Gemmill

I wonder if this will prompt movement between us and Leipzig for Sesko. If we can't accept a bid for Isak without a replacement, either we firm ip interest in a replacement now, or we are definitely just pulling the shutters down to Liverpool.

It's just gonna take a bit longer. That's all. It's not impossible, it's just impossible to do quickly.

This is the lad who was saying they wouldn't bid unless they had been given an indication it would be accepted. Liverpool will be telling him to say this so Isak comes back full of hell.

He's the same lad that was saying they wouldn't bid until they had an indication from Newcastle that the bid would be accepted. He's probably been asked by Liverpool to say this so Isak goes in an even bigger huff.

Aye, these arseholes know we're coming back from Asia and expecting Isak to turn up for training. This offer has been timed to stir shit up just as we're trying to bring him back into the fold. I mean it's all business and all's fair in love and war, etc, but absolutely fuck this lot. Keep knocking their bids back until the numbers get uncomfortable for them.

He was the young lad up front for Germany in the recent Euros. He looked decent tbf. He's a one for the future signing though.

The scousers are watching and drinking your tears.

Exactly. We'll have no more of this "ugh I can't face the season" talk either. There'll be scouse cunts looking in here to see what the reaction is. Fuck them, fuck all their mates in the media and absolutely fuck their club. If this Swedish meff wants to turn out for these, on you fucking go son, but at a price of OUR choosing.

No matter how much the press want to make you believe that Isak is now in Liverpool's tractor beam, and resistance is futile, that's bollocks. Given where they've started their bidding, there's a decent enough chance we keep the player for another season. We knew this was coming. I honestly thought they'd come with better than they have.

Anyway lads, what will be will be. But it doesn't look like we've got any appetite to let them take the piss, which is at least something.

I thought Liverpool were respectfully waiting until invited to make a bid because they didn't want to be making speculative offers. According to the lying cunts in the media anyway.

GEORDIE JOURNOS ASSEMBLE! "HOWAY!"

Well aye, obviously I'd rather have Isak, but I'm talking about if he goes. Whoever comes in, we're taking a backwards step player for player. We can end up stronger as a squad but our starting 11 is weakened.

Watkins still looked quality to me last season.

Hope's version. I'd be happy to see Watkins here. Be odd for Villa to sell to us though.

So their "informal enquiry" was supposedly £120m and their official bid was £100m. Even fucking Isak should see that they're taking the piss here.

I've said from before the season ended, that for free and on wages that reflect his injury record, he's a practically zero risk addition to the squad. But that was before Isakgate and everyone assuming that that means you think he's a replacement for Isak.

Hope has confirmed it too.

There's nowt to dislike about him when you hear him in interview.

https://archive.ph/HjnAO New interview.

Only if we're happy to accept points deductions. That's the short term fix discussion though.

DCL for free, and on sensible wages that recognise his injury record and status as second string, would be fine as a backup. If it's true he's demanding £150k a week, he's an idiot. He's not a lad that's refused to extend contracts and gone on a free as some sort of hot property. He's free cos even Everton didn't want him. That's not the sort of free transfer where you name your price on wages.

There's been no lack of effort to strengthen this summer though. You (and DK) said that the PSR rules will stop us getting there in the long run, and that's what I was contradicting. If there is will from the ownership, and if they install the correct people at the club, we can absolutely bridge the gap given time. We do need to see some of the above from the ownership though, I agree. It'll be them, rather than the rules, to blame if we can't even get there in the long run.

This isn't true. We can match their revenues in the long term if the will is there from the owners. But yeah there's gonna be a lot to be said for trying to accept our situation and enjoy the journey, because otherwise we're gonna he spending the next 10 years moaning about how unfair it is.

I mean there's literally nothing that can stop us doing it over an extended period of time. The rules curtail teams from making massive progression in a short period of time, but not over the longer term.