Checko

What's the dialling code for Saudi Arabia?

Got 5 CB recommendations from Chat GPT for Man U - most realistic to buy (eg not Saliba/Gvardiol etc.) was Scalvini from Atalanta. So: Olise from Palace Scalvini & the DM from Atalanta (ederson was it?) Boom, Man U back in the game. Seriously, I've spent 5 mins & sorted them right out.

Get that fella from Atalanta everyone's raving about but I haven't seen and you're golden. I ought to do Ashworth's job.

At some point they'll have a good transfer window. Their team's been poor by Man U standards, but that's pretty high standards & they've still got some good players to build around. Olise for Antony and a really good CB in for example, and already they're looking much better IMO.

Agree with this, think the subtle magpie branding is great. On the flip side, the actual club badge looks rubbish on almost every item of clothing IMO, particularly with the thick white outline. Looks much better without the outline.

Bring him home Sunderland!

Seems weird seeing Callum Wilson with No. 13 on.

I always liked Ritchie, worked hard, very competitive. Saw an interview with one of our players who mentioned how good he was at helping the younger players. It is time now though for him to be put out to stud and focus on creating the next generation of Eddie Howe Mini-Me's.

From internet sources which aren't going to be particularly accurate about: £40k pw for Hendrick (I've seen £35k and £50k) £45k pw for Ritchie (he got a new deal last year but looks like it was an optional extension so could have been at previous rate) £35k pw for Dummett (signed a new one year contract last year so may not be at this rate this year) £10k pw for Karius (I've seem 20k and 30k mentioned too, the 30k seems to be based on his Football Manager Salary ) So maybe £130,000 per week off the bill - some of Hendrick's salary might have been covered on loan.

Realistically I think it's now Tino time - he needs to play going forward. There's obviously financial value in getting a fee for Tripps now, and salary off the book. There's also value to having a quality rotation option and senior pro in the squad. Particularly as we have two talented young fullbacks to mentor. He's been clear he wants to go into coaching when he retires, so that rotational, mentoring senior pro role might transition well to being a coach. Really depends on whether he wants this role now, or if he wants to be 1st choice while he can still play.

Just as a recent historical comparison, Chris Hughton won the Championship with a recently relegated team with 94 points, plus 45 GD and best defensive record in the league in his first season of management. Winning points scores in years after: 99 (Wolves - Santo) , 94 (Norwich - Farke), 93 (Leeds - Bielsa), 97 (Norwich - Farke), 90 (Fulham - Silva), 101 (Burnley - Kompany). Thinking back from my perspective, I really liked Hughton and was annoyed at him being sacked (he did a good job and was a classy guy), but I didn't think he was necessarily a top level manager. Had he been replaced by, say, a Rafa level guy instead of Pardew, I might have been more sympathetic to the decision to replace him.

Thank you for your service.

Feels like the end of a era - only Lascelles left from the Championship squad? (Think I read they did paid out Hayden't contract)

Like the use of the round NUFC badge - think it looks way better for casuals.

Perhaps should be in the realistic transfer targets thread tbh

Small sample size and I know he made a couple of errors, but Muric at Burnley has some crazy good stats as per FB ref https://fbref.com/en/players/99aa1a84/Arijanet-Muric

Or maybe start him again from Jack0?

If none of these come off I move that admin rename him JackSchitt.

I'm guessing you'll make an offer - and as a free agent he'd be a fool not to wait for all the offers to come in. Do you think the uncertainty around your manager situation is slowing you down here? Both you and Chelsea are more prestigous, can presumably offer more money and the potential of immediate European football, which I'd imagine is a draw for a footballer who's never played in Europe. Chelsea would also basically guarantee him a silly contract and then an attempt to flip him for FFP profit in a couple of years. Our one advantage in negotiations is that we have managerial stability right now & the boss definitely wants him and has a clear plan for him, and has a good track record in improving players. With our CB injuries he'll definitely get a decent shot - he would be the obvious long-term Schar successor if he's good. This is a massive contract & career decision for him though, so he shouldn't rush it.

I've heard Gordon say he prefers the left but I've not heard him say he dislikes the right, just it's not his first option. I've heard him describe his versatility as an asset. Mind you I haven't heard everything he's said. Re: Barnes - I think there was sense in buying him: a premier league proven player in his prime & we took advantage of a relagation. Also, at the time we got him we didn't know Gordon was going to start smashing it on the left wing and squads need quality depth. We lost a LW in ASM & replaced him. For the money I don't think he was a massive bargain or a transformative signing like a Bruno, but he was a solid enough signing IMO. Just a shame he got that freak injury during our toughest part of the season.

Maybe a cheeky little appearence clause or not-getting-relegated fee.

Bored now, when does football start?

From the bat emoji at the bottom I'm taking it to mean that he is actually Batman. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Shhh, don't tell them that.

Wouldn't be surprising if true. Doesn't Pep always leave at the end of contracts and he's been laying the groundwork for this in recent interviews. Feels like he wasn't going to leave Man C till he'd won the Champions League but now he's won that and everything else, what more is there for him to do?