Dr Gloom

they're protesting against rumours at this stage

but is Viana a DM?

that goes to my point about weakening the squad when we’re trying to build one. Fuck PSR

it's hard to make predictions before the window closes and we know what our squad looks like but i think it's going to take some effort to improve on last season without some serious and smart investment. i'd like to think we'll qualify for CL again - or get close - but it'll be some achievement if we do. villa dropped off in the league last season in the the way we did the season before when we were in the CL. plus the legacy "big six" clubs still have bigger spending power than us because of the bullshit rules and are splashing the cash. despite all that, i expect we'll be in the conversation again because howe is fucking class.

without significant investment i think we'll drop off in the league this season because of extra CL fixtures. and it sounds like we are still constrained by PSR - i don't see us blowing the type of wedge your lot, chelsea, liverpool or chelsea will. talk is our budget is around £100m and we'll need to flog some first team players to increase it, which is in itself annoying because we're trying to build a squad to compete on four fronts. realistically i think top six and another cup run will be a great season for us. top four will be another howe coaching miracle, and a serious challenge for the title is still a few years away. rotating the squad is also something howe has to learn to do. our best form usually occurs when he plays the same team week in, week out and we go on a mad winning run - howe and the players have that in them. but it's harder to do that with the extra midweek games because you risk too many injuries. he tried it last time we were in the CL and we finished 7th, with half the squad injured most of the season due to our high intensity style of play.

Brett Emerton by the end of the week FTW

remember you're on a newcastle board i don't think anyone here seriously thinks we're winning the league next season, no matter who we sign.

I like the player, yeah. Versatile who can play CF, out wide and midfield. Reckon he could thrive and fit in well with the other Brazilians. I don’t think he’s worth more than £40-50m however, let alone the rumoured £100m Brighton want for him. To answer the question, does he excite me? I’d say, not massively. At least, not compared to other options out there. But I don’t think Howe cares. When we were linked with Madison and Barnes, we ended up with Barnes, despite Madison being the more flamboyant technical player. Most of us probably would have preferred Madison, but in hindsight, did Howe get it right? I’d say for us, yeah probably. Howe’s priority, I think, is players with pace and athleticism who will buy into how he wants to play. Outstanding technical ability (Isak/Bruno) is a bonus but not the most important thing.

If we sign Trafford, Elanga, Pedro and Guehi, it’s been a successful window and Howe will probably be happy but you’re talking the best part of £200m because they’ve got PL experience. And it could leave us in another PSR pickle if it goes wrong and we don’t continue to qualify for CL and do big commercial deals. There’s so much better value abroad, which is what I think Mitchell was getting at with his “not fit for purpose” comment. We also need to do more deals for the likes of this Spanish kid we just signed from Malaga to loan out then either bed in or sell, as we did with Minteh

He might struggle to pass the no dick heads policy

agreed. I think there are better technical wingers out there but he looks exactly the sort of player Howe likes - young, pace, power, athleticism - and I’m sure he’s one Howe could improve. shame our late bid for him last summer wasn’t accepted as his price has probably gone up by £20m after the season he’s just had.

That’s annoying. I was looking forward to playing against his suicidal high line again next season to see if things were still fair and equal

Hot Mitch flex

i think it's time to thank wilson and say farewell

If that isn’t the hot Mitch summer, I don’t know what is