SteV

If we make Europe, especially the CL, he absolutely has to stay.

Tbh honest, finding a quality backup for a truly elite level PL striker is extremely difficult. Spurs struggled for years, and spunked a load of money trying to do it when they had Kane. Even when they did sort it out, it was slightly fortuitous, with Son probably not brought in specifically for that role. It may be that the hybrid striker/RW route would serve us best.

Seems an appropriate time to re-post this absolute belter: https://x.com/thefootbailhub/status/1710241207752781862?s=46&t=OQLMckSuatbpqWF13Al4mQ

Payment for the second leg getting taken on Thursday (2nd) for those in the cup scheme.

Cup game in the middle

He did go off injured at half time against Spurs like. Not sure how bad?

Heavy(ish) press speculation in the past and contract up in summer. As well as the perception (rightly or wrongly) that he’d be OK being backup to Isak. Wages potentially an issue like, and the chances of it happening might have gone with the last couple of windows.

*continue to fail

He wasn’t the original source of the rumour mind, he just piggybacked on cos he’s weird like that. Still absolutely no credible source before him that I can see like.

Self-preservation. Losing a game you thought you would win is more difficult to take than losing a game you thought you would lose. So if you tell yourself you think we’ll lose (even if you don’t really think that), it’s like a comfort blanket of ‘well I thought we’d lose anyway, so not overly bothered’. Or something like that.

It did help the starving kids though

What about helping the starving kids?

Manager’s position weakened already.

Bit late for that I’m afraid.

Hard enough getting the crowds to come and watch one team in the North East, let alone splitting the support.

Ponteland-Online marra

Wait til I tell about these fans who think they’ve got a plethora of generational talents but get beat off the likes of Stoke…

https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/the-end-of-the-forum-is-nigh.1646227/

That would be the step that finally sends RTG over the edge.

Yes. So Bentancur getting himself booked in 97th minute today, and being suspended for our game against them is even funnier.

Bentancur’s banned against us for 5 yellows.

He’s probably right, and not sure there’s a club in world football that can afford him save for making a substantial sale(s).

Indeed. But more than happy to take a 1-0 courtesy of an OG off Maguire’s arse.

Theoretically there’s quite a sum of wages coming off the books in the summer. Out of contract you’ve got Wilson, Dubravka, Lascelles, Lewis, Schar and Kraft. Now Schar and Kraft might sign extensions, but with the other four you’re probably clearing at least £150k p/w. Obviously if we’re going to improve the squad with their replacements, it’ll likely cost a fair bit more, but hopefully it at least gives some wiggle room.