Abacus

If it's an 'option' to buy for £5m, there's no way they're taking that up for someone of his age in a year's time, so it's worthless. Unless there's a hefty loan fee. If not and if he has to go, must be plenty of Championship teams in need of a keeper, send him there with an actual fee.

Well, he came off holding the back of his thigh, which looked like a hamstring. We seem to have had a few of those now. But fine, he always seems to be hobbling about before leaping about like a gazelle, so it might be nothing. Hopefully just cramp.

Agreed that it was a stupid decision to bring him on against Tranmere, especially if he was carrying a knock after City. We've got plenty of crap players who could have been brought on instead and still have seen the game out, especially given they were determined to kick lumps out of players and that the ref was letting them.

Alternatively, he turns up at big games and before big signings, to be associated with both.

Pretty sure that despite all his other jobs as the head of the world's largest sovereign wealth fund that Yasir just went all mental-balls after Sunday. Saw the Man City game, evaluated the state of the squad, seen Wilson's injury and just yelled "Monkey Spunk! We need a striker!" He'll be keeping an eye on the central midfield conundrum too from now on, and badgering Amanda daily for an understudy to Targett at left back, and a ball-playing defensive midfielder.

Has to be Pochettino, surely?

Yeah, I do agree he did a decent job for us which I'm grateful for, and I didn't mean it as a dig at him. What I mean is that I don't really want an unhappy player in the squad, staying when he doesn't want to. Though, a part of me does feel that if he really thinks he should be No. 1 then he should back himself to prove that. But if he's not that confident and he's still unhappy, then I'd rather he moved on. There will be a few difficult calls like that I'd guess, as the squad improves.

If there's a loan fee, and a buy option, then it basically means Pope has cost us hardly anything. Even if they don't take up the buy option, you'd get at least £5m from someone else for an experienced PL keeper. It's a shame to lose him, but if he's not prepared to fight for his place then he can get gone. We just have to hope that Pope stays fit.

Hopefully we do push on and sign Pedro as well. I think we just have to treat any games we get from Wilson as a bonus, given his record. You just can't build a team around him. I think Wood gets a bit of a raw deal, but either way I suspect he'll mostly be used for cup runs and off the bench. So there is certainly scope for two strikers in case of injury, and especially if one of them actually plays more in a number 10 role. Isak may have all the attributes to succeed, but in some ways Pedro is less of a risk as well, purely due to having some PL experience already.

I hear Everton are interested

I remember it like it was yesterday. I do get the argument that the East End team were a consistent one from 1881 and just moved locations. However, I think that the act of changing the name to bring along the West End fans does in fact mean that is both symbolically and in reality the start of Newcastle United, i.e. a united Newcastle team. But I'd like to hear what Gabby Agbonlahor thinks.

Interesting article in the Times today, about plans to reduce the amount of Uefa TV money automatically going to the 'big' clubs from European TV rights. The plan from 2024 is that a decent chunk of that money (30% of it) is divided up based on a coefficient of performances from teams over the last ten years. The idea being that there is a push by various clubs to reduce that link because it is, of course, unfair to smaller clubs and entrenches the advantages of bigger ones. The example given was that if West Ham qualified for the Champions League this season, they would get £1m from that part of the TV pot. Whereas Man City, for example, would get £26.5m. And when you put it like that, of course it's unfair, and should be changed.

He means he's not sure. And he's certainly a nobody, so he's right twice.

Think he's better with the ball to feet than his head. Remember a couple of decent passes last season, at least one of which set up a goal. Anyway, he should be decent enough in the midweek cup game - wouldn't have risked Wilson there anyway. Then possibly starting away at Wolves, for Pedro to hopefully make a cameo on 60/70 minutes. All under the assumption that Wilson's scan does come back to say, as per our worst fears, that both hamstrings are wrecked, all his leg muscles have become detached from the bones, he's broken a shoulder, caught tonsillitis and developed tennis elbow.

Promotion Close... Oh no it isn't!

Most important English manager of the last ... 100 years. Deserves his chance. I imagine he'd have a pretty tough Jaffa-cake based training camp in Portugal, with players having to bring their own pool inflatables. Then again. International break, you say? With all my experience, that means it's time to put me 'out of office' on, let me tell you.

I would absolutely dread playing against him. He's everywhere! I just don't think you can get a passing rhythm going when any second he is about to burst in and make a tackle. Not sure I follow the argument about him not being comfortable on the ball - he's there to break up play and pretty much immediately lay it off. One of my highlights yesterday was the way he burst out of midfield and forced a panicked Walker to concede a corner. He is such a unique talent, I think he's invented a whole new position, as I couldn't really describe it.

Thought he was excellent yesterday and it was really welcome to have half decent cover for Targett. I didn't especially notice too many problems with him, and that's against one of the best teams on the planet. Will definitely be a decent squad player well beyond the emergency second half of last season where we mainly needed him to keep us up. He already is, in fact. Bramble (or S Taylor) are a bit more comparable to Lascelles imo, where you're just waiting for a goof or moment of madness. Might be a bit unfair on Lascelles there.

Or the funfair at Spanish City, where I vomitted a toffee apple on my brother's shoes after going on the rollercoaster. Great days. I hope Amanda and PIF are listening, we don't ask for much.

They play Stoke today. Having previously said they wouldn't want any ex Newcastle players, it'd be funny if Dwight Gayle gets off the mark with a cheeky hat-trick.

"We had a process in the second half of last year..." Bit of a pointed comment about the first half of that year, before that Bournemouth fella came in.

Agreed. How often do you hear Club X has bid £7m for Billy Footballer! They are now just awaiting a decision from Club Y, and all parties shall be happy to leak any details to the press, in the hope that all this can be played out in the media, whilst Club Y decide. Some time later; Club Y have decided to ACCEPT the offer unreservedly and with no additional demands! It's as simple as that!

I was thinking similar earlier. As a young developing player, having had a carousel of different managers with different styles in different teams already, must be night and day compared to having someone settled and methodical to coach you, in a team playing with clear instructions. And also a squad with a feel-good factor, compared being in a side heading for relegation last season and likely still reeling from it now. Hopefully we get him, and then it'll be exciting to see if he works out or not. Even if not, then he'll have been given the best possible chance at least, you'd think.

A bit of an odd time to seek minority investment for Man Utd from a pure investment point of view, given their stocks have been dropping. Also, that the club now need to spend a fortune to keep up with the very top. So maybe it's just a distraction technique by their owners, given all the unrest right now since they have lost two whole games and Ronoldmando is in a sulk. I'd be very surprised if PIF were to have any interest in being a minority shareholder, unless it's mainly a way to encourage someone like them, Dr Evil or maybe Qatar to get a toe in the door. So, come on Big Mike, it's time to cash in the wallpaper and make that dream Ashley / Glazer combo come true instead.

I find it very funny that Rabiot looks like collapsing over his wage demands. And that they have been set by his agent, who is also his mam. If you dared to drop him, I imagine she'd give you a clip round the ear at the players' parents evening as well.