Abacus

Let's ask Ralph if we can postpone the game.

No thanks

I don't even think it's click bait with Merson. When asked to assess whether Newcastle had made good signings, he basically said that would depend on whether we stayed up. I.e. he'll wait and see how well they do before offering an opinion. Thus defeating the whole point of a game which is him being asked to have an opinion on how good they are.

Merson delighted that Arsenal lost Aubameyang and have brought nobody in. He judges their transfer window a 'hit'. Honestly, it was just incoherent rambling.

Quite happy to miss out on Alli and for Everton to risk it. They just showed a clip of him sitting on the bench and just something about his sulky gob put me right off wanting him in our squad.

Merson also said that he should have been given more of a chance at Man U and was surprised he wasn't. But then said that he should stay there and fight for his place there anyway. This being despite having been given no chances and Ragnick having apparently twice confirmed he can go. He's completely thick and knows nothing.

Imagine if Chris Wood goes on the goal scoring spree of all time with assists from all over the park

I've been at a 6 for quite a while. But get these signings done, and maybe a loan (e.g. Lingard) and then, to be greedy, a centre back and that changes things a lot. You wouldn't put it past any team at the bottom to go on a surprise run and get out of it. Happens every year. But there's a much bigger chance of it being us if we do all that. Beat Everton on the 8th too and I'll be down to a 3. Maybe less.

I was absolutely furious that Fred West's patio business went bust despite the fact his crimes had nothing to do with crazy paving.

From the Athletic re Watford; Flores told The Athletic after his dismissal two seasons ago that he felt undermined by the scrutiny to which he was subjected at the training ground... he mentioned “someone taking notes while the coach is training...it’s not normal ... I have more than 500 matches as a coach, so how can he analyse me?” There's surely only one manager who could give that training ground spy complete writer's block. Come in, Mr Steve "blank page" Bruce.

Don't get suckered in, Mehrdad! Of course you're more than welcome, but we all did too and can show you the scars. After everything, really glad if they're getting some joy from this win, mind.

I listened to the match on Talksport 2. They seemed to think he was alright, especially towards the end of the game when we were trying to see the game out. Rather have him as a focal point than not, and he definitely needs time with his new teammates. Whatever, it was a decent shout just to have sent Burnley into such a flap.

Don't know either. Maybe it's that the other owners didn't sign up to those terms so can't be sued. Or maybe that she also has the management contract to run the club day to day, so makes the decisions. But agreed, I hope the hateful idiot gets stung.

Complete guesswork, but it was Stavely that he gave the loan to, and so presumably it's her that had to adhere to those conditions on that loan, not the club or the other owners. Think it's very hard to prove criticism, and that's why I'd guess it's really all about the advertising. I read something at the time (in a tweet, so take that for what it's worth) saying that they were supposed to stay up till the end of the year, which one thought was till the end of the calendar year, and the other thought it was till the end of the season. Might be talking a load of old nonsense with all that, mind.

Ah, it's about the Sports Direct signs then, if that's right.

Well, exactly. Every club knows that we're rich and also desperate, the weakest possible starting point. We have no bargaining position and everyone we deal with knows that. People saying "just pay them whatever they want" don't seem to realise that what they want is basically not a fixed amount but simply as much as they can get. Quick, get someone in before Leeds! Well, other clubs won't care about our result against Leeds. In fact, if we lose that game then we get more desperate and it only strengthens their hand afterwards. Suits them all to push it to the last possible minute in January, as that's when they'll get the most. This whole idea that we'd sign 5 players on Jan 1 was always a fantasy for that very reason, and that would absolutely be the case with a DOF or not.

"I know we've done a few bad things, but this Jeff Hendrick really takes the biscuit"

So, Saudi Arabia are now embarrassed to be seen with us

Haha, saying that Howe is bright, genuine and hard-working is a lovely little dig at Alex's dad! Well played, Mr Hope.

To be fair, he's generally just a contrarian - says OTT things for what he thinks is comic effect. He's not really a journalist. Just someone that thinks his opinions are funny and likes to get a reaction. Despite smoggie connections, he doesn't particularly have it in for Newcastle - he'll slag off any given team or their fans on any given day just for the fun, so not really worth listening to. Hates taking the knee, for example, like your embarrassing uncle. It's interesting, though, that he admits to lurking on several Newcastle forums to have gotten the general opinion of the fans about Howe for his opinion piece. So, as I say, he's no journalist.

He's been out of form, reportedly carrying a knock, playing in an unfamiliar team with a different system, and then thrown straight in. I think he needs a bit more time before making judgements. I do know we don't have time, but that's on us, not him. If Gayle had been fit, I expect he might have been played instead, with Wood on as a 70 min sub. Long term (well mid term), maybe that will be his best role, coming on to change the style of play if we're behind, with set pieces etc. We'll see.

Everton

Haven't they suffered enough?

Wait, there's not even a Wetherspoons?

Quick, how much for Will Grigg!?