The Fish

That will be tied up with the rumours about the England job.

Put it this way, if we can get a Gordon/Barnes standard player ont he right flank, we're immeasurably more dangerous going forward. And with worse players than we have now, we had the joint meanest defence in the league 2 seasons ago. I think a coach can have more impact on a defensive unit, bringing them up to a higher standard than they naturally are. More impact than the same coach can have at the top end of the pitch where natural talent makes more of a difference. I'm not explaining myself well, I know. But a €60-70m attacker makes more of a difference to our ambitions, than a €60-70m defender would.

Botman should be back December/January, so we've 4 players for 2 positions. Plus any kids that are able to step up, there were a couple of U21s who got minutes at the back in preseason.

His cost is because we gave him a new contract which amortises the remainder of his value over the length of his new contract. e.g. bought in 2019 for €43m on a 6 yr deal. That's €7.2m a year for until 2025. However he signed a 4 yr contract extension in 2024. So 43.3-(5x7.2) = 7.2 remaining of his amortised transfer fee 7.2/4 = 1.8 a year until 2028

They're going to milk that for all it's worth.

Maybe a layby?

PSR commitment for the next 6 years. Committed to €105m for the next 2 years. The hope is we give Gordon, Isak, Tonali contract extensions to reduce the amount we're committed to spending each year. Maybe Barnes too. Obviously this doesn't account for the amount we're paying in wages on the likes of Fraser, Hayden, Lewis etc. There's a lot of shit that we really need off our books. A lot of Shit.

Is it just English you can't understand, or is it any language?

I have no idea what thread you're reading tbd...

He's great as an attacking threat but Newcastle United need more defensive contributions from their players. Thanks for playing though.

No it fucking wouldn't you wet whimpering queef. Ticks enough of the performance analysis boxes (technical, loads of stamina, presses well) ✅ has the potential to improve ✅ is within PSR wriggle room ✅ expects reasonable wages ✅ who plays in a style that dovetails with the team ✅ has the right personality to mesh with the squad ✅ and experience of Premier League preferrable 🚫

You can't constrain a talent like Shane to something as pedestrian as positions, or roles or tactics.

Rotherham could do with some cash, maybe we get back Shane Ferguson?

I wouldn't mind that so much. But I guess my point is that he's not a long term answer.

It's not just about upgrading Murphy though, is it? Yes, we could sign Sterling or whomever. But that'll leave us in a wage problem, and we'll have to replace Sterling soon enough. The pool we're fishing in is small. We need a player who; Ticks enough of the performance analysis boxes (technical, loads of stamina, presses well) has the potential to improve is within PSR wriggle room expects reasonable wages who plays in a style that dovetails with the team has the right personality to mesh with the squad and experience of Premier League preferrable Now, within these parameters, drop a list of available, affordable, appropriate players would you please?

He is. But he's also more egotistical, on higher wages, doesn't fit the age profile of players we should be signing, et-fucking-cetera. It's a big old "No!" from ya boy.

Wait, are people genuinely talking about signing Raheem Sterling? Jesus, you've lost your collective minds.

Oh, that sounds like a pain

When are you going to take the hint? Brexit means Brexit!

The capricious nature of fate ✅