The very best managers buy the best players for the way they want to play, simple as that. All the comments about Paqueta, for whatever reason he does not fit the brief from Howe. We should be really excited by that, not frustrated. Seems to me to be about two key areas - forward press, and football intelligence. The other stuff - fitness, attitude - are a given, but how we want to play needs players like Maddison rather than Tielemans, Harrison rather than Paqueta. I don't watch a lot of general football, but think of players from CM or RW who play smart and press, then you'll have an idea of who we're after.
Feel like I'm spamming this thread (I'll be honest, expected it to be a little more active with about 30 hours to go....). Really interesting that Leicester are finalising a deal for a central midfielder. Can't quite work out why that might be a priority for them.....
I'm never that bothered by players moving to other clubs. The only interesting one for me is Paqueta and how that works out, we will see. I'll be slightly disappointed if our business is already done. But then Howe does rate Shelvey, so maybe CM isn't on the agenda and we're only potentially looking at an Almiron understudy? Whilst I can see us suddenly throwing £90m at Maddison and Harrison, I can just as easily see us signing some low key player on loan.
CHO to Leverkusen (highly likely) and Diaby to us, would be just tremendous, but I can't see it happening... However - we're good at "all of a sudden" moves.
Diaby + Maddison and WOW. Both clubs are finalising incomings. But Diaby might shift back left to make room for CHO, and Leicester may be replacing Tielemans.
We can but dream... I really think it's actually quite unlikely we sign another biggie, but we've been surprised before.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles being touted today - would be a shrewd signing - covers CM and RB with the injuries we have atm and is in the last year of his contract so a reasonable fee could be agreed. Arsenal produce some technically decent players and another with potential for Eddie to get his hands on and work some magic with, so would be a big yes for me. Then really we need a winger to replace Murphy, one more marquee signing or a loan and we are looking very healthy.
https://www.nufc.co.uk/news/latest-news/magpies-stronger-than-last-anfield-visit-says-howe/ Looks like we're done for the transfer window mostly like dudes. ****.
Was it Rio Ferdinand or David James? One of them dropped a remote on their foot didn't they?(the other also did something stupid i think, but can't recall what)
Just googled: David James The England goalkeeper once pulled a muscle in his back when reaching for the television remote control
Oh and as regards Rio: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/1130826.stm He strained his leg whilst resting it on a coffee table >.<
Think I was thinking of the Dave Beasant incident. Rio Ferdinand During his spell at Leeds, the England defender managed to pick up a tendon strain in his knee watching television. Ferdinand had his foot up on a coffee table for a number of hours and ended up injured. Dave Beasant The veteran goalkeeper managed to rule himself out for eight weeks in 1993 when he dropped a bottle of salad cream on his foot, severing the tendon in his big toe. David James The England goalkeeper once pulled a muscle in his back when reaching for the television remote control. The keen angler also tweaked his shoulder when trying to land a monster carp.
