Another season is finally over and it’s been a hell of a ride. It, probably, could only happen to Newcastle United and if someone wrote down the events of the 2021/22 season a couple of years ago, they’d have been ridiculed as a crazy fantasist!
It’s all ifs and buts: What if the takeover had happened this time last year….? What if Bruce had been sacked sooner….? What if Callum Wilson and Kieran Trippier hadn’t got injured…?
There’s also the counter to those statements: What if Bruce hadn’t been sacked….? What if Clark hadn’t been sent off….? What if the takeover hadn’t happened at all….?
It’s all mind boggling, but the reality is that we finished 11th after almost everyone having us dead and buried at the start of this calendar year. The work put in by all of the staff, playing and non playing, has been incredible. The belief and fight we’ve shown has been immense and it’s been to a joy to watch unfold. Our form over the last half of the season has been way beyond anyone’s expectations. The table for the last 19 games shows that Liverpool at the top on 48 points, Man City second on 46 points and Newcastle United third on an unbelievable 38 points! We’ve earned 13 and 14 points more than West Ham and Manchester United, respectively, over that period and they have both qualified for Europe! It really is superb and it all bodes well for next season.
Going back to the what ifs, I reckon that if Wilson had stayed on the pitch against Man United and continued, with improved fitness, for the rest of the season, we could conservatively be looking at an extra 11 points, where games would have ended in victory, or draws, with just one goal making the difference. I’ve added our defeat to Everton in that scenario, because, poor though we were, I reckon that had Wilson been playing, we’d have had more of a focal point up front, probably would have scored and may have seen Everton crumble. It’s all hypothetical, but we could very well have qualified for Europe. My head hurts!
For the first time in ages, probably since we finished 5th under Pardew, only to realise that zero investment would mean we’d regress rather than build and progress, I’m sad to see the season end of a season. I’m not including the Championship win under Rafa Benitez, because I was over the moon to have that season end as it did! This time, again for the first time in years, I’m looking forward to next season and am pleased that it starts sooner than usual. I hate the close season. As a kid I enjoyed a summer holiday at Butlin’s, or something similar, playing cricket with my mates and days out at the beach, but nothing is a suitable substitute for watching the beautiful game.
It’s sad that so many players will be moved on. We could have seen the last of many a great servant, who’ve fought to get us promoted and keep us in the Premier League. That is the nature of the game, though. Very few play beyond age 34 and most are coming to the end of their peak by 32. Modern fitness, nutrition and methods used to combat injuries, all help to keep some players beyond their sell by dates, but this time around we need space for incoming players, who we hope will bring more quality to the team and more strength in depth to the squad. For that reason, a number of top players will be moved on. We have to trust Eddie Howe on this. I know I certainly do!
Looking ahead, I feel like that 6 year old, once again, looking to find out when the new season starts and the relatively modern phenomenon of seeing when the transfer window opens, with pure excitement, more greatly anticipated than the best Xmas ever! I know that table for the last 19 games looks very promising, but I’m under no illusions that we’ll finish above Spurs, Arsenal, or Man Utd, as they all have a strong basis and will be spending in the summer, as well. Chelsea are an unknown quantity, because of the situation hanging over the club and if their own takeover goes ahead, or not. However, I feel that we can give all of these teams a good run for their money. They’ll be worried about the old/new kinds on the block, the princes elect! I really can’t believe that I’m even writing about this, if I’m honest. It still doesn’t feel real, somehow after all that’s gone on in the last 15 years or so.
One thing that I will say is that we have a fantastic opportunity to achieve something really special next season. Now, I know that this is a long term project, but I think the circumstances we find ourselves in could prove to be the perfect storm. One that other teams will be dreading!
This is what I mean:
We already have the basis of a great team, with the players we’ve had for a while coming to some real amazing form, along with the new players that arrived in January. That table has shown that. We will have investment in the summer and, perhaps, again in the January window, bringing in some real quality. We can compete for top players on free transfers, but also look at some excellent footballers we have to dip into the market for. We have a new structure at the club, from top to bottom and the pre-season is so important in terms of buys, but mostly in relation to fitness and togetherness, all looking ahead, rather than being concerned about the coming campaign. There’s a new positivity throughout the club.
We find ourselves in this position, but unlike the teams mentioned before, along with West Ham, we don’t have any extra European fixtures to contend with, so we can concentrate solely on the three domestic campaigns. There’s also the anomaly of a World Cup taking place in the middle of the season! Yes, we have a few players who are internationals and will hopefully be going to Qatar, but most of our current players are skirting around the edges of selection for their countries and may not be taking part. I’d love to see Joelinton partner Bruno Guimarães in the Brazilian midfield and it would be brilliant to see Callum Wilson playing for England and Allan Saint-Maximin dance around the pitch in a French shirt, but aside from some players we may bring in during the close season, there aren’t many who will definitely be going to the World Cup.
That puts us in the position of being able to keep the bulk of our squad together, during that break, keeping up fitness levels, but not totally flat out busting a gut to win the World Cup in the searing heat of Qatar. The fact that most of the aforementioned teams will be sending many of their players to the Middle East may, be an extra advantage handed to ourselves!
It’s all hypothetical, as I say, but it all bodes well for a very interesting and potentially fantastic season. I can’t wait!
It Doesn’t Really Matter…But It Does!
Davy Craig
Would you take anybody from Man U. Most have failed or are cant misses like Ronaldo and Jaap Stam. The rest:
Nucky **** – I thought he was **** for us.
Beckham – was OK, sold a lot of shirts.
John O’Shea – middling to ****
Wes Brown – pretty ****
Darren Gibson – ****
Tom Cleverly – ****
Morgan Schneiderlin – ****
Robbie Savage – ****
This is why I dont want Jlingz or Rashford.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So, the White House has postponed Biden’s trip to Saudi Arabia until July. He is still going though. Him and golf, boxing and F1 will be there but Miguel Delaney says we cannot be owned by Saudis. They had the G7/8/9 meeting there as well with Trump. Hypocrites.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I will say it again, but if we are being pilloried for being owned by Saudis then why isnt Biden getting stick for going there? Queens banquet for MBS. Where were you then Miguel Delaney.?! Maybe you have the excuse that it was before the murder of Kashoggi but Biden is still going 2 years after that!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I clicked into Ed’s site earlier having been on news now – what the hells going on there???.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: i go off on the odd tangent but it is normally football related – Refs, Strips, West Ham. I have no idea what Ed’s lot are doing. Cruises, Dog shows, bickering.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
You know, Amanda Stavely looks like a real football fan. And more, a NUFC fan. She really gets into it. Not like your normal owner or director. Your Usmanovs or Kenwrights who sit stoically even when their team score. Even Delia looks like she would rather be making a quiche than being at the Norwich game.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I got kicked out of a bar last night. Local bar that I have been to a few times but last time I was there they charged me $30 for one drink. I didnt notice until I looked at my credit card statement. They changed the tip from $2 to $20. I called the same barman a c@nt last night and he kicked me out 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I watched Wales tonight & yet again Joe Rodon didn’t put a foot wrong.
I’ve said before I’d take him off Spurs, where for some reason he just doesn’t get a game – can’t figure that out based on his performances for Wales.
He’d be another option to replace Lascelles for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well as expected we are being linked with everyone that ever kicked a ball ?.
But the ones that stay so far are Henderson, Botman, Diaby & Ekitike.
I still have a feeling Botman will go to AC Milan, don’t know why I just think that will be his preference.
I feel fairly confident on the other 3 though, and expect 1 or 2 others as well before the window closes.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I nearly got caught up in the idea of signing Bale short term last night watching Wales as well.
He’s still only 32 and will without doubt want to play another season so he can go to the WC with Wales.
Playing wise I know he’s lost pace, but he’s still got ability & as a presence in the team & dressing room he’d be immense.
I started to think who he’d offer more than in our squad? – Miggy, Murphy, Wood?? – I don’t know?!.
Ultimately though, I’d favour building for the future.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Diaby at £55m? I doubt it but he would be worth it. Remember Pepi to Spurs for 71m?
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – Pepe went to Arsenal for closer to £90m mate & Sancho went to Man Utd for over £75m – neither of which seem to have been value for money much yet.
So Diaby for £55m seems a reasonable price by comparison ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
That can’t be right Georgio, that would only leave 5 mil of Luke Edwards’ budget.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Sharpy – Pepe was £71m.
Never mind – the rumours are flying around as usual. I do fancy Diaby though but I doubt he’d come and leave CL football.
Eric the only thing I’ve ever liked Edwards for was him announcing the takeover first. It was a mindblowing moment.
georgio(Quote)
Georgio – my apologies mate, so he was. I thought it was closer to £90m but maybe that was the rumoured figure at the time. Still £72m was far to much for him ??♂️. I’d still be happy to pay £55m for Diaby like.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Georgio: Edwards has been right on a lot of stuff. He obviously has some contacts at SJP. A bit of knob though when I have heard him interviewed and he was fed a line of the budget and couldnt resist going with it.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I see Dan Ashworth has been approved by premier league and announced properly. Let’s see what impact he has on the team. Happy to see him join.
On other things, site still not fixed. ? how many weeks now?
Gilly Toon(Quote)
WOW, JUST WOW!!!! I was reading the website Football365 and they were rating the enthusiasm of 20 PL clubs’ fans. This is what they said about ‘Arry’s nephew Super-Frank. Somebody finally telling it like its is, and they ranked Everton fans as 18th in enthusiasm:
“There is huge relief that the ignominy of relegation has been avoided, but it is tempered by the undeniable fact that a team that was widely described as too good to go down is just barely that and their manager is a FRAUD whose career is sustained almost entirely by his world class playing career and enduring love and support of the media class”.
They could have also said he was LUCKY, especially against us.
Could have said the same about Brucie apart from the WC career! He was good, But not that good.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Pogba is injured again? what a pile of shyte he is.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So they reckon Ashworth has a shortlist of 2 for RF – Sarr or Diaby. Both good options, but I’d favour Diaby if we could get him.
Botman also seems to be talking up his move to AC Milan – shame, but there are some bl00dy good options on a free transfer at CB imo. Spend the money on the forwards ???
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Harry McGuire of a free 🙂 🙂 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Until Sarr retracts his Homophobic comments I don’t want him here.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Every time the press mention Paul Pogba they say WORLD CUP WINNER PAUL POGBA. Moussa Sissoko and Stefane G’mariche also won the world cup with France.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Tiny Tim also had a number 1 hit record with Tiptoe Through the Tulips. Didn’t mean it was any good!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem – what was his homophobic comments?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Basically one of Sarrs compatriots for Senegal plays for PSG. He refused to play for PSG in a match because they french league was supporting LGB rights by wearing a rainbow emblem on their shirt. He had withdrawn from the same match the year before.
Sarr Tweeted something along the lines of well done the actions of a real man
Context Senegal has strict anti LGBT laws and hence it is clear that a lot of people are Homophobic,
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – it was Kouyate of Palace that made that tweet. But Sarr did tweet a show of support due to the whole backlash of it.
I don’t think there were any homophonic comments at all though mate. I think the French press threw petrol on the fire as well.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It wouldn’t take much to paper over though. I don’t see how you can support a position without agreeing with it
PremAndUp(Quote)
Test 3
Sharpy17(Quote)
I don’t know the full details of what happened mate, but I certainly haven’t seen or read that any of them have made homophonic comments at any time.
It equally might have been that the lad didn’t want to get behind the rainbow laces campaign whatever his reasoning ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
My younger brother by 1 year is very homophobic. I dont understand it, because we grew up in the same household and I think you are born that way or you are not. I certainly dont hate rainbows.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Well said Prem!
hopefully nufc will be proactively inclusive and any discriminatory individuals will be unwelcome
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I watched USA against Uruguay and Darwin Nunez was pretty average. Same with Diaby for France. I know it is a small sample size but they both werent that good in these games.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Been in hospital with Lewis, see the site still has issues saving details, no emojis either .
Will watch England v Germany tonight if I can depending on how we feel, both have Covid at the moment.
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem have to agree on Sarr if those comments are accurate, no place for that, we are already a target for the media with our owners and Saudi views on homosexuality . No need for fuel on the fire.
kimtoon(Quote)
hope Lewis picks up soon mate,all the best
icedog(Quote)
Has anyone heard of CIES Football Observatory? Apparently. they are a football valuation site and Football365.com use their figures today for the top 10 players outside of the CL transfer valuations.
Lucas Paqueta is 52 million.
Scott McTomaney is 58 million according to them. I kid you not. One of the worst defensive mids is valued at 58 mil simply because he plays for Man U. I have seen him and Fred overrun many times this season. If he is worth 58 mil, I would start the bidding at 200 mil for Bruno. Hell, I would start the bidding at 50 mil for Hayden if McT is supposedly worth that much.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Why is Steve Bruce talking about NUFC again? It is like a divorcee talking about their ex constantly at this point. Move on Steve. I am sure the Baggies fans dont want to hear it.
It is absolute **** as well. Blaming everybody but himself and mainly the fans. I think he is a worse manager than Ugly John Carver. At least Carver had an injury excuse, his team was decimated and he still kept us up. I am certain Bruce would have relegated us this year as his amazing luck had finally run out.
On the other hand. I think we as NUFC fans CAN talk about Bruce because it is such a contrast to where we are now and shows how delusional he and his media fan boys are/were.
Eddie Howe’s Black and White Army!!!! Is it surpirising that “Sreve Bruce’s B&W Army” was never sung at SJP!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Glad Hayden went to Norwich. I dont want any of our players going to help the cabbage at WBA and that includes Dwight Gayle and Matty Longstaff. And even Cairen Clark. I want Brucie to fail and fail miserably because he is an ungracious, fat tw@t.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I will b!tch a bit more. Bruce made most of our players worse. That includes Sean Longstaff, Ryan Fraser, Hayden, Schar, Krafth, Miggy. ALL OF THEM. How the hell we stayed up I will never know.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hugo Ekitike deal should been done last week why not,its because of his greedy agents are just being swines trying to suck the last dime from the club so a report goes,itsabout time the FA or whoever to put a ceiling on on how much they can charge any given club
icedog(Quote)
Ice – I don’t know the amounts being talked about here in terms of agents fees, so I can only go off what we are faced with.
For me we tried to sign the lad in January and just missed out on the last day of the window. Follow that the fact we are trying again so early on in this window – and putting personal opinions aside here – the signs suggest he’s seen as a key signing for Howe.
He’s only 19 and could well be in demand the further the window goes on. The key players we have to be getting the deals done.
I don’t like it either mate. I think some of these agents are total parasites – but they are part of the game & charge every club.
If we want to get the players in we need to compete, then we can’t scrimp on every deal.
Sharpy17(Quote)
In most industries it’s 15% of earnings, so signing on fees and wages, paid by the player as the contract is between the player and the agent. There is no contract between the agent and the buying club unless they have been employed to find a player. I’ve never understood why clubs pay agents anything.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Watched the England game tonight – Pickford absolutely should have saved their goal.
England will never win anything while he’s our keeper imo & Southgate has this blind loyalty to some players.
England didn’t play badly, but didn’t look like scoring until we were awarded a penalty that never was. Kane was never getting to that ball imo.
Said at the start of the game there is only Kane, Sterling & Maguire that have scored more than 5 goals for England in this current squad.
Sharpy17(Quote)
The new kit looks OK. It reminds me of one I had as a kid in the Malcolm McDonald era in that is basically a B&W t-shirt.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I think Targett is a good signing. We know tracking back is not the best part of Maxi’s game and Matt can cover for him. We also have Jamaal Lewis if we want an overlapping fullback.
Target cam also taka a throw-in and corner which were woeful at times when Shelvey or Longstaff took them.
That’s pretty much the defense sorted. We obviously need a CB but I am not sure I would replace Schar or Burn to start with. I might even keep Lascelles to play against the more physical sides. We need at least 4 with Dummett being the 5th. Fernandez and Clark look to be off so there is a slot opening up there.
What we have to do is get out of the mindset from Fatty’s days when we had to sell in order to buy. Now it is a matter of whether there is the squad space. I dont think we need to worry about FFP and can easily spend 150 mil this year.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
watched England, didn’t think we really deserved anything from the game, Germans far quicker and tenacious on the ball for me. Englands defense looked ropey at times.
Still feeling **** with covid, both of us streaming now, day 6 for Lew day 4 for me, Lew still positive test today, not surprised looking at him. He is on a virtual covid ward where we give his oximeter readings twice daily to a health team, had to switch to them phoning for readings as their link won’t let me log in ! This is the future of healthcare, god help us.
kimtoon(Quote)
The Guardian are saying Liverpool have been quoted 85 million for Nunez. I think it is time for us to move on. Not because we cant afford it but because Liverpool have CL football.
Let’s see if we can get 2 of Diaby, Ekitike and Paqueta. I would be happy with our forwards then.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I actually think that if Wilson stays fit we have a top half team as it stands. Another 2 or 3 quality additions and we are top 6. We have fixed 2 of the most glaring issues – free kicks and CB. If we can just add another 5 goals from set pieces we will be fine and Burn has fixed the CB problem we had. I dont care what anybody says about that Havertz goal, that was not a BDB mistake it was supreme skill by Havertz. I watched him in the very next game and he scuffed a chance that was exactly the same, so it doesnt always come off, even for him.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric assuming Targett signs I would suggest the squad we have is top 7. Leicester in 8th only got 52 pts, three more than us, and we had everything before Christmas achieving nothing. The trick is going to be top 4 and cups. For that we need improvements both in the starting 11 and the squad. Burn and Schar are both 30 and neither have a decent back-up. Big Joe and Bruno are starters, so Paqueta, Eriksen or ??? would help. Wilson definitely needs a back-up, eg Ekitike. and a New RW is desperate. Dubravka needs competition and he is 33 as well. So we need to strengthen the starting 11 in at least two positions and I’d rather buy 3 extra starters than squad players.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I know this is a football blog, but it’s connected in the Saudi sports washing claims.
I’ve been watching some of the interviewing of the golfers who have signed up to LIV golf tour & it’s truly disgusting. I don’t know why they remain sat there facing such abuse.
Sky asked Poulter & Westwood if they would play in a tour Putin put on and if there was nothing they would do for money – I don’t remember them asking Lewis Hamilton that question when they were televising him racing out in Saudi, or the same question being put to Anthony Joshua when he was fighting out there.
Sharpy17(Quote)
If the govt are prepared to do trade and arms deals then anything else is peanuts
PremAndUp(Quote)
Exactly Prem
kimtoon(Quote)
Test 4
Sharpy17(Quote)
Trouble is we know Wilson probably won’t stay fit. We need a top quality forward what ever .
Pleased we are signing Targett also not surprised FUN88 still on the shirts as sponsor either. All those ITK saying it would be amraco or Saudi airlines, way off, maybe in a couple of years IF we become contenders.
kimtoon(Quote)
I think 85 mil for Nunez might scare liverpool off. It certainly will scare Athletico. I dont really think we have a chance of signing him though as he is too high profile now.
The 2 clubs that have money and will spend it are Man U and Spurs. The good news is that their priorities are not the same as ours. They need defenders and midfielders. So, I think we have a chance to sign the type of player just below the top level. Ivan Toney would be good at 30 mil but there is no way Everton would sell us Calvert-Lewin.
I dont mind Tarkowski going to Everton. I never watched a lot of Burnley but he doesnt seem that much of a step up on Lascelles.
Botman. I dont know! He didnt seem that good in the CL against Chelsea but that was a small sample and he is young.
So, top priority comes down to the 3 I mentioned earlier, plus Toney who is a real handful now. Rafa, why did you sell him!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: it is inevitable we will get Saudi sponsors. I think they are banning betting companies beginning next year so that rules Fun88 out. I think it might be a strategic move by PIF not to go all in on Saudi sponsorship this year. Let things quiet down and fly under the radar a bit. We have plenty of room under FFP anyway. You know what the outcry would be if we announced a 50 mil a year kit deal. Richard Keys would have a stroke, even though he is quite happy to take Middle Eastern money.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric I agree, it will likely happen and also by keeping fun88 for another season when the ban comes in they won’t have to pay them off for the contract ceasing early as I believe it runs until 2025 .
To be fair as **** as the logo looks on the shirt, the company themselves have been ok, they tweet funny stuff and engage well with the fan base and give away tickets too I believe.
kimtoon(Quote)
Nunez will never happen, far too expensive and he wants CL football.
kimtoon(Quote)
So for next season we are wanting three Centre Forwards Wilson, Ekitike and a third of Nunez quality.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Targett confirmed. Solidifies our current position. Presumably with Lewis and manquillo as back-up
PremAndUp(Quote)
new sponser will be saudi but are getting round the block by clubs by going with a firm in China so i hear
icedog(Quote)
What is ever wrong with this site, my comments keeps going awol
kimtoon(Quote)
Oh they’re back now !
kimtoon(Quote)
Liverpool supposed to have bid 70m for NUNEZ
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: Man U are also supposedly in the mix for Nunez. I think we can currently compete on squad quality with them and also on price. I am serious. They show every Man U game here and they were gash. 6th flattered them and they are talking about shipping 12 out the door. At that rate they will be left with De Gea, Fernandez, a 37 year-old Ronaldo and underperforming Sanchez. As usual the Man U fans are talking up their youth but when was the last time anybody made it from there? They dont mention Mason Greenwood anymore.
They have lost their best player in Cavani and Pogba was always a mirage but he is gone too. And Rashford has gone backwards. I think I might even take Chris Wood over Marcus ATM 🙂
Has anybody watched Fred, McTom and Wan Bassaka play? They are midtable. Van de Beek couldnt even get in the Everton team. They are all flattered for what Man U (OVER) paid for them or their pretend values on sites such as Transfermkt. And I havent even mentioned McGuire yet 🙂
The Man U squad is just not very good and is running on reputation and the desire of the tabloids to get clicks by shoehorning Ronaldo or McGuire into every headline.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, got to agree but they still have that big club pull and media love in going on.
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon mate. We will be better than Man U next year. They still havent realised that if you employ clowns you eventually end up with a custard pie in your face. Ashley didnt either which is why we ended up Pards, Carver and Bruce. I dont think they have really changed much from Woodward and are still desperate that a good Manager will take them back to the promised land.
I am willing to bet anybody on here that we will finish above Man U this coming season. A tenner to the SBR Foundation.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
So Targett has signed. The day after the season ended everyone would be delighted but now I see a few not too happy. I think that’s because we were linked to better left backs. Funny old world… FWIW I think he’s a solid buy and means we can spend more money on places we really need it spent.
Stuart79(Quote)
We have 15 players aged 30 or over only 6 of whom would make the matchday squad
Burn, Shelvey, Wilson, Schar, Trippier and Dubravka
So there are 9 to move on, plenty of spaces in the squad
PremAndUp(Quote)
Nine players I would be happy to keep as squad players as we push for top 6. We need backups as Tripps and Wilson showed us last season. As long as these players will not b!tch and moan they can easily have a part to play. We dont really need to sell anybody to “balance the books” so why not keep the likes of Shelvey and Miggy?
Shelvey
Murphy
Miggy
Wood
Fraser
Manquillo
Krafth
Lewis
Longstaff
Our level at the moment, with a few additions, is probably Wolves or Leicester. Would these players make their benches. Most would!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Some fans seem to be worried about being able to shift wages for certain players like Gayle or Hendrick off the books. WHY? We can move them on and subsidize their wages if we want. The whole lot of the unwanted players would probably add up to 1 Alexis Sanchez in wages.
We have to move on from the Mike Ashley way of looking at things and realise that is not us anymore.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I’m have to be honest, I dug out Mandy and her boys in the beginning because I thought they were taking too long to act, and didn’t seem to have a plan set out – too long to get rid of Bruce, too long to appoint Howe & leaving Jones in charge. That changed a bit in January with some of the signings, though I still felt them mad scramble on deadline all felt a little desperate and not very planned out – and ultimately didn’t come off with neither Ekitike or Lingard arriving. In the end that really didn’t matter, but at the time it didn’t look good.
But I’m happy to hold my hands up now and say I’m 100% on board with them. What they have done & are doing since is bang on for me. The way they brought the atmosphere back to SJP was incredible to see & im sure it will continue next season.
To see them celebrate with the players on the final day of the season – we truly are a United club now & it’s a thing to watch.
As the season ended I had 2 hopes early in the window – firstly, that Dan Ashworth would be appointed and secondly that Matt Targett would be signed up. Both boxes ticked & I’m a happy puppy.
There is lots of talk and links with pretty much every player, but I’m happy that they will do the right thing & Howe will have a lot of say on those new additions. Our club is finally being run the right way & Mandy & the boys are the right people for our club – Saudi money or not, that’s all I ever wanted for us.
Sharpy17(Quote)
… that and a blog site that wasn’t still broken ?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: you can go and talk to the geriatric crazies on Eds! Better off here where things are semi-normal.
Eric Sykes(Quote)