Palestoon

I feel like that's the narrative the media are trying to force onto us. We don't need to sell. We have money to spend. Keep Isak, and sign 3 players (wissa, CB, CM) and the squad is much stronger than last year. Use this year to sort out CEO, director of football, future stadium and training ground plans, and then revisit in the summer. Sell Isak for a boatload in June and continue to build. Selling him now would set off the domino's that could effectively cripple the future of the club

That's an aspect I don't think we're talking about enough. The long term knock on effects for the club if we bend to the pressure and sell. For the last few years, we've made it clear as a club, we're not just part of the EPL furniture. We want to compete at the very top. What message does it send to our players, potential signings, and the league as a whole if we sell a player with a 3 yr contract to a team we are claiming to be on equal footing with? Let's be realistic. We had a great season last year, and squeaked into the champions league with no European football on the schedule. Unless we suddenly become competent and sign 5 quality players after Isak goes, the team will be worse off. Next summer we'll be sitting here after an 8th place finish with players like tonali, livrsmento, Gordon thinking, "why shouldn't we be at an elite club playing champions league every season? Isak got his wish, I can probably get the same thing" It would undo most of the hardwork we've accomplished in the last few years building up the club. Disastrous situation

I think the point is in an even weaker position, Tottenham held out and it didnt backfire on them. There's no reason we should feel pressure to sell the player for a negotiated fee because he asks to leave, and the entire media thinks we should let him

For sure, if its indeed the case that he faked and injury to miss the tour, or refused to go, complete dickhead move. My point was just that its probably not as emotional and dramatic as a lot of people are seeing it as. Another one is the idea that all of the players are fuming at Alex, and will give him the cold shoulder if he returns. bet money the first video we see with him in it is all smiles doing those daft signature handshakes they all have with each other Its a business for them, and they understand it. Alot of times fans just assume they are as emotional about this as we are. I think its rarely the case. just my opinion obviously

I've always found the "strops" and "tantrums" as mostly an extension of fans imagination, thinking these players are as emotional about clubs and football as we are. the most likely scenario is that Isaks agent called him up and said " Premier League Champions Liverpool have out reached and they want to double your wages. are you interested?" "yes" "Ok well Newcastle dont want to sell, so we need to apply some pressure. lets sit out this tour and see if they can iron something out with Liverpool." "ok" the idea that Isak is in his house fuming murmuring about how much he hates Eddie Howe for not letting him go, and how he will never play for Newcastle again are probably wide of the mark. not saying it doesn't happen with players, but most of the time its simply a numbers game and its all being handled amicably behind the scenes. I highly doubt Isak doesn't carry on business as usual in a few weeks if he stays.

If it is, then we are a bigger shambles then whats even being reported. I hope we dont fold, but am afraid we will

I would be surprised if they came to that conclusion. A player of Isaks quality will be worth 100 mil at a minimum for the next 3 or 4 years barring catastrophe.

I hope the club are keeping their emotions out of it, and ignoring the media circus. Someone mentioned in this thread earlier, that we are getting a taste of dealing for players at the highest level. Made up stories, in the news everyday, questions at every press conference. Its all part of the process. The reality is that when all of the smoke clears, Newcastle United hold all of the cards. Everything we're seeing now is just Isaks agent playing his best card in his hand. And its really not much. I hope Yasir, Eddie (and Whoever else is left on this shambles of a board of directors) are keeping a level head. First thing we need to decide as a club: Is their any amount of money we could get for Isak at this point in the summer that would make it a net positive for the club despite all of the negatives (Loss of main striker, late in the window, staff not in place, optics of being forced to sell to a rival). If the answer is No, let Isak and his people know he wont be sold this summer for any price, get back in training and we can work out a bumper contract for you to leave for a reasonable fee next summer with everyones best interests in tact. If we decide yes, their is a number that makes it worth it for us, then communicate that number to his agent along with any conditions we have (deadline, replacement brought in first etc.). No negotiations, no talks, meet the demands or fuck off. If they meet the asking price, great. If they dont, we expect you back in training, and again, we can work out something for you to leave next year. The point being, we have no need to capitulate to anyone. We have 3 years left on his contract. Isak by all accounts is a good egg, a good professional, and still gets along with the manager and staff. If no deal comes off, he'll be reintegrated, and carry on business as usual. He'll start banging in the goals, and this whole saga will be behind us and the focus will be on the season. Their is zero chance he doesn't attack this season 100 percent if he's forced to stay. He's a 26 year old in the prime of his career, playing champions league football in a world cup year I have no doubt everyone will handle it professionally once the bullets start to fly for real. In the meantime, bring in a few players, get in a director of football, a new CEO, lets have a great season and then reassess the situation at the beginning of the summer. If its true that Isak is just frustrated with the lack of ambition, lack of direction and broken promises, then lets see if a new set up changes any of that. If hes happy, great, sign a new long term contract. If he still wants to leave, fine, find him a suitor preferably outside of England and re-invest the money. The point is, we are in strong position, and shouldn't let the pressure, our feelings, or fear push us into making a hasty decision. Although im not confident the current set up is capable of that.....

I'm confused, so Yasir called Eddie today and reiterated Isak is not for sale. Then picked up the phone with the chairman of Al-Hilal and rubber stamped an offer for Isak

Bit off topic, but where has this narrative come from that if a player wants to leave in the middle of a contract, that they somehow have a God given right to leave? The whole point of a contract is that both sides agree to lock into a set term of conditions. No one on either the club side or the player side is forced to agree and theirs inherit risk and benefit for both sides. Players like long term contracts because it guarantees them financial security over the long term, and for clubs, it gives them control over a players commitment. The downside for both parties is that you're locked into those conditions. If a player doesn't want to move, he can stay and collect his pay packet regardless of his performance. And if a club want to keep hold of a player, they have that right regardless of the players wishes. Look at Isaac Hayden. Club has outgrown him for years, yet here we are 3 years later still paying his wages when he hasn't contributed anything to the club in years. But that's his right. If players and agents want control of a players destiny, negotiate shorter term contracts. You can't have your cake and eat it too. More I think about it, the more I realize this is just another strong arm tactic by the big clubs and their friends in the media to make it easier to get the players they want, when they want regardless of their contractual obligations

Agreed. with a small caveat being, if the club broke promises made to him. We don't know what's going on behind the scenes, but their seems to be enough smoke that it's been a shitshow outside of the actual football for the last 2 years. Things change fast, I wouldn't pass judgement until we get some clarity over the next few weeks

Checked out last summer? Where did that info come from?

Possible, but I doubt it. If all was agreed between clubs and player, and we wanted to keep it discreet I doubt we'd have the noise we've seen today. They would have told everyone to keep quiet until after we sign a few players. The fact that the announcement that he wanted a move away, came so soon after we said he wouldn't be on the asia trip due to injury would be a blatant agent move to put pressure on the situation. Would be no need if all parties had agreed behind the scenes

I feel the pain, but Im holding my judgement until I see how this plays out. Really could be a combination of things... Howe unhappy with him and thinks hell be a distraction? actually injured and thats played into the decision? outright refusal to travel? player wants to stay but is using all of this to get a better contract? Club have broken promises they've made him? We dont really know, and I'd rather wait and see how things play out before I pass judgement. No matter what happens, for me... I'll never let whatever happens ruin that cup win and the goal that sealed it. That has earned Isak and this entire group an enormous amount of credit in the bank with me. Wish we could have just built on this squad and season and gone from strength to strength but sometimes thats just how shit goes.

The clubs stance on this should be straightforward and direct. NOT FOR SALE THIS SUMMER. End of discussion. The club dont need to sell. Owners dont need cash, and we're not desperate for funds this summer (struggling to spend what we have). On top of that its too late into the window to lose a focal point on our team. Isak has a 3 yr contract, and we dont risk losing any leverage not selling him this summer. Make it clear to Alex, he can sign a bumper contract, with a pay rise and a reasonable release clause for clubs on the continent starting next summer if hes still desperate to leave. Otherwise, if he wants to dictate exactly where he wants to play, he can see out his contract and head to Liverpool at the end of his contract. He'll be 28 years old and still in his prime. His only other option is to protest a season at 25 years old, playing for a club in the champions league with a world cup coming up. Which he wouldnt do. Make it clear, and let him know he can take the next week while the club is in Korea to get his head sorted. The club hold all the chips and need to behave like it. Its not just about the player, its about the club maintaining their image of being strong and our word holding weight.

Looks like it. Perhaps Isak made it clear early in the summer he wanted to leave, and they told him to keep it quiet so they could get a replacement first. We've failed to do that and now he's going public. All assumptions, who really knows

I'm betting/hoping this is the case. Especially if the rumors are true that Mitchell walked back promises from the previous hierarchy that getting him a new contract was a priority. From his point of view, I can imagine the frustration of contract talks being stalled along with one of the biggest clubs in the world knocking down your door promising to double your wages no questions asked. Hopefully this accelerates contract talks, he gets a new fat contract with a gentleman's agreement for him to leave England in the next couple of seasons. He gets a pay increase and reasonable release Clause if he chooses to leave in the next few years. We get a guarantee of another season or 2 out of him before he leaves to Barca/Real/Bayern/PSG with a big fee. Everyone's happy

Most worrisome part of the quote was that they "mutually agreed" he shouldn't be with the squad if he's not playing. If everything was fine, he'd just sit on the bench and carry on as usual and this would be a non-story for the club. Sounds like this came from Isak. Guess we'll wait and see

Would bet the player is happy to join, and we're probably close to terms with Frankfurt. Everyone is probably waiting to see if liverpools interest is serious or just talk. Doesn't hurt Frankfurt or Ekitike to see what liverpool have to offer. Hopefully they get called on their bluff and we can wrap this up

Think Kudus is one that actually makes sense for all parties. Sounds like the player wants European football, West Ham would like to free up some cash for a mini rebuild, and he's not really a fit in Potters system. If we can get him for 45-50 mil I think that would be a good deal for us.

The same way selling Anderson for 30 million and buying the Greek keeper for 20 mil helped us avoid PSR trouble.

I rate Ramsey very highly, but I'd only consider a deal like this if we do to Villa what Forest did to us when we were desperate. We buy Ramsey from them for a cut price and they buy Barnes at an inflated fee that bolsters our PSR situation for what we all know is a situation where we need to overhaul large parts of the squad to get our average age down.

Never a penalty

We really saw 2 sides of the coin yesterday. Villa gave us a taste of our own medicine, but also showed us the recipe/what we're lacking to deal with it, that they have. Best way generally to beat an effective press (unless your peak City) is to simply bypass it. Villa have 3 players in their front 6 who are excellent with their backs to goal (Rogers, McGinn and Watkins) But rather than lump balls over the top for Burn to mop up all day, they played direct passes across the ground. Forced our unathletic back line to chase them around, and then held up the ball, and waited for the runners to come in. It worked all day. This is what teams like Bournemouth fulham and Brighton have done to us. It's why getting some mobile CBs is critical if we want to play this high pressing man to man style. We have no recovery pace in the defense. As soon as a ball goes forward and it sticks, it feels like all our defenders are struggling to get goal side. And on the flip side, I think it exposed what our problems are offensively when teams press us high. They basically surround our midfielders and dare us to play directly into the attackers. Our front line is amazing on the front foot, but back to goal is a major issue. Isak struggles to hold up the ball against strong CBs, and Gordon and Murphy are not technical enough to receive the ball under pressure and turn it into a positive situation. Hope it's something we look into addressing in the summer. We need to add another dimension to our attack

Football week from hell