sushimonster85

Aye. Barring injury there's 0 chance he changes a side that just won 6-1.

Surely next season (assuming we do get a more attack mided LB) then Targett would be the more natural backup LB? Him coming in would mean not altering the way we're playing as much as Burn next season.  

I know Botman is the shiny new toy, and has a much higher ceiling and will likely become better than Schar, but Schar as been the better CB this season. By a margin. Not that Botman has been bad, Schar has been exceptional. Gone unnoticed but he has been one of the best CBs in the league this season. 

I feel like Trippier still has a couple years left in the tank at the top level. Obviously (like most players these days) he keeps himself in top shape, and (more crucially) he didn't actually break through and start playing senior football in his teens, which tends to affect how late into their 30's a lot players can play. First time he played 30+ games of senior football was the 10/11 season with Barnsley when he was already 20/21.

Just think with all the areas of the squad that could use investment this Summer they won't see RB as crucial given we have Trippier, Ashby and Krafth.

Just now, Shays Given Tim Flowers said:

Is he negotiating a new contract?

That was rumour weeks ago. I have a feeling it's pretty much done and they're waiting on the confirmation/announcement of next seasons main sponsor so they can get a picture with Bruno holding a Newcastle top with SaudiA on the front of it. 

2 minutes ago, timeEd32 said:

Madrid is the only concern for me, particularly if we're in the CL.

Thing with Madrid is they can't/won't pay 100m for him. They will instead spend the Summer trying to unsettle him and get his head turned hoping we get forced into accepting a lower amount. It's something they have done for years and years. 

14 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Could do with someone that can genuinely challenge Tripps.

Think that will be a job for next Summer rather than a priority for this one. Though I do think Ashby will be the fulltime RB understudy next season. 

I actually hope they come up. Largely because they will be no where close the PL level, especially without their current loan players. A good chunk of that squad is the same one that struggled to get out of League One. They come up to the PL they either have to try a Forest and put themselves at massive financial risk, or accept it's a season to get a financial shot in the arm and use it to yoyo back up in a couple seasons. 

7 minutes ago, SUPERTOON said:

Downie on SSN saying he can see 6/7 signings if we make champions league. Is that the number most agree on ?

Yeah, I imagine 6/7 will be the magic number. But likely 4 to come in as fully ready, top quality players ready to go into the starting 11. Think that will be a LB, CM, wide forward, and then an x-factor style signing who is so good they go into the 11 regardless of who's place they're taking. Likely another CM or attacker. 

Then a further 2/3 high potential younger options. Not players for the u21 squad, but players ready to come if needed, but with the idea they're going to be eased in slowly over the next 12-18 months. A right sided CB for sure.

Agree with the sentiment that people need to chill with Gordon. Miggy didn't start to show signs of really kicking on under Howe till towards the end of last season/start of this season. Firmly believe Gordon was someone they likely had their eyes on for the Summer, then made a move in Jan because the opportunity arose. Firmly believe he will be a real force next season, and will remain a useful option/impact sub for the remainder of this one. 

Often mess about with this PL predictor - https://www.worldfootball.net/table_calculator/eng-premier-league/ 

Just tried a realistically pessimistic run through. 'Realistically pessimistic' as in not losing every game, but drawing the Everton, Brighton, & Leeds games, getting beat by Arsenal & Chelsea. On that run through I had us missing out on top 4 by 3 points to Liverpool. who I think may actually be our biggest threat. This relies on us dropping off, and Liverpool finding their form from last season at just the right time and beasting the remaining games of the season. Think it's way more likely we beat either/both Everton and Leeds, and get something from Arsenal and Chelsea and comfortably make the top 4. But it's not full on done yet. 

Will be a gritty one this. That being said, we should still have too much quality for them. Going to say 0-2. Early Isak goal then Almiron off the bench to kill the game with 5-10 mins to go.

I know that Athletic article revealed the contract has another 4 years to run, but I am predicting our FFP situation will have improved to the point where we will pay the break/penalty fee in the contract and bin them off in a couple years. Predict we will be in Adidas or Nike by 25/26 season at the latest. 

Just now, Ginola said:

Such a good pass and first touch thats barely getting a mention because of how ridiculous Willocks pass was

 

 

Absolutely. It won't happen, but realistically you could have three goals from this game in goal of the month. This one, Isak's first (Willock assist) and Murphy's screamer. 

4 hours ago, PauloGeordio said:

Loop hole! 

DO NOT PUT COCAINE UP YOUR LOOP HOLE.

Trust me.

14 minutes ago, Alberto2005 said:

Could be just a timing thing but Bruno's bird posted on IG an hour ago of them in the car going somewhere.

 

Willock posted also an hour ago training, hopefully Bruno is training ?

I imagine the issue with his ankle is having to be carefully managed. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Bruno is currently on a different/reduced training schedule. 

6 hours ago, Ace said:

Using us for a contract again. 

Partly agree, think it's more to flush out other interest rather than a new contract at Barca. Assuming they make their big play for Messi, and find a way to get Bernardo Silva in they will be needing to offload.

It's going to all depend on what form of European football it is. If it's Europa or Conference I think 3 would be fine. If it's CL I think the only way 3 would work is if they're 3 Bruno/Botman/Isak type signing who are good enough to easily go into the 11 and improve us. 

8 hours ago, huss9 said:

tbf its one of the few things the new owners have screwed up.

the leak to the press on the eve of an important european game for them was bad form.

To be honest, the whole managerial search, whilst ending with a cracking appointment, was a mess with regards to how much it played out in public due to leaks everywhere. Had what was basically a blow-by-blow account of what was going on. Remember the heady days of it definitely being Fonseca, when it turned out that was just the last guy they spoke to and his people leaked it. Even when the morning when the initially Emery news broke and it looked like he was coming The Athletic had Howe as being second choice should Emery knock us back. How often do you hear not only the person who has been chosen, but the guy who's come second. 

Once again going through my weekly ritual of coming in the match thread to say this is really tricky fixture. Probably the form side in the league right now. Think it's going to be very tight, can see a 1-1 if I am honest, and wouldn't be disappointed with that. 7 points from West Ham, Brentford & Villa would be a great return, and would set us up brilliantly for the final run-in. 

One odd quirk with Villa mind, yes they're in great form, but they haven't played anyone really tricky for a while. Chelsea away has a massive * this season, and outside of that they haven't really played anyone of note since mid-Feb when they lost to Arsenal at Villa Park. 

2 minutes ago, Kanji said:

If Maxi can stay fit and buy-in to Howe's way there is literally NO reason to sell him. 

Yep. These past few games he has really started to look like a blend of ASM but also a 'Howe' player. Always felt like one of the issues with Max is it was either a 10/10 performance and he looked like one of the best players in the league, or a 3/10 and he may as well not be playing. This past month he has started to put in solid 7-8/10 performances every game.

3 minutes ago, Smal said:

honestly I am not sure any of our other players on the field at the time score. 

Maybe Bruno or Trippier? Not that they would be anywhere near that end of the pitch, but I think both have the composure and technical ability to pull it off. 

36 minutes ago, Menace said:

 

They don't watch us enough. Schar is the best passer in the world.

I have come into these threads every match so far in this run and said stuff like 'bad feeling' 'banana skin' etc etc and every time the lads blow away my pessimism. So in not wanting to jinx anything I will again say... worried about this one, one of the toughest away days in the league at the moment, then at Villa next weekend, which you could say the exact same about. Feel like we'll know if top 4 is going to happen after these next 3 games (Brentford & Villa away, Spurs home). 

For this one going to predict a lively 2-2. Think it will be a cracking game for neutrals. Imagine Isak comes in for Wilson. Maybe a couple other changes, perhaps Gordon for Muprhy, maybe Willock for Longstaff.

10 minutes ago, Menace said:

 

It really is, and they might even get relegated.

 

He's worth £30M tops.

Imagine if they go down the price will drop substantially.