Whitley mag

I don’t mind the Casey kid he doesn’t seem to take himself to seriously and has a laugh with it.

Small concourse’s, shit atmosphere, poor views from level 7, just some of the reasons why a new stadium is the better option. Nobody will convince me sticking another tier on the Gallowgate End beats a new purpose built stadium a few hundred yards up the road.

Romeo Lavia is a Twitter itk link this afternoon, would be a very good signing and certainly fit the profile.

Newcastle United’s chief scout Steve Nickson has been spotted taking in Real Valladolid’s clash with Real Madrid as they eye up a move for highly rated youngster Iván Fresneda. That’s according to Marca, who cover the chief scout’s visit to Spain and the potential bid that Newcastle may make for the defender. The newspaper explains that Fresneda ‘did not disappoint’ against the La Liga champions and showed a ‘fluency unbefitting’ of a player who is only 18 years old. Real Valladolid are aware of the growing interest in him and have already tied their prospect to a deal with a €30m release clause. That would increase to €45m if they received and rejected a proposal of more than €10m. A move from one of a number of sides in Europe is a ‘reality’, though, and Newcastle are one of the ones readying a bid. Marca spotted Nickson at the game against Real Madrid, where he was accompanied by Fresneda’s agent Luis Bardají. They are the ‘most willing’ to make a financial offer for the player and it would initially be worth around €10m with the possibility of reaching €15m. There is also an idea to leave him on loan until the end of this season. That bid is yet to be made but there is a growing sense that Newcastle will make it at some point and try to get ahead of the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Borussia Dortmund and Rennes in the race.

The return fixture might be a bit tasty down there.

Chelsea have just appointed Christian Vivell who was at one of the RedBull clubs and apparently unearthed a lot of talent. If memory serves me right they also took the chief scout from Brighton, who probably would take a lot of the credit alongside Ashworth for their success. They seem to be all over the best young talent at the minute and the type of players we’re interested in. I actually think they’re going about it the right way and would imagine Potter is much better working with young and hungry players. At the end of the day though how fucking good does it feel to be talking about Chelsea. There’s more than enough good players out there and I’m sure with our setup we’ll having a cracking team in place to compete with this lot going forward.

Levy’s worst nightmare coming true no CL football, let’s hope we get one of the places to really upset the cunt.

Seen another young Brazilia mentioned on Twitter the other day as someone we are actively looking at Victor Roque. Chelsea unsurprisingly have also been heavily linked with him recently.

Be surprised if we got hammered but it’s a tough ask to get anything here. No reason to think we won’t turn up as this hasn’t really happened under Howe, I think we’ll have to shit house our way to victory here though and really try to disrupt their rhythm.

Get Kone and Ashby it will be a great window. Remove any need to play Shelvey for 2 games and him getting an extended 12 month contract. We need to be ruthless with FFP and would imagine Shelvey’s on a canny whack.

SJP just isn’t conducive to a sustained atmosphere in its current guise, no singing end and poor acoustics from the redevelopment. You’ll always get the odd game where it’s rocking but that’s usually due to the occasion or what’s happening on pitch. For all Wor Flags has improved the match day experience, it doesn’t replace constant ongoing vocal backing during the game. The only thing that will improve the current atmosphere is safe standing during the summer and using it as an opportunity to get 5k fans who want to stand and sing together.

If you can’t win don’t get beat simple as. Leeds did Liverpool late on at Anfield after all, 4 points over holiday period is a massive step up for us on recent years.

Great thread on the younger Thuram who we’ve been linked with, be more than happy with this lad or Kone.

Already accepted I’m paying through the nose for Club Wembley if we make it.

Yeah we’ve always sung it for a long time but not sure it warrants a pre and post match sing a long. The after match celebrations have become predictable and the PA just drowns out the crowd. Times have changed but a big gripe of mine is that we barely sing the Blaydon Races or any version of Howay The Lads anymore. In my opinion there was nothing more powerful when getting behind the lads as a slowly sang Howay The Lads. We always moan about the songbook and generic shite, but we actually have some simple old classics that would greatly improve the vocal support offered.

Just to save you spoiling your new xmas socks.

Tony Transferasaurus reckons we’ve matched the release clause this afternoon.

If PIF decide to go all in this window and FFP allows it I wouldn’t be surprised if we did make a move for Enzo Fernandez, much will depend on who’s got the best part of 100 million to spend this Jan. It may sound fanciful but the stars could align on a deal like this as don’t see Madrid, Mancs or scousers paying that for him this window. They may all be keeping their powder dry for a run at Bellingham in the summer. Who else bar the above clubs could afford him at the minute. He fits the profile and PIF may see him as poster signing after the World Cup. A more likely outcome I feel is someone like Kone from Gladbach arriving alongside a couple of wonder kids from South America. This would certainly keep us moving in the right direction and allow us to free up Bruno if that’s what Howe wants. Unlocking tight defences at SJP in the run in will be our biggest challenge.

Please be true imagine a midfield with Bruno and this lad. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-11576317/Benfica-fear-Saudi-backed-Newcastle-pay-Enzo-Fernandezs-105m-release-clause.html

Some old stadia around the world have kept some character, I’d even say Ibrox with its main stand red bricks has real character from the outside. I just don’t see any of that at St James’, it’s a great location and prominent but that’s not character for me. I think with a move we’re talking a 65 to 70k capacity with better concourses, increased hospitality, better views and a new stadium could definitely be built with better acoustics to keep the noise inside. The noise from Spurs single tier stand is quite impressive when they get going and reverberate’s around that stadium. It’s all preferences though as I’ve never been a big fan of St James since the 52k expansion. I compare it to the recent developments at Anfield where the stadium still feels enclosed/intimate and the atmosphere stays inside. I think the Leazes/Milburn look impressive but they killed the atmosphere in the place. The Leazes stand at 36k was just as noisy as the Gallowgate. All opinions though and if I was a betting man I think you’ll get your wish and they’ll find a way to expand St James to around 60k.

If Man U get Enzo Fernandez ahead of the scousers i know who I think will be the happiest.

Said that weeks ago on here, he wouldn’t bring anything to the table in terms of the way we play. It’s got to be a really physical midfielder like Sangare or someone to unlock a defence like Maddison if where signing a midfielder.

A few hundred yards up the road would hardly matter have Spurs really sold their soul ? I could understand if St James was like Fenway Park in Boston and had maintained its character, but let’s be honest it’s changed beyond recognition and I’m not sure it has any character at all. Yes it dominates the city sky line like we all love, but for how much longer with new developments ? An extended Gallowgate in the mirror image of the Leazes will rip any remaining atmosphere out of St Jame’s, the acoustics are fucking awful for creating noise. Level 7 sight lines aren’t favoured by a lot of folk, so not sure staying at St Jame’s and saving our history at the detriment of atmosphere and match day experience is really worth it, when the current place looks like a 3 quarters built new stadium anyway.

Yawn, everyone is entitled to their political preferences it’s a free country. It’s a donation from the club that they own in a deprived area and they are acknowledging that. Some folk can’t just accept a gesture these days it’s fucking ridiculous. Merry xmas though you miserable cunts.

The rule are different for the league cup to the FA cup, don’t think we have to give these a hefty allocation if we don’t want to. Certainly wouldn’t be giving these 7k like some teams have been given in the past. Night time game, they have a load of little scrotes that follow them and we’ll be pumped up for our biggest cup game in years.