Nine

Zapata looks to be a no goer then, it was nice to dream for a day or two. Botman/Carlos also look like they really are dead and we arnt going to try again. Still a possibility with Lingard since we have 1 loan left after Targett. Could easily still be a big suprise by tonight.

Not exciting but a very solid ‘needs must’ signing. Interesting that this will still leave us with 1 loan option left.

Are we going to start him consistently as a striker? If the answer is yes then I can’t see him not coming here, if no then he might be better staying where he is to develop for another season or 2. Looks a talent but a very raw one.

News is slow tonight so time for bed, hoping to wake up to some excitement tomorrow

Aye, low expectations go hand in hand with overachievers. Manqy from our current squad is a great example.

It’s talkshite but I would gladly accept that move so I’m going to accept that it’s true

It’s more of a case of who they can afford for me. Warnock, Allardyce, Bruce are dreamland for them at the moment, it will be another league one type manager that hardly anyone outside the lower leagues has heard of like their last few.

Let’s not forget how bad this squad was before the 3 (soon to be 4) additions. Bruno is massive upgrade in quality and will almost transform the midfield on his own. Trippier is also a big upgrade at RB, although this probably wasn’t a key position that we needed to improve we still have done so and makes our right hand side/set pieces that much more dangerous. Plus his experience and leadership qualities are priceless. Wood I think will play his part, not sure really how well he blends in up top with the type of player that Bruno is. He’s not going to be latching on to through balls but perhaps he can be more of a deeper lying forward retaining possession with his head and shifting the ball back to midfield who will look for the pace of ASM/Fraser/Almirion to get onto key passes. Always will be a danger from a set piece which can’t go understated. Burn is the question mark for me because it depends on if we are trying to incorporate him in a back 5 which would utilise Schar nicely in the middle. I personally don’t think Schar is suited to a 4, so from my point of view Burn will be paired with Lascelles or it will be the 5 with Burn/Schar/Lascelles. Add Lingard to this to replace Fraser and that’s a huge step forward to. LB is also weak as we have little balance there with Lewis probably being our only capable natural LB, I defended Dummett after the Leeds game but Raphihna did show how limited the guy is. For an out and out defensive LB to get his bum hole felt that many times is poor, Targett would be better here although neither would necessarily suit what Howe is going for I don’t think. Long story short I’m still at a 5 or 6. If we sign a striker tomorrow that suits the style that Bruno can provide, plus Lingard and a LB I’d be down to a 3.

Yeah if we get Zapata tomorrow I don’t think my heart will be able to take anymore

Think it’s more about the balance of the squad, assuming Burn is here to play CB then we only really have two natural LBs in Lewis and Dummett. And Targett is a better version of Dummett.

If that’s true and we get Lingard done it will be both our loans used pretty effectively. Still time to chuck in last bids for Botman and Zapata

Tiny brained fanbase

Enough said

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/01/30/newcastle-make-43m-bid-for-34-cap-marksman-pif-are-desperate-to-sign-him/ Is this a decent source? Guessing not

Zapata every single time

Dunno but they couldnt afford him

Besides Bruno Zapata has been the link that I've wanted the most this window

RTG think they can tempt Warnock or Allardyce there

Such an Everton signing that

Okay then, way to much to keep up with this window

'From Europe' being key in that I suppose? So assuming from outside the prem the strikers we've been linked to for that sort of money would be.. Dzeko, Azmoun, Cabral, Dieng.

Hopefully at 12pm tomorrow we will all be talking about how much better we've improved our key positions over Norwich, Burnley and Watford.