Good Morning. It's Thursday 4th January, and here are the latest headlines from Elland Road Magpies set to test Leeds resolve with £20m offer Crysencio Summerville is on Eddie Howe's most wanted list, as Newcastle Utd look to recover from their worst form in years. With seven defeats in their last eight games, the Geordies have slipped down to ninth in the table, and are in desperate need for creativity and goals. The 22yo Dutchman could provide the 'shot in the arm' needed to re-inspire the team, and get them firing on all cylinders again, but FFP (financial fair play) stands in their way. Sheikh Mansour, the owner of Newcastle Utd, has an estimated wealth of £17bn, (more than Jammy and Marcos combined) but may need to sell before they can buy if they are to stay within the constraints of the rules. According to journalist Conor McGilligan, the Magpies may try and tempt to lowball Leeds with an offer around £20m to test the waters. please log in to view this image Would Leeds consider cash plus players in Summerville swap Leeds will be loathed to lose any of their top talent, but if they don't get promoted come May, the writing is on the wall anyway. Summerville had already provided twelve goals and six assists this season, and according to stats from Whoscored, is the Divisions best player, ahead of Jack Clarke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and our very own Georginio Rutter. Leeds could very well lose the services of Luke Ayling (to Boro), and Liam Cooper (to Stoke) this month, and still have gaps they need to plug all round the pitch, but also risk FFP sanctions if they invest too heavily this month. Newcastle have a host of fringe players that, due the size of Eddie Howe's squad have not had a look in this season. The likes of Matt Targett, Matt Ritchie, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes and Paul Dummett have collectively 506 minutes of league game time between them, rendering them surplus to requirements. Would Leeds be mad if they were to sacrifice the services of the best player in the Championship, for cash, plus players that could strengthen Farke's all round squad considerably? please log in to view this image End of an era as Ayling set to depart Luke Ayling is set to depart Leeds Utd, and put pen to paper with Championship rivals Middlesbrough. The 32yo has been frozen out of the first team in recent times, and at 32, wants to extend his playing career beyond this season. Joining Boro makes sense for Bill. He has a wealth of experience, and can play in a variety of positions, and as he lives in Wetherby, can still commute to the Riverside Stadium without disrupting his family life. please log in to view this image
Eddie “The new messiah” Howe having a tough time despite having tens of millions to spend, who’d have thought it? Morning all
Morning all from LS7 (I think) The Summerville thing will stretch out all January. Ayling going can only be a good thing. Let's face it he's past it and we can bring in a younger player with legs that last longer.
Morning all. Howe a victim of his own success. Qualifying for the CL is all well and good but takes a huge quality squad like City to cope with it and remain competitive in the league. Villa will discover same next season and West Hams European activities last season almost saw them relegated
Poor old Eddie now getting the usual backlash from the media. All sorts of names being mentioned about replacing him but it’s all bollox as usual. The owners know they brought in a gem after years of Steve Bruce. He has bought quality as well as using his academy well and improving some of the dross he was given by Bruce. Unfortunate injury situation that’s all and it’s a bad situation that a new manager wouldn’t be able to cope with. Bielsa had 60% of his squad out at one stage and panic set in and media bollox about him overtraining etc. Eddie Howe will carry on improving the squad bit by bit and as much as FFFP rules allow. Man City and Chelsea cheated FFFP rules to build their squads all done before it got tougher
Morning all We turned down £20m for Summerville at the start of the season and he’s increased his value so why on earth would we consider £20m Luke to Boro is crazy, our last three games of the season, two away games and home to Southampton, one of those away games is Boro.
Afternoon all. Next midweek it's the Carabao Cup semi finals so without lookng it up who can name the 4 teams still left in the competition ?
Not me, but I'll give some hints. Premier League reds with a convincing home win in the last round against a side going well this season. Championship reds, beat a lower division side away in the last round (can't quite remember who) Blues, pens against the black and whites after a late equaliser. Whites, pens again away at Jack's team. Was the draw fixed
Chelsea, Liverpool, Middlesbrough and can't remember the 4th Edit: going by LDS' clues I'd have to say Spurs for the 4th team
Ah, got it now. Had to google it though. For some reason I was thinking Big Jack's team so I was thinking who beat Middlesbrough/Sheff Wed/Newcastle in the QF (knew it wasn't us obviously).
