All our players are for sale but I’d assume the new owners put us in a slightly better position but if stupid £ is offered, then it will be a definite possibility. That’s who we are.
I’m not sure what to make of rumours that Lampard is favourite for the Everton job. I just don’t see what evidence there is that he can arrest their current slide. But Gerard managed it with Villa with limited evidence (in my opinion at least) I’m not keen on him potentially having the inside track on Chelsea’s best young players. Although I’m not sure that the generosity they showed him at Derby gets replicated at a Premier League team
Yep. Did a good job at Rangers & already looks & sounds the part. Has definitely upped Villa’s game since his arrival, impressed with his immediate incomings. One to watch for me.
From the BBC transfer thread on Newcastle. I think this is what we can file under “drastically revising expectations” and well as a bit of delusion (seriously - never heard of a player but with 2 days convinced he is the second coming of one the best ever premier league midfielders?!) : * Norman Riley, True Faith Fanzine and Podcast. "The earlyish arrivals of Kieran Trippier and Chris Wood have been very much welcomed by Newcastle fans. "Trippier in particular is already being spoken of as a future captain and the Bruno Guimaraes deal looks close to completion. "Around 48 hours ago I barely knew anything of him and I am now convinced we’ve signed the equivalent of Patrick Viera in 2003. If Guimaraes comes in along with hopefully a centre back (possibly the left-footed Geordie Dan Burn) I should think most Newcastle fans would be overjoyed with the business done." * If you had told Newcastle fans on Christmas Day that by the end of the window those would have been the four signings (I think there will end up being more than the four) I really don’t think “overjoyed” would be the word ANY of them would have used …
I honestly wouldn't entirely rule them out for relegation just yet. It's very unlikely given the state Watford are in and Norwich's lack of quality but Newcastle could very easily overtake Everton. They should have enough quality to pull away from the bottom 3 but if injuries keep piling up....PLEASE CAN THEY GO DOWN!!! I would even tolerate Newcastle staying up.
I tell you what Everton haven't got an easy run in. After Newcastle (A), Leeds (H) and Saints (A) they've got City, Spurs and Wolves. Then a MASSIVE game against Watford. Then it's another run of tough games. It's not beyond the realms of possibility they go down.
That would be superb. Absolutely superb. I really hate that club after the Koeman saga. I think they’ve got too much quality in richarlison and DCL. But their defence is a shambles and they sold their best full back to villa for no reason so who knows
I see their bid for Burn has been rejected. I find it hilarious that seemingly all the premier League teams are playing hard ball with them, nobody wants to do them any favours at all! I used to do that in Football Manager, the equivalent of Chelsea accepting £25m from us for Broja but wanting £50m from Newcastle! Great stuff! Be even more hilarious if after Mike Ashley took them down and up in successive seasons(twice), the new owners struggle to get them back up, many of them were so snug when they got taken over, it would be such fun to see them wishing for Ashley back.
Their midfield is good enough to stay up too I just couldn’t be bothered to type all their players. I really rate doucoure for example
Oh I forgot about him. It is their defence that is the concern but the same can be said about all the teams down the bottom. It is why they are there! They are definitely massively underperforming. Kind of makes me think of the points people were making in the “Ralph out” thread - about managers doing worse jobs with equal or better squads