sushimonster85

Where has all this Rice talk come from? Feels like it's been going on a few pages now without any real concrete link/source.

I feel like that £40m was the pre-world cup price. Surely it would be up closer to £60m now.

Yeah, I know they got compared a lot during Longstaff's breakthrough season under Rafa, and back then it may have been closer, but today Rice is a much better CM than Longstaff. I like Sean Longstaff. I'm pleased he has really kicked on under Eddie, and I think thanks to being from the academy he will likely be in the squad for a good while, but lets be realistic with his level. Rice would be a huge step up. Even Kalvin Philips who was linked to us before he went to City would be a decent step up.

No way, if he isn't going to sign a new deal, they're not going to pass up the chance at getting £80m+ for him, which they will only get in the Summer 2023 window. They shouldn't be letting him get anywhere close to the final 12 months.

I actually think he looked alright, it was more there was clearly no/very little cohesion built up with the rest of the side, which was understandable given how new he was. He had some really nice link up touches that others like Fraser & Almiron just weren't on the same page with.

Maybe this season, but not long term. That Waugh piece for The Athletic today suggests they didn't buy him with the idea of him being play out wide. Was always meant to challenge/be the long term successor to Wilson.

Aye, or if you want to get a little crazy it could also apply to Lautaro Martínez

Personally think a 2018 final rerun is now inevitable. Croatia find ways to win these big games, and I feel like France will be an upset too far for Morocco. Would love to see Croatia go on and win it, but it's hard to look past France, as dull as that will be.

ASM is a weird one. His style suggests he would be perfect impact sub, but any time he comes off the bench he always seems a little underwhelming. Feel like he is one of those players that needs to gradually grow into a game.

I'd think so. Certainly think it means a wide forward for the right hand side has slipped down the priority list for Jan. Personally think Jan will now be a young player or two with an eye to the future. Ashby and that Argentinian lad.

This is the debate my partner and I had that prompted me to think about this a little more. She reckons I should at least be wearing a nice shirt. I'd be fine with rocking up in toon top over a hoodie.

Yeah, can see them winning the initial decision and being granted a legal mandate. They're still going to meet the same resistance the first try did though. The English teams are never going to be able to join, and without them the value of a 'Super League' drops drastically. There's a reason why the American owners of Man U and Liverpool are now looking for a way out.

Going to the Leeds match on New Years eve and the Wylam Brewery New Years Eve bash thing. The missus and the rest of our group have a taxi booked from ours for 6:15pm. Should I: A) Go to the match in some sort of weird hybrid outfit fit for both occasions & stay in town and just walk over to Wylam Brewery to meet them. B) Leg it to the metro on the final whistle to get back to North Shields hopefully with enough time to change before the taxi arrives. VOTE!

Used to work at Benton Park View. Don't think it would work for stadium location. Site is likely big enough, and a couple Metro stops, but parking would be crazy. It's surrounded by small estates all with permit parking.

Yeah, been saying this for a while. Player who will absolutely improve our starting 11, can play in all positions across the front 3, and thanks to his contract situation would likely be available for a cut price in Jan.

Don't want to be a downer, but there's no way Felix happens. Both us and Villa being used as bait to draw out other offers. Don't get me wrong, we're only a season or two away from being in a position to have multiple players in the squad on £200k a week (Bruno is bound to be the first when his contract is extended in 2023), but we're not quite there yet.

If Howe is looking to keep him it likely means he is now seen as the full time number 2 over Darlow? Which would make sense, I know he had a major wobble, but it terms of both talent and experience he is way ahead of Darlow.

Can confirm. He became a Newcastle legend in my FM save last year.

Exactly this. What's the point in rushing him back, it's already been reaggravated once. Give him the time he needs to make sure he is 100%. For the record I still think he will likely play some part (from the bench maybe) at Leicester, and be back properly as we get into Jan. Personally can't wait. He looked the absolute business vs Liverpool. And was clear he the rest of the lads were still getting used to each other in the Palace and Bournemouth home games. He had some lovely link up touches that people weren't quite on the same wavelength for.

Would be interested to get an idea of just how much his value increased over the space of 90 minutes last night. In the Summer it sounded like £25m-£30m would get it done. Imagine you could add at least another £15m on to that now.

Aye, there was loads of hype round Viana at the time. Mind, think that quote sums up the issues he had over here. He wasn't a typical left sided midfielder, certainly not in the way we were playing back then. He needed to be playing centrally, but without too much defensive responsibility, at least at first.

Not seen it anywhere else. You'd think if something like this had been said the like of Hope, Edwards, Waugh etc would have something out about it. Wouldn't be the first time fan media has just made random shit up that they either hope to be the case, or assume to be the case.

Ultimately this. I think the ownership would see CL this season as a huge bonus, and one they then may build on in the Summer, but not something they're going to break the bank (or FFP) on in Jan, even with 50/50 odds. As others have said, it's looking increasingly likely we will be involved in some form of European football next season, I think full planning for that will begin as we get into March and have a better idea of where we may end up. Predicting now we won't spend more that £25m in Jan.

Do think after teasing this approach for the past two windows, this will finally be the 'conservative' window, before another big push in the Summer. Mentioned it earlier, but only potential high profile signing I could see is maybe Marcus Thuram, who's contract situation (expires in the Summer) means the price may not be prohibitive. Do think we will get some young'uns in for Eddie and team to develop. Harrison Ashby seems nailed on. Been a lot of noise round that Argentinian kid as well.

Old gorilla hands has made his Sophie's choice and decided he loves Ashley more than he loves the football team he has supported all his life. What's the deal with this love he has for a man who has never (publicly) acknowledged he exists. Is it that old 'cleared gambling debts' rumour that was knock around about Keys and Pardew a few years ago?