Well here we are again. Another transfer window, another feeling of exhaustion and resignation. What should be a time for excitement and change has taking on a whole new meaning for Newcastle fans. While we cast an envious eye at clubs in and around us making, or at least trying to make ambitious signings, we once again appear set to do the bare minimum. Not improve on what we have, not move forward, but merely plug holes, tick boxes and make up numbers.
The collapse of the takeover by Amanda Staveley’s Saudi funded consortium has, for the second summer running, left us shattered. It’s turned from heartache, to anger, then there was a brief flutter of hope that it could be resurrected, then once more back to apathy. In truth, it was almost nice to feel an extreme emotion again. This summer’s window takes on an even bleaker outlook than last years. After the collapse of the proposed BZG takeover last year, we still went and signed a £40m striker, and a £20m winger. That will not be the case this summer.
Last year, on purely financial terms, we thought we’d be shopping at Harrods, and had to make do with Marks and Spencers. This year’s proposed fun trip out to Harrods has been firmly urinated on from a great height, and instead turned into scouring the discount basket in Farmfoods.
Anyway, we are where we are. The opinions that Mike Ashley isn’t a willing seller are no longer valid, he wants out. Lee Charnley expected to be out of a job, and let’s be honest, so to did Steve Bruce. We find ourselves set to operate with a disinterested owner, a chief executive who does the job of 3-4 people and isn’t good at any of them, and a manager who faces the season of his life, make no mistake about that. It’s time for Steve Bruce to step up and prove the doubters (of which I am one) wrong.
All his bluster about the disrespectful speculation over his job, all his postering that Ashley is supportive to his needs, and the claims that he can move us forward need to be backed up by action. He needs help off the pitch from those high up to make the most desperately needed signing this football club can possibly make this summer, that being a new striker. The importance of this can’t be overstated.
It isn’t just goals Bruce needs to convince Ashley and Charnley to give him, it’s the art of all round centre forward play that the team is chronically lacking, such was Joelinton’s ineffectiveness last term.
We need someone, maybe anyone up front. Wether it be an old school target man, or a modern false number 9, or some one who can play off the shoulder of the last defender.
We need a presence up front who can run channels, hold the ball up, drag defenders out of position, make space for runners, press high up and win free kicks. These are all the vital components, as well as of course goals, that the team has been missing since Rondon left. The baffling thing, is these fundamentals should be understandable to the hierarchy of any club, except they are apparently not to the powers that don’t even want to be anymore at Newcastle United.
In a logical world with logical ownership, the club would spend the majority of the budget on a striker, but that logic is a luxury we don’t have, and we face a nervous wait to the end of the transfer window to see if Ashley finally realises what he didn’t twice before. That a few extra million quid spent in the transfer window, can save him a hundred odd million that relegation through ineptitude and frugality could again cost.
We will start this season with Joelinton, Carroll and Gayle for certain, while it’s rumoured Muto is being touted around to free up a space. This essentially only leaves room for one incoming. striker.
Gayle can score goals if he gets the service, but as I was writing this article, I received a notification saying the injury he sustained in last night’s 3-0 pre-season win over Crewe is probably going to rule him out of the first few games of the season. Carroll also scored a sumptuous goal last night and is talking the talk about his fitness levels, but that’s all been heard before, more than once. He will get injuries this season, as sure as night follows day. As for Joelinton…..who knows.
Is it too much to ask for us to sign a striker who is PL savvy? There have been names linked that would be perfect. Chris Wood from Burnley would be an outstanding signing, not the sexiest name for some fans I know but he’s an excellent Premier League striker. Michy Batshuayi is available for loan from Chelsea, and Tammy Abraham could be too. Both are victims of Timo Werner’s arrival and need games with a summer international tournament ahead. Callum Wilson is looking to leave relegated Bournemouth, although his injury record is a worry and he’d probably be pricey. Josh King is another. There are options out there, and teams we should be at least competing with will probably sign better strikers than us, that’s the most frustrating part.
I don’t want this to come across as a negative, anti-Bruce article, but there are some sad truths and worrying facts that can’t be ignored as we head into next season, so let’s stick to those facts.
In the season Steve Bruce has been in charge of Newcastle United, we won less points, scored less goals, conceded more goals, had less possession, had more injuries, and our goalkeeper made approximately 30% more saves, than the team he inherited had in the season before. We have also only won 4 games of the last 20, two of which were against 10 men. Last season, only 6 of our 38 league goals were scored by strikers, with 12 coming from our defenders. This is not only a freak anomaly, but it’s also completely unsustainable going forward. As is the fact we were regularly outplayed by and lost a lot points to teams in the bottom half, yet had some stirring “backs to the wall” wins against the big guns. Those wins against Chelsea and Man United were amazing moments, but we simply can’t rely on them again next season while teams in the bottom six outplay us and take 3-4 points off us.
Not all of these negative facts I’ve pointed out are all down to Bruce, but a lot of them are.
There are some reasons to be positive of course. We have a very good goalkeeper, an excellent captain, some very good defenders, and of course we have Saint Maximin and Almiron, who coincidentally are two players who would benefit immensely from a new striker.
At the time of writing this we have signed Jeff Hendrick who is a good player, an excellent free transfer (if there is such a thing), and an improvement on the departing, and ultimately pointless Nabil Bentaleb. The other two January loan signings were of course Danny Rose and Valentino Lazaro. While the lack of game time, and subsequent loss of Lazaro is a missed opportunity in my humble opinion, Rose’s departure is offset by the return from injury of the ever dependable Paul Dummett. Also at the time of writing this, we’ve made a £4m bid to sign the highly rated Greek international left back Dimitrios Giannoulis from PAOK. Now my knowledge of Greek football is minimal at best, but this lad currently starts ahead of Liverpool’s new £11m signing Kostas Tsimikas for Greece, so let’s give the lad a chance if that one is completed.
We need a lot of ducks to align in a row for next season to not be potentially disastrous (the takeover has exhausted that expression by the way).
We need Saint Maximin and Almiron to improve on their 4 PL goals apiece from last term. We need Shelvey to replicate his 6 goals at least. We need the centre backs to continue chipping in admirably, and Dubravka to be Dubravka. We also need Gayle and Carroll to contribute when fit, Ritchie to (literally) kick people’s backsides when people lose their man, and Joelinton to resemble a footballer. Sean Longstaff could also replicate the form that made him a £50m target for Man United, and not be the lethargic lost puppy he was last season.
We’re going to also need, and will definitely get, that undoubted team spirit, professionalism and togetherness that this squad has in abundance. We can only hope and pray that Bruce and Ashley match up to them.
HTL.
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Very good article and a good read, but sadly it’s very true. We are shopping in Aldi’s bargain bin once again… ???
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Nice one Jamie and totally agree on all of it.
Hopefully it’s the last of takeover talk for a while. The first i want to hear about a takeover is when it’s done and dusted.
kimtoon(Quote)
Jabba has a problem. He doesn’t want to spend money because he wants out. He wouldn’t get that money back and if other owners are prepared to help their club out it’s probably because they don’t want to sell up. On the other hand it’s highly likely we will be in a relegation battle this season and if we go down that will be that and virtually reduce his valuation by more than 50%.
What to do…
Reduce his asking price for a quick sale but that’s not likely either. He’s still a knob and still thick headed.
Stuart79(Quote)
Not sure if even reducing price would help Stu, with covid ongoing and all the issues it brings to football that is likely preventing offers for club.
kimtoon(Quote)
This is what I was saying yesterday.
Ashley doesn’t want to spend big money on players & seems happy shopping for bargains and I have no issue with that really. As a fan of NUFC I don’t expect X amount spent every window – but I do expect the owner to do everything in their powers to make us the best we can be.
We have got some decent players in on the budget – we’ve also got some stinkers … but we’ve also missed out on some because those Ashley has hired aren’t top of their trade.
If you don’t want to spend big on players – spend big on scouts & coaches – they cost less.
We could have signed Kante before he went to Leicester – same with Mahrez. We decided Delle Ali wasn’t worth the £5m being asked. With a bit more effort we could have got PEA before he went to Dortmund – and let’s not get started on how they handled Loic Remy.
I don’t expect Ashley to spend big – just get the best players that are available.
Look at last season for expample – I’m have actually been happier if he spend £24m less than he did!!.
Who wouldn’t have preferred a £16m Rondon over the £40m spent on Joelinton – and actually there was an even greater cost to that coz it was probably the straw that broke the back for Rafa.
Shop for bargains if you prefer, but recruit the best possible scouting network you can – and employ a manager and coaches who can get the best out of those players.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Alternatively, he could get our lass in – she always manages to find the odd treat in an Aldi shop ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Neil Lennon saying there is unrest with the players at the club – if we were brave and committed to signing good players – now would be the time to move on Edouard.
Don’t expect to get him for peanuts but around £20m should get him.
We won’t, but we should.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So just to get this right – Joelinton has gone missing (probably the one player who needs a good bit practice before the season kicks off), and Gayle and Dubravka are both out injured for the start of the season.
Oh and up to now, we’ve brought in Hendricks and aren’t close to bringing anyone else in that we’re aware of …. standard toon pre season really ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Christ, dubs out for up to 8 weeks and Gayle out for months .
We are royally fecked .
kimtoon(Quote)
So Messi to CITY then, how can they afford his wages ?
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I know he’s Messi, but he’s 33 now – I know they are saying he’s on a free, but they reckon the deal will cost £300m all told (sign on fees, wages etc)
With them & Chelsea splashing the cash – what COVID issue?!, and where does FFP fit now???
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy there is no way city can justify that amount of cash outlay, they have to be breaking FFP rules, Chelsea too i’d imagine.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gayle out for months then – and it’ll only be a matter of time for Carroll.
Need to buy a forward for sure, but I think we should be loaning a Rhian Brewster or Batshuyi as well imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I just a link that we are interested in bringing Adam Armstrong back? Anyone else seen that? What do u think? He did well in championship last season… got to be better than Joelinton…
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Ivan Toney going to Brentford for £10 million…. ? we should get some cash through that deal, but perhaps we should’ve given him more of a chance?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Rafa got rid of both Armaz and Toney mate ? – brought in Muto & Joselu
Sharpy17(Quote)
Just remembered they relaxed the FFP this season cause of covid didn’t they ? no wonder top teams taking advantage.
kimtoon(Quote)
Gilly – id take either back in place of Carroll, but we need someone better than either of those 2 as well if we stand a chance
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – the thing with Messi is they will raise the money through shirt sales I reckon. They sign Messi costing £300m and they only nee to sell 5m shirts at £60 to cover that ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
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Mark Douglas Retweeted
The Chronicle
@ChronicleNUFC
Calendar On this day in 2010: Hatem Ben Arfa joined #NUFC!
Could do with a bit of Benny magic this season, not that Bruce could manage him.
kimtoon(Quote)
Seems like no one could manage Benny. I’d bet SBR and KK could have!
georgio(Quote)
‘I felt a sting or a half-rupture. I immediately informed the coaches in Newcastle. After arriving in England, I still trained, despite the pain, but after three days I had to stop’ Dubravka
Our medical team want shooting if this is true 👿
kimtoon(Quote)
So not a single one of our games to be shown on sky during September !
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: we dont deserve to be shown on TV. Up until Xmas we were shyte. The most boring team in the league and that includes Burnley and Palace.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
David Ornstein@David_Ornstein
Excl: Newcastle close to signing Rob Holding from Arsenal on season loan. Lot of interest in 24yo CB but #NUFC winning race. Quarantine/injuries mean set to play #CommunityShield before finalising move. Unlikely to include option to buy
**** probably want first dibs on Maxi in exchange 🙄
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – my immediate suspicion was they will be looking to buy Schar.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Talk of us putting a bid in for Marega from Porto. Good goal scorer for them & loads of pace, but 29 so not so sure.
Only has a year left on his contract though so they may be looking to get him on the cheap.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Yeah we bid 15m euro they want 20m euro supposedly .
kimtoon(Quote)
Andy has scored again i see
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – not a million miles away with that one like and if the player drives it by wanting to play in the PL before his career is over, I think that one could come off.
I’ve seen him in CL games and he’s pacy & direct. Could be a good signing if he can adapt to the PL – and he’d be expected to hit the ground running.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Let’s hope he keeps it up Kim! We don’t have many striking options right now! Looks like Murphy did well too. Maybe deserves a chance!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – keep it up?! – if he’s fit for the next match, that would be nice start.
It may be harsh, but Barnsley is about Murphys level – we should cash in on a good championship loan last season and get as much of that £12m back as we possibly can.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Arsenal fans don’t seem to rate Holding much, reckon he isn’t the same since his injury and that he should of been sold not loaned.
Also lot of people saying Lascelles not seen at Benton or anywhere ? hope we are not about to lose him as our win % is far better when he plays.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/newcastle-fans-being-treated-worse-132735596.html
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – Lascelles has been there, he was pictured training with Kelland Watts last week before the lad went on loan.
I think Holding could come in to allow Schär or Lejuene to be sold to raise cash. Holding may come with a buy clause, but I think he may just be a stop gap for Watts who could do with some loan time before the first team squad.
It never quite works out that way for our loanees, so I worry a bit for Watts, but that’s what I imagine the ‘plan’ is.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim – this was only a matter of time. I might have a little bit to do with us challenging the PL on the takeover. But I think it’s more about how the money in the game has affect fans getting access to their clubs.
Look at Spain and the monopoly Real & Barca have on televised games out there.
They talk about the PL sharing some of the wealth with lower leagues – they can’t even share it fairly throughout their own league.
But it’s that rich an organisation and has so much influence, nobody who can affect change will challenge it and nothing will change.
The sports writers will not print it in fear of being cut out, and everyone will rant and rave about the top 6 clubs and how we have the best league in the world.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, i was watching an interview with that guy who has come in to formula one and shaken things up, can’t remember his name. Anyway he has overseen a change in how the money is split so that smaller teams get as good a chance of competing against the top ones. He wouldn’t specify the split but said it is significant .
Would be nice if PL could do the same kind of thing.
Arsenal start the season off with yet another bit of silverware yet their fans are still twisting about stuff. 🙄
Oh and the big clubs want the 5 sub rule back even though they only just voted to scrap it, gonna be another vote on it. Will be so mad if they bring it back as only favors top clubs.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – F1 needed Hamilton to be round when Schumacher was racing and have 2 drivers competing head to head. Schumacher was so far ahead in his time, as is Hamilton now. Only way to make it far would be to have him in a tractor or something like that ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
I can’t for the life of me understand why they are going ahead with International football.
Sharpy17(Quote)
And now Matty Longstaff has a recurrence of his thigh injury 🙄
Bruces teams do get an awful lot of injuries, been the same everywhere he’s been.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – the injuries under Bruce are seriously worrying – whether it’s something they are doing wrong, or just bad luck – but it ain’t good.
I don’t remember it being as bad under Rafa.
It’s what worries me when we are linked with players like Callum Wilson who is very injury prone already.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, It’s got to Bruce’s training fitness regime as it’s happened at all his previous clubs i believe.
I can remember Wigan fans not being happy with his methods and penchant for risking players who had only just gotten over or were carrying injuries.
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/feb/09/wigan-athletic-steve-bruce-fulham-antonio-valencia#:~:text=Steve%20Bruce%2C%20the%20Wigan%20Athletic,sidelines%20with%20a%20hamstring%20strain.
Here Sharpy
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/hull-city/news/bruce-bemoans-injury-problems_192917.html
kimtoon(Quote)
https://www.themag.co.uk/2020/07/steve-bruce-says-just-unlucky-with-injuries-but-just-look-at-these-quotes-from-his-previous-clubs-newcastle-united/
Think we should be very very concerned.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – not good reading at all that is it?!. I remember early in the season there being questions around how he had the players warming up.
It’s worrying because with the lockdown and ‘make do’ pre season, the players fitness levels will need monitoring more closer than ever.
I can imagine Bruce’s old school approach being ‘play through it’.
Sharpy17(Quote)
As I recall Newcastle have had a hopeless injury record for years. I vaguely recall Rafa did something about it – looked at the training ground or something, did some kind of change to training regime. I don’t remember what.
I do remember a few years ago that we were top of the league for players in the treatment room.
Brisvegas(Quote)
Yeah mate, Rafa did make changes though not sure what they were , it worked though. Can’t understand why Lascelles doesn’t say something to Steve’s team about what they did under Rafa to cut down on the injuries, it’s common sense to apply proven methods surely.
kimtoon(Quote)
Agree mate, can see this season being a horror show on the injury front.
kimtoon(Quote)
I’m hoping we don’t sign Wilson and Fulham get him, having had ruptured ACL to both knees and a third recent knee injury i would think he’s a major gamble given Bruce’s record with player injuries.
Let’s give ourselves at least a fighting chance by signing someone without major injury history.
kimtoon(Quote)
Dont let the b@stards grind you down. I am now officially ground down with the situation at NUFC and the reporting of it. The Chronic are still yapping on about a takeover that was called off 3 weeks ago with the Saudis explicitly saying the price was now too high. I was happy to sign the petition against the numbskulls at the premier league but I didnt expect anything to come of it. When have petitions ever made any of the high and mighty overlords change their views?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And then there is the rest of the shyte! The US election goes on for like 2 years and it is on the news nonstop. Covid. Blood on the streets and an Angry Orange on TV every day. I honestly dont understand how he can be SO angry all of the time. I just wouldnt have the energy for it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Reading between the lines as well and the NUFC doublespeak it looks like Gayle will be out until Christmas and Dubs for at least 3 months. They never tell you the full story!!!
So we are pretty desperate now. Joelinton isnt even training yet and who knows with Carroll? Except we know he will get injured. Probably the 1st game of the season.
I tried to give Joe the benefit of the doubt but those games after the lockdown he was unbelievably bad. If that is what we are hanging our hat on for PL survival then we may as well just give up. No wonder Sky wont show our games anymore, we are **** to watch.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
But we can always look forward to bringing in a 7th centre half. The ultimate flatter-to-deceive player. Have any of you watched him? The white Titus Bramble.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m disgusted at just how slow we are moving in the transfer market at the moment.
We knew we needed a new forward throughout the whole of last season – and now Gayle is out, even more so. We knew we needed a LB having only loaned 2 last season.
That we have only signed a midfielder on a free so far, and appear nowhere near getting either a LB or CF is just a disgrace!!.
I know Ashley would rather sell the club, but without the players we so desperately need, he’s going to find himself with a championship club next season if we continue with this lack of urgency.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Keith Downie
@SkySports_Keith
Newcastle & Villa both in talks with Bournemouth over striker Callum Wilson. Newcastle trying to structure a deal that would include winger Matt Ritchie going in the other direction. Aston Villa also trying to buy Wilson, but their deal would not involve a player-swap #NUFC
Wow, That’s right, lets lose one of our most passionate players to bring in a crock !!
Such a Newcastle thing to do if it happens.
This is what we’d be getting
Callum Wilson
Season Injury Days
18/19 Knee Injury 49 days
16/17 Cruciate Ligament Rupture 260 days
15/16 Cruciate Ligament Rupture 189 days
Both knees knacked and obviously ongoing issues as a third injury would indicate, also a lot colder in the NE than the south which could effect his knee and the added worry of Bruce’s training /fitness regime .
Need someone fitter.
kimtoon(Quote)
I was discussing Wilson with a lad I work with – and whilst I think he’s a more clinical finisher than the forwards we have, his injuries are a huge issue for me.
I’m not saying I want him, but as an alternative to Wilson – why not go for Daniel Sturridge?. He’s a similar age, he can score goals (his record for PL goals is as good as Wilson), he’s on par injuries wise – but would cost about £20m less than Wilson.
They’re of equal risk imo, but one is £20m less a risk than the other.
With that money I’d buy Watkins as well – one for the not to distance future. Swap Gayle or Ritchie & cash for Watkins instead.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I would favour Marega over Wilson. I know Wilson has the experience that could work in our favour – but unless we manage his injuries properly, he’ll spend most of his time sat with Carroll and Gayle on the sidelines.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So apparently we have agreed terms with Fraser – but are still awaiting for him to turn up ?.
These muppets shouldn’t be in charge of ordering a takeaway, let alone buying players!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I hope we end up getting Fraser. I think he’s a good young player and would certainly improve our squad with the RW options.
Jordan Ibe was suggested yesterday, and he was someone who had bags of potential when at Lpool, but didn’t follow it up at Bmth. I think he’s better than what he showed at Bmth, but would be more of a risk than Fraser imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy, agree on Watkins much prefer we went after him, i think Wilson is a huge risk, we have too many crocks as it is.
Would like us to go for Edouard but at £40m jabba would choke on his cornflakes, we’re only allowed to spend that on useless lumps in shady deals. 😉
Fraser will be a good signing but i hope his attitude improves should we be in a struggle.
kimtoon(Quote)
apparently we lost 5-1 against boro today. no wonder there’s no reports anywhere!
georgio(Quote)
😆
kimtoon(Quote)
Not a new thread but here’s my match report! ASM scored & Lascelles sent off!
https://www.nufcblog.co.uk/2020/09/01/nufc-beaten-5-1-by-boro-saint-maximin-scores-lascelles-sees-red-in-pre-season-hammering/
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Lascelles was sent off too.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – I read an interview from Fraser awhile back and he was miffed off then. He was getting picked and playing well, then Howe spent a fortune on Ibe and put him in straight away without any explanation. Ibe was poor so Howe put Fraser back in and he worked his socks off to keep his place. Then last summer Howe got Harry Wilson in and dropped Fraser again without having the decency to speak to him, so hence when it came to the club wanting him to see out his contract, he walked away.
I think ASM on the left and Fraser on the right would be electric. But we desperately need a more reliable forward than Callum Wilson playing between them. Decent goalscorer when he’s fit – but if his fitness wasn’t an issue Bmth would likely still be in the PL.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Be alright man, Rob Holding will be in shortly ??♂️
Sharpy17(Quote)
The New England home and away kit are out – I like the away top – but £95???!!!! … NINETY F@CKING FIVE QUID!!! – £65 for the junior one.
I am quickly falling out with football me like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
My England tops are very old, bit like me .
kimtoon(Quote)
Retro Italia 90 for me Kim, homage to Sir Bob ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Chronicle are still labelling their live feed as “takeover and transfer news”. There isnt any “takeover news” you idiots. It was killed 3 weeks ago and then you would have had to be a mole with a white cane to not see that what Chopra and pals were saying was rubbish.
How does Chopra even have a platform to talk NUFC. Busted flush at NUFC and Cardiff forward? Seriously, why does he get any airtime to talk NUFC matters?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Very nice mate
kimtoon(Quote)
And Darlow? Does anybody trust Darlow? If you have seen him play, you wouldnt!
Deer in the headlights, nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof.
I never wanted him as 2nd choice and now he is our main man. But that’s OK, we have the guy from Motherwell if Darlow has another few brain f@rts.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So, as it stands we dont have a goalkeeper or centre forward. The 2 most important positions in a Bruce team. Dont talk to me about Carroll scoring a couple of goals in friendlies against lower league teams. We know he will get injured anyway and has not scored in the PL for 28 months. That is a fact, not an exaggeration.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Part of me understands the Callum Wilson interest – he has the PL experience to go straight into the first team and hopefully make an immediate impact – more so than someone from another league. He is also more of a goal threat than what we currently have.
I don’t think he’s a bad player – just has had some horrific injuries.
If the deal is Ritchie and £10m, then I think I’d be ok with that (providing we get Fraser in). If the deal is Ritchie and £20m – then I don’t see that as a decent deal at all.
Sharpy17(Quote)