Nucasol

Throw enough money at it and everyone has a price. Nice manoeuvring by Lille. Rules Milan’s loan to buy option out too.

The bloke is a miserable tool. Ignoring his buddies at True Faith, the rest of our fan base seemingly despise the doomongering cunt.

Van Dijk, De Ligt, De Vrij and Botman would be a stupendous four. Don’t rate Ake at all.

Long term Kjaer replacement according to the chat in Italy. He’s 32 now, 33 in March.

Nathan Ake was ahead of him in the last squad and looks shaky as fuck. Definitely the chance to muscle his way in for the WC.

He’s giving up the opportunity to impress in a last 16 Champions League tie and the opportunity to showcase partnering Van Dijk at the WC - De Vrij currently is his CB partner - for a very risky move to us. Can understand why he needs time to think and why joining a Scudetto chasing Milan team would be more tempting. This is the ball ache Charnley, Ashley et al have caused us. Any semblance of stability, even as a mid-table club, and he’d probably be here now ahead of a big push for Top 6 over the span of his contract.

Does Botman want to join us? Playing devil’s advocate, the only sources claiming this are the ones close to the club, rather than the player. Severely burned by the whole Emery thing where the false confidence of the club briefings showed us right up.

Interesting that Castles is the only one in the U.K. currently doing down our chances of signing Botman. Plenty of Italy based one’s doing the same but he’s the first to break ranks in Blighty. Others like Craig Hope seem positive but wondering whether they’re getting the noises from the NUFC side, not the player.

Whopper dropped a few clangers about our next manager so totally debunked.

HP?

Definitely looks like he’s on his way. Steven Taylor levels of post-match clapping there.

Can’t compare to the ghost of Eusebio. Also, mega farmers league over there. I remember Chelsea fans getting giddy about Mateja Kezman (104 in 120) and Boro fans about Alfonso Alves (45 in 39), both with similarly obscene goal ratios in inferior leagues (Holland in their cases).

Can’t understate the psychological impact these current set of results will have. I thought we’d be miles adrift, 6-9 points - and fighting a lost cause but very much game on between 5 or 6 absolutely garbage teams currently. Bring in the cavalry and it’s game on. Hoping for a nice 0-0 between Leeds and Burnley, plenty of injuries and cards.

Joaquin Guzman Junior, staring into your soul.

I saw the Telegraph or Athletic linking us with Elnenhy from Arsenal but the simian-faced pundit Keown had just said he’s off to the AFCON. Seems to rule that one out.

Blasphemy.

Ake channelling his inner Lascelles. Would fit in a treat here.

Reece James, Azpi and apparently another shit hot 17 year old academy prospect already in the RB role. Would mean playing him at LB vs Chilwell and Alonso. Would Trippier fancy that long term?

Don’t need that cunt here.

Sounds like it’s down to Trippier now.

Big Fab with a quote from Simeone. Sounds like the money might be fine and it’s down to the player.

Pretty binary situation - if it isn’t accepted NUFC don’t get the player. Therefore another bid is required, meaning by default the former is rejected/superseded. Only out is if we leave it on the table - which given our predicament I wouldn’t play Lee Charnley ‘who blinks first’ shite with them.

I’m using the app and it’s in the Trippier article. Might be a screw up in the web version.

“The Athletic understands that Atletico are unlikely to accept this first bid”. By not accepting it, they de facto reject it.

Gayle, Gillespie, Woodman or Darlow, Krafth, Hendrick, one of the CBs. Job done.