Optimistic Nut

A younger & more consistent version of Murphy would improve us big time. His numbers weren't too bad, and his main target is changing from Wood to Isak. I think he'd do great for us.

Would love to hear a Mackem pronounce that.

They're also not in a position where they probably only have around £100-120m needed to strengthen 3 key positions just to stand still as a top 5 team tbf. The Mbeumos take too much out of the budget, another Minteh-esque signing is too much of a gamble and not what we need at this time. The likes of Elanga & Trafford are pretty much in the sweet spot of what we can afford and would improve our starting XI and also have the potential to be those £60-70m players we can't yet afford. Also need some money for a top CB as well as padding out the squad.

They already have Saka, Salah, etc tbf mind. And Spurs have the PSR freedom to pay what can afford Mbuemo.

If we're looking at him as a first choice winger in a Champions League team then can't blame them valuing him £50-60m.

Oh aye, if that was on offer yes. I was talking a choice between Elanga & Isak or Mbuemo & Groceries.

Would sooner have Elanga & Isak.

Round on Pointless where Chris Ramsey draws 5 North-East landmarks and the contestants have to guess what they were. Answers were St James Park, Angel of the North, Bamburgh Castle, Tyne Bridge & Penshaw Monument. Most obscure answer was Penshaw Monument. Fucking mugs. Rest of the country know bugger all about them man.

Think that was the last time I saw him too. Prutton rubbing his hands.

Jesus, mental gamble that.

Random fact and probably a Giggs, our former player Daniel Cordone was booed & jeered in Brazil playing in a Brazil v Argentina "legends" game, as they tried to pass him off as Caniggia and the fans sussed straight away. https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37407467/the-toe-poke-ex-newcastle-flop-dresses-fake-caniggia-charity-match

Caniggia to Dundee as well. Didn't last long before Rangers snapped him up he was ridiculously too good for them.

Poor Wolves.

90s was amazing for random overseas transfers in Scotland. Rousset to Hearts, Sauzee to Hibs, Gilhaus playing for Holland at Italia 90 while an Aberdeen player, etc.

Burley won something ridiculous like 10/11 first games, were looking a genuine title contender and then that happened. Just scraped 2nd ahead of Rangers in the end but blew the Champions League qualifier against AEK Athens. Heady times.

When Hearts played Celtic in the final a few years back, lost on pens to them but Odsonne Eduard who played and scored for Celtic that day cost more than Hearts had ever spent in it's history at the time combined. Eduard only cost £8m. The gulf is ridiculous.

I hope you mentioned Ketsbaia.

Tony Bloom-ball on a watered down version up at Hearts. Braga the most expensive signing since 2007. Club record is still John Robertson from Newcastle when they gave us the money back that we paid for him for around £800k.

Was thinking the same. To us he's well worth £35-40m. Liverpool are in a position where if they get him for cheap/free then brilliant, if not, they'll just sign someone better.

Boro maybe with Robbie Keane?

We'd just be in the same boat, but needing a LW instead of RW. LW is the strongest area we have depth wise. Unless we were getting a silly fee for Gordon then we shouldn't touch it, we need the rest of the areas like LW.

The away tie was a no-contest. The home game they set a trap for Gordon when dribbling inside and would hit us on the break, but could have gone either way. Joelinton sitter and Wilson hitting the bar in particular.

Dortmund was annoying as I don't think they'd have taken 6 points off us with just a few extra players available. We probably deserved at least a point at home, the away game we were on our knees.

More than anything, looking forward to seeing Botman, Tonali and an at his peak Isak in this season's Champions League. Think we'd have made the knockouts if we'd had them available/fully fit last time.

Palhinha available on loan seemingly and linked to Fulham & Man U. Just seems another one that a year ago you could have seen Villa go for as depth for a season. Could even argue he'd be starting in the holding role allowing Tonali & Bruno a bit more freedom.