Shadow Puppets

He’s made A LOT of people very angry behind the scenes, I’m hearing 🙄😬

There’s active work happening on the current training ground right now, and an entire new section being built imminently once planning permission is passed. I’m not sure why it matters whether it’s improving the current training ground vs building a new one… there’s still work being done to improve things so I don’t buy the argument that things aren’t happening behind the scenes at all. And as I said yesterday, contractors have been quoting for work on the new training ground and stadium over the last few months and hospitality staff have been shown designs for the new stadium recently, so things ARE happening… just maybe not as fast as some people would hope.

Disillusioned with the project is very different to wanting to leave to further his chances of silverware / money.

The thing I don’t understand with this, was as recently as end of June Alex was one of a number of players advising Elanga on joining us and singing our praises. It all seems out of character to what I’ve experienced from him. It still feels to me that it’s all agent driven.

That is exactly the reason why I hate Craig Hope. All of that is conjecture, and is purposefully being “reported” that way in order to stir the fanbase. Just like last season when he claimed Trippier was flying home from New York to push through the Bayern transfer. Absolute bullshit (from very close to Tripps). Just like last season when he claimed Gordon wanted out. Absolute bullshit (from the horses mouth). There’s zero evidence that Isak is even disillusioned with the project, let alone other players. Any that I’ve had contact with over the last few months have been nothing but loving life. I find it very hard to believe there’s some big uprising going on behind the scenes.

https://youtu.be/v_FT9ny_RgM?si=Y-gjNpfo5xhvMwq_

Well yeah… 😁 have you seen the state of our match threads? Absolutely embarrassing stuff most weeks.

Because Man Utd may or may not have sent a delegation to Germany to negotiate for a player we may or may not be in for, and said player who we may or may not be in for may or may not prefer them to us.

Bingo 👍🏻

Here’s an idea… why not just wait and see where we end up. Its absolutely pointless getting worked up over every tiny update on every thread, as if everything is always gospel. Just see how it plays out, then judge it with the squad we have come the start of the season / the end of the window. The catastrophizing in every thread is even more tedious to read than the updates.

Anyone got a working link? The NUFC one is down.

I mean, that doesn’t seem likely at all to me. Maybe his agent has been pushing that, but any interactions I’ve ever had with him or other players have painted a very very happy camp behind the scenes. And it doesn’t line up at all with his own public comments or Eddie’s public comments. I don’t think we’d be in this position right now if we’d known he wanted to leave all along.

I have no idea on the names of the company. One of the lads I play football with runs a company that’s been asked to quote for a fit out, specifically of the kitchen and hospitality areas of both the new training ground and new stadium (and are actively competing to win those contracts, when they happen). I don’t know him well enough to know the name of the company (or think to ask). I assume that means that designs are in place for both but don’t know for sure 🤷‍♂️ Also, on the stadium front, I know for sure that the hospitality team were treated to artist impressions and designs for the new stadium back in March, pre cup final. Not sure whether they were final designs or just concepts though.

What do you mean by “haven’t done anything”? They’ve got plans and been getting quotes from contractors for months. The training ground and stadium will happen, I don’t have any doubt. The speed is frustrating, but the work is still happening.

Happy to place a bet on a minimum of 3 players arriving by the end of the window. I’d agree, if it ends like this it’ll be a poor window, but it won’t end like this.

Take a step back. It’s really not that bad. Once the Isak situation is resolved one way or another it’ll be fine 👍🏻

It’s really not. And I’m still convinced we get at least another 3-4 players in.

New. It’s no secret that the club are actively pricing elements of the fit out of a new stadium with local and national contractors.

Completely agree. Things are really frustrating at the moment, but sensationalising the situation is pointless and inaccurate.

It will. I know people who are currently quoting for parts of the fit out. When… fuck knows? But it’s definitely all still rumbling on in the background.

Eddie said in his press conference that there obviously is a need to get a new CEO and Sporting Director, but reiterated that it must be the right appointment for the long term future of the club and reiterated that that can take time. He also denied that the lack of those people has had much effect on our transfer dealings so far… he said that the state of the transfer window and market conditions have been the major stumbling blocks… not the personnel involved. Obviously, he’s going to say that, but I do really think the “turmoil” behind the scenes is blown out of proportion.

I agree

I don’t think it’s “weak mentality”. It’s trying to think about what is best for the TEAM. I don’t see any scenario with him staying that ends particularly well for the team. I would rather we get an acceptable fee (we’ll have to debate what that figure is, because I do think £135m is fine, personally), and build on our squad of players who actually want to be here. Our success over the last few years has been down to Eddie and his knack of fostering an elite team spirit and mentality, even if only a handful of the players are actually elite. I’d hate for this whole situation to disrupt that when we can go on an build further.

Fair. What do you deem a fair price?

Good post… but I’m just struggling to think of any situation where a player has downed tools, then stayed at his club, and everything to have been fine afterwards. It might make us look strong to the football world, but does it actually help the team? I dunno 🤷‍♂️