Checko

Is fine what we're aiming for though? Also he's only 5' 7" - would we be able to play him and Lewis Hall at the same time?

We really need a top class guy for the right wing, is that him? Even if £34 million is a good price for him in isolation, that's then money that can't now be put towards a real elite. From instinct he feels like a solid, Barnes level signing, rather than a more transformational Bruno/Isak level guy. That said, people who've seen him play a bit will have a better idea. Missed a few months this year wih an ankle injury but his injury record is otherwise exemplary as far as I can see.

Yeah I tried to keep an eye on him when we played Brentford due to the rumours. Looking at his stats, can't see anything too remarkable to be honest. His initial headline stats look really good: https://fbref.com/en/players/6afaebf2/Bryan-Mbeumo But looking at advanced stats: https://fbref.com/en/players/6afaebf2/scout/365_m1/Bryan-Mbeumo-Scouting-Report His goals are padded a bit by penalties - still has pretty high xG, so I imagine he gets himself into dangerous positions. Takes set pieces, which indicates good technique, can pad some of the assist stats as well. (eg. his Shot creating actions is average but his set piece SCA is very high & open play well below average - this could be due to Brentford's play style of 'get in the opposition half and fall over and try and get a free kick'). Passing stats are very comparible to Jacob Murphy, and the Murph has dreadful passing stats. (Main difference is Mbeumo has better long pass stats, while Murphy is in the lowest % for long pass completion) Dribbling stats are pretty poor - bottom 5% for successful take on %, gets tackled a lot. Defensively got some blocks but tackles and interception numbers are dreadful (5th %). Very high no. of miscontrols (8th worst %) and high no of times dispossessed. Obviously some of this stuff is affected by a team's style of play and it's usually easier to have good offensive stats in a stronger team, rather than a bottom half team, but I can't see anything there that indicates he's an elite, takes us to the next level kind of player. That said I haven't really done any eye test on him. EDIT: I do like his beard though. Gives off a slightly piratey vibe.

Fuck me he'll probably cause a civil war over there.

Not sure I'm following, Isak had missed 5 games through injury in 3 years for Sociedad when he signed for us. Willock's been injured for most of the year and played about 700 minutes total, less than 8 full games, and had multiple setbacks. (https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/alexander-isak/verletzungen/spieler/349066)

Even if you want to sell Willock, with all his injuries he's barely played this year so will have a relatively low value right now. Longstaff played 46 games and scored 8 goals so might be at a high value point. Alternatively, if there are no suitable offers keep both and loan out Anderson so he can actually play a year as a starter at a decent level and we can see if he's likely to be good enough long term.

I feel like we should have topless photos of our hottest players (past and present) up in the away dressing room. Opposition takes their shirt off the peg and there's a topless Schär, or Wilson, or Ginola looking at them. Can't help but sow a little seed of inadequacy in their minds pre-game.

He's definitely got some making up to do, but that's probably above even his pay grade.

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?