sushimonster85

11 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

They've looked at Ashby, Santos and Perrone.

They've discussed Marcus Thuram, who only has six months left on his contract.

Think these may be the realistic areas to watch in Jan. A young player or two with an eye to the future. Then Thuram, who could come in and be a difference maker without breaking the bank given his contract situation. 

19 minutes ago, ponsaelius said:

Tbf it's not completely controversial to not sell proper beer in stadiums. UEFA only lifted their ban in 2018 - in the past CL/EL and major tournaments you couldn't get booze in the grounds. I'm more surprised they ever went with this in the first place considering the laws of the country. But doing an about turn 2 days before the tournament kicks off is ridiculous.

It's been their plan all along I'd imagine. Wait till the very last minute when they know it's too late for people to change plans then do a U turn. 

12 hours ago, gjohnson said:

We've had some pretty awesome away kits. Hated that 97-99 orange green striped one at the time but think it's stunning now... probably cos it was massively unique and had a good sponsor

Adidas didn't put a foot wrong with the away kits for a long time. Wasn't really a bad one among their first 8. After that they stopped putting as much effort in. 

Would love Hummel. It is likely going to be whoever gives us the best terms when the deal is next due though. So more than likely Adidas or Nike. 

4 minutes ago, Stifler said:

Adidas were shit for us after SBR left. 

See, I think this is the thing where people attach the success (or lack thereof) of a period of time with the shirt that was being worn. 

For example, I always thought, based purely on looks, this was a banging top. But it was the one we were wearing during that relegation season so everyone associates it with shit time. On the flip side, I'm not a big fan of the current top, but you know in the future it will be looked back on fondly because of all the good memories being made in it. 

1 minute ago, Gaztoon said:

 

It's a dying profession.. lads and lasses on YouTube talking about football in their bedroom get more clicks and views.

I'd say less dying, more painfully evolving. Unfortunately for Luke he didn't get swept onto the 'The Athletic' life boat. 

Think the sponsorless shirts are a huge hint at them being the front of shirt sponsor from next season as well. 

4 minutes ago, Dokko said:

A Christmas gift from PIF...Jude Bellingham.

 

Were 3rd. Riding high. JB gives us a real chance of getting a CL place way ahead of schedule. With him, our attacking options coming back and the feel good factor things could really get moving after Xmas and could change our fate for years to come. 

 

No one thought for a seconds we'd spend £60m on Isak. No one thought for a second we'd be 3rd. Equally strange things have already happened this season. 

Love the optimism, but we're not close to that yet. That's £100m initial outlay and likely £200k+ a week. 

1 hour ago, Whitley mag said:

Don’t think it’s rubbish as Mark Douglas reported a while back that the club had Mudryk very much on their  radar. They’re out of the Champions League and how many clubs will be in a position to afford him in January. Certainly wouldn’t rule him out and think he’s more likely than Maddison in January.

Would love it to happen, but really can't see it. Didn't the Shakhtar president say he valued him at £100m? Not saying that's what he'd eventually go for, but I can see it being north of £50m, which I don't see us paying for someone relatively unestablished. 

4 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

Given this was supposedly on the verge of being done in the Summer would be shocked if it doesn't happen in Jan. 

1 minute ago, alexf said:

My confidence of a win with Wood instead of Wilson dramatically decreases. I know he scored last week but the drop off in quality is quite steep. 

Can't wait for Isak to return to give us more forward options.

Yeah, was at the Palace game. No lack of effort from Wood, but we just can't play in the same way with him up there. 

4 minutes ago, Wallsendmag said:

 

Prepare to be shocked mate! I don't think he starts tomorrow. Seems strange considering it was only supposed to be a cold but Howe won't start players unless they're 100%.

Not accusing Wilson of anything, but I do wonder if Howe feels like Wilson will (consciously or sub-consciously) have his head elsewhere for this game, with his first (and likely only) World Cup a week away. When you're as injury prone as Wilson is there must be something in the back of his head that would make him second guess every run/sprint on Sunday. 

Gutted for Joe. But it least means we can play him v Palace and Chelsea, then get him primed to destroy the second half of the season. 

1 minute ago, Keegans Export said:

Looking at those 2023 contracts - I think Shelvey has an extension to 2024 linked to playing a certain number of games. Can't remember the details but it wasn't many. The others have barely played a minute between them and must be costing £100k-£150k/week.

Believe he said it was 3 more games (not sure it that's tied to a certain number of mins per game to count) he needed to get the extension in the Summer. Handy as, out of those 5 2023 expiries he would be the only one I can see being part of the squad for another year or 2. 

28 minutes ago, Memphis said:

Any other type of rumour I tend to dismiss out of hand. We have a specific type and we don't tend to deviate much from it. So no one over 26-27, no one on huge wages, no one who won't immediately push to be a first team member. 

I think the only potential mitigating factor in Jan may be our proximity to the European places. If they feel there is a chance to get into the top 6 this season (probably a season or two earlier than they anticipated), I can see them shopping for a more top level, established type signing in an effort to get us over the line. Not saying they're going to do something daft like sign Hazard, but can see them potentially trying to make another 'Trippier' style signing. Someone they know can come in and make an immediate impact. 

12 minutes ago, 80 said:

Depends what they have made of Karius in training, I guess. Would be nice if the problem is already solved.

I would be shocked if they don't pull the trigger on Karius on a long term deal in Jan. Only think I can see getting in the way is if he has an offer to be number 1 somewhere else. 

As for the rest of Jan. If you asked me a couple months ago I'd have said priority would be a wide forward/winger, then ideally a CDM. The form of Almiron (with ASM and Isak both to still come back in) means I'd actually say a CM is now priority. Question is do we go for a defensive player and give Bruno licence to push higher up the pitch, or for someone like Maddison, which would likely mean having Bruno play in that deep lying '6' role. 

15 minutes ago, Optimistic Nut said:

Think 1-1 here. Missed opportunity in terms of keeping pace at the top but just keeps us ticking over.

Yeah, they look a slightly different prospect now Gerrard is gone. Can see a draw. 

Think Trossard is a decent compromise on having a real go in Jan if we're still around the European spots without breaking the bank whilst we continue to get our FFP ducks in a row. Could see it happening if he is only £25m.

39 minutes ago, Tiresias said:

Feel Poch ought to swallow his pride tbh I am not sure he is going to get a champions league level club at this point if he wants to manage in premier league. I wonder if he is holding out for Conte flouncing off for a glorious return? Turning around Villa for a few seasons and then he is back in the picture for a 'top' job. 

There's swallowing your pride, then there's switching from PSG to Aston Villa...

Not saying he won't have to consider dropping to a team just below that elite level before long. But I suspect that's more likely to be someone like Spurs or Man Utd than Aston Villa in what's shaping up to be a relegation dog fight. 

24 minutes ago, McCormick said:

Weirdly not all that confident of 3 points tonight. Suppose my fears will be either eased or exacerbated once the line-ups are revealed.

 

I do think we’ll see quite a bit of Wood and Fraser today, unfortunately.

 

 

 

Had a similar feeling these past few days. We may have the best defence records in the league, but Everton's isn't bad at all (only conceded 11), Coady and Tarkowski really seem to have shored them up. Got a feeling it may be a bit of dud 0-0, or 1-0 either way. Wouldn't be shocked at all if they nicked one on the break then just sat an absorbed pressure. Like a rerun of the Bournemouth game. 

4 hours ago, Andy84 said:

Seems a bit of a controversial thing to say but I don’t mind Lampard 

As a person, he seems alright enough (for a Tory). I think he and Gerrard wind a lot of folks up as they're handed opportunities a lot of other young coaches wouldn't get based purely on who they are. Fair play to Lampard though, he does seem to set his side up tactically himself, as opposed to Gerrard who lets other people deal with that. 

6 minutes ago, RUHRLYASLEEVESUP said:

Looks like hes off to Villa 

So long as it's relatively tasteful, I can be bough off with the promise of larger transfer kitties/more for wages. 

1 hour ago, Decky said:

Declan Rice would fall into extraordinary. 

Honestly think Bowen would be more likely than Rice. 

14 minutes ago, nufc123 said:

Wont be many games this season we start with Wilson, Isak, Maximin, Bruno.

Least it means we won't have to worry about if/how Wilson and Isak can play together...