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#345371 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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31 Aug 2016 11:16:40

Spurs are the only club to bid for Moussa Sissoko, and were told go away when that bid was £16million, not Newcastle's desired £30M. So it looks like we're stuck with him... laugh or cry?

#345370 The Lower League Thread

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31 Aug 2016 11:14:39

With all the empty stadiums, goals scored by players over 21 born outside England, and social media aggro between the sponsor and fans, its nice to see the Johnstone's Paint Trophy revamp going well.

#345264 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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30 Aug 2016 16:53:48

Hull wait all this time to sign someone, then spend a club record £13million on Ryan Mason.

Interesting choice.

#345244 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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30 Aug 2016 13:55:59

Club has denied the Markovic rumour. They've also denied one linking Newcastle with Ravel Morrison, though I have no idea why we'd want him for.

#345243 The Lower League Thread

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30 Aug 2016 13:53:30

Kodija has signed for Aston Villa for a tier-record fee of £15million. Probably not a good start that without him, Bristol City beat Villa at the weekend.

#345091 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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29 Aug 2016 17:22:13

By Shedender | On 29 August 2016 - 17:45 PM BST

You left out the "massive" news - Riviere could be departing the club. Been linked with Osasuna.

I refuse to get excited until that chancer is officially out the door.

#345075 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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29 Aug 2016 16:14:17

By Shedender | On 29 August 2016 - 15:47 PM BST

Whoops, I kinda left off the world million.

Indeed.

As for other NUFC lines, Atsu & McManaman have been linked as ins (probably a good thing we don't have John Carver anymore given he tried to throttle the latter in 2013), while Tiote has reportedly failed 2 medicals in Turkey.

By Eric Portapotty | On 29 August 2016 - 16:04 PM BST

Mustafi is basically here so that's him, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gabriel and Holding for 2 CB slots.

Furthermore if Rob Holding - fresh off relegation to League One with Bolton - comes in and gets ahead of you in the pecking order you've not done well for yourself, so hopefully he can get something resembling respectable form at Boro.

Would've much preferred he went to Hull though, Phelan seems to have a hell of a way with a defence.

Even so, would've thought Chambers would do a job as back-up at right-back, given Debuchy has been shown the door.

#345016 The Lower League Thread

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29 Aug 2016 12:43:54

By Poe | On 29 August 2016 - 13:42 PM BST

We've actually made 1.3m of profit this summer - and are yet to sell Sissoko.

I was under the assumption we'd spent more than we'd bought in. But then I don't know the loan fees. Doesn't help the club only announces undisclosed fees.

#345014 The Lower League Thread

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29 Aug 2016 12:39:29

By Shedender | On 28 August 2016 - 14:05 PM BST

Unless Mitro and Gayle get injured, I can't see him getting much football which isn't a bad thing at his age but should be, as you said, a decent back-up option. I would now expect Adam Armstrong to depart the club on loan although I would've preferred to see him get some game time for Newcastle this season in the Championship.

Unless he's injured, can someone please sign Emmanuel Rivière or can we release him?

I'd imagine he's a back-up with 2nd tier experience. I saw a line on nufc.com comparing it to Marlon Harewood in 2009/10, which I suppose it is to some degree. Tbh I'd like to see Armstrong get game-time, but that's unlikely.

By terriersmad | On 29 August 2016 - 06:38 AM BST

Number 1, you're nowhere near the biggest culprits of ridiculous spending in the division, though you've spent a silly amount this summer - at least you've sold players to fund most of it. I always assume the worst and blame the rest of it on parachute payments. I think I'm like most Championship fans when I say I'm not a fan, precisely because it distorts the playing field and encourages the attitude to spend big to try to get up. Solidarity payments hardly cover the shortfall other clubs need to make up. Then there's Derby, who spunked about £20m on players last season and look to be spunking more than that this year - Jonathan Kodjia for £14m is daft money on top of Vydra. I know they've struggled for goals, but really? £14m? Where's that coming from and what happened to Financial Fair Play? Not just the transfer fees, of course, but the wages - a much bigger killer for most of the division in my view, especially in view of the ridiculous transfer window situation.

Forest are in real bother with the owner. On the field they've got off to a great start, even if they've come up short against the big guns of the division, but Fawaz is a real destabilising influence. I was reading last night that their assistant manager is going to resign over it and 8 players hand in transfer requests. Not a happy ship. Moreso given they're on the brink of being taken over by a complete nutcase. One of a number in the division who deserve better ownership and will suffer in the long term because of it.

I know Kodija had a great first year for Bristol City, but blimey. Sure, Derby are loaded by virtue of the fact they have a tech billionaire and boyhood fan owning the joint, but that's the kind of thinking of a Premier League club, not one who has spent the last few years finding new ways to fuck-up promotion challenges. And yeah. I can imagine they're spending a fortune on wages. Surely they're likelier than us or the other 2 who came down with us to be breaking FFP, similar to when Bournemouth broke it but got promoted. Though I do agree parachute payments distort things heavily - last time we went down we sold about £30million in players but spent barely anything on transfer fees (though did fork out a fuckton in wages, mind).

Tbf there's a load of lower league clubs with awful owners, even beyond the obvious culprits like the Oystons, Venky's, Cellino and that hedge fund ruining Coventry City. Fawaz has always struck me as an odd one, not least given his managerial roll. But their fans are pretty fucked off - £17million out, less than £1million spent, and a fanbse openly in revolt towards its owners. Henri Lansbury Tweeting very passive aggressively after the sale was confirmed may well indicate some dressing room discord to boot, even if the disgruntled AM is meant to still be there. Might not help there's talk of Assombalonga being sold too - to Derby, oddly enough. I'll be amazed if that happens, but given how fucked up things are there, its not like its unlikely. And yeah - I heard about the utter basketcase currently banned from Greek football for intimidating officials trying to buy them. You do wonder when does it end?

Incidentally, I've seen all the clubs being bought by Chinese owners over the summer (both PL + 2nd tier). If there's a big event that leads to a mass exit, that could be a major mess.

By Vercoe | On 29 August 2016 - 10:54 AM BST

So much for the Fit and Proper Persons Test then ey! The Football League's a bit shit really, they should sort themselves out in-house before they worry about revamping competitions or re-branding or any of that bollocks.

Its been in need of reform for years though hasn't it?

#345009 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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29 Aug 2016 12:08:26

Middlesbrough sign Callum Chambers on loan. Could be a good signing for them but what the hell are Arsenal letting him go for?

Sofiane Boufal to Southampton is confirmed. I hear he's meant to be a good player on FIFA.

By Shedender | On 29 August 2016 - 08:40 AM BST

Achraf Lazaar is a done deal from Palermo - a fee of £3 has been reported and he's a left back.

If he was £3 he's definitely good value

#344968 2016/17 Barclays Premier League Thread

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28 Aug 2016 23:44:14

WBA v Middlesbrough for Super Sunday... just, why?

And yeah. The fuck was Aguero doing?

#344966 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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28 Aug 2016 23:43:20

Yeah - since the end of the 2011/12 season, its been more bad than good (although he has good patches, like the last few games of last season, for example). Maybe we should've cashed in when people were valuing him at stupid fees in 2012 or 2013.

How busy are we expecting the final few days? I'm pretty sure at least 4 Premier League clubs want 4+ players, which is probably gonna make Jim White's head explode.

#344964 The Lower League Thread

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28 Aug 2016 23:37:28

Its all relative - Newcastle were one of the world's 20 richest clubs in this decade (might well still be on when the next list is released in April, given that'd be for the 2015/16 season). Shows much the PL distorts finances. Hell, with him and Achraf Lazaar now in, that makes it 11 new signings, for £57million (although net spend is less than £10m before any loan fees that might've been paid for Krul, Saivet, de Jong and Thauvin). Even if it is a bit "PL or bust"... hopefully it pays off.

As for our old friend Gouffran, he was good in his first 12 months, then seemed to lose something as he went deeper and deeper, and was among those who downed tools when Cabaye left. He was also poor in his 2015/16 cameos. But tbf, he's come back this year and been vastly improved. Dunno if that's 2nd tier or being restored to a further forward role or Benitez being confident he's back in business, but its good to see and hopefully it continues.

I had no idea Derby had signed Vydra. Bold step given, as said, he was woeful at Reading last year. Clearly Derby must be desperate given so far they have been cack in terms of scoring. Burke is a real "WTF" kind of transfer, not least given I for some reason didn't think Red Bull gave Leipzig that big a share of their billions. Apparently Forest's manager said yesterday he wouldn't be sold after he scored and I think set one up during their win v Leeds. So someone's clearly fucked him over. Hopefully for his sake it doesn't end like Dale Jennings.

Surprised Cardiff are bold enough to sell David Marshall. They've not looked great in their highlights so far, and seeing as the only guy whose scored a winner for them this season is Shane Duffy, it looks like a gamble too far.

#344851 The Lower League Thread

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28 Aug 2016 11:02:40

Shows how much attention I was paying when I was reading my Twitter this morning. Goddammit.

Erm, as for the signing, its an interesting one. Hopefully we get the one who was the league's top scorer in 2014/15, and not the one who scored only a handful last year. Could be a decent back-up option all the same.

#344845 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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28 Aug 2016 10:26:37

By Franck | On 27 August 2016 - 21:55 PM BST

Like I said earlier in the thread, I think he'll eventually end up at Newcastle if they get promoted. I'd be shocked if Hart ended up abroad.

Interesting idea. IMO I don't see it - if we come back up it'll probably be Krul (who is on loan to Ajax for the year) or Sels, even if Hart is probably an upgrade on both.

#344844 The Lower League Thread

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28 Aug 2016 10:24:35

Apparently Daryl Murphy was a fake story started by a Sky Sports parody account on Twitter.

So we can probably disregard that one. Well, for now.

#344824 The Lower League Thread

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28 Aug 2016 00:37:05

Good result for Newcastle by the looks & sounds of it. Seems like we're finally making our adjustment after arriving in the 2nd tier to a slap in the face.

Only seen the highlights on the Channel 5 show (I don't know why I go for there...) but Brighton's defence looked regularly terrible.

#344595 2016/17 Champions League

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26 Aug 2016 13:41:27

UCL rule change from 2018-19 means the top 4 UEFA ranked leagues (currently Spain, Germany, England, Italy) to get 4 automatic group stage places: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37194666

Not sure how that's fair. Guess UEFA really was that worried about a Super League breakaway.

#344550 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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25 Aug 2016 21:51:20

Krul has joined Ajax on loan. Gonna be weird seeing him play club games in someone else's shirt, but then hopefully it might improve his distribution. Assuming he gets fit.

#344549 2016/17 Europa League

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25 Aug 2016 21:50:26

By Dan | On 05 August 2016 - 16:41 PM BST

West Ham will face Romanian side Astra Giurgiu in the Europa League play-off round.

The Hammers were knocked out of the competition by the same team in the third qualifying round last season.

Well... least they got one round further this time and found a novel way to christen their taxpayer-funded new home.

#344511 2016/17 Champions League

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25 Aug 2016 16:54:54

Celtic get thrown in with Barcelona, Man City and Monchengladbach... yeah good luck with that.

Porto for Leicester is a toughie but Brugge and Copenhagen is not that bad.

#344508 2016/17 Champions League

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25 Aug 2016 16:35:18

Man City get Barcelona, and Arsenal get PSG. Good start.

#344422 2016/17 EFL Cup (League Cup!)

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24 Aug 2016 21:36:07

That game is going to be 3/4 days after Wolves go to St. James' Park for a Championship fixture.

Is there any point in them going back after the first game?

#344393 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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24 Aug 2016 18:52:48

Wasn't Saivet a wonderkid winger/striker on FM07 ages back?

Meanwhile, Janmaat out, Yedlin in. Be interesting to see DJ's reaction if Watford go down.

#344243 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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23 Aug 2016 22:28:04

Janmaat is apparently off to Watford. Interesting choice, but might work better for them given they now do a 3-5-2 so probably have more onus on his attacking capability. Mbabu being loaned out might work out, even if a Swiss side in the Champions League is a surprise destination.

Seeing as Judge has the claim given by reporters and fans of being one of the best players of the division, I guess there must be thinking of it being better to have him on board and familiar with the team set-up. Although apparently it helps he's in the last year of his deal so less of a fee. Plus if Siem de Jong can pass a medical then someone with a double break in his leg surely can.

#344241 2016/17 Barclays Premier League Thread

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23 Aug 2016 22:23:54

Tbf I had thought he'd retired after leaving Everton. Clearly not.

#344240 2016/17 EFL Cup (League Cup!)

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23 Aug 2016 22:22:44

I don't know how arsed I am about Newcastle in this competition, but I prefer to win the games against lower league sides at home, so works for me. Even despite the absurd quantity of injuries accumulated in this one.

#344163 2016/17 Barclays Premier League Thread

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23 Aug 2016 16:56:13

By The Platypus | On 23 August 2016 - 01:44 AM BST

Djilobodji cost 8m?

Yup. Plus £5.5m in total for McNair and Love, and Januzaj on loan.

Still, its hardly a great squad.

#344162 Transfer Rumours 2016/17

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23 Aug 2016 16:55:06

£5million permanent is the current rumour.

I've heard good things about Alan Judge, who has also been linked with Newcastle today, but the fact he's injured until November is hardly a helpful sign.

#343853 2016/17 Barclays Premier League Thread

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21 Aug 2016 15:34:26

Payet got a knock and is unfit.

I dunno, really - the Olympic Stadium (London Stadium, the fuck?) does look extremely impressive as a general sports arena, as it did back in 2012 during the Olympics, but I'm not so sure yet if it feels like a football ground. Still, Rome's Olympic Stadium works for them and the running track gap looks way bigger in that arena, so there's still time.