The Official Merino Appreciation Society

Love this lad. He get's better by the game...

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He looks good

Both players look as though they are doing some weird 1920s Charleston-esque dance on that photo.

 

He's the best CM we've had since Cabaye. If there is a clause to sign him I'll be made up - if there isn't we need to just pull our fingers out before too many people realise how good he is and we get priced out of a move.

 

It's a compulsory clause to purchase as long as he plays 20 games.

At game 21 we are 'forced' to pay £6m.

Mike will be knockin one oot.

 

£6m ?!?!? After today that is formally known as 2/5 of a Clucas.

Rafa is a total genius. He's working with a budget from 5 years ago, if we stay up at all it's a work of art.

 

I'm signing up for this club, he's mint. Merino + Shelvey......holy every pass imaginable, batman.

 

I said before the match today (on the Swansea board) that Merino is a better player than Shelvey but I'm not sure they'll play together well unless one plays further forward. For now I suspect Shelvey will be sitting out a few.

No qualms with one further forward (in place of Perez/Diame) if we got a more convincing holding midfielder than Hayden - who is iffy (I want to be wrong about him but he's not improved enough, I suspect he's going to be a liability this season).

 

It's just great to have options in the PL.

 

Most dives?

 

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Didn't like the dive however.
Apart from that, classy again!

 

He has exceptional touch, vision, technical ability, height, and he's not too shabby with his tackling. Reminds me a bit of Mikel Arteta, but he's massive as well which means he's a big presence when the game goes direct. I remember when we had a midfield partnership of Anita and Cabaye!

He's still getting up to speed, but this lad may be key to whether we stay up or not.

 

Should be good in attack but I'm not convinced either one of them is quite good enough defensively. However, with playing fairly deep maybe they can get away with it? Will be interesting to see if Rafa thinks they are competing for the same position alongside Hayden or he'll play them together. Could end up being like Gayle and Mitrovic last season - one or the other.

 

He's better than (the massively overrated) Cabaye. Not wanting to get carried away after 2 games but he barely puts a foot wrong

 

If only Rafa would play all 4!

 

Would be interesting to see how they play together. Rafa plays it safe, though, and to be honest it probably wins us more games than it loses us.

 

Knowing our luck he'll get injured during his 19th match and then Spurs will sign him next season

 

He can't be 6m ACS - are you just making this up for a laugh?

 

Well, just one. The dive was embarassing.

 

Sorry.. the transfer fee is actually £6.5m.

http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/spor...details-newcastles-mikel-merino-deal-13412581