Kooiman

Given how many dominoes need to fall for Yoann Wissa to move here, I'm starting to think Jackson is the premium alternative we're considering. He presses like mad, he can technically can play on either wing, and he's more likely to run beyond the defensive line than drop deep to link up play. We're pitching him as an Isak replacement, but it makes no sense to sign him and Wissa in the same window. Both like to run beyond over dropping into the pocket and linking up play and both will be absent for the AFCON.

I went to check as I wasn't sure. Started 22 games for them last season. If Brentford have told him he'll be their leading forward I can see the appeal when you consider they're geared towards selling as a football club.

He turned Joelinton from a misfiring forward/LW into a box to box menace. Excited for this.

It's a great point that should be put to Sir Jim every chance they get. How are we saying with a straight face that it's the people's game when we'll sack office staff to fund a midfielder.

There's a canny video on YouTube about the club. A former pro in Scotland went out to train with them. It seemed painfully amateur to be totally honest.

Depending on whether we want a more well-rounded forward or a pure 9, I think this lad fits the latter category.

Parish missing out on 40 million and Liverpool forced to wait? Delighted.

If I put aside injury concerns because I don't know enough to be sure if that's a legitimate concern, I do love how much of his highlight reels are him driving with the ball in central areas. Our current central midfield options are brilliant, but I don't know if I'd consider any of them as being excellent at driving forward quickly through tighter spaces. Tonali and Joelinton are great with grass in front of them, Bruno has a little filck or trick in his locker, but that's usually just to evade pressure. This lad looks like someone that can get it 40 yards out from goal and get us into a better position really quickly. Any chance we can flog them John Ruddy in return in memory of Elliot Anderson?

Liverpool fans wonder why they're so disliked when they revel in tapping up players.

I'd say partially because they're conscious of PSR and partially because they don't feel they need to. Liverpool have been smart financially in the last few years. Whether it's flogging academy players or knowing when to cut loose on older players like Sadio Mane, they've done some good outgoing business (they've also benefitted from the Saudi Pro League's recruitment drive to the tune of about £100m). That underlying patience and strategy is likely being carried out right now and has them feeling that they can get Isak without the need for him to incur financial penalty. They also want a defender. I'd expect some kind of movement on that this week and if the player costs between 30-50m, and wants wages of 75-140k, that could add anywhere from 50-90million to their spending depending on how much is demanded. In that case, they may want to wait 12 months and see if Isak becomes available for 90-110m as they tried for this year. This is a microcosm for my gripe with PSR. Once you're elite, you can take much bigger risks than those aspiring to be elite. If we get an Isak wrong we're in bother, if we get one right he probably ends up at Liverpool. We're a litmus test for those we aspire to rival.

I never expected much endorsement for our side of the argument. There's far more money and media to be made from Isak joining Liverpool than staying here. That said, it's intriguing to see some criticizing his conduct and advocating for him to put in a transfer request. To me, that's a glimmer of light that people see this for what it is. A player is making a lot of noise but avoiding the action that goes with it. Liverpool are much the same with their regurgitated briefings about 'only making an offer when Newcastle's stance changes'. Throughout it all, only one or two have ever asked, what about Newcastle? Liverpool want to kick on and win more, and so do we. That's why we don't want to sell him, and that's why if we feel we must, we only do it when we feel a suitable replacement has been secured. If I ask to buy a bloke's car and he tells me it's not for sale, I'm not being respectful by going back every third day and saying I'm willing to make an offer when his stance changes. I'm being an annoying prat.

I personally loved the poke away in the second half where he got up and roared at the away end.

I only learned today his agent is allegedly banned from several clubs (Ajax, PSV, AIK) and allegedly has questionable ties to Abramovich from back in the day. He certainly seems like Mino Raiola minus any semblance of tact. I think it's nice to see most fans appreciate we're holding firm on a price and refusing to be messed around. I think the wave of briefings are a direct consequence of Liverpool losing Sunday and now feeling impatient to get a deal done.

One major injury is skewing the numbers, but a 10 game spell out last year with a hamstring injury is a worry. We play high intensity, we need guys who can handle that.

Jacob Ramsey has missed over 40 games in the last two seasons. It feels like getting a younger Joe Willock. I'd much rather take the lad from Leicester.

I feel personally attacked.

We shouldn't turn our nose up at someone like him. He's creative, likes hard work, and is positionally versatile. That's basically the Eddie Howe bingo card. It's tempting to keep upgrading positions in the 4-3-3 we play, but in reality we need some degree of flexibility in case Eddie wants to change or we end up changing manager.

Be nice to see him with a team that aren't relegation fodder.

I went to Leicester at home last year, and he was the only one I remember looking remotely like a Premier League footballer. A creative midfielder with a bit of work ethic seems right up Edward's street.

Trans-Atlantic. Lovely lad as well. There's a few in my office that have got into football and then try to plan a tour of England/Europe to see games.

I can see them having a decent amount of day trippers tbh. There's a lad in our office who started following them off the back of the documentary. I think he's got plans to go over for one game.

I'm not one for shaming attendances to be honest. Sunderland as an area isn't flush with a cash and if you know the main lads played yesterday at Augsburg it's a hard sell with expensive Premier League games on the horizon.

I've heard many a ropey story about Alan Pardew. A notorious shagger. As a coach, Pardiola was a funny one. When the sailing was smooth he was slightly easier to like. The problem was inevitably when things turned. Pardew was fortunate that he followed Chris Hughton, who instilled discipline and structure to the side. He did well to get us through that tricky first bit of 2010/2011, and his reward for that was a fit again Ben Arfa, and some genuinely brilliant players in Yohan Cabaye and Demba Ba. That all helped to create a balanced side that could play kick and rush when needed, but also had a dash of real quality when needed (the run from mic-March to mid-April was some of the best football I'd seen us play in years). His problem was always reinventing. The shambolic corner routine we had was evidence of that. I think Mike Ashley fucked him over a fair bit with the summer spend in 2012, maybe if the January signings had come in the summer, things would have gone differently, but in reality we ended the season so poorly that I'm inclined to think probably not. I'm sure I could enjoy a beer with him, but ideally I'd not want to discuss his time here.

If one of the visiting team looks familiar it's because it's Florian Lejeune marshaling things at the back for Rayo Vallecano.

This is why I say we've dodged a bullet. He looked huffy coming off the pitch and let the game drift by when he was moved wide. When the chips are down is he going to want that fight? I don't think so.