The Fish

Since Howe took over, we've changed the style of play. By that I mean we have a style of play. Rather than "Get the ball to Maxi" we apply a controlled press, look to break, but use the middle of the park to control the ball WAY more than we did under Bruce. Because the ball is in the middle more, we're no longer giving the ball to ASM 3oyds from our goal and hoping he pulls something magic from his arse. If we were a team looking to break into the top 4, then we should peddle him because his work rate and inconsistency would hinder that ambition. But as it stands, we're looking to consolidate in the top half of the Premier League. For that we need his mercurial talent and can forgive his occasional brain farts. Just as we should have done with Ben Arfa. It seems, Newcastle United fans have a real fucking thing about French wingers. Ginola, Robert, Ben Arfa, and now ASM. Despite them all being some of the most talented, most exciting, most fun to watch footballers we've had at the club.

Remember reading on twitter that he wanted Sunderland to win the derby because he doesn't like Newcastle as he was racially abused moments after getting out of a taxi there once. Ah yes, Sunderland is so very welcoming...

Despite the fact that his crossing isn't great and his decision making isn't great, he remained, without a doubt, our biggest attacking threat. Below is squad with more than ten 90 minutes under their belt for us. He's 1st for assists + 2nd for Assists per 90, 2nd for goals + 3rd for Goals per 90. 1st for non penalty xG, xA and xA per 90. Bruno is next and if he continues his form from the 2nd half of the season I'd expect him to surpass ASM. Wilson too, if he stays fit for a substantial number of games. But look at the next best attacker we've got; Ryan Fraser. I mean, set aside the fact that crossing isn't the only way for widemen to create chances, and that decision making may very well improve when he's playing alongside better players. Where once he'd see Murphy clean through and not pass, now he'll see Bruno, or Wilson, or (fingers crossed) Diaby/Paqueta/Barnes etc. He'll be more inclined to pass the ball because he knows it's more likely to come off.

He didn't regress, he's just not Plan A anymore so he's not on the ball as much as he was. Also, other teams are more accustomed to combatting his particular brand of attack. They know his decision making and crossing aren't great so they'll double-up to force him out wide and make sure any supporting Newcastle player has a man on him. That way if the defender wins the ball he's got the chance to a passing triangle immediately. If ASM's crossing was better that tactic would potentially leave the opposition short in the centre, I'd hope Howe and the coaches have been working on his decision making as that, for me, is easier to improve than his crossing. Personally I don't understand the eagerness to sell our biggest attacking talent. Especially as he's not drawing the attention of the big spenders. If We were fielding calls from BArcelona, Man City, or whomever, then sure, sell him for a massive profit and replace him in the aggregate. As it stands though, we'd not get what he's worth to the team, so what's the point? If it's because he's frustrating, well, I'd suggest taking a step back and realise that we can't yet sign a hard working, skillfull, clever left winger. Especially as there are bigger holes to fill in the team. Like Right wing, attacking midfield, centre-forward.

What and miss out on the Blandford?

Nope, nowt's as tight as my bot bot.

No that's stupid, dumb and you should feel ashamed. We need depth and ASM performs well when played on the right so interest in a left winger does not mean he's out the door. They're asking £30-35m for Harrison which drops your 'profit' down to £5-10m which means fuck all If Chelsea want our most creative player of the last few seasons, they can stump up £60m+ or fuck off Chelsea have just signed Raheem Sterling and are already awash with attacking midfielders Tuchel's demands of a player are higher than Howe's so ASM's indolence wouldn't be tolerated there As has been said, on countless occasions, it's not a lack of available funds that's stopping us buying players it's; agents dicking around, clubs dicking around, our reasonable refusal to pay over the odds just because we've got cash. Are you a delicious platter or English Tapas? Cos you just got served!

All right John Darwin.

Hang on, you said, 'underwhelmed so far'. So far we've signed; 1. a top class England intrnational 'keeper who will allow us to play further up the pitch, 2. a dependable, reliable left back of Premier League quality who was player of the season for Villa, then one of the better performers for us in the 2nd half of the season. 3. one of the most exciting young CBs in European football who was courted by the Italian Champions no less. If you're underwhelmed by that you need to check your yourself before you wreck yourself.

No. And if anyone is, they're wrong, stupid and fucking ridiculous.

2 seasons, on c£50k a week? about £5m.

Who gives a fuck where the upgrade on our squad comes from? If we'd signed Botman from Bournemouth would that means he's not as good? If we got him on a free does that mean he's definitely not an upgrade on Lascelles? The difference between Ashley and these owners is clear; ambition. Under Mike we never would have signed someone like Burn in January, let alone Guimaraes. If we'd somehow managed to sign improvement on our squad, which so far every first team signing has been, for nothing, from unfashionable clubs, I know I wouldn't give a toss.

I thought there was a limit on how much the owners can put into the club per year?

I think we're going after players that teams don't want to lose, and offering a reasonable amount for them. But we're getting quoted inflated prices for those players, then the agents are demanding inflated wages because they're of the belief that Newcastle United are the richest club in the world and can therefore afford it. When, in reality, due to FFP we have to box a little clever. Also, the leaks are most likely coming for the other side of the deal to either drum up interest, or force our hand. Look at Ekitike, for example, we agreed a £25.6m fee (+ add ons) for a young player with potential, he's eventually gone on loan to PSG because his agent was acting the fool. In a years time, unless he somehow breaks into the PSG first team ahead of Neymar, Messi, Mbappe, Icardi, and Kalimuendo, he'll be going back to Reims with his value decreased. Diego Carlos we were quoted £30m plus add ons, he went for £28m to Villa. We got Burn instead for £13.5m and I don't think Carlos is twice the player Burn is. Sven Botman, Lille wanted c£45m, we eventually got him for £30m If we'd spent the asking price for these players, we would be £30m worse off and the impact to FFP that that entails.

Honestly, I think it's the revenue issue. If we can get some sponsorship deals through, we'll have more room to manoeuvre. We've got cash for fees, but I think the wages are the issue. Fees and wages are only allowed to make up 70% of our revenue, so if we can get some phat sponsorship deals in play we should be ok, buuuuut those deals will be scrutinised by the PL, the FA and other clubs to make sure they are at 'fair market value', which is surely a purely a subjective position. So, in the mean time, it makes sense to move on players like Gayle, Shelvey et al, who, while not on giant wages, are on way more than a 4th choice midfielder or striker should be.

Don't hate the player

Sure, but you exhaust lower cost options, before committing to overpaying, right? We could have got Botman for, what was it, £50m in January? Or we got him for £34m this summer. Makes sense, right?

Who scored the one after Amarilla? Every night I've been hugging my pillow

Both decent defensively as attacking players go, Dennis the better finisher. Wouldn't be terrifically excited about either, but I wasn't that excited about Burn or Tartgett either so what the fuck do I know? They are definitely both an upgrade on the departing Gayle and arguably on Almiron and Wood too, which I guess is the most important part of the puzzle.

Just checked the BBC Weather site, and we're not due one at all. FFS

Exactly the type of player a newly promoted to the Championship team buy. Bought by a top flight club, farmed out on loan forever, still goes for more than he's worth.

Yup, slow the impact until some massive nerd comes up with a way to arrest the damage or manage climate better.

It will be the same wages he's on now.

JS' contract runs out June 30 2023. If he's on £80k, say, that's <£1m. Even if we were to put him out on loan and cover his wages, that's surely worth it?