit. Their first six matches lost only one and won five all by three or more goals, since that brilliant early form, they've been unsettled most of the season, unable to put a string of wins together like they did early on. (They did have four home games in their first six)

Yeah, it turns out he has? He was mentioned but a whole host of sides were interested, I guess nobody will be in for him then. That must have happened recently?

Assan Ouédraogo (17yrs) Shalke 04 Various clubs have sent scouts to watch him including Newcastle Rumoured 15m release clause. We are looking at Europe's elite youth talent including Roony Bardghji of Copenhagen, and Sweden, hopefully Isak has a word with Roony....... We missed out on the last Rooney ?

Been a great servant, don't want to really bash him, also he's apparently instrumental in supporting the new and younger players adapting and transitioning to the first team. Could see him with a role here in the future, Elliott Anderson, Anthony Gordon and Sean Longstaff speak very highly of Matt Ritchie.