JP

The fact he's gone is good news purely as it signals a change of regime - rather than a celebration of the personnel leaving. Rafael Benitez FC in full flow

Is that due to football seasons or something? April 1st is usually the start of the business year. Companies have many accounting period's I think it's usual then end of the month 12 months after the company was incorporated but you can change the filing period. Potentially the reason transfers are 'on hold' at the moment, though, yes?

Is that due to football seasons or something? April 1st is usually the start of the business year. Usually to tie in with the tax year. A business can have their financial year whenever.

To add to that, with all the steps towards a takeover being taken at the moment this would certainly add to it. Signing 3 or 4 players in this financial year would make the accounts look a lot less desirable to potential stakeholders.

Just realised; the clubs financial year end is 30th June. Wouldn't surprise me if the apparent hold up in signings is due to this as we're technically still in the championship season from a financial point of view. The groundwork will be getting done, with agreements put into place and influx of signings July 1st onwards IMO.

TV revenue has increased by 2.5 times since 2015 A £6million player in 2015 would be worth £15million in 2017 going by the same increase. It makes total sense I'm getting bored of seeing fans complain 'games gone mad' while they sit watching Sky Sports News that they've paid £80 a month for to fund said transfers

Still nothing but links. Pre season starting 3rd July I'd be amazed if we haven't got at least a couple in by then. We moved quickly to get our main targets in on 1st July last year (Gayle and Ritchie). I'd imagine this year will be the same. Monday onwards I'd expect speculation to turn into concrete moves.

F**k me delighted if we sell and get anything North of 10 million. We have a chant about him being on fire and terrifying defences - haven't been able to use it justifiably more than what, twice? and that's generous. Seen people defend him with stats for creating chances/pass completion etc. He drops far too deep for the ball what do you expect? Those stats back that up perfectly. Gayle/Abraham live for goals. Scoring off their shin after a scramble makes them feel they've had a good game. We need proper 9's not someone who can produce nice lay offs on their chest once a game.

Is that a 'Tb' as in text back on the end?

Done according to George Caulkin (the man who is never wrong).

If we land him: https://twitter.com/AnfieldNation/status/869584747286102017 DA DA DA DA DA DA, TAMMY ABRAHAM

Thankyou. How are some here seeing this as a bad deal? Abraham clearly has serious talent. Chelsea are set to offer him a long term contract before he moves here on loan. His 23 championship goals are exactly what the lone striker in our system is set up to do. Watch a Gayle highlights reel from last season, plenty of scruffy inside the box type goals. Also to those turning their nose up at 'loan'. At some point in his career, Abraham is going to want to start week in week out. Will Chelsea ever want to 'risk' playing a young forward week in week out the way Poch did with Kane before he started banging them in? I'm not so sure. Which lends itself to us becoming front runners for his signature should he enjoy his time here. Personally delighted if we get him in.

Who? We'd lose every time to Monaco this summer IMO.

Mark Douglas confirming there is an interest in William Carvalho is encouraging. He'll be well sought after throughout Europe, mind.

The change in tone from last summer to now is fantastic to witness. August 2016 - The championship won't be easy, Rafa took them down and has signed a load of shite. April 2017 - NUFC promotion - Rafa has under-achieved, they should've walked that league with that squad. May 2017 - Sunderland fans worried sick about the strength and competitiveness of the championship (the league Newcastle under achieved in with automatic promotion by 10 points and possibly the title) The boot is well and truly on the other foot and I love it

Rafa talked up the April 'mini-league' a lot. He was referring to us v Hudds. So far: Newcastle P4 W2 D1 L1 7 points Hudds P4 W2 D0 L2 6 points We match their points total and we do it comfortably (with 2 games spare)

Available for Wigan

Worth noting, Hudds game in hand is GW45 - the midweek before the final day. So if we match or better Hudds result every week until GW44, we will already be promoted before their game in hand even comes into effect.

This 'home form' thing. I looked after the Brighton game and we were at the following: Home 11W 2D 4L Away 12W 2D 3L Basically the Blackburn 0-1 aside away from being identical to our (rightly said) 'incredible' away form. Back the team after the brilliant last week and I fancy us for 3 points. Gayle to start.

Hope we improve on him in summer tbh. Passion doesn't cut it for me, there's hundreds of us on here who could show plenty of passion doesn't mean we should be playing for Newcastle United under Rafa. Move him on.

Disagree with this one. It might actually help the winger that Dummett isn't attacking minded in the slightest. Overlapping full backs bring 2 defensive players over to the wing. Dummett not overlapping would leave our left winger 1 v 1 with their full back more often than that. It happens now, trouble is Gouff hasn't taken a player on all season. Atsu beating his man several times v Bristol City (was always 1 v 1 with full back). Teams do this a lot - if Martial plays wide left for Man U you'll rarely see his own left back going past him. They leave them isolated as he will always have a go at beating his man.

Comfortably motm for me. Looked a constant threat delivery on the money more often than not and THAT PASS.

I really hope roles are reversed next seaosn. If Sunderland go down, the pressure on them to come straight back up after the shit we've had all summer will be immense and I'd f***ing love it

Basically aye. Our goal difference is already worth an extra point, so plenty of 1-0's will do. A good towsing handed out is always welcome but we haven't looked like scoring significant goals in a while, even the 4-0 over Rotherham was a grind. I don't know what happened to our football from September and October, we were creating loads in some games, could have scored 8 or 9 in the Norwich home game. I've learned not to expect much I suppose Only quoting this as a reference, not a direct reply to you but to the forum as a whole. I still think we create enough to win games? (Aside from Villa on Monday night - the most recent in the memory hence the overreaction of 'we don't look like scoring'). QPR home we had so many chances to finish the game off. Looking at you Perez. Norwich away we had Mitro 1v1 after 6 mins, Mitro hitting the post, Mitro header should've scored, Ritchie underside of the bar, Shelvey not connecting cleanly from 8 yards, Perez chance even after the equaliser late one. We do still create plenty to win football matches, whilst keeping opposition chances to a minimum with our good shape behind the ball. HTL!

Reading win tonight please?