It’s been an incredible eight months on Tyneside, seeing us go from Mike Ashley, Steve Bruce and impending relegation to ambitious new owners, Eddie Howe and only narrowly missing out on a top 10 finish.
2022 has been a year to remember so far, and it looks set to go from strength to strength as we approach what promises to be a huge summer off the field at St James’ Park.
Here, we look at some of the issues that need to be addressed and key moves our new owners – alongside new sporting director Dan Ashworth – could and should make over the coming months.
1. Add quality in attack
If Callum Wilson stayed fit, I’m confident he’d score between 15 and 20 goals in a ever-improving Newcastle United side that will be looking to break into the top 10 and beyond this coming season.
However, in his two full seasons on Tyneside, he’s only played 44 Premier League games out of a possible 76. He’s reliable in front of goal when fit and an absolute handful too, but his battles with injuries mean we must sign at least one striker this summer.
Dwight Gayle needs to go and Chris Wood is likely to take up the sort of role Daryl Murphy took in the Championship from this point onwards, so signing a senior striker alongside the young and versatile Hugo Ekitike could be a vital move to add guaranteed goals to an attack that tends to look a little blunt without our current number nine.
A quality right winger capable of delivering big numbers could also transform our forward line and take us to the next level, with links to Bayer Leverkusen’s Moussa Diaby and Leeds’ Raphinha pointing to exactly what we need in that area of the pitch.
2. Shift deadwood and sell smart
There are too many players currently on our books who are either not good enough, way down the pecking order or long-serving pros who need to move on for everyone’s sake.
The likes of Ciaran Clark, Matt Ritchie, Jeff Hendrick and Dwight Gayle need to go, whilst it may be the right time for Isaac Hayden, Federico Fernandez and Karl Darlow to depart after all three have found game time hard to come by at stages of their career where they’ll want to be playing.
Not only would this raise funds – albeit not much – it would create space for new signings, bring the wage bill down and avoid awkward decisions for Eddie Howe when he comes to select his 25-man squad ahead of the new 2022/23 season.
We’ve rarely sold at the right time in recent years, so selling smartly will also be key, with the likes of Jamaal Lascelles and Freddie Woodman striking me as players who could be worth moving on this summer. Miguel Almiron is another, with some of the best soccer betting sites in the USA backing him to return to the MLS if there’s no takers in Italy, Spain or England.
On the flip side, selling Allan Saint-Maximin isn’t something I’m keen on unless someone arrives with silly money. This particular exit rumour isn’t one I’m enjoying as I feel he needs a full season under Howe and still has so much to offer, so hopefully some clarity can be offered on his future ASAP.
3. Secure sponsorship deals
It’s easily forgotten given how much this area of the club was neglected by Mike Ashley, but securing lucrative sponsorship deals will be key to our spending – both this summer and in future transfer windows to come.
Who knows who they’ll strike deals with – Saudi Golf have been mentioned after CEO Majed Al Sorour joined the board last month – however this could take our finances to the next level, enabling us to show ambition in the transfer market while staying within FFP regulations.
5. Sign a top centre-back
Dan Burn has been outstanding and Fabian Schar has been superb since Howe came in, but it’s been clear for several months now that we’re looking to bring in a quality centre-back.
Diego Carlos has gone to Aston Villa and it remains to be seen who’ll win the race for Sven Botman, who appears to be our top target in this department.
Whether we end up with the latter or have to look elsewhere, this is an area where fresh blood, athleticism and the ability to carry the ball out of the back would be much welcomed.
Not only would an injection of class help us play the Eddie Howe way, we may need more than one new centre-back if the likes of Fernandez, Clark and Lascelles move on.
6. Support Elliot Anderson’s development
It was always clear from U23 games I attended that Elliot Anderson had something special, but his loan spell at Bristol Rovers made so many sit up and take note of the 19-year-olds talent!
He is a special player who must be managed carefully over the coming months. Howe will almost certainly hand him a chance to impress over pre-season, so it’ll be very interesting to see what comes next.
If he’s loaned out again, we must find the right club at the right level, especially when too many of our youngsters have endured damaging and poorly thought out moves away in recent years.
If he stays, a path to regular game time must be clear, as it could harm him, not help him, to spend most of the season sat on the bench, albeit it at Premier League level.
7. Discover more Bruno’s
Last but certainly not least, it would be great to see the club use Bruno Guimaraes’ arrival as a blue print for future business.
By that I mean targeting young gems who have bundles of quality and bags of character who buy into this exciting new project at St James’ Park.
The Brazilian wants to become a ‘legend’ on Tyneside. Wouldn’t it be great if we could bring in others who arrive with his passion, spark and determination to take the Premier League by storm in a black and white shirt!
Eric – in answer to your question, it’s actually a combination of the 90s and 70s
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: Man U just lost an aging team – Mata, Matic, JLingz, Greenwood, Cavani, Phil Jones, Van de Beek, Wan Bassaka, Lindelof, Martial, Shaw, Bailly, Ronaldo.
That is a team of has-beens that they need to spend 1/2 a billion to get back to Man City, Liverpool and Bayern’s level.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – Eriksen is a good footballer & every football fan around the world was thrilled to see him back playing football.
But he’s going into one of the most toxic clubs in world football at the moment. The feel good factor around Eriksen is not enough to rub off on MU and change things round there.
There will be an expectation on him like nothing he’s ever experienced before – even when he was at Spurs or Inter.
As much as he’s a good player, he’s not the player MU needs right now imo.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Sharpy: I agree with everything you just said.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
ha, ha ha! So Ed Sheerin and Sam Fender are on the same level as David Bowie, Lou Reed, Morrissey, Joe Strummer, Willie Nelson and Thom Yorke? I am laughing my t!ts off.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Snoop is good, but did all of his best stuff 20 years ago. Same with Tupak. Except he is dead so we dont know what he would have done.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kimtoon: I dont mean to give you a hard time. I was just looking forward to seeing Blondie. If Debbie Harry still has that voice! I will be happy. It is at the Chicago Theatre which is one of the most iconic venues in the USA. I am REALLY looking forward to it. I have been playing Blondie songs on Youtube for weeks now.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – I had similar with Elton John last month. Went to see him on his farewell tour at the SOL (needs must). I didn’t buy one bottle of hand sanitizer through covid – I took 6 bottles that night ?.
He was really good though & the boys first stadium concert – and only time he will ever enter the SOL!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Blood y hell Eric, what ever is wrong with America, Chicago shooter at 4th of july parade now. Seems like there is a mass shooting everyday lately.
kimtoon(Quote)
Eric, nobody is on Bowie’s level .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kimtoon: this is more than likely some anti-semitic thing. I know Highland Park pretty well, it is about 20 miles north of me and an ex-GF worked there. It is known as a wealthy suburb of Chicago with a lot of Jewish people.
The real issue is that they hand out assault rifles with your morning cornflakes in this country. This could well be a hate crime but if he didnt have easy access to a gun…
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Averaging at One mass shooting every day in 2022 to date.
On this day of all days in the US
No id’d motive for this one yet.
So very sad and I fear this country is on course to pull itself apart
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Aussie – don’t know if you’re out there buddy but hope those floods haven’t hit you or any of your friends/family to badly mate.
More rainfall in 1 day than London gets in a whole year – horrible stuff & not what you expect in Aus ?.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It’s so sad that this is being spoken of as ‘another shooting’ in the media with such normality or regularity.
It happens that often out there now that it just is ??♂️.
Shooting will happen – they do in this Country & did just a few days ago in Copenhagen. But Eric is right, while assault rifles are so accessible out there, they will continue to this way in America.
Ironic really that a pro life Country that outlaws abortion can be so precious over guns ???.
Sharpy17(Quote)
This is so sick it is hard to comprehend. You have this crazy shooting women and children from a rooftop with a sniper rifle. Not that it is any more easy to comprehend than Sandyhook and the new one in Texas where 9 year olds were massacred. They have to be mentally ill, because it doesnt make any sense otherwise to me.
BUT, the defense for all of this over here is that the only way to “defend against a bad guy with a gun is to have a good guy with a gun take them out”!!! Totally insane!!!!!!!!!! Restricting machine guns and sniper rifles would probably help more.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric, It’s defo gotten worse , I’m sure I can’t remember this amount of shootings on a large scale in previous years.
Sharpy, it’s bonkers mate, that they strive so much to protect the unborn yet pay such little respect to the living.
The right to bare arms but not be in control of your own body if you’re female. Land of the free my a rse.
kimtoon(Quote)
Nobody needs a machine gun unless they are in combat in a war zone. Then again seems to me America is rapidly turning into a war zone. If I lived there and had kids I honestly think I would be home schooling them rather than let them be at risk of yet another school shooter.
kimtoon(Quote)
So now having to open new tab for this site each time I post as comments not showing up on refresh.
Thought it was getting fixed by new team ? worse than ever.
Think I will get back to gardening and try later.
kimtoon(Quote)
I have actually been to a gun shop over here. An ex-boss took me on the way back to the office. He hunted ducks and deer. I would have said he slaughtered the poor things but that is another topic.
Anyway, there were walls and cabinets filled with guns. Literally hundreds of them. I could have walked out of there with an AR15 (a machine gun) by just giving them my driver’s license and credit card.
That was it. I didnt have to prove that I was not insane and didnt have a criminal record.
I could have been the new John Dillinger who when asked why he robbed banks famously said “because that’s where the money is”. Far better than shooting school kids or families watching a parade at 10am.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
On a footballing note, all the craic today seems to be that we have decided Diaby is the man we want & we are ready to get him.
We decided Botman was the man we wanted & we made it happen. That was NEVER the case under Ashley.
The BL director of football said last week that he’s for sale at the right price – there’s a deal to be had, and I reckon this one comes off too.
It may be that instead of Ekitike for £30m and Sarr for £30m – we go £50-60m for Diaby and look at a free transfer around 30 instead for now.
I’d be fine with that personally. I think Diaby & that balance he’d bring with Maxi on the other side is huge to our attack.
There are still some very good free transfer options available – Dyabala, Belotti, Lingard, Isco.
I’d be happy with any of alongside Diaby.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Given that we play 4-3-3 then Diaby and ASM flanking Wilson is not a bad front three.
The question is what’s behind them? On the flanks we have Fraser and Murphy, together with Almiron who is more of a central player.
Backing up Wilson we have a couple of kids, Westendorf and Munez. That ignores Gayle and Wood.
Broja on a loan to by is a cheap option, Zirkzee entering the last year of his contract at Bayern might well be affordable.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem: I reckon we will sell Miggy and he will do a lot better in another league. Stats sometimes lie, but 1 goal in like 40 games tells you something. Even if it was goal of the month!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I still don’t think we have ever played him in his best position, where he played in the MSL. However I don’t expect that even if we built the team round him he would be great going forward.
PremAndUp(Quote)
I think Fraser is a decent player. He is not top 4 quality but we are not top 4 YET.
Murphy has been unlucky with his finishing. Hits the post and ‘keeper a lot. Give him another year and see if his luck changes. It probably wont 🙂 He might be just one of those players destined to always underachieve.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont really give a **** about giving these players more chances. They are mostly good – Shelvey, Miggy, Murphy, Dummett, Gayle. But we are now on a different level and should be looking to build a team of Brunos and fit Wilsons.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Prem – I think it’ll be a good few windows before we have almost like for like back up players. I think Fraser & Murph can do a job until then tbf.
Personally I’d sell Miggy for Lingard or Isco on a free. I know everyone loves Miggys workrate and that, but his end product is awful. I also know everyone says that’s because of Rafa & Bruce negative play – but Howe hasn’t played him much when he came in and had the option to select him. Also, when he’s had chances in front of goal or to play that killer pass, he really lacks composure.
Forwards wise – Wilson nailed on. Woods we have just spent £25m on so unless we are ready to lose £10-15m on the lad in 6 months he stays.
I do think he’s better than he played last season to be fair to him, and with both Burnley & us last season he’s always had the pressure of scoring to keep the club up – that won’t be the case anymore ??.
We have a couple of decent looking youngsters in the ranks – Westendorf in particular looks a real potential. But he was playing at Barking before our U21s – so I’d love to see him go out on loan next season.
With Gayle going and us having Wilson & Wood, I would love to see another in & the 2 you mention fit the bill perfectly.
I’d probably prefer Zirkzee personally. Whilst I don’t think there’s much between him & Broja, I think Zirkzee would be good for Botman – 2 young Dutch internationals.
Both Wilson & Wood are 30 with Wood 31 in Dec. So both have a season or 2 playing at their peak – however I’m sure both will have their injuries too.
If we develop the youth players the right way over the next season – then at least 1 would be ready to step up you’d think/hope.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I see we have been linked with Gabigoal by his agent and whilst my first choice is Zirkzee with Broja second there are worse shouts. I also want to see Westendorf and Munez in the championship.
On the wings if we get Diaby we don’t need Lingard. Yes he’s better than Murphy but he would not sit well on the bench. As you say a season or two away from that.
I’m happy with our defence and midfield, can strengthen in Jan if we have to, depends. If our target is top 6 we will have enough with the new signings, Wilson and Trippier back.If we want top four we are Demaril, Paqueta and Sangare away
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – have you seen much of Barbosa? – I can’t say I have to be honest so loan with £17m buy out doesn’t seem stupid money but I don’t know how good he is.
I’d only go for Lingard IF we sell Miggy. Lingard can play wide & #10.
If Miggy went for £15m and Lingard free, it keeps the spends right (not that it’s a major concern right now, but it’s not a bad habit to get into really) – I would also see it as an upgrade.
I’m happy enough with defence too – but if we could get £10m for Lascelles, I’d bring Deyaner in on a free as well. Again I think it’s an upgrade with money back in the pot too ??♂️.
The next one though is the keepers – I can’t see why you’ve have Pope, Dubravka and Pope. Surely either Dubravka or Darlow leaves don’t they?!
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well losing your Health sec and Chancellor in one go, is quite something even by Boris standards.
Rats leaving the sinking ship
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – it still won’t be enough to shift the clown!!.
Even when he’s talking about Pincher saying there is no room in this party for people abusing their position, he misses the fact he did just that with his current wife!!.
Raab is a snivelling coward as well & the likes of Patel, JRM, Gove – all those who wouldn’t get close to a top job under anyone else are still shoulder to shoulder with this moron.
I can think of a more corrupt, dishonest, incompetent government ever – and at a time we so desperately need stability & competence.
These clowns are wrecking this Country for generations to come.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Looks like they’ve already done it to me Sharpy.
georgio(Quote)
Just like Thatcher did before them.
People still buy all this tory bull sh ite
PremAndUp(Quote)
I’m sick of listening to the cowards who only want to secure their own position say it’s easier to walk away or it’s more important to deliver for the Country.
The best thing they can do to deliver for the Country is get this moron out!! – because he’s causing such a distraction that NOTHING is getting done!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I will see your BoJo in the moron stakes and raise you a Trump who had an unsuccessful coup, stacked the supreme court to take away women’s health rights and soon will take away all health care rights and environment rights and hired as his chief attorney a man who married his cousin (Rudy Giuliani).
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Now that Ekitike is put on hold I am feeling a bit sad that people on NUFC blogs will no longer point out that his name is a palindrome. If he eventually does arrive then maybe it can be fit into a question on one of those quiz shows hosted by Stephen Fry that aren’t really quiz shows at all and are ways for him and his Pals to show how smart they are?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
And if Stephen Fry is so smart then why hasn’t he had his nose fixed? He must know a few Harley St. plastic surgeons from his “Oxford Days” and they might want to make the suggestion when they next come over for dinner!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
While I’m on about cowards – Sunak & Javid don’t get off just coz they’ve tossed the towel in.
Those f@ckers have stood in front of cameras defending the moron in recent months too. It’s a bit late to play the integrity card now – the moron has been lying to cover up lies since he was major of London!!.
He hasn’t just become a piece of **** coz he promoted a Pincher – THEY ALL KNEW PINCHER DID IT!!.
Why didn’t they quit when he got promoted in February – or when it was brushed under the carpet in 2019!!!.
They can send their strongly worded letters – but these f@ckers have facilitated his incompetence – they don’t get to polish their moral compass now!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Baffles me how someone who has been impeached and led a coup against the elected govt is still allowed to run for office and isn’t rotting in prison for life.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Sunak is desperate for a shot at PM position Sharpy, that’s why he is distancing himself from Boris now. None of them have integrity, not one and they make me sick tbh. Whilst the average joe fights to keep his head above water that lot were and have been ferreting tax payers money away to their rich pals, particularly during the early days of the pandemic.
Boris and co couldn’t utter the truth if their lives depended on it.
The trouble is there isn’t a real electable opposition at present and I say that as a die hard labour supporter . All I know is he and they have to go before they completely wreck this country .
kimtoon(Quote)
Prem: you have a Trump mini-me in BoJo. Nobody could be as bad as Trump and you really have to live here to see just how bad he is. You get snippets in the UK but that is about 1% of the story. I know you have studied psychology.
The American Society of Clinical Psychologists had a long-standing practice of not commenting on people they had not seen personally. When Trump became President, they made an exception and hundreds signed up to call him a danger and that their diagnosis was he was a “malevolent narcissist”.
I think BoJo is close to that, but no one recently compares to Trump. I would say Hitler and Stalin from the past are similar. Pol Pot maybe? If Trump could get away with it I truly believe he would kill his opponents. He wanted his VP hanged FFS.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Kim – I’m done hearing ‘there’s no decent opposition’ as well.
I could accept it when it was Corben, and when it was Boris for Brexit & Labour to vote again – I could understand that.
But anyone who claims that Boris is still the best option after everything that he & his party have got up to since he’s been PM – they need their heads looking at!!.
Javids little speech was pathetic today as well – he gave the benefit of doubt????. Boris demoted Javid because he wouldn’t get rid of an advisor he & Carrie didn’t like!!.
Then when Hancock was backed so far into his corner he had to step down – Boris went back to Javid.
He knew fine well what Boris was all about – so this benefit of doubt nonsense doesn’t wash.
Both he & Sunak hoped Boris would get kicked out and leave a party that was salvageable behind that they could before PM of – there was no integrity in that!!.
Now they know he’s staying to wreck the party completely, they’ve jumped to try and save face.
Now you’ve got them scrambling round to try & change the rules so they can vote to oust him again – it’s beyond ridiculous!!.
They voted to keep him – it should now be the British publics turn!!.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Does anybody seriously think that the bunch of clowns in the Labour Party are any better than the clowns in the government? ????. The only difference is the colours they wear. Politicians lie! That’s what they do! When you’re in government it’s easier to see the lies! Bojos biggest mistake was probably sacking Dominic Cummings. He’s clearly spilled everything. Bojo has had probably the most challenging premiership since ww2. Brexit, a global pandemic that has destroyed people and the economy, a war in Ukraine and then through a combination of those things, a cost of living crisis … he’s a moron and made a lot of mistakes, sure, but if anyone thinks Starmer would’ve done any better then give your head a shake. I don’t see anyone in any party right now that has a level of integrity to get us out the sh.it.
It’s easy being in opposition, you just need to criticise what goes wrong and say you’d have done the same if things go well. In opposition you don’t make decisions that affect peoples lives and livelihoods. We will see in time what happens. Be careful what you wish for, you may just get it!
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Gilly – I’m gonna keep it polite. I couldn’t disagree more.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I’m off to work so can’t discuss in any great detail my feelings on it just now – but this nothing to do with favouring Labour or Starmer either for me.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anthony Gordon is a dirty little sod. Is that what we want? Not for 35 mil.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Yeah mate , saw that story, can’t see it happening tbh.
kimtoon(Quote)
Well said Gilly .
Sadly there really is no credible alternative party to govern this Country.
The last Labour government only succeeded in bankrupting the Country and adding to the national debt.
Never mind , Tony Blair did okay and is now worth some £50m.
I will still be voting for the Brexit party at the next general election.
Sidekick(Quote)
Some of these comments make really clear that this is a football blog. The comments around politics are like the broken toys in Boris’ head.
georgio(Quote)
georgio: I doubt you are referring to me about UK politics but what I do know is that Trump is a Madman and a danger to the world.
But, more importantly, I dont want Anthony Gordon 🙂
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Georgio – you’re right mate. I’m not going down that rabbit hole – other than to say I disagree with Gilly & Sidekick and not because I think Starmer is the boy – but coz I can’t stand Boris and what he’s done.
But that’s as far as I’ll go – let’s keep it about footy on here.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I also don’t want Gordon and can’t figure out how a simple enquiry made SSN ?.
Someone in one of the camps has a big gob!.
I think Diaby will eventually happen – I think BL will come down from £60m and we’ll go up from £40m to meet somewhere in the middle.
If not, I don’t mind Hudson Obi – I’d prefer a loan to buy first if possible but I understand their new owner might want to recoup some money.
Don’t know much at all about the Brazilian boys being mentioned though ??♂️ But trust Nickson & if he reckons they are worth going after then dee it lad ??.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Brexit hasn’t done much for us as far as I can tell. Peace in NI teetering on the edge , cost of living crisis bloo dy Lurpak butter £9 a bar, security tags on cheese and butter and petrol something only the rich can afford.
Whole worlds gone mad. And we have an idiot and clowns running this country .
It’s costing me a shed load of money to do up this bungalow, two or three times the materials and labour cost it should be. Greedy trades upping cost by silly amounts way and above what’s reasonable . Was quoted £3,500 to build a catio for my cat. Went out and bought the materials myself cost £600 me and my brother building it.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yep Sharpy, best to keep politics off football blogs although I have done it myself on here with rants about the Orange Madman Trump.
I think I would be OK with JUST DIABY! And then start the season and see how it goes.
Mainly because I cant think of a centre forward we shoud get. Calvert-Lewin? I dont know? It is not like we are looking at a Shearer in his prime and before injuries. Or even a Demba Ba.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Transfer window doesnt even close until Sept 1 and our 1st game is Aug 6.
We sort of have time people!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Given Diaby and I think we will meet their price with instalments and add-ons, we would have improved from the second half of last season, where we came third.
Trippier and Wilson are back
Pope and Botman are signed
Targett was there anyway, but good to consolidate.
Diaby would strengthen our attack.
Anything else is bonus and depth.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Does anybody know that if you can subsidise their wages. Hendrick is probably the prime example but we have quite a few that Championship clubs might want but cannot afford. Here is my list:
Hendrick
Gayle
Fernandez
Manquillo
Darlow
Matty Longstaff
Miggy
Shelvey
Lascelles
Murphy
Ritchie
Clark
That’s 12 players!!!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I have always thought we could get money for some of those players – Shelvey, Gayle, Murphy p or could we? Do their wages rules them out of a transfer, even for a couple of mil to pad our books for FFP?
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I would probably keep Murphy, Lascelles and even Shelvey.
I have given up on Miggy and Darlow.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Eric – that list is probably over 600k a week wages.
Even if we only got £50m in transfer fees selling those players – the wages alone pay 6 or 7 top players. We maybe only need 10 max to replace those 12.
So done wisely the improvements needed don’t have to result in huge financial change.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Be lucky to get £20m IMHO
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – I know you mention us as 3rd in the 2nd half of the season, but that was as freak as Joe Willocks goal tally the season before.
The players were clearly better than the 1st half of the season – but we were riding a wave in the 2nd half.
We’ll be somewhere between that and the aim should be 55-60 points initially imo.
I was never in favour of a stead overhaul. So our approach so far is bang on for me. I agree, if it was only Diaby and that level of quality coming in, I could live with that.
Sharpy17(Quote)
It never works out well when an ex-PM stays around after resigning.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I don’t expect us to finish third, I only mention that because people seem to say we are aiming for a top 10 finish. No we are not. We are targeting Europe, and not the Europa kiddies league in 7th. 7th would be regarded as failure by Eddie and Amanda. That is 60+ pts as a minimum. 70+ gets top four but I think we need more than Diaby to get that.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Prem – sorry mate, I maybe didn’t word that well. I wasn’t suggesting you thought we’d finish 3rd & I wasn’t suggesting that you personally expected that be our form guide either – but it will be some peoples for sure.
I think aim for a points tally at the start of a season & aim to improve on last seasons.
We got 49 points last season with a chalk and cheese 1st & 2nd half.
3 more wins and 3 more draws on last season – I don’t think that’s unrealistic or certainly 12 more points however they come. That would be a good improvement wherever that leaves us in the league ??♂️.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Suggestions we are still going after Gordon.
I can’t say I understand that one at all really. He’s listed as a left winger – we certainly don’t need one of those, and as a right winger for Everton he never looked too **** hot to me.
He worked hard, he was tenacious/gritty in his work but I never saw a great deal of quality in final product.
At best he’d be a replacement for Miggy in how he players – but at £35m????.
Hopefully just paper talk.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Anyone else still having issues with site or just me ?
Have to keep opening up new tab to view new comments and re submit my details everytime, can’t simply refresh page .
kimtoon(Quote)
Kim – yip. I know Olly said they were changing on Monday so may be teething issues – though coincidentally the same issues as has been over the month or so ??
Sharpy17(Quote)
Same issues Kimtoon and Sharpy and also Gilly. But what are you going to do though – move to Eds 🙂 There are nice and knowledgeble people on here. Pardon my language but there are a bunch of bickering t!ts on Eds.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
The new company are still getting set up, I’m told.
They started on Monday but takes time – sorry!
I’ll flag it up as soon as I can.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
I have this gut feeling we will get Diaby. Based on nothing except my gut?
It is quite funny though how many players we are being linked with. We will need a squad of 200!
Eric Sykes(Quote)
I dont really believe all of what LIttle Chrissie Waugh says. I think he still has some of that DNA from the time he spent at The Chronic with Wor Lee and Rent-a-Gob John Gibson.
So the story of the Diaby deal being off, I don’t believe for a minute.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
Hope we don’t get Gordon but we have to trust the guys doing the deals. I’d love to see Diaby in. Fingers crossed, but we have lots of time. We need to get some out I think. Easier said than done.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Marco Asensio of RM latest one we are supposed to want.
kimtoon(Quote)
How did Anthony Gordon suddenly become “WORTH” 35 million? He was released by Liverpool before joining Everton. He has made 49 appearances for the Blue Bindippers and scored 4 goals. Last year he was loaned to Preston and made 11 appearances, scoring zero goals.
How does that equate to a 35 mil player!!!
Plus, I have watched him, and the most he has going for him is that he is a nasty little ****.
Eric Sykes(Quote)
**** it. Joe Gomez just signed a new 5 year deal at Liverpool.
Eric Sykes(Quote)