Infinitely Content

Apparently it's whipped people up into a frenzy online, calling it amateurish and having a go at the club's design department.

I can understand what they've tried to do, it's something along the lines of the design language embraced by the likes of Nike, eg. Virgil Abloh's shoes; where it's a somewhat brutalist/minimalist approach to typography and layout which gives centre stage to the forms of the letters themselves rather than to what is deemed unnecessary ornamentation. That said, what works in one discipline, fashion in this instance, perhaps does not always translate to another, especially when to some extent these graphics become part of the club's identity which matters so much to people. The execution of the typography is fine though, choice of font, weights and distribution across the image is all nicely done, far better than the Sussex example they've created to try and make a humorous point.

I think Isak travelled to Glasgow from Austria with the team and then went back to Newcastle yesterday.

Big fucking Joelinton.

I may be wrong, but I would just find it very surprising if it was indeed the case that the big clubs were essentially just copying our homework and signing players because Newcastle want them, thus making it difficult for us to get the players we want. From what I've been led to believe about the intricacy of scouting and analysis at Premier League clubs, that approach would feel odd in that it would negate a whole department and discipline within football.

Thinking specifically of Bruno, Tonali, Isak and Botman, do we think they were of the same 'pool' of players at the time of signing as those we've gone for this summer - namely Pedro, Ekitike, Cunha, Scalvini etc? Or perhaps were they of a tier below at that time? I feel the Elanga signing is very similar to the Gordon signing, whereas Bruno, Tonali etc had a higher reputation and were more accomplished players already. It appears we're struggling to convince our identified targets to join the club and beyond simply money I'm struggling to understand why exactly? We've a really talented team, one of the best managers around, 2 out of the last 3 years Champions League qualification, a major trophy won... Eddie Howe's comments are right in that there's a small pool of players which would genuinely improve us, but for me players of the calibre of Bruno, Tonali etc as they were at the time of arrival would absolutely improve us.

Step up, Vakhtang Salia.

First time I've sat in the home end at an away game, our fans were ridiculously loud at times in that first half. When the subs got up to start their warm up on around 40 minutes and the Tonali song hit I could literally feel my seat shuddering in the next stand along. Spectacular tbh.

Chemsdine Talbi from Brugge is the one I'm most curious. Looked decent enough in the CL last season.

A centre midfielder is a crucial signing. Willock and Miley now left to cover Joelinton, Bruno & Tonali. Particularly when both Willock and Joelinton have had recent recurring injuries. There’s a situation not too unlikely that could quickly amount to 3 fit centre midfielders, and that’s before mentioning the questionable quality of our current two midfield back up options. Far more important than a goalkeeper imo.

Ah, you're right aye. Not sure why I stored that as the final in my mind.

They beat the Spanish in the final a few years ago tbf, although Aitana Bonmati has gone up another level since then. She's exceptional.

I always say the sweetest way to win is by missing 4 penalties in a shootout.

Swedish keeper started moving in 1992 there.

Had a good look for you Discman, no luck, nyet udachi. You don't want that anyway, go with God.

I once went on a date with a Russian lass who looked just like her, I wasn't feeling it though as I'm sure she was about 5-6 hours into an MDMA session or something cause she was lowkey gurning the whole time. A bit mad.

I'm sorry like but this guy is on some hard drugs, and I'm not talking about Snoop Dogg. Granted my Italian isn't too hot, but his writing gets more and more bewildering with each passing post.

Give Carter a break, she's up against the landed gentry here. She's staring down the barrel.

Might go down to Shields town hall tomorrow morning and take it as my surname. I'm feeling the mystique.

Stina Blackstenius is an ominous name for a striker like. Gives me Salif "Black Panther" Keita vibes. I'd sack off the defending too if I were Carter.

England need to gather themselves here, rudimentary errors all over the pitch.

Overrated player imo.

Today's kits are so uninspired and spiritless imo when compared with some of the kits of old. I'd go so far as to say they're objectively poor comparatively from a design point of view. I was sat yesterday looking through a book archive of selected kits including Ipswich away 1985, Saint Etienne 1980, Peru 1982, France 1980 home & 2011 away, which are all inspired and appear crafted with care and attention. All kits I see these days feel plastic, hollow, undistinguished.

Not quite in the Ekitike, Pedro mould, I agree, but I think the key point here is genuine versatility in a forward option, one who is proficient in multiple positions. That appears to be our strategy which negates spending big on a striker whom if Isak is fit all season will not see an awful lot of game time.