Sibierski

Whilst we could get a striker that chips in 15 (and they would have too if we are to finish top half), you can’t put a price on a player that scares opposition before the game has even started. Isak is in that zone where defences are thinking about him before game has started, always trying to second guess his actions, doubting themselves. Fact he’s regularly bullied VVD and Gabriel/Saliba also scares other teams. All that then affords more space and time for our other attackers. It’s that stuff you can’t quantify with stats, but happens because of the aura.

Man City will likely end up selling McAtee and O’Reilly this summer (possibly Bobb too) and they’ll be back in healthy PSR as they can book all that value. Liverpool similar with Quansah, Kelleher, Doak, Elliot and if needs be next summer Jones/Bradley. Again all straight booked profit. These clubs will be running out of players soon where they can do this, but at that point I wouldn’t be shocked if they work on changing the rules at that point. They would’ve assembled strong expensive squads, so need a new way to keep those squads. So increasing PSR threshold would be one after they’ve increased their gap over others.

Yea, it’s clear they’re only willing to pay like £100m-£120m and want us to lower price or Isak to kick off further so we sell at that price. Can’t see either happening, as we can get that price next summer and not have to sell this late in window.

I get PSR is a bit frustrating, but I’m glad there’s some rules (just not how tight they are right now), because if not we’d be signing every man and his dog under PIF, where novelty would quickly wear off when there’s no attachment to players. Tonali banned? Spend £200m. Never get to witness his redemption arc.

Wait till the injuries rack up from the three shite games out here.

That top 6, never saw that coming.

At some point it may come out that Isak is unsettled because he’s had no support around him because of the lack of voices upstairs, so been led down a path that he regrets. Strong arm around him, set the record straight and the narrative in the media may change. Wouldn’t be the first nor last player who’s been badly advised, and we’ve only got Howe to correct him on path who can only do so much.

Man City didn’t even sign back Delap this summer who would’ve cost them 15m net.

And we took ages to negotiate a deal that could be accepted. Man City at the time were wrapping up transfers in areas they needed strengthening, so chance was there. We took too long and the door opened for Man City. Under Stavaley, this would’ve been wrapped up ASAP if it was an opportunist move. Something we’ve been bad at since she left.

We’re in contract talks with Tino and there’s a link to Man City Never saw this coming. All agent stuff again. Football was so much more enjoyable when social media was not so rampant and the need for news 24/7. Agents just drop a text to some of their connections, and that’s it. Only needs to be one sentence and writers will run with it for ages.

Probably at start of season, not when league games have started. Think Howe would be happy for Isak to leave early June 2026 before World Cup, so he can work on players over summer. Right now, him leaving doesn’t help us because of the changes needed (and the current struggle to sign even with Isak here).

Quiet Friday so has to drum up traction to his site.

Like we’ve not even gone back in for Wissa after first bid rejected and all noise is now towards Sesko. Doubt we’d be using Sesko as a smokescreen to wrap up Wissa

I feel the club sees Sesko as the priority now, and intention is still to have two top strikers. Isak remains, that’s the plan. Isak leaves, we go back in for Wissa at end of window, or if he’s moved on elsewhere, target someone else.

Agree, but giving how much of a mess we are right now, I doubt in our list of targets the next GK is attainable right now. Like GK after pope can’t be a fail, so need to nail it. Trafford was that for me, but club may now have to sit down and work out what really is the long term option and get ground work put in for 2026. Massive reliance now on Pope being injury free this season. Can not in any circumstances have Dubs playing games in goal ffs.

So why didn’t Dubs join earlier? Was he held back in case Trafford chose us, then now he hasn’t, he’s flying over on his Tod? Bet he’s buzzing.

Maybe we should’ve just paid £20m for him last summer?

At least we can end this thread now. 12 months of having him agreed to come here, and he doesn’t come here. Literally lost out on a proper top tier goalkeeper in the making.

Trafford?

Anthony Gordon.

I mean he was injured. He’d run hard in games and be done by HT.

Big if, but if he signs a new deal or stays for one more season, I’d expect him to apologise, knuckle down and still deliver the same quality we’ve seen before. He’s not a lost cause for me and we’ve got enough pros in our squad who will remind him. Today is the big day. If we don’t get the “Liverpool have agreed terms with Isak, bid imminent” after all of yesterday and Liverpool supposedly readying a bid for past 2 weeks, I’m not sure we ever will. Think we as a club have to now also get ahead of the narrative. Doesn’t have to be a direct statement from club as you never get that, but a solid leak from the club on what the true stance and situation is. All Howe is going to get over this whole tour is questions about Isak which will piss him off.

And if Isak has instructed his agent to get him the best deal, the play by the agent would be to tell Isak to stay away and use the Liverpool interest to drive up the contract price. Anyway, Hope man Guy a relentless prick. Hope Howe calls him out on this tour.

Why is it always worded as “when Newcastle open the doors / change their stance”. Thats not changing until a bid comes in. Because then it will be rejected and it’s over to Isak to see if he proper throws his toys out. All this, readying to bid, but not bidding, is just strange.

How is it? If we dig in, get him a new deal, that shows us as being weak? Not that we still mean business?