Kid Icarus

IIRC their goalscoring records are almost identical. Obviously not that goals are the be all and end all, but I was surprised when I saw that.

FWIW his form for New Zealand is fine this season (4 goals in 4 friendlies)

I'd definitely agree if anything about his game had pace or if he was picking up injuries regularly, but I don't think being 30 and half a season of poor form is conclusive either way.

Not saying they don't, but there are plenty of examples of players getting a move and kicking on. Half of the players that have been touted for us are exactly that - Coutinho, Umtiti, Lingard, Ramsay, Dele Alli. Chris Wood is the same sort of thing over a shorter period of time, just obviously with a much lower ceiling (around a 1 in 3 striker) than those players. It's an unfashionable signing but I think it's a smart move.

Some selective pessimism going on in here I think, understandably so, but look at his goal stats in the 3 seasons before this one and ask yourself whether you'd be judging an out of form player higher up the table on their current poor form, or their good form just before it. Transfers and loans are notorious for improving players, no reason that can't be the case with Wood.

It's a release clause

I think you have to price in the weakening Burnley part of the deal like. I'd be totally agreeing with it being a ridiculous fee if Burnley were relatively safe, but with them being a direct rival it's potentially worth £25m before you even get onto how he could positively affect us.

Regardless of whether he's a success or not, he either weakens Burnley or, if you're of the opinion that they base their entire style around him, upsets that style of play. And that's all in the cost of his fee imo.

Christ, I'd forgotten all about that.

There's nothing more Newcastle-in-January than getting held over the barrell for a deal we're not even enthusiastic about

Sounds like it's been mastered by Rick Rubin

I'm asking with Murphy and ASM being the even worse alternatives in mind, rather than us not needing or striker, obviously we do.

Gayle not likely to be back?

When he got his 5 in 13 under Roeder he was actually really decent. Typical Shola that his best form for us was when he was at his most fucked physically and he did it while needing a hip operation.

At the moment we're up to 0:43 to 1:43 in my forced Pretty Woman shopping scene analogy that I'll be sticking with for the rest of the window.

A different club in a different situation buying different players. Udinese are also a partnered club with Watford. Maybe you should tell us how it works? Even then, how does 'get signings in before the window opens' join up with clubs wanting to get the maximum value possible? Any club wanting to do that blatantly isn't going to sell before the window opens, what you're saying contradicts itself.

None of this adds up with 'just get it done before the window opens' because the same 'sell them at the highest value' theory applies regardless.

Shaw must need a rest or something, he was arguably player of the tournament just over 6 months ago.

Wasn't it just a week or two ago where the rationale for NOT giving penalties for blocks like that was that the player was nowhere near the ball?

Man United being so naturally unlikeable that they're making me want Villa to win.

I would absolutely fucking love him here. Loveable prick.

As usual 'look at this again' means 'change the decision and find a reason'. Bullshit decision

Well that's exactly it. That's the point some of us were making, that that could be what's potentially affecting him, rather than him being a bad player or anything