Other clubs' transfers

[Lish007]

Obviously Isak is a great player and Liverpool have some great players BUT.. there is now a lot of pressure on them to not only retain their title, but win CL.

 

We will see but they really really should have got another CB in as Gomez is very injury prone. Will be very interesting to see if they can actually do it. 

 

Isak is good but Ekitike was filling in very nicely as a 9. They have an amazing front but their backline is very suspect and all this media wanking over them will put the pressure on very early. 

 

Obvs its quite irritating that they've managed 9/9 without actually playing well at all but that wont last. They will score goals but they are hella leaky. 

[Drewboy74]

4 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Under 1M we can do whatever we like APT I believe.

Ok thanks, but im still not sure that we could do multiple APT deals to do anything significant. 

[r0cafella]

7 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Their stated ambition wasn't a league cup win and scraping into the CL. If that's the ambition. That's also fine. I'm less mad at Isak if that's the case. Why waste another year at a club of limited ambition? Go and win your trophies boy.

Your muddying the waters fam

 

Before this all kicked off absolutely nobody begrudged him a move it's the way he went about it. 

[The College Dropout]

7 minutes ago, AyeDubbleYoo said:

 

Who do you actually support?

I support Newcastle United. I back the team and Eddie to the end. If we are midtable or in the Champ, it's all the same.

 

I just need to understand what the aims of any Owner is. When I realised what the game was with Ashley, I was less invested. We were part of "the PL others". Happy to be in the division. No more no less. Didn't even want European football because we wouldn't invest in a team that could cope. This ownership group.... the penny is dropping about what teh game is. Just wish they were a bit more honest and transparent.

 

They've come in talking about plans to become a major force in Europe and PL, becoming number 1. I don't really believe that to be true. Or at least backed up with the necessary action. Football's such a competitive thing you can't be half-arsed and expect great results.

[Menace]

15 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

Their stated ambition wasn't a league cup win and scraping into the CL. If that's the ambition. That's also fine. I'm less mad at Isak if that's the case. Why waste another year at a club of limited ambition? Go and win your trophies boy.

 

No proper fan ever says this btw especially as he just fucking won one with us.

 

 

Edited September 2, 2025 by Menace

[The College Dropout]

6 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Your muddying the waters fam

 

Before this all kicked off absolutely nobody begrudged him a move it's the way he went about it. 

He's been a dickhead no doubt. Lost respect for him totally.

 

If our ambition is capped at this though, most of our v. best players will leave and I will be happy for them to leave. Obviously not like Isak though. 

[AyeDubbleYoo]

2 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

I support Newcastle United. I back the team and Eddie to the end. If we are midtable or in the Champ, it's all the same.

 

I just need to understand what the aims of any Owner is. When I realised what the game was with Ashley, I was less invested. We were part of "the PL others". Happy to be in the division. No more no less. Didn't even want European football because we wouldn't invest in a team that could cope. This ownership group.... the penny is dropping about what teh game is. Just wish they were a bit more honest and transparent.

 

They've come in talking about plans to become a major force in Europe and PL, becoming number 1. I don't really believe that to be true. Or at least backed up with the necessary action. Football's such a competitive thing you can't be half-arsed and expect great results.

 

OK, fair enough, but progress can only happen so fast and we really need to appreciate the good times after all the shit we've been through. 

 

I just think it's an extremely negative spin on turning perennial relegation battles into 2 CL qualifications and the first trophy in a lifetime. 

[r0cafella]

9 minutes ago, The College Dropout said:

He's been a dickhead no doubt. Lost respect for him totally.

 

If our ambition is capped at this though, most of our v. best players will leave and I will be happy for them to leave. Obviously not like Isak though. 

Exactly he was a complete prick and was only interested in himself. Most of this board accepted wed get one more season max and I think everyone was ok with it. 

 

The fact he forced his little move when everyone had spent up absolutely fucked us. 

 

I hear your point and if our ambitions don't match our bluster then all of our stars will go as well, it's understandable but at least be respectful about it. 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2025 by r0cafella

[The College Dropout]

2 minutes ago, Menace said:

 

No proper fan ever says this btw especially as he just fucking won one with us.

 

 

 

I don't take football that personally. Isak's behaviour has made me dislike him deeply but I genuinely don't begrudge players for trying to make the most of their careers. I do expect them to honour contracts and the like though. But they are v. young men with often awful agents. Football clubs are meant to be run for hard-nosed business folks thattake that into account,

 

Everyone acts in their own best interests. Fans do. It almost got ugly with Longstaff here - how sad is that?

 

I cried tears of joy when we won the League Cup. It meant the world to me. But being objective - a player of Isak's calibre will want more than that from his career. League titles, European titles, Ballon D'Or nominee - some of those will be his career goals.

 

But he's gone about it in the worst way possible and as a Newcastle fan, I hope he fails miserably. Not loved at Anfield. A fate worse than Michael Owen - not beloved anywhere. And even Owen left Liverpool in more understandable circumstance, won Ballon D'Or etc. I genuinely want the worst for the lad professionaly and I hate having vindictive thoughts/feelings.

[The College Dropout]

6 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Exactly he was a complete prick and was only interested in himself. Most of this board accepted wed get one more season max and I think everyone was ok with it. 

 

The fact he forced his little move when everyone had spent up absolutely fucked us. 

 

I hear your point and if our ambitions don't match our bluster then all of our starts will go as well, it's understandable but at least be respectful about it. 

Aye i'm not defending Isak. But the club is not entirely blameless. Players, agents etc. all need constant managing. That power/leadership vacuum contributed to this saga.

 

The club tried to rely on the 3-year contract and neglected managing the relationship. And then didn't even use the leverage properly when it came down to it. Giving him a new contract or even trying to have the full discussion brings the relationship/management of the situation a lot closer. So I don't buy that it wouldn't have made any difference. At the least, we would've known he was going to be a major problem much earlier and could have put more things in place. With Yasir hanging out with Trump, Eales and Mitchell doing God knows what - there was this massive gap between the players, Eddie and the supposed power people.

 

It's all part of that rudderless, lack of speed, drive i've spoken about at length for a long time. So i'm done for now.

[r0cafella]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

Aye i'm not defending Isak. But the club is not entirely blameless. Players, agents etc. all need constant managing. That power/leadership vacuum contributed to this saga.

 

The club tried to rely on the 3-year contract and neglected managing the relationship. And then didn't even use the leverage properly when it came down to it. Giving him a new contract or even trying to have the full discussion brings the relationship/management of the situation a lot closer. So I don't buy that it wouldn't have made any difference. At the least, we would've known he was going to be a major problem much earlier and could have put more things in place. With Yasir hanging out with Trump, Eales and Mitchell doing God knows what - there was this massive gap between the players, Eddie and the supposed power people.

 

It's all part of that rudderless, lack of speed, drive i've spoken about at length for a long time. So i'm done for now.

We offered him a new deal mate, he told us to do one. 

 

I understand the points your making however we all have jobs and we won't always get what we want. We don't just go and throw tantrums though and refuse to do our job when that happens. 

 

Its just not an excuse which can be used to defend him imo. 

[Interpolic]

Tbh I assume TCD has been on strike for many years, the amount of absolute drivel he's posted on here. 

[The College Dropout]

Just now, r0cafella said:

We offered him a new deal mate, he told us to do one. 

 

I understand the points your making however we all have jobs and we won't always get what we want. We don't just go and throw tantrums though and refuse to do our job when that happens. 

 

Its just not an excuse which can be used to defend him imo. 

I'm still not defending Isak 

 

We offered a new contract in the summer right? That's too late. Yesterday's price, is not today's price. By the time we offered a new contract he knew Liverpool had 350k+ for him. About a year after Amanda said he would get a new contract and at least 6 months after Mitchell said he wouldn't get it. I think we offered him a new contract after we knew Mitchell had resigned. We looked a mess to him and Liverpool. The whole thing was poorly managed.

 

We didn't manage the things we had control or influence over well. The entire saga.

[The College Dropout]

3 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

Tbh I assume TCD has been on strike for many years, the amount of absolute drivel he's posted on here. 

On that note - let me check in on the people I manage.

[Interpolic]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

On that note - let me check in on the people I manage.

 

You're an absolute prat

[Sibierski]

37 minutes ago, Lish007 said:

Obviously Isak is a great player and Liverpool have some great players BUT.. there is now a lot of pressure on them to not only retain their title, but win CL.

 

We will see but they really really should have got another CB in as Gomez is very injury prone. Will be very interesting to see if they can actually do it. 

 

Isak is good but Ekitike was filling in very nicely as a 9. They have an amazing front but their backline is very suspect and all this media wanking over them will put the pressure on very early. 

 

Obvs its quite irritating that they've managed 9/9 without actually playing well at all but that wont last. They will score goals but they are hella leaky. 

 

I really want them to wobble and drop off, especially as we move into November and December because managing the egos of Ekitike and Isak if one is reguarly not starting when side is faultering will be fun to watch.

 

Slot has also shown to have a short fuse, which if you throw that into the mix, will be tasty.

 

But it firstly needs a side to stick it to them in the league. Our approach was the perfect one, as it riled up the players and Slot. Didn't get a late winner, he would've imploded at FT.

[The College Dropout]

34 minutes ago, Drewboy74 said:

Ok thanks, but im still not sure that we could do multiple APT deals to do anything significant. 

People have claimed we couldn't afford to give Isak a new contract due to FFP. With the additional spread of amortisation, a 100k increase is about £2-3m a year net addition to PSR. £150k would be closer to £5m.

 

So 5 APT deals at just under a million would get Isak a new contract at £250k last summer - paid by APT and amortisation spreading. Probably would've helped us get closer to £150m at the least.

 

These are the types of things an Owner as rich and powerful as PIF could do if they were serious and dedicated to us being a force in this league.

[The College Dropout]

3 minutes ago, Interpolic said:

 

You're an absolute prat

All iv'e done is share football opinions 

 

You're a joke mate.

[The College Dropout]

1 hour ago, r0cafella said:

I'd hate having those two personally.

 

Not because they are terrible, but financially these are two players who wont improve and will be on very good salaries. They are financial nooses and likely won't even get the opportunity to contribute enough not to be. 

How much money do you think they earn between them? £150k tops - surely?

 

My overall opinion in football is that the gap between the elite and the rest is widening financially. Unless we suddenly get an academy as good as Chelsea/City (a FFP allowed cash cow of some nature) - I don't think you can slow build into becoming a PL force in 2025. Look at how the top 6 have strengthened this summer. I think we need to aggressively close the gap now/asap or the gap will widen. IMO you need to consoldiate your space at the top table as soon as you can.

 

To challenge, I think you need a Norgaard or a Barkley as backup. Or maybe a really top class youngster that can Lewis-Skelly it.

 

Losing Isak for an ok fee - is step 1 of the Leicester/Southampton trap.

[r0cafella]

1 minute ago, The College Dropout said:

How much money do you think they earn between them? £150k tops - surely?

 

My overall opinion in football is that the gap between the elite and the rest is widening financially. Unless we suddenly get an academy as good as Chelsea/City (a FFP allowed cash cow of some nature) - I don't think you can slow build into becoming a PL force in 2025. Look at how the top 6 have strengthened this summer. I think we need to aggressively close the gap now/asap or the gap will widen. IMO you need to consoldiate your space at the top table as soon as you can.

 

To challenge, I think you need a Norgaard or a Barkley as backup. Or maybe a really top class youngster that can Lewis-Skelly it.

 

Losing Isak for an ok fee - is step 1 of the Leicester/Southampton trap.

Probably a bit more but that's not the only issue for me. I'm not keen on having so many players at the club who are basically never going to improve and hold little to no value. 

 

I want players who are young, hungry and want to improve, not players who have made it and are coasting. 

 

Good lord, We've had so many of those. 

[The College Dropout]

8 minutes ago, r0cafella said:

Probably a bit more but that's not the only issue for me. I'm not keen on having so many players at the club who are basically never going to improve and hold little to no value. 

 

I want players who are young, hungry and want to improve, not players who have made it and are coasting. 

 

Good lord, We've had so many of those. 

OK. I think we need a squad where everyone knows their role and can fill it. I don't know about Malen but Barkley is on a short-term contract.

 

I personally like having Krafth and Lascelles. Proper men and professionals who can do a steady job when needed.

 

I think we are stunting Osula and Miley's development by keeping them as emergency players. Osula in particular, is getting to an age where he needs to play regularly. Neither look like they know who they are as pro footballers.

 

I also think we should do as many PSR hacks as possible so we don't have weak/inexperienced squad battling on multiple fronts.

 

To Villa's credit, none of their loanees or cheap transfers on bigger wages looked like they were on holiday. i thought Asensio was done and he was excellent. Similar with Rashford and he looked good too.

 

 

Edited September 2, 2025 by The College Dropout

[r0cafella]

Just now, The College Dropout said:

OK. I think we need a squad where everyone knows their role and can fill it. I don't know about Malen but Barkley is on a short-term contract.

 

I personally like having Krafth and Lascelles. Proper men and professionals who can do a steady job when needed.

 

I think we are stunting Osula and Miley's development by keeping them as emergency players. Osula in particular, is getting to an age where he needs to play regularly. Neither look like they know who they are as pro footballers.

 

I also think we should do as many PSR hacks as possible so we don't have weak/inexperienced squad battling on multiple fronts.

Obviously a balance is needed, in not advocating for a pure Chelsea style set up. 

 

The issue we face is we can't afford to get replacements in to facilitate loans for Miley in particular. I'm sure you believe we need to get rid of Willock for example so a replacement for him is a priority before we get an extra body in. 

 

I think we need a squad where everyone can contribute to the team and they all have the managers full trust to play. It's not something which can be achieved over night though. 

 

I think building and constructing a squad is a artform in itself. 

[MagPar]

7 hours ago, cubaricho said:

You do know he had no choice right?  

Come on, player power n all that. If he wanted to come here he'd be here. 

[duo]

23 hours ago, Kid Icarus said:

 

I am ecstatic they missed out on Guehi - they needed him more than Isak

[JT24]

I do look forward to reading the investigation into this relationship in a few years.