Coffee_Johnny

He’s played for England through all age groups, played 37 games for Howe’s Bournemouth, and played 78 times for Arsenal, plus he’s six years younger. That’s it; that’s all I have got.

Neither could David James. Both cracking keepers though.

What makes you so certain? I mean beyond recent disappointments?

Nobody can seriously believe that Sunderland would be a more attractive option than Newcastle. I mean it has to be a wind up. Regardless of lifestyle opportunities, regional capital vs whatever they are, do you want to join a club in the same part of the world which has finished 4th, 7th and 5th in the last three seasons, won a major trophy last year and will play in the Champions League, or one which has finished 26th, 36th, and 24th (in the English leagues) and had a recent documentary on Netflix?

Confidence level varies, 100% we’ll have two strikers (as well as Osula, Neave etc). If I had to pick a number then, 70% certain we’ll add CB, CM, and GK to that.

We won’t. There will be two strikers above them in the pecking order. A CB a CM and hopefully a goalkeeper too.

Wish list: Šeško or Watkins Wissa Gallagher Scalvini or Guehi Mamardashvili (Farewell, ish, Alex).

Quite possible that we have a couple of deals teed up which need to wait until we have resolved the striker situation. Wouldn’t be the first time that nobody has known anything until the announcement. (Trying to stop recent disappointment pushing a cloud of lingering pessimism over everything!).

Very close to scoring a beautiful header and put himself about a bit/caused problems.

What makes you so certain it isn’t a favourable move for him? Know next to nothing about RB Leipzig but assuming a move to the PL at a club playing UCL this season, and the financial implications of that, would be a marked improvement for a 22 year old.

Escorted by four Special Security Force, errr, body guards. His agent is travelling with them (in a large travel chest).

Who is commentating?

Juicy!

They possibly received a flat no from us re Isak so went for t’other. Then Isak has, again possibly, chucked the dummy.

In a fifteen year career (10 at prime level) portions of years are meaningful. Just turned 28 and about to turn 29 is still 28, but a 10% career difference.

Which I thought, because nothing else made sense, must be the reason for the Ekitike bid. If that was the case, and add to it the supposed refusal from Isak to go to Saudi (which must have predated the media coverage of it), perhaps the recent bombshell that he wants away wasn’t as much a surprise to the club as it was to us.

You know this how?

Can’t recall ever seeing him play. He’s 22 and costs a lot, and I now desperately want to him. That’s normal right? (6’ 5” and 21 in 45 for Leipzig last season; 16 in 41 for Slovenia; canny).

Could be an interesting last day; for a change.

Shame. May have missed out on some rare old times 😉

Did you stop chatting up girls first time you were blown out?

I think you’re missing the point. But fair enough.

I mean, it’s his career. He has one stab at it. He’ll want the best career he can achieve; reach the heights his potential deserves. And all that malarkey. Thing is, you can’t share the experiences he has shared with us, receive the adoration he has received from us, and not have a bond that goes way beyond any financial contract, transcends the winning of bits of metal and the meaning he probably attributes to them. We have, and by we I mean all associated with the club, been embroiled in something equivalent to being brothers in arms. Striving together against the odds. I don’t make the comparison lightly but it is the best comparison I can bring to mind. At the end of his career when he reflects upon what he has done with his talent. Considers the happiness that his football ability has brought him, what will give him the most satisfaction? It may just be that chasing success, or even worse unnecessary additional financial security, creates a shadow over whatever comes next. A shadow which comes with the benefit of hindsight, the 20:20 rear view mirror perspective that you broke something, tarnished a beautiful period of your life and for what? That extra few million that you don’t know what to do with, those extra few medals that the team would probably have won anyway? Leaving us and in difficult circumstances for whatever petty reasons seem crucial to him and his advisors now, will create hurt throughout all of us. ‘Hatred’ may be a manifestation of this hurt for some. I hope he takes a moment to consider whether the emotional cost potentially, eventually, to himself as well as teammates and fans, is worth the benefit he imagines.