I can just about tolerate him as stand in if Krafth and Laecelles go, the glaring omission of a centre back that we should have made last summer has to be addressed though.
Every window we go into ends up far less satisfying than people expected and now that PSR has got the club by the balls that will only be worse. I cannot see a way that Newcastle won't end up having to plod along with the likes of Murphy Longstaff, Burn and company for the next 3 years. I guess we have to look beyond that or sell.all our best players which is counter productive imo.
I'm seeing summer as very transitional tbh, ie Almirion, Joelinton, Laecelles and Krafth out and the likes of Tonali, Livramento, Barnes, Gordon and Isak becoming the new team. Just get a good CB and striker and it's already looking far better.
Sounds like Joelinton out and Billing in ... I can't help but wonder if Newcastle will follow in Evertons footsteps if they keep signing dross.
Not sure on Billing tbh - I think he was a potentially "cheap" option while we are struggling with FFP currently - obviously delighted it didn't happen as while he's ok he's not needed. Tonali and Bruno signings tell me they know what they are looking for in the midfield and if Joelinton was to go we still have Willock, Tonali and Bruno with Anderson, Miley and Longstaff behind them so not sure it would be a case of "1 in 1 out" in midfield. Priorities have to be CB numero uno, clear as day, if they fail to sign a CB then we know these people haven't got a clue what they are doing but I doubt they'll miss that trick. CF after that, even if Wilson stays we need another option as him and Isak are only fit for 40% of the season each. LB next and GK after that and we'll be looking good.
I haven't heard any Billing rumours, I assumed we were going for Onana....which is hardly inspiring either.
I agree, but I have a feeling Newcastle will go with filling holes with budget buys and a big player sale...a top player these days is 50 million plus.
I really want us to go for Ederson from Atalanta, I don’t usually go for YouTube videos but he looks the real deal, also likes bridges and a greggs pasty.
Onana looks decent this season, but hardly the key to us moving up the table. Although I didn't really rate Gordon before he came here, so who knows. If they'll gel with Tonali is also obviously a factor now.
I see your thought process but I honestly don’t think the Saudi League is ever gonna be massive. Not enough people around the globe will watch it I think. I haven’t watched one match in the Saudi League even with these flashy players and have always been a big Ronaldo fan. I think deep down everyone knows the players aren’t there for passion to play football, just a higher wage.
I've watched loads of Billing living in Bournemouth and he's crap imo. He's got match winning quality sometimes but he plays in moments. I'm surprised if Eddie is interested as every time I see him he mainly plods around in the centre circle does no where near the running he'd be required to do in our side. Iraola has worked it out and he's not in the side as much now.
There was a post by @Leo Billy showing the team that lined up in 2020 vs the team now. The dross we had - Lazaro, Rose, Shelvey, Bentaleb, Ritchie - was incredible. Four years on, whilst it's alarming we still have some crap like Ritchie getting minutes, we are progressing. Why that's relevant is because the team today will be unrecognisable from the team in another 3 or 4 years. There'll be no Burn, Pope, Longstaff, Murphy, Almiron, etc. And they'll all be upgraded. I'm expecting Summer to be a lot better. We'll bin off a few, sell one or two but it'll be about 5 in the door at least. We've kept our powder dry and now have SELA, Adidas, UCL and more revenues on the books with potentially bigger allowances for clubs finishing lower down the table. As a minimum, our commercial revenue should go from about £260m to about £350m+, possibly nearer £400m. 70% losses means the gap between our wages/expenditure will leave about £100m+ available - with amortisation allowing us to get some big names on decent salaries whilst being clean. Might be wrong, might be Howe over-rates some of our dross, might be he's too absorbed in "team spirit" and "huge personalities" like Burn. But at some point a higher calibre of player has to turn up - I have my doubts as to whether Howe will be here to see it.
