The Fish

I think we have. We signed Cabaye, Wijnaldum, and the de Jongs. I'm saying that there's a risk in buying any player, that the Premier League players will; not need the exposure, cost more, demand more in wages, be as likely to flop. I honestly don't get the clamour for Premier League proven players when those that'd make the difference won't have any interest in joining us where we are now, and those that won't make a difference have the worst attributes of the foreign players and cost more. Shelvey hasn't shone at Swansea for a while and Berahino is a stroppy little shit who is likely to throw a hissy fit if the team is built around him. This is the kind of experienced PRemier League player we can attract. We're not going to sign a proven premier league striker, because they're too busy proving themselves at a club above us in the league. It makes total sense to me to spend money on foreign imports and while, yes, I'd love us to be spending 10s of millions on players, the truth is that we cannot attract the finished article. Cambiasso was a paycheque player fwiw

I just meant that the statement is baffling. If someone signed Dummett from us, it wouldn't make Wijnaldum shit.

?

That's a very small pool you're fishing in though.

I wasn't part of the meetings, so I'll take your word for it.

We were in a position to attract Thomas Tuchel (before the Dortmund job was available), I don't doubt for a second, even with the same squad & the same backroom we'd be doing much, much better under him. I genuinely think we've the players at the club who could get themselves out of trouble, but we don't have the head coach (much like last year). Best window would be new coach, and 3-4 new 1st team players to bolster the squad. I honestly don't think buying British* will have any impact. Especially when you see the players we're linked with. Shelvey and Berahino couldn't be more French if they tried. So why not keep mining the foreign seam? We can convince someone like Papiss Cisse to join, we can't convince someone in similar form** in the Premier League to join. *experienced in the British leagues. ** when we signed him, not now.

I do still rate Cathro tbh, not convinced by McClaren and don't think I ever was (although I may have been more willing to give him a shot than others) I think taking a punt on a player who might be good is reasonable I think future profit should never be the focus

(but I take your point)

We've had plenty of good players come into the club. It's not the recruitment that's the issue. It's the management, then subsequent sale of those players that causes us the issues. You say we should sign an experienced Premier League player, with a fighting attitude... The pool of players we need but can attract from the Premier League is... well it's Jonjo Shelvey and Saido Berahino. The mackems buy experienced Premier League players pretty much every season and spend their days praying that we donate them 6 points so that they can limp on for another year. Buying from abroad isn't a guarantee of anything, but there've been enough successes to not dismiss it as a failure.

I reckon Tony Gale is still putting 2015 on his forms.

Who dis? To be fair, we haven't solely been signing duds from abroad. We've signed captains, we've signed players of the year, players who've performed. It's just that alongside those players we've signed some shite. *and the people in charge of getting performances from the signings have been largely bullshit.

What kind of Premier League player can we look forward to? Anyone who's performing well at the minute won't join us and we're gambling on either kids with potential and suspect attitude, or ageing pros who may not work out. Obertan and Campbell. Gosling and Butt Guthrie and Smith

You doubt Tony Gale's insight into Newcastle United?!

The successes justified targeting that league imo. also, buying from the domestic leagues hasn't exactly been a viable alternative, now has it?

Hate seeing politicians (or any persuasion) claiming how personally they were affected by a recently departed musician. If they'd spent their youth listening to Bowie or Lemmy, they wouldn't be such awful pricks now.

You mean like Jonjo or Saido Can't wait....

It's a gamble. If I were in charge, I'd have thrown money at Lacazette with a Relegation release clause, I'd have approached Carrick, and maybe 2-3 other 1st team/squad players. Staying up this year is absolutely worth £50-60m January window spend, even though we spent that in the summer.

We can get Austin, Bas Dost, we could probably convince quite a few strikers to be honest. Especially those from the continent. Include a relegation release clause and here's an opportunity to shine before the Euros with no long-term constriction.

Mooted £18m on Berahino? I'd rather we spent that on Austin and another Fullback.

Football365.com are repeating the papers' gossip articles and say we're in for Jonjo Shelvey, Saido Berahino and Henri Saivet. Would you be happy with that? A more composed creative centre mid than what we've got, but nowhere near the standard of Cabaye An unprofessional striker who's had one good season and a French centre mid who's as likely to be Amalfitano as he is Cabaye. I'm not excited by any of them to be honest.

RIP to a truly great innovator.

I don't think there is a lack of effort in the side, just a lack of a competent centre mid & a reliable finisher.