HaydnNUFC

Pickford

Even with Botman out I'd be amazed if either of them are in anyone's strongest XIs, though. We've improved the squad but not the first XI. Failure to do that this window would be awfully poor.

We not edging closer and still confident?

Was after a match on BT Sport wasn't it? Says the standards at Newcastle was nowhere near those at Chelsea and Liverpool which didn't help as he was competing with Lampard and Gerrard to get into the England set up. Even though in 2001-02, the season he signed here, we finished above Chelsea. And in his first full season, 2002-03, we finished above both of them.

He's very good but his lack of ability with his feet and in ball playing is what hampers him from being one of top 3 keepers in the league. Allison is the benchmark. I think Pope is better than Ederson at actual goalkeeping but is nowhere near as good as him with his feet. Having a keeper good with the ball is key to exerting control in the most difficult of matches. But both Liverpool and Manchester City when they signed Allison and Ederson respectively made them both at the time of their signings the most expensive keepers in the world. We can't afford to spend around £35m+ on a GK atm, we have far more pressing matters in the squad. And finding a keeper as good as Pope but is also good with the ball at his feet will be really tough.

Been probably our best ever RB. Kicked off the whole thing with being our first post-takeover signing. He's still good offensively but he's been declining defensively and that's only going one way.

Can't speak for anyone else but Man Utd, a team we're competing with for European spots, sold him because he wasn't good enough for them. But more from a more tactical perspective I think he's more suited to a counter attacking team which is what Forest are. Utilising his pace to get in behind on the break. I don't think he adds anything to us on that right side that will make the difference for us to justify what Forest would want as a fee for him. I can't think of any names that I think would and are attainable right now though.

Genuinely interested in your thoughts on the window thus far Disco but this has sent me.

Disasi would be an awful addition though.

I'd say we have improved the squad, but not the first XI. I'd be amazed if Kelly, Osula or any of the keepers we signed are in anyone's strongest lineups. Interesting regarding the Ornstein tweet.

Totally disagree. Not progressing what we already have decreases our chances of getting Europe/top 6 this season given the context of the teams around us. No Europe again next season and we can probably count the transfer requests coming in from those players you've mentioned to go to those clubs at the top of food chain that do have Europe. All the whilst its been clear since July we've money to spend given the bids for Guehi. Failure to add/improve the first XI is a failure for me.

I agree but we've had since early July after resolving the PSR shite tbf. I hate being or sounding negative/misanthropic but it's not been inspiring at all, the whole window. I've doubts about us getting top 6 without signings in both of those positions and without top 6 this season I can't see us holding onto all of our better players in Isak, Bruno, Gordon and Botman next summer. Got everything crossed we get one in at the very least.

Will preface this by saying I have plenty faith that we'll do something; in summer 2022 everyone knew we needed a striker that wasn't as absent as Wilson and was better than Wood. We got Isak. 5 days before the window shut. That's what I'm clutching to. If we get one but don't get the other: RW/CB that is, I'll still be slightly disappointed tbh. We knew we lacked depth at CB going into this season after Lascelles did his ACL v West Ham way back on the 30th March. And for RW: we last signed a RW 7 years ago, it's a position that's needed upgrading for a while. If don't get either though then this window has been a failure.

First time Bruno will have ever played there, then this Sunday. Hopefully the difference this time as we seem incapable of beating even the poorest of opposition without him.

The teams that finished around us then are also stronger than their respective teams in 22-23. I'd love to think we're shoe-ins for top 6 as it stands right now but without a CB and/or RW coming in within the next 10-11 days I can't see us as such. Until then I just can't be confident about it and understand why others not connected to NUFC aren't.

New managers coming doesn't fully guarantee that there'll be a significant drop off from the clubs around us though. And it remains to be seen how Villa cope with the CL, they have a manager used to competing in European competitions. I think people/pundits have seen clubs expected to be around us; Chelsea, Man Utd, West Ham, Villa, Spurs all make signings that improve their first 11 which is something that we are yet to do with 10 days of the window left. And the persisting issues in our squad; that we are going into 2024-25, 3 years into the takeover and and our two options on the right are an almost 30 year old Jacob Murphy and a 30 year old Almirón; I don't know whether that can be put down to a lack of boldness, ruthlessness or planning. Especially given the sides that we want to be competing with. Same with Wilson still being here.

Don't think we could challenge for the league even with two good additions there but I think we'd look very, very likely to get 70pts+. Unconvinced we can if we don't. Definitely not if we don't get one, but surely we do.

We have done since they got promoted back. Were unbeaten before then. 2 wins, 2 draws. Regardless, the last time we won our first two matches of a league season? August 1997. And we started that season with 3 back to back home games. Lost the 3rd. Last time we won our first two games of a league season which were home and away? August 1995. Good lord.

Vardy. Ever a shithouse.

Would bank on Vardy to score there.

Fatawu is the only one in that Leicester 11 with a smidgen of quality.

Weekend after next, though.

Leicester look honking. Going to be a long season for them.

I like Asim, but I read the first 5 words of that tweet and immediately thought;