Colos Short and Curlies Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 I'd stick him on the bench if we're going to have 2 keepers there anyway. Match day experience, integration and being part of the teal talks etc. And you never know we may be in a position where we are 3 up with 10 to go and we can give him a jog out Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 His country will ask him if he’s fit to go to the AFCON and he’ll say yes, they’re not going to ask us. There’s then a strong possibility he’ll be playing the full 90 minutes every 3/4 days. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Prophet Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 Was there anything in him not going to AFCON? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duo Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 5 minutes ago, Kimbo said: His country will ask him if he’s fit to go to the AFCON and he’ll say yes, they’re not going to ask us. There’s then a strong possibility he’ll be playing the full 90 minutes every 3/4 days. Surely Newcastle have a say if he's fit or not? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 18 minutes ago, duo said: Surely Newcastle have a say if he's fit or not? They might ask us for our medical team's opinion, but they’ll be talking to him all the time and I can guess what he’s saying. I don’t think we get any official say in it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Weezertron Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 50 minutes ago, Kimbo said: His country will ask him if he’s fit to go to the AFCON and he’ll say yes, they’re not going to ask us. There’s then a strong possibility he’ll be playing the full 90 minutes every 3/4 days. Good way to get him fit! It can be his '6 week pre-season'. /s Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 2 hours ago, The Prophet said: Was there anything in him not going to AFCON? Who knows? But I imagine Eddie’s going to get questioned about it at every presser from now until the squads get announced. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRC Posted November 27, 2025 Share Posted November 27, 2025 Doesn’t he have to go if he got picked? I’m sure a Chelsea player retired from international football and they called him up and Jose was furious, maybe Makalele? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 22 minutes ago, TRC said: Doesn’t he have to go if he got picked? I’m sure a Chelsea player retired from international football and they called him up and Jose was furious, maybe Makalele? If they picked him and he refused to play they could theoretically block him playing club football for the duration of the tournament. However that’s a fairly nuclear option, and you’d like to think everybody involved would have sensible discussions before it reached that point. It’s not in our interests to piss Congo off, and it’s not in Congo’s interests to piss Wissa off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDog Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 9 minutes ago, SteV said: If they picked him and he refused to play they could theoretically block him playing club football for the duration of the tournament. However that’s a fairly nuclear option, and you’d like to think everybody involved would have sensible discussions before it reached that point. It’s not in our interests to piss Congo off, and it’s not in Congo’s interests to piss Wissa off. Hang on. So let's say Wissa said I am not interested in playing in the tournament or said I am retiring from international football, FIFA can block a player from playing? There is no fucking way that is legal, right? Accepting a call up is the players decision and can't possibly have club ramifications. Now if Newcastle say he can't go that's an entirely different kettle of fish as they say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fak Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 Hasn't Chiesa been rejecting Gattuso's callups to the Italy squad this season? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDog Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 3 minutes ago, Fak said: Hasn't Chiesa been rejecting Gattuso's callups to the Italy squad this season? Exactly and yes. It's his right. They can't force him to play. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 4 minutes ago, McDog said: Hang on. So let's say Wissa said I am not interested in playing in the tournament or said I am retiring from international football, FIFA can block a player from playing? There is no fucking way that is legal, right? Accepting a call up is the players decision and can't possibly have club ramifications. Now if Newcastle say he can't go that's an entirely different kettle of fish as they say. In theory, it should never really happen once the player decides he’s retiring from international football, as it serves no real purpose, apart from maybe trying to force them to change their mind on the retirement. But it is technically a FIFA rule that can be imposed (or at least it was, as seen with Makelele). It’s obviously a bit different if, using Wissa as an example, he said I want to miss the AFCON but still play in the WC playoff and subsequent finals. As I say though, it should never really get to that point with sensible discussion. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
r0cafella Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 It's important to remember the club has zero control over if he's called. If they decide to call him up we can't do anything about it. Just want to highlight this in the event he does call up and folks go after the club about it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDog Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 (edited) 11 minutes ago, SteV said: In theory, it should never really happen once the player decides he’s retiring from international football, as it serves no real purpose, apart from maybe trying to force them to change their mind on the retirement. But it is technically a FIFA rule that can be imposed (or at least it was, as seen with Makelele). It’s obviously a bit different if, using Wissa as an example, he said I want to miss the AFCON but still play in the WC playoff and subsequent finals. As I say though, it should never really get to that point with sensible discussion. Did some googling and that is fucking nuts and you are right it seems. I agree on the sensible discussion thing though. So if the manager is a fuckhead he can keep calling you up until you die and fuck with your career? edit: I suppose this is to prevent a club from pressuring a player to refuse a callup but fucking hell, that's crazy to me. Edited November 28, 2025 by McDog Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucky Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 It’s fully on Wissa what he chooses to do. The club cannot block an international call up, it would be a shit storm with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football. If he does get a call up and chooses to go and then has some sort of setback while away, that’ll fully be on him in terms of how his career goes here. Putting the strike shit aside which I don’t think sits well with any of us, he does generally seem a good egg in terms of how he gets on with the squad so I’d be hopeful he makes the best decision for the club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibierski Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 If he’s just started training with the team, Sunderland game in 2 weeks is too soon IMO. Likely plays a u23 game in this next week or two to see how his body recovers post 60 min game. Fulham then on bench and appears and he’s ready to be starting for games such as Chelsea. Just as ACON starts… Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
duo Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 Gotta admit I'll not be impressed if he goes to AFCON just as he becomes fit. Player should show some loyalty to the club who gave him the move he was craving for big money. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lordshola Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 8 hours ago, SteV said: If they picked him and he refused to play they could theoretically block him playing club football for the duration of the tournament. However that’s a fairly nuclear option, and you’d like to think everybody involved would have sensible discussions before it reached that point. It’s not in our interests to piss Congo off, and it’s not in Congo’s interests to piss Wissa off. How can a player literally be forced to play for a team when he doesn’t want to? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteV Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 5 minutes ago, Lordshola said: How can a player literally be forced to play for a team when he doesn’t want to? Well, I suppose they can’t physically make you play, if you really don’t want to, they can just stop you playing for a club side at the same time. I think we’re all probably guilty of looking too much into this. Although the rule does exist, it’s really not going to be enforced in anything other than extreme circumstances (yes, Makelele etc etc). Tbh, can’t wait for a couple of weeks time when they name the squads and we know one way or the other. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbo Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 23 minutes ago, duo said: Gotta admit I'll not be impressed if he goes to AFCON just as he becomes fit. Player should show some loyalty to the club who gave him the move he was craving for big money. Most players are desperate to play in the big international tournaments though. I’d be pretty shocked if he turned it down. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe1984 Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 12 hours ago, Colos Short and Curlies said: I'd stick him on the bench if we're going to have 2 keepers there anyway. Match day experience, integration and being part of the teal talks etc. And you never know we may be in a position where we are 3 up with 10 to go and we can give him a jog out What shade of teal do you think Wissa prefers... 🤔 😏 😜 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gola Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 10 minutes ago, Joe1984 said: What shade of teal do you think Wissa prefers... 🤔 😏 😜 Gary? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRon Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 7 hours ago, duo said: Gotta admit I'll not be impressed if he goes to AFCON just as he becomes fit. Player should show some loyalty to the club who gave him the move he was craving for big money. I would prefer him not to go, but if he can get a couple of games in for us before going, it will sting slightly less. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sibierski Posted November 28, 2025 Share Posted November 28, 2025 5 minutes ago, TRon said: I would prefer him not to go, but if he can get a couple of games in for us before going, it will sting slightly less. 23rd December is their first game. Usually players have to be there I believe a week before first game unless giving special dispensation. So Fulham on 17th December would likely be his Final Cut off appearance before going (if he was called up and if he went). If he made it back to feature off the bench for 15 mins against Sunderland, then followed it up with a start for 60 against Fulham, he would need to score in both to soften anything for me (with wins in both too). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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