Maggies

Crazy that they’ve fixed the draw so this doesn’t need to happen. There’s no reason why champions league sides can’t be drawn to face each other.

Seems there was a delegation from Saudi at the match on Monday that was to promote ‘Newcastle as the gateway for trade between UK and Saudi’. I know that’s been talked about a lot already, but hopefully that comes to fruition.

Agreed. I was part of the reintegrate him group, until I was at the match tonight. It’s an injustice to the players tonight to think we can bring him back. Equally we can’t sell him and now we need to let him rot.

Tuesday’s seem to be the days where they stir the pot so we’ll probably hear something tomorrow from Isak’s agent. I can’t see Liverpool bidding again until we sign a striker (or two). Unless they come in with something crazy like £170m then they know it will be rejected, so they’re just increasing the price unnecessarily. I think the test will come when we’ve got one striker through the door.

Got to be disallowed

There’s going to be a lot of penalties this season if those are the rules!

Has there been another season where the mid tables side have been as decimated during the transfer window?

What’s going on with pitch at St Pauli v Dortmund of sky sports football. Looks like extreme ticker tape.

Two questions per journalist and she tried for a third. A few other journalists did as well. It was nothing more than that.

I watched the press conference, I came away from it feeling it’s more likely that Isak stays. Eddie as impeccable as ever. Couple of key quotes from me: ”We’re still working very hard on a Callum Wilson replacement” ”Nothing is yet close on the transfer front”

The club said they don’t foresee the conditions of a sale this summer being met. I can’t imagine they weren’t able to foresee the purchase of Wissa, so it’s fair to assume the Wissa purchase means nothing for Isak.

First sentence is true. Second sentence is not true. Our players will be composed, just like the cup final where we proved we can outplay them. Just need to keep Salah quiet again.

I think the point we’re proving sets a precedent for how we want to be seen moving forward. We could sell Isak and be seen as a cuck stepping stone club. Or more importantly, we could keep Isak and be seen as a club who won’t sell their best players easily. We will sell but always on our terms. A club who has ambitions. Champions League 2 of last 3 seasons and a recent cup win gives us the confidence to kick on. It’s the hardest step so there will be up and downs, but it’s an opportunity that no other club in the country have available. PSR - even if we let him rot in the reserves for a year, we still be able to sell for £100m+ next summer, so minimal impact.

What are we speculating as the conditions for a sale: I think signing a striker and being offered £140m+ could be foreseen. So I suspect the condition that can’t be foreseen is that we sign as Isak-level replacement before he leaves. That ain’t happening.

Got a suspicion he ends up at Liverpool.

We shouldn’t release a statement. But if we do, it should a firm not for sale statement.

I have a few times. Thought it would feel odder than what it was. Jota missing the chance before half time made it feel strange more than Isak’s goal.

Just reread the statement. You’re right those are key words and also didn’t need to be included. Think it’s a last roll of the dice to force a transfer, but keep the door open to play again if still here come September. As much as I’d love us shove that door right in his face and let him rot, time and goals are a healer.

Agreed - there’s no need to add that bit in.

Assume it’s because he’s moved/leaned towards the ball that’s it’s been given.

Until we sign a replacement and someone bids an amount that we find acceptable then everything is just noise and can be ignored.

All press reports seem fixated on how we would of won with Isak. While true, I also think we win with a striker like Wissa playing today. My takeaway for today is that we will continue to win with or without Isak. Getting in a striker is way more important than the Isak saga at the moment.

Good result. Good performance. Yes we missed a striker, but that will be sorted soon. Definitely be pushing for a champions league finish this season with or without greedy bastard.

Performance is more important than results at the beginning of the season. Regardless of second half, we can take a lot of belief into this season.

Agreed. He needs to be braver on the ball and use his size and athleticism to take it forward. Otherwise he’s only going to be as good as someone like Harry Winks. He’s still young though and has time to develop further. A season in the championship would be ideal for him.