Keegans Export

I think we'd need either England to get the extra CL place or a team in the top 4/5 to win the FA Cup. If both happen, then 8th would be enough.

I was never in full "Howe Out" mode, although I was pretty disappointed at some of our performances leading into the international break. I kept thinking (and presumably posted on here) that with players returning and fixtures easing he had a chance to change the whole narrative around this season. It's looking more and more like we had a blip, primarily due to injuries, and now we're back on it again.

Isak is probably a better footballer than Shearer was but in terms of just sheer volume of goals of all shapes and sizes he's absolutely miles behind. Absolutely no shame in that mind.

I mean, if it was as simple as "bribe the opposition defence" then I can think of a few games I'd have used that tactic other than this one - the bloody cup final would have been ideal It's proper deranged like. Don't get me wrong, it raises a smile when I see they've got beat. But if they win I'm not going down a rabbit hole of conspiracy theories to try and explain it, usually just crack on with the rest of my weekend tbh...

?? Tino - Schar - Burn - Hall ...is considerably better that what we could scrape together otherwise.

Yes, if he avoids a booking today it goes from ban after 10 yellows to ban after 15 yellows.

What's the deal with qualification rounds? Do English teams go straight to group stages in Europa & Conference Leagues?

Did someone say RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION??

Is that wages alone nearly 80% of revenue? Edit - those accounts are from the last season they were in the CL too

Blimey, what's happened to Schalke? Don't really follow German football but I've always had a soft spot for them, they've got the tunnel decked out like a mine shaft haven't they?

Presumably agents fees are included in the FFP calculations and aren't amortised the same as transfer fees? That must have a massive impact.

My experience with Football Manager is that sell-ons of sell-ons do exist although not commonplace.

Can I just go on record saying I certainly don't expect to be regular top 6 and major trophy winner in the next 5 years! My original post was in response to someone saying the club had gone quiet about its ambitions over the past 12 months. The fact that @LFEE and I have managed to highlight two separate occasions where the stated ambitions have been quite lofty - whether its "win" a trophy or "compete" for trophies, I'm happy with that - just this year suggests otherwise.

OK I see what you're saying but firstly, that isn't him speaking at the fan engagement event is it? I think its just a generic interview for the official site in January, the meeting was end of Feb. Secondly, whether its literally what he said personally at the meeting or not it's clearly quoting something from "A presentation referencing the club's established vision" and it's written in the official minutes released by the club.

It's from the Official minutes of the meeting itself. The club published them, along with NUST.

A link to the minutes of the meeting in Feb are linked HERE , that's where the quote is pulled from.

From the Fan Engagement thing, just over a month ago;

Yes we have previous with Emery. Over two years ago now. It went badly and we haven't had a very public pursuit since.

Well one thing that has also been widely reported is the "Wembley of the North" involving tax payer money so there is a fairly recent history of Ratcliffe trying to find alternatives to putting his hand in his own pocket more than is absolutely necessary. Also this. All very public from day one. A bit like our own pursuit of Emery, fortunately we learned our lesson fairly quickly after that.

Oh right! Apologies @TRC

I think Northumbria Police would have a massive issue with 30-40k Newcastle fans heading to Sunderland every other week.

I think winning a major trophy probably does make you number 1? At least temporarily. Doesn't make you Real Madrid obviously. I suppose that's just a technicality but if you offered me regular top 6 and a major trophy in the next five years I'd be absolutely ecstatic.

Conference League winner gets into the Europa League don't they? That's what happened with West Ham anyway.