It wasn’t pretty at times, with the wind swirling around on the south-coast, but it was a game we deserved something from – and a late Matt Ritchie strike gave us exactly that.
On reflection, it was a game Rafa may be frustrated not to have won given we went in at the break 0-1 up, courtesy of a perfectly placed free kick from Rondon (his 10th goal of the season), but it’s a great point in the end.
The penalty conceded was soft and King’s second was avoidable, but it was another game where our never say die attitude was on display for all to see once again – whether it be Dummett clearing off the line or our relentless pressure late on resulting in Ritchie’s last gasp equaliser:
Dummett was our man of the match for me, defending superbly throughout, Lejeune showed his class on the ball, Fernandez didn’t struggle in the main but was arguably at fault for both goals and both Diame and Hayden did a solid job in the middle – even if we did miss the ball player to create that link between midfield and attack. Almiron and Perez were a little quiet, but their movement allowed Ritchie and Yedlin to have some joy down the flanks
Here’s how the table looks after today’s results:
Elsewhere there was only two other games today, with Burnley in the last minute at home to Leicester and Huddersfield surrendering a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 at West Ham.
Here’s our next 5 fixtures, with us facing a trip to the Emirates two weeks on Monday, followed by a Arsenal away on the 1st April following the international break:
- Arsenal (A)
- Palace (H)
- Leicester (A)
- Southampton (H)
- Brighton (A)
A good point and one that takes us into the international break 7 points clear (practically 8 with goal difference factored in) of Cardiff in third bottom.
https://twitter.com/majic8lsnufc/status/1106946416700739584
kimtoon(Quote)
https://twitter.com/majic8lsnufc/status/1106946416700739584
Rondons
kimtoon(Quote)
Score was about fair
motm Dummett
one more win should see us safe, might take a few games to get it though as ****, Palace and Leicester won’t be easy .
kimtoon(Quote)
Blimey Swans lead v man city
kimtoon(Quote)
I am going to state the obvious. We all knew before the game that Mike Dean would do something that would make it about him. I predicted a red card for us but he flashly awards the penalty so I suppose that was a bit of a blessing really, just the one goal for them with love from Mike.
Lucky Rafa didn’t get in his face and say “you know what you are” like Poch did. What is Mike Dean? Answers on a postcard, as they used to say.
– A theatrical, self absorbed tw@t.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
AND… I am going to agree with Merson (and just about everybody else). Balloon Heed said that if you award that penalty you would award 10 a game.
Since we returned to the Premier League we have been awarded 4 penalties. In the same time Palace have got 19.
Burnley only 2.
I am not sure what that means, but I do know Mike Dean is a tw@t.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We have exactly the same points and goals for and against as after 31 games last year. I think that is progress as the PL has improved. Top 6 are better anyway, and so are Wolves, West Ham and Everton. There’s probably 10 or 11 teams now that you’d be happy to take a point from.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Will take a point despite Mike Deans efforts.
Problem looming is the Rafa situation. NUFC under normal circumstances should be at least looking at other candidates to replace Rafa because if they don’t and he leaves we could be left high and dry. Problem is while they want Rafa to stay how do they put in place contingency plans? Major issue for them. They need it sorted ASAP so the club know what’s happening.
Stuart79(Quote)
our points and goal difference is exactly the same after 31 games as this time last year.
Weird .
kimtoon(Quote)
Everybody knows what Mike Dean is. He is the Deputy Head Master. The bridesmaid who wants to be the bride. A sheep in sheeps clothing.
Everybody hates him and still he ponces about trying to make it all about him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Goals scored and goals against are the same as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Obviously there wasn’t a big club bias yesterday but I think in general there is. It is probably not a conspiracy but you could make the case it is given our stats. I doubt that the big club bias is even intentional. It is just that the Refs know they will be on TV and will be scrutinized and unconsciously favour the big 6 because it leads to an easier life for them.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
That definitely wasn’t a penalty. We’ve had countless ones and more obvious denied this season. Comical defending for their second too.
Apart from that (which would have brought a win) it was two fantastic strikes and an amazing run from Almiron. Atsu was surprisingly good when he came on. He has got it but produces very scarcely.
georgio(Quote)
Mike Deans decision to give a penalty yesterday was an absolute joke – and if it was Man City, Man Utd or Lpool it would never have been given. There’s a challenge like that – not just in every game, but every corner and freekick defending in every game across the bloody global!!. If VAR is gonna give them next season – the keepers better get practicing saving penalties, and there will be record broken for top scorers coz the likes of Kane could be getting 10-15 pens alone.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I also saw there were afew Newcastle fans arrested after Ritchie scored. I understand that police and stewards will be concerned after what happened in the Villa and Man Utd game last weekend – and I get that they have safety first.
But Ritchie was nowhere near those fans and to be fair, I not sure they were invading the pitch – it looked more like they fell onto the pitch with the crazy celebrations – and who could blame them?. You travel all that way to support your time and think you’ve been beaten – then your team scores an equaliser like that.
I get the police and stewards have a job to do, but I hope common sense prevails and the arrested supports get away with a caution and nobody is banned unfairly because of an idiot Villa fan. Our away supports are amazing and always have been.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: the sad thing is that we all knew it was coming. We all knew that Mike Dean would do something to put the spotlight on Mike Dean.
He probably refers to himself in the third person as well.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Regarding the Rafa situation, I think they will handle it the same as they do transfers… mess around and waste time right up until the last minute, then finally give in and give him the contract he wants. Rafa holds all the cards and can walk into pretty much any job he chooses … he doesn’t need nufc… but he would like to stay. Nufc needs Rafa, so they will huff and puff, but I feel eventually they will give him what he wants. I feel he will stay… ? but then I’ve been known to be wrong.. lol
Dubai Toon(Quote)
I know mate – I’m sure he does.
Watching the Lpool v Fulham game and Fosu Mensah has just made the same challenge on Gini – ref waved it away as ridiculous that Gini was even claiming for penalty ??♂️. All you want is consistency – but I really hope that VAR won’t see those challenges result in penalties.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Dubai, not so sure mate, he wants a project and the odd trophy and we just aren’t set up for that. He is wasting his skills with us sadly, moreover Ashley doesn’t deserve a coach like Rafa who he knows will wallpaper over the cracks in the club.
Unless we get either sold or cast iron promises of funds and action from Ashley in writing i think Rafa walks.
kimtoon(Quote)
Fulham equalize , crazy goal, van **** more like **** van **** there 😳
game on
kimtoon(Quote)
Pool creaking under the pressure
kimtoon(Quote)
pen to pool
bit like ours last week
but they score
1.2
kimtoon(Quote)
Re the Rafa situation – let’s not forget that we got him in the first place, then kept him when we went down and have retained him since.
I really don’t think keeping him is that out of the question. Ashley is a tw@t, but he’s not stupid. He knows the value of having Rafa at the helm, and I’m pretty confident Rafa wants to stay with us. He’s well aware he’s not going to get everything his own way at NUFC, but I think they can find a working situation that suits everyone.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m not much into stats but this is an interesting one. In the last 21 games we’ve taken 32 points. Nowhere near relegation form and more like top 7-8. Long may it continue.
georgio(Quote)
We are pretty much safe now right? No, I haven’t jinxed it. There is no way that we go on another run like the start of the season because our players are fit and settled and the fixtures are a bit easier. Arsenal away looks the toughest. If we can beat City at home we might just get something out of the Liverpool game. Now that would be fatalism, Rafa denying Liverpool the title.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Our remaining fixtures –
Arsenal (a)
Palace (h)
Leicester (a)
Saints (h)
Brighton (a)
Liverpool (h)
Fulham (a)
I think there is a realistic 12pts still available there in Palace & Saints at home and Brighton & Fulham away.
But if we can only get 5pts I think that’s us safe – for the record I think we will get 7-9pts from the remaining games.
I don’t think we get anything from Arsenal, Leicester or Liverpool – but I’ll happily be proven wrong.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy I think Brighton and Saints are 2 of the 3 worst teams in the PL after the relegation candidates. They and Burnley will be in the relegation fight next year, assuming Cardiff are relegated this year. I really think that Hughton is performing miracles with that squad but it won’t last forever. Brighton will be relegated next year.
So yes. That was the long way around saying we might get 3 points at Brighton 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
They’ve depended heavily on Murray for goals this season mate, but he’s something like 36 now. If they have any chance of staying up next season they will need to replace him.
If Cardiff take that 3rd bottom spot, that’ll be 2 promoted teams straight back down, along with Fulham – who spent a fortune trying to stay up. I think if the likes of Norwich or Shef Utd were to come up next season, they may well struggle and could well get relegated straight away.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Hudson-Odoi called up to the full England squad.
Southgate is very lucky with all of the players coming through. We will probably get to the semi-finals of major championships but will not win. Southgate is too tactically naïve. I will say it again, but he fcked up against Croatia.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Huddersfield , with current odds at 1/1000 to be relegated and Fulham at 1/750 , you can safely assume these two teams are gone.
Cardiff are favourites to take the third relegation spot at odds of 1/3 , then Burnley at 5/2.
From their remaining fixtures , Cardiff will be lucky to get 7 more points and Burnley 6.
Burnley are at home to Cardiff on 13 April and that game could well decide which of those two teams say bye bye to the premiership.
I think it will be Burnley that drop.
NUFC are well safe , 100/1 with the bookies.
sidekick(Quote)
Eric – when you look at the players Southgate has at his disposal, I don’t think England will have a better chance of winning a major tournament – and so many of them are in their prime & getting regular game time. The strength in depth of the squad is ridiculous and there are a lot of talented English players that won’t even make the squad now.
Sharpy17(Quote)
What England have coming through now are midfielders which we have needed for a while. First choice were Hendersen and Dier who cant even get in their PL teams.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I think we have 2 quality options for every position now, with players left over – I don’t think we have ever had that in my lifetime – Italia 90 maybe but I think this squad is arguably better. But they had Sir Bobby – which is a huge difference
Sharpy17(Quote)
I listened to 2 podcasts today, one from The Guardian and also The Totally Football show which is presented by the guy who used to do The Guardian podcast. There is a presenter and 3 journalists on each. They covered the NUFC game and mentioned the goals but no mention was made of Mike Dean even though Rafa had called him out in not so many words. Will it ever change if respected journalists brush under the rug the antics of the Refs? Especially one who is quite clearly out for himself and makes blunder after blunder.
Maybe they are bored with talking about the Mike Dean Show because, after all, it is on every week. But nothing will change unless they are questioned. Poch did it and got a fine and a ban. Rafa will probably get a fine. The Managers cannot do it so it should be incumbent upon the journalists to do it.
No wonder no English Refs are involved in internationals any more. And not many are involved in European club games.
If the FA won’t do anything, I think the journalists should speak out. But they don’t.
Mike Dean ruins football games with his showboating and his ego. It is as simple as that and he should be made to retire.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: 1996 with Shearer, Gerrard, Lampard and the Man U players were very good and should probably have won the Euros that year. I don’t think they were overrated either, just mismanaged after that. I mean, if you were to pick an all time PL 11 Shearer, Lampard and Gerrard would be in it as well as a few others from that team.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – yeah it was a very good team mate. But I think squad wise, this one is better – 90 & 96 had better individual players, but the team and squad as a whole – I think this is one of the best.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’ll get even better when Sean Longstaff gets in!
georgio(Quote)
Think he’s one to miss out just now, but if he can pick up where he left off then he’ll be knocking on the door I reckon.
There’s a few young lads at Leicester who I think are very good too, but may also just miss out.
Sharpy17(Quote)
There’s Madison at Leicester who cost 25 million and is sort of being ignored at the moment. Scored a great free kick on the weekend. Need to shift a bit of dead wood like Henderson but I think that will happen anyway. Kane and Sterling are now old enough to lead the team so we don’t need that dirty stinkin’ Mackem.
There’s room though with Milner and Vardy retiring. I think Lalanna retired as well and then there are fringe players like Delph and then still others like Livermore who should never had got a look in.
There are about 5 or 6 who I can see changing but I am still not sure Southgate is up to it. As I have said once or twice, I think the quality of the players will keep him in the job and give him a reputation I am not sure he deserves. He got lucky!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I think he and Alli will take up those no.10 spots.
I think Chilwell and Maguire are definitely in the squad. But they also have Harvey Barnes and Gray in the wings who could develop into the squad but will miss out to the likes of Sterling, Lingaard, Hudson Odoi and Jadon Sanchez just now.
They also have a young lad called Choundry in midfield who could well develop in midfield with the likes of Longstaff.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Archie: some interesting observations but you don’t have to be an old Grump to not like most of the things you were saying as most had started when you were still a young grump. I will not write an alternative list but you how did you miss out Piers Morgan?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I really don’t see the price for Rondon as being a problem. He is 30 in September and he only has a year at most to run on his West Brom deal. I still don’t know how that was structured as it looked like they added a year in order to loan him to us. I just don’t see him costing more than 15 million even if he does get into double figures in the PL.
I would make it a condition of any deal that he retires from international football.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
We have the 3rd or 4th lowest wage bill in the PL. It is obvious that Ashley has been repaying his “loan” but once he is done, there should be money available to Rafa. Call me naïve, but the finances show that there is room for a significant signing every year and maybe Ashley will stick to his word that Rafa could have every penny generated by the club. If he doesn’t, then the taxman will take a big portion of any profit and I think Fatty would rather see Rafa have the money than The Inland Revenue.
I am pretty sure that Ashley had lost interest, wanted to sell but in the meantime would repay the loan because so much extra cash was being generated. I have said this before, but the fact that the money for Almiron was a loan from Barclays, proves this. That loan is guaranteed from FUTURE TV money which means Ashley has been taking back PAST TV money.
You cannot earn 175 million a year and have a 60 million payroll and not make a massive profit so obviously it has gone somewhere.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Even the wages of any new players shouldn’t be a problem because they have been pared back in the current squad so much. There are obviously some surplus players as well that we should be able to get rid of including Colback, Aarons and Murphy. I doubt we will get much in return, but Rafa has been wanting to upgrade the first team so even a couple added to what we have should make us comfortably mid-table and able to concentrate on cups instead of relegation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So, The Northern Echo are joining in with made-up stories now. I highly doubt Rafa would sell Shelvey because of his workrate and them saying he has dropped down the pecking order because of this is total rubbish. IF, and it’s a big if, he has dropped down the pecking order it is because he has been injured all season and because of the emergence of other players. If Rafa does sell Shelvey it will be for other reasons:
* He is one asset that we can get a lot of money for. If the Fatman allows Rafa to invest the proceeds, then maybe Rafa can get an upgrade. I doubt Rafa would let Jonjo go without having a replacement in mind. He was burned this way with Mitro, once bitten…
* Possibly, but I doubt it, Rafa thinks Shevey’s skillset is redundant with Lonstaff, Lejeune and Schar available?
* BUT… in the short cameos since his return from injury Jonjo has been very good and shown he can link up well with Almiron and Perez.
Shelvey offers the perfect Plan B but may be unhappy in that role. That, and the fee, would be the reason that Rafa might sell him. Northern Echo have put 2 and 2 together and made 157 looking for a story during the International Break.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Shelvey actually works pretty hard now. He got the personal trainer and that seems to have improved his stamina. He was having injections for that thigh problem all season and the fact he went to Barcelona a few times to see a specialist shows it was a much bigger deal than the club let on. The specialist shut him down as a final attempt to fix things and said if it didn’t work he would need an operation.
These hacks never see the bigger picture. Shelvey could still leave but it would be more about money and Longstaff I think.
Rafa is used to working with players like Shelvey. Xabi Alonso was a mainstay of his Liverpool side.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
http://c.newsnow.co.uk/A/978503755?-11058:809
He might regularly get criticised for his performances on field, but this is brilliant. What a shame stories like this aren’t covered better.
Guaranteed if he’d been picked up fighting outside a nightclub or drink driving, it would be out there for everyone to read.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well, the Chronic seem to have a new writer and he has come up with the devastating insight that Isaac Hayden is a defensive midfielder. Smart Lad, never would have guessed.
But where do you go from there? Rafa played him with Diame against Bournemouth and that first half was dire. Is 2 defensive mids too much? We have looked much more open and likely to score when Shelvey has come on, but is Rafa just trying to keep it tight in the 1st half? How does the wing back system fit in.
Of course there is no insight into any of the tactical ramifications of the 3 centre backs and 2 defensive mids because, after all, it is The Chronic.
I expect both to start against Arsenal and then, depending on what happens, again against Leicester.
Diame only needs 2 more starts to trigger a 1 year extension and I expect that to happen and probably in the games I just mentioned.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy: I think Atsu has done OK. He was recovering from an operation at the start of the year and was a slow starter. Then Rafa changed the system and there really wasn’t a place for him because Rafa always plays Perez and Almiron had to play.
If he is to get more time on the pitch we need to see a goal or assist from him. We need our midfielders to chip in and that includes Shelvey and Ritchie when he is played on the wing.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am wondering if any premier league team has less goals from midfield than us? Maybe Huddersfield because they don’t score full stop.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I really don’t see Hayden leaving. Rafa has indicated there is a chance he will stay and I am sure NUFC will offer him a new contract. He will probably also be first choice defensive mid based on form and that Diame will only have a 1 year contract.
It is international break so I am sorry if I am repeating myself, but it seems his family crisis has passed with his child now seeing Doctors for checkups and not for immediate care. It would still be hard being away from his family and I doubt they will move to Newcastle again but I just don’t see any other options.
Cardiff are odds on to be relegated and I really think Brighton will be relegated next year. If Bournemouth, Palace are Watford make a bid, that would give him something to think about but in this market I doubt we would accept less than 15 million for him. I mean, we paid 12 million for Murphy and that was based upon potential and no PL experience.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Chronicle’s new reporter just rehashed some other website’s stats but it did show what Hayden is. He won a lot of 1 on 1 duels and made a lot of interceptions. Does the dirty work, which there is a place for. It would have been interesting if he compared Hayden to someone like Matic or even his own team mate Diame to see how he stood but that is beyond the Chronic remit. They do not think for themselves or take the next step. Better just to copy and paste.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anyway, for what it is worth, here is The Chronic’s article on Hayden stats:
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/reason-isaac-hayden-perfect-midfielder-16004046
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Southgate keeps faith with Pickford. It will lead to a false sense of security because the teams we play in the qualifiers will hardly get a touch and most likely will be restricted to long range shots. That’s not his problem. He is a very good shot stopper and can make those 60 yard direct passes out of his hands which look great.
His problem is that he is too short, has short arms, doesn’t command his box, is arrogant and blames everybody else and drops crosses.
He is a mistake waiting to happen. When the real stuff starts that can be decided by a single error it wont matter the shots he stops, it will be the one that he doesn’t or the cross that he fumbles.
But I am resigned to at least seeing him until the Nations League where if he manages to get through that without a mistake he will be England’s keeper at the Euros. That’s where he will make a mistake that will cost us.
It has happened so often for England. Usually with aging keepers (Shilton, Seaman) but also with Hart, James, Carson etc. They keep picking them when they are past it or when mistakes creep in.
It will happen to that Mouthy Mackem as well, but it might take a while for this prediction to come true. He is vastly overrated.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Overrated? He was woeful at SP and is vastly inferior to Heaton.
georgio(Quote)
Either Peter Beardsley has a miserable look on his face ALL of the time or websites and newspapers are going out of their way to post pictures of him only looking miserable. I think the latter as in happier times I have seen him laughing in training pics.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not sure how FFP works but Birmingham just got a 9 point deduction. City are also under investigation and I think it is probably partly due to the vast overpayment for naming/advertising rights from the State run airline. I doubt very much there will be a points deduction, but if there were would we then be due a points addition? The Fat Man has had free advertising for Tat Direct for 11 years and surely that is a reverse FFP violation?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Following on from Simon’s Beardsley article:
The problem with the Bishop/Ashley PR machine is that it is not there to advance the cause of NUFC and to put out positive stories that would enhance our image/grow our brand/attract new supporters and young players. It is there purely as damage limitation for Ashley, his cohorts and Sports Direct.
Even when they detail the accounts they want to paint us as skint. Paint the finances in the worst light possible and make excuses for not spending/supporting the manager. Of course, the Chronic and others still swallow this hook, line and sinker and then repeat the manipulated headline numbers with no editorial or critical evaluation. This is exactly what Bishop intended and they follow him like lambs.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not saying Bishop is any PR genius either. The local press are all too willing to believe anything he says and only cast a critical eye after they have been called out on it. Even then they defend themselves (lamely) after the fact having Mark Douglas blame everybody but himself and his co-writers. I can think of 3 examples of this recently:
* He wrote like a 3,000 word article on why the Chronic doesn’t do clickbait. Absolute BS but the bigger question is why the 3,000 words? They never write 3,000 words on any other story. Ryder is lucky to belt out 300!!!
* They had a misleading headline (forget what it was) but Douglas blamed this on the fact that there was a different perception by readers of a print edition and online edition. Again, total BS and attempted spin.
* Just last week Ryder in a Q and A tried to say he did not write that the Almiron deal was off about 6 hours before Miggy got on the plane to NUFC. HE DID. He pointed to a story written 5 days earlier saying there were obstacles to overcome and portrayed that as the full Chronicle coverage. A total cover-up but unless you had seen both stories and knew the timeline you would not know this. Tantamount to lies.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Great result for England last night, good game too.
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh and a good goal for Rondon v Argentina
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9mXHxzjUrs&app=desktop
Ronnies goal at 40 secs in
kimtoon(Quote)
I hate international break coz the Saturday football is dire. The best Sky have to offer today is Barnsley v Walsall & it is atrocious!!.
These players are on 2-4K a week and are truly awful. There is only a couple of hundred in the stands and this is the league Sunderland find themselves in!! – and can’t dominate it?! They may not even make the automatic promotion places.
Sharpy17(Quote)
says hes better through playing for the toon 😆 😆
icedog(Quote)
A lot of exciting young players for England and that was without Rashford and Alexander-Arnold. The only problem I see, apart from goalie, is central midfield if we play Henderson and Dier together. That will probably fix itself as I fully expect Foden to come through at Man City next year. If not there are some other good attacking options like Loftus-Cheek or even Barkley.
I thought Henderson did OK and he usually does when he has time on the ball.
It will be hard to judge until the Nations League finals because of the quality of opposition in the Group stages.
It does set up for England though as the semis and the final of the Euros are at Wembley. We will also be seeded. England are currently 5th in the FIFA world rankings and I can’t see that dropping much with the games that are coming up.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Aye mate, must be something in the water or possibly an excellent coach 😉
Need to sign that lad for sure.
kimtoon(Quote)
Beyond boring when it’s international break, our next games not until mon april the 1st too.
Trust us to get a televised game on april fools day and it’s Arsenal too 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
The really good news about England is that Big Fat Sam was sacked. This looks to be the most talented squad in a generation but you just know that Allardyce would take all of the credit himself if we are actually successful. I am not sure if I could have taken an even higher level of the insufferable smugness (number 11 on the Spinal Tap dial) and probably would have to skip all pre and post match.
Alternatively, he might still be playing Rooney and would be playing longs balls up to him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The Chronic seem to have a new writer/intern – Josh Williams. His latest column is his idea of NUFCs “perfect” summer transfer window where he pulls a list of players out of his ****. It is like the worst effort by one of Ed’s regulars Ketsbaia who will often name seemingly random players who we should buy. This guy Josh Williams also names seemingly random players.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Anybody should be careful about listing summer transfer targets. We don’t even know who the Manager will be. And if we have learnt one thing about Rafa it is that we don’t know who he is after unless he telegraphs them like Rondon and Almiron. Even then if you had to predict before hand that they would have been on Rafa’s list you should also have bought a lottery ticket.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Or budget!!! Who could have predicted last summer that we would have a negative 20 million net spend. It seemed insane at the time and nearly cost us dearly. How many points did we get in the first 10 games?
Ashley got lucky, but if he lets Rafa leave then his luck will probably run out.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, yeah it’s pointless speculating on new players when no one knows if Rafa is going or staying. All the press are in the dark but still they peddle their nonsense every waking hour without any substance to their stories.
kimtoon(Quote)
Getting back to England though. The door seems to be open for success even if I am not sure that Southgate can walk through it. The main reasons are the semis and finals at Wembley and the waning of Germany and Spain. Spain’s younger players do not seem to be of the quality of their retired players. How do you replace Iniesta, Silva and Ramos?
France are good but not invincible and Belgium seem to stumble at the last hurdle. Also, France got to the finals of the Euros and won the WC. This is not a dynasty type team like Spain were so I just don’t see them winning more tournaments.
Euros are probably too soon, but at least it looks like we have a fun team to watch now who will not freeze against the likes of Iceland.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I am not getting on the England bandwagon here either. I have watched England U21s, 19s and 17s at a few tournaments recently and you could see something had changed and there were a lot of good players coming through and getting to the latter stages and even winning. I have said as much on here. Foden was the standout but there are many others.
Not sure if the hype for Rice is warranted but we will see.
I also said I had watched Woodman and couldn’t see any there, there. He is not 1st choice for England anymore.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-6842383/Newcastle-defender-Fabian-Schar-knocked-unconscious-clashing-heads-Switzerland-game.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Mark Douglas talked to someone at the Birmingham Mail who seems to think that WBA triggered the extension for Rondon which still has a year to run and that the 16.5 million buyout clause is still there. Would Ashley really spend that on a 30 year old? Maybe that will be one of the keys to keeping Rafa but perhaps Rafa might want an upgrade. Plea was above Rondon last year and if Rondon finishes with 11 or 12 PL goals that is good but not exactly world class. Glenn Murray has 11.
Eric Sykes(Quote)