OTF

Exactly, it's always money but the club has to be a fit for the player's ambition when that player is highly regarded as Tonali is.

He's a bit too tall and skinny for the midfield if you ask me. Long head also.

These days the authorities have to line everything up before they so much as make.an accusation. Of course it all just ends up petering away in a prolonged legal battle.

Spending big money is really the only way to improve your status dramatically in the short term. I don't think it will be financially effective, but there should at least be a resulting improvement in the domestic players as they are exposed to a higher calibre of footballer. Of course, if those players don't give a toss and are there entirely for the money (rather than 95% for the money) it may end up just taking the piss out of the league. The truth will probably be somewhere in between. They're seemingly willing to throw big bikkies away to have a shot. Not like they have to answer to FFP or anything like that. I actually feel that this is going to make our process a much more fulfilling one. We can't just be Chelsea or Man City spending without limit.

This bloke is much more in the Howe physicality mould as compared to Tonali or Barella. Not to say that our future is only full of tall and physical players. Howe knows that's what we've built our success on, but that as we aim to maintain and improve our standing we'll need to improve our attacking versatility especially as teams are likely to become more and more defensively staunch against us. So someone like Nemcha can slot straight into our team, someone like Barella can evolve and improve the way we play.

Far from being simply used to "revamp and re-market Saudi Arabia" we're part of the diversification of their wealth away from the source of it; oil. It's part of a broader strategy under which divestment from oil and traditional streams of renevue are or will soon be occurring. I'm not suggesting you don't know any of this, just pointing out that they're not throwing money away in a marketing campaign for the country, but rather will be operating the club as part of a broader portfolio that is ultimately designed to maintain and increase their wealth over the long term.

If it means we commit to Szoboszlai this is a goog thing IMO. But the waters have been muddied and my affection diverted my the mention of Barella. Maddison's value IMO has decreased though this season.

Was expecting Dean Windass

Did you see the goal?

Paging Dr. @Monkeys Fist

Wages would be the biggest and most succinct reason. Szoboszlai's wages would fit in our structure, Maddison's would be high but balanced against his proven prem experience. Bruno, Isak and Botman were all younger when they came here. For me Barella is on the next step in his career progression, the move where he will go to his peak wages (in the big 5 leagues anyway).

Quality player but this stinks of no chance of coming off.

The state of Matt Targett's (and I use this term loosely) facial hair.... like a pimply 15 year old.

Release clause is reportedly peanuts

SKWRL

"Involuntary fart was a bit wet in the dark". Modern day Shakespeare. Thanks for the laugh, hope your.. shit.. gets sorted soon!

This on the back:

You can't not post it. Just ask @Monkeys Fist

I don't see the need, seeing as our academy has such a proud history. The Magpies have a proud history of rearing top-class starlets – with Sean Longstaff, Matty Longstaff and Elliot Anderson among the current stars to make the grade after coming through the club’s academy.

I'm on the edge of my Oceanian seat waiting to see whom I should be betting with.

The people running it are the joke.

It's more than a little bit annoying that the biggest clubs take their share of the spoils and then pat the newcomers on the head patronisingly and throw them whatever is left. Just like FFP it makes it harder for emerging or reemerging teams to begin to compete with those already at the top. You're in the same competition, but you've got reduced resources available to you, so before a ball is kicked you're comparatively disadvantaged.

Exactly, take nothing away from Pep, he's obviously a brilliant manager, but much of the work done in getting that team to the level they are was done last season and prior. Then this season they've added a superhuman goal scoring machine and have achieved at their expected level. Arteta, much of the groundwork was done prior to this season but there was a noted improvement from last season to this, so he's a valid contender. I think for a manager of the season you need to look at the progression the side has made from the previous season to this. Emery has done fantastically well at Villa so again a very strong contender, if he was there all season and they returned like they did during his 20 games then he should have got it. De Zerbi is dezerbing too, but the numbers don't lie, Eddie Howe should have been manager of the season. There'a no way he will be able to get it next season now, short of winning the league which is just not realistic in such a short time frame, finishing in the top four again for next season would again be a brilliant result and that won't put him in contention for it, as they'll make out it's not a big achievement despite our wages being mid table. They may as well just default to giving it to the manager of the team that wins based off this decision. Man City didn't pull Arsenal back in through any great tactical changes, it was a case of Arsenal stumbling and dropping points that they were winning at the start of the season. For me, Pep winning Manager of the Season is a cop out. If they were undefeated for the season then sure, you'd have a case for giving it to him, but when you're clear favourite in EVERY SINGLE GAME YOU PLAY* winning the league really is not that impressive against a number of other managers who have their squads punching well above their weights. * - Including the legal game against all comers; FIFA, UEFA, FA etc.