TheBrownBottle

You’re right, but it’s not just the ‘Sky Six’ and FFP. It’s permanently imbalanced the entire pyramid. Bournemouth and Palace now have incomes which absolutely dwarf Leeds and Sheff Wed and Sunderland - that didn’t used to happen. The gulfs between every strata are ridiculous

Football’s been broken from the moment the FA allowed shareholders to take profits. Newcastle United shouldn’t need rich foreign owners to compete - it should only need to be well-run. I’m pining for a world which no longer exists, of course - and I’m not a conservative or backward looking person by nature - but Sky and the international broadcast deals have absolutely knackered the balance of English football. It’s now a closed shop.

He does - our commercials were above Spurs and Man City when he took over. He absolutely fucked this club, possibly permanently given this latest FFP stitch-up

no, I’m never going to criticising anyone going to the match mate - it’s in your blood. I still watch it and want us to win. I could just about (hypocritically!) put up with the current ownership if when they left we were transformed. If we’re just agreeing to be limited in this way, then I don’t see why our city and club should be tied to them with no gain.

No point in a Faustian pact if you get no benefit from it. I’d happily not have the club linked to the current 80% owners

Agreed. The new rules effectively stop owner-investment altogether. Up to them now - either shit or get off the pot. Frankly, if we’re to be the upper mid table club I’d be happier doing that with other owners …

They’d end up kb’ing that for related party income. They’ve shown no inkling so far to do anything about the rules in place - in fact, we seem to be voting for them

It’s either or at this point. Starting to suspect some very big statements have been made with very little substance to them.

This isn’t shackles-off. This is shackles-on even harder than they were before

95% of PL clubs voted in favour of more stringent FFP I wouldn’t be holding my breath for any legal challenges, folks

We’ve averaged one point per game over the last fourteen games. It is potential relegation form.

Yeah, I’m scratching my head about it as well. Howe has a reputation for being meticulous; you’d think that there would be a change to account for Dubravka in nets.

Nee idea. We got Bruno, Botman and Isak in as a mid table or relegation threatened club.

I’m not convinced that BDB is shit, mind. Pope’s absence is a massive factor in how the back line is performing; Botman’s clear non-recovery from injury is another. That does leave the question about what we’re doing about it, though.

I honestly believe that if our current placing was the result of consistent performances throughout the season, there would be fewer grumbles. The problem is that we’ve been in relegation form for the last third of the season - and the green shoots of recovery weren’t there today.

Yeah, he has to take his share of accountability on the fact that we are disastrously shit at the back at the moment. He deserved all the plaudits for how tight we were last season, it wouldn’t be grown up to pretend that he’s not partially to blame this season.

The loss of Pope has been instrumental- and not just because he’s a better GK than Dubravka. The back line are too deep due to the way Dubravka plays, and the mistakes are coming thick and fast.

I can’t even picture what present day Mourinho could do with this side. A chequebook manager isn’t where we are at the moment. I still think it would be crackers to contemplate sacking Howe this season, but it is an undeniable concern that things are just not improving. Howe has to be far more ruthless this summer than he was last - the squad needs a good bit of recycling. We’ll not take in anything like what we would have last year, but a serious overhaul is needed.

Yep, there is a lot to be said for a ‘reversion to the mean’ for some of them. That was never likely to continue - it’s a really big window ahead, Howe needs to be backed in the summer, but if it goes wrong I don’t think he’ll get another window.

News to me. Don’t think we’re playing well. No probs, I’ll keep off the match chat - not trying to neg anyone out.

Eh? What hate? We just look limp of late. The energy levels aren’t there

And that was dogshit by Schar

We just look half-arsed these days. We haven’t played for nine days so I’m going to assume it’s fatigue

Coming that. Utter shite

I fucking hate that ‘CAM ON [insert club name]’ song that only cockneys sing