Polarboy

I'd loved it to happen obviously, but it just seems unlikely that Leicester would allow Fofana and Maddison to go, that is unless they have multiple transfer targets ready to be bought with all the funds. Rogers did say something about his scouting and transfer team having done a great job of lining up players should Fofana go. On a side note Pedro scored and assisted today for Watford.

Trippier straight in there shaking his hand and welcoming him. Surely only a matter of time before Trips gets the armband permanently.

Looks like Fofana is finally away to Chelsea, so that likely puts the final nail in the Maddison coffin.

The Knight Rider reckons the Pedro deal isn't dead yet. How much of that is guess work from him or actual intel is debatable. As I've said if that tweet about Watford trying to mess us about over the price is true, then I can see Watford blinking first come the end of the window for the offer on the table.

There's also a rumour we're thinking about making a late bid of 15-20m for a 21 year old Danish midfielder off Celtic called Matt O’Riley. Don't watch much Scottish football myself, so I can't comment on his quality or lack there of.

It's saying we're after Rakitic not Delaney.

Info: Newcastle are interested in signing Iván Rakitic. The English club would be willing to offer approximately 10 M € + variables. Thomas Delaney also has offers. Diego, do you magic please. Rakitic was obviously some player in his day, but is 34 now, so the question is could he perform for a season or two for us at a sufficiently high level. Assuming of course that there is anything in this.

From the porn I've seen not only is it OK, but you're likely to attract a lovely young lady to come give you a hand.

From the thumbnail for a split second I thought he was in a wheelchair. Diversity gone fucking mad.

Yeah as I was saying the other day Moyes has a tendency to shit the bed, especially with high profile players, so I wouldn't be surprised if West Ham fail to repeat their heroics from last season, and at the very least I can't seem him maintaining that level beyond this season. Moyes' most successful years were at Everton when he had no pressure on him whatsoever, and he was still very up and down with them. Although that was perhaps understandable given lack of funds.

If that tweet about Pedro is accurate, as in Watford had agreed a price and then tried to play silly beggars, upped the price and tried to engineer a bidding war, then we were 100% right to back away. I still think it's very likely we'll sign him before the window closes, but it depends on how set Pedro is on joining us. Signing Isak, knock on wood, has also strengthened our negotiating hand given we're no longer as desperate to sign a forward.

Poor window this, can't even get Pedro over the line

If we can get someone like Gallagher on loan I'm not too bothered about Paqueta this window, on the proviso that he doesn't sign for the bubble blowing dildo impresarios. I have to admit it would grate seeing him pinging the ball about for the happiest man in Scotland David Moyes. If Lyon price him out of a move this window we may still be able to get him in January or next summer.

Serious question, but has he recently recovered from polio?

Scout report: Alexander Isak at Newcastle 2022/23 (totalfootballanalysis.com) One for the Xg boyz. I fell asleep half way through, then again I'm pretty sure I have ADD.

Was just about to post that about Maddison. Could conceivably be exactly what Rogers is saying it is, players do get injuries after all, but it obviously could be crucial for us. Then again not to drop one in the punchbowl, but both Arsenal and Chelsea are looking for some extra bodies in midfield.

Our current second string could probably just about win the Championship, or at least get to the play offs, but we need our second string to eventually be capable of finishing in the top ten of the PL.

Banter about Isak's wiry frame aside, I think we'll truly see the best out of him if and when he fills out a little in a year or two. Need to get him on the Ronaldo diet and exercise regime. Not fat Ronaldo's obviously.

I'm not sure I buy the Wilson injury suddenly pushing us to bid for Isak narrative. Hope was tweeting this morning trying to justify his tweet a week or so ago, about thinking it would be a good thing for Wilson to get a minor injury to put a fire up the ownership. For a start it's not as if Wilson's injury prone nature comes as a surprise to Howe and co, and secondly it's quite clear we've been after Isak for a very long time. Sociedad and Isak have both supposedly lowered their demands, so that's likely the biggest driver of the deal getting done now. People were also saying we're not bothering to haggle, but we've effectively been haggling for him all summer at least.

As wykikitoon already mentioned this Dubravka move makes zero sense from Dubravka's perspective if he's leaving because he doesn't want to be no. 2. If Dubravka was better with his feet, given De Gea is pretty shocking for a supposedly elite keeper, I could perhaps see the logic given he might get a bit of game time, but that isn't the case.