Shadow Puppets

Downie and Craig Hope

£35m is an extraordinary fee for him like. Theres clearly a decent player in there somewhere… good technique… but nothing at all to suggest he’ll ever be any more than a mid table PL player. £68m (if true) for two players who’ve made zero or next to no impact for us is pretty incredible to be honest 😂

No, that’s not how it works.

It’s not financially irresponsible… it’s pushing things to the limits of the rules to allow yourself to compete, knowing full well (as Eales and co have told us), that to stay within rules you have to sell at some point.

Above his station, billy big bollocks, let’s just say. I’ve witnessed it once myself too, during a shirt signing with a young lad. I’m not saying that’s why we are selling him (I’m sure as a player Eddie won’t want to be losing him)… just that I could potentially see that pushing him higher in the pile of potentially expendable considering we have a pretty strict policy on attitude these days.

Can’t say I’m too bothered about Anderson leaving. He’s a decent young player but hasn’t shown anywhere near enough for me to think he’s going to be any better than a Longstaff long term. I think I mentioned this a couple of months ago, but there have been one or two question marks over his attitude from people within the club, so I’m not overly surprised he’s seen as potentially expendable. Wish him well though. Sucks that we even have to entertain all this to be honest.

Without wanting to speculate, his body was spasming as if a very bad spine / neck injury. Hope to god he’s ok, poor lad.

I know for a fact that earlier in the season, when he was getting a lot of stick, he decided that his time here was up. The criticism is/was really getting to him. So I’d say it’s pretty likely he’ll leave if a semi decent offer comes in.

Went into town earlier to see the kit in the flesh. Meh... the top half is absolutely lovely... I just can't see past those little wing things on either side that make the outer stripes look crooked. Love all the training gear and extra stuff though.

Haha, class. Spotted a few very familiar faces in the crew 😁

Just realised (late to the game) that the website has been updated. Wow... it's spectacularly shit 🤣

I was, very briefly, shown a photo of the home shirt worn by Tonali today. The actual one. I was also told that a few “leaks” have purposefully been put out into the world to throw people off. I think you guys are going to like it… difficult to tell from the photo I saw whether it was the same as any in this thread earlier… I was shown it for about 5 seconds and my mind didn’t really fixate on the details. But it reminded me very much of Laurent Robert era shirts. Looked really good to me.

As far as I've been told, there are no imminent plans to leave NUFC for Tripps. No offers as yet. No houses bought in other countries etc. But, purely reading between the lines, I get the impression that they are geared up of the possibility / probability of some offers coming in.

I'll ask...

He missed the Australia trip because he’s awaiting the arrival of his first child.

On my way back from the game (there for work). Absolutely fucking typical… Man City were fucking awful. Dreadful. Man Utd deserved it on the day. Sucks for us, but I can’t say I’m that bothered about missing out on trips to Latvia and co. Would have been gutted if it was Europa we were missing out on though.

Hi Will ?

No idea. All I’ve been told is that Pope and his family expect to not be in the north east next season.

You on the drink early tonight Rod? ?

? Ok mate. Been told by the same people I am usually told stuff by (I won't specify in this thread but happy to over PM... those who know me already know my sources).

Strong possibility this guy leaves this summer, I’ve been told ?‍♂️

Not really… Eddie has already said the players who have come back from injury need easing in and aren’t fully fit.

? No there won’t man… if you believe that you clearly haven’t been paying attention to how Amanda and co want to run this club. It’s all (quite rightly) about stability and growing together. Theres is literally no other manager out there that I’d have instead of Howe… I just can’t see any logical feasible argument for him being under any pressure at all really.

I don’t think Joelinton is fit enough to start a game like. Agree on Pope though.

I don’t think we played badly at all tonight. Just shit defending for first goal + woeful goalkeeping all game + missed chances + dodgy VAR. My only criticism of Howe tonight is that Dubravka wasn’t hauled, the absolute fraud.