Yassassin

Slower than my broadband

It amazes how the club that led us to where we are, that broke the relationship between significance and ambition, that was built on stolen funds, money laundering and corruption at the highest governmental levels, that gave succour to and even emboldened the villain who invaded Ukraine causing death and suffering not experienced in Europe for a generation gets away with it

Newcastle United are interested in signing Leeds United winger Jack Harrison, but fear the Yorkshire club’s survival in the Premier League will make a deal difficult to complete, and are also being encouraged to bid again for Dutch centre back Sven Botman. The club have long-term interest in Harrison and are likely to make a bid for the 25-year-old who has spent the last four years at Leeds, initially on loan from Manchester City, before signing a permanent £11 million deal last summer. Harrison has arguably been Leeds’ best player over the course of the season and was once again involved in their match-deciding moments against Brentford, scoring the winning goal that secured safety. Harrison has scored 10 goals this season and has been consistently one of their more dangerous offensive players. That had caught the attention of Newcastle but their chances of landing the player have been reduced as they will not be able to activate a relegation release clause. That is unlikely to prevent the Magpies testing Leeds’ resolve to hold on to Harrison and the player’s desire to stay put. Newcastle could well have become a more attractive option for the winger given the takeover by the club’s new Saudi Arabian owners and the team’s progress under manager Eddie Howe. Newcastle want to sign a central striker and a wide forward in this window, as well as a left back, a centre back and another central midfield player. Lille centre back Botman continues to be of interest after Newcastle had two bids rejected for the Holland international in January. The 22-year-old had been expected to sign for AC Milan, but it seems that deal has stalled and Newcastle are back in the running to sign one of the best defensive prospects in Europe. Newcastle could make another move for Sven Botman CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES Given what happened in the winter window, when they were offered similar encouragement, only for Lille to turn their bids down, Newcastle are approaching things cautiously. The chances of Matt Targett making his loan move permanent have reduced dramatically in the last few days. The left back has headed back to Aston Villa after a successful spell on Tyneside but Telegraph Sport understands Newcastle want to sign a left back who offers more going forward with Atletico Madrid’s Brazil international Renan Lodi much admired. The 24-year-old was part of the side that won La Liga in 2021 and is a former team-mate of Newcastle right back Kieran Trippier. The thought of having both full backs in black and white stripes next season is a tantalising one for Howe. Renan Lodi has won 15 caps for Brazil CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES The Newcastle hierarchy are already encountering some early issues in their recruitment plans with a number of their top targets - such as England international Kalvin Phillips, RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku and Benfica striker Darwin Nunez - looking beyond their reach. Newcastle are keeping an eye on all three, but believe they are going to have more attractive offers from Champions League clubs. There is no sense of alarm and Newcastle are merely working through things. A series of recruitment meetings have taken place in the last few weeks with manager Eddie Howe and chief scout Stevel Nickson leading things, supported by co-owners Amanda Staveley and Jamie Reuben. Every deal, though, will need to be signed off by Saudi chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who is provided with regular updates. New director and chief executive of Saudi golf, Majed Al Sorour, is also increasingly involved in the running of the club. Telegraph Sport has already revealed that Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Brentford’s Ivan Toney are seen as viable alternatives to Nunez. Calvert-Lewin would appear to be Newcastle’s first choice, but they do not know yet whether Everton will let him leave. Reims forward Hugo Ekitike is also a long standing target, although the teenager is seen as one largely for the future, if he does arrive this summer.

I don’t think they were bothered about knocking your ticket out to a mate for a match or two, they literally had no idea who was in possession of the tickets and there was profit to be made on them

It was definitely possible to amend every field, possibly up to the changes in 2018

Mate of mine is a Liverpool season-ticket holder and they club faced a problem of many season-tickets being in relatively few hands as people preserved their title to the ticket but actually sold it on for a period, quasi black-market situation. They beefed up their id checks and have an improved system in place which my mate says works. Someone here may have more knowledge of it. Can you still just change the name of the season-ticket holder on the NUFC system by changing personal details in the account online?

As someone who jacked my season ticket in a few seasons ago, I think that giving priority to people like me isn’t on as it’ll skew the profile of season-ticket holders in terms of age and, probably, sex as more women attend PL games each season (I think that’s correct) and are more likely to apply for a season ticket than when I first got mine. But having been a member for only seven months because you think you’ve spotted the ‘main chance’ shouldn’t give priority either. For me, ballot and waiting list backed by strict identity checks to ensure genuine applications

After the 1-1 draw with Watford in January we had played 20 games and accrued 12 points. Over the next 18 games we accrued 37 points; that is a phenomenal achievement and done with Trippier largely missing and Guimaraes being ‘bedded in’ over a period of games with other players who were short on form and confidence

ASM struggling to get into the game

Rush of blood to the defender’s head, deffo a penalty

Premier League Manager of the Year tbh

Likewise now. A Premier League with Forest and Leeds United in it is an interesting place

I’m just thinking the there is going to be a heavenly alignment that allows us to beat Burnley and still give a teary wave to Everton as they float down the stream to the Championship

Not saddened by this development

And two Scottish sides in the Champions’ League if they do! C’mon the ’Gers though

It means post the balance sheet/statement of financial position date

As an advocate of whataboutery, I am staggered as to the easy ride that the City Football Group gets. I mean an oppressive regime and Ruigang Li. Anyhow, also think that, if authentic, the choice of third-strip was either made by a club employee’s toddler understandably ignorant of any ramifications or the ownership have decided to expose the fan-base to ever more vitriol; not happy

I have visions of him carefully unpicking the stitching around the badge and then carefully sowing in the Celtic clover thing, hoping that no-one will notice. He’s such a one club guy it’ll be interesting to see how he adjusts; if he does

Our 0-5 on Sunday looking a canny result

Spectemur agendo

Hence Robert hoyed everything but his underpants into the Gallowgate when he knew that he was going to be offloaded. He knew in what regard he was held

Robert and Ginola were adored. They left because of managers who didn’t rate them not because of fan opinion; unanimity is rare but the love of Ginola and Robert was as close as you’d get

One quality ball in from Trippier and their defence really struggled. That’s how it will be in the future

Consummate presser

Lingard was so attractive a proposition in January because he was ready to go into the team having experience of the PL and having shown that a move could invigorate him into performing how he did at West Ham and we were properly in the shit. We’re no longer in that position; we need players who can perform in the Premier League but should have a preseason to bed them in. Not sure that we need him anymore, he’s pret-a-porter when we should be getting bespoke