Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

I think Newcastle are below the top teams in Saudi in terms of priority at the minute they want to prove that top players in the prime want to go and play in Saudi hence them moving for younger players

 

They’ve already got Tonali who’s a machine and Bruno is hardly a slouch himself, if they want to really push on they need some creativity in there. The best teams rarely play without a creative midfielder in there now whilst playing 1 up top, thats what makes Rodri the best in the world for me because he allowed City to basically play with 2 advanced midfielders whilst doing all of the hard yards himself.

Playing 3 midfielders who are more defence minded than attack is great when you’re the underdog but they struggled to break teams down at times. They did have that purple patch where they were brilliant but they got some serious stat padding against the bottom 3, I’m sure Isak alone had about 13/14 combined goals and assists against those 3 plus Wolves when they in the bottom 4 and he was injured for a game or two.

 

No chance. And the rules have changed.

If intimidation of refs is what we want the game has gone further to ****e than I thought.

 

Limited sample size and recognising that it was a pre-season friendly but he was very poor on Saturday night. Looked very slow and ponderous to me.

 

Wouldn’t read much into it

he’s just made his debut for France he’s a top CB

 

Completely agree.

When I said last night that I want a bit of "nastiness" I didn't mean towards the ref. I meant I like players that stand up for their teammates, and will stand up for themselves when getting roughed up by opponents.

 

On paper hes the best we have been linked with in my opinion, granted never watched Diakite

 

Yep. As a player he is close to irreplaceable. As a strategic shift in priorities by the Saudis, if he goes there, it is terminal for their grandiose ambitions.

 

All for that. Got to back your mates up when the going gets tough. I dont think we are short of it though. Few times last season they werent shy of a bit of handbags. Luke broke the world high jumo record to get in the middle of something one match

 

Schar and Botman are both decent players, though Schar has slowed down a canny bit I'd say. He's getting on a bit.

In truth, neither are as quick as Ballard. Ballard is no slouch, but pace is often cited by some as the thing he might lack in the PL. Not by me. I think he'll be fine and will get better .

 

Pleased to hear it mate.

 

Yes, probably. And he is so good that it would be hard to argue with a sky high figure.

But the implications of the Saudis taking their UK team's best player to go and play in their desert league are seriously awful for that lot. Their "dream* would essentially be over.

So that's why I don't see it happening. The Saudis aren't that bored here yet and they probably still see traction in having useful idiots at their disposal.

 

Can't believe League One starts next week. Summer has gone quite quick this year.

 

And find sod all after ten years

 

100%. They targeted the perfect fanbase. Probably just because we’re local and get to see it first hand but I’ve genuinely never known so many gobshites around here who know absolutely nothing about football, don’t and never have gone to the matches yet act like they’re the best fans in the world. The amount that have crawled out of the woodwork is insane. Reckon my gym in CLS in 80% mags. The ****er is parked on the Wear.

 

Terrible thing. They keep saying they'll stop it, but are terrified of upsetting players.

Think this season only the captain is allowed to speak to the ref? We'll see how long that lasts, if they do it.

 

Me neither... I've said this for a while now, you could see this building up for a few months now and once he stopped negotiation this new contract offer...........
He will be away before the end of August.

 

Watched a few games last year where the top teams still surrounded the ref and not One card was shown

 

I think Bruno gets away with a lot with him being Brazilian should really pick up more yellows than he actually does

 

Could selling Isak and reinvesting make the mags a better team overall? The thought has crossed my mind. They would need to spend around the £60 million mark to get another top quality striker and the danger there would be if they don't work out. Isak fits the team and has done the business whereas a new signing might not.