The only shit aspect about the deal for Fabinho was that it was reported we were chasing Lemar.
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On Isak and NUFC, as others have said, surely they have to be taking a look at Nunez to placate things? They need a striker to replace Isak, we have one we’re looking to sell, who is only 3 months older, Premier League experience, and has played at the top level of European and international football.
Nunez, Elanga, and Gordon on paper has pace and workrate.
I think the Isak deal will ultimately get done. I can’t see him wanting to wait another year for a move, which may not manifest again, especially as clubs needing forwards have already made moves i.e. Arsenal, Man Utd, Chelsea.
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I’ve read the Nunez to Newcastle theory a few times in this thread lately and the pace aspect across that potential attack gets overrated in terms of importance. But I understand that most football fans warm to players that are pacy. Slow players (and there are some high quality ones that are simply not quick) are not that popular or it takes time for them to be understood and loved. But you know what is faster than any player? The pace at which the ball can be moved between players. And what about other things? Intelligence, combination play, link up, finishing (or a variety of), technical and tactical aspects? There’s more to football players than how fast they can sprint, how aggressive they run at people (doesn’t even mean a player is a quality presser if he just reacts to everything and smashes into everything that moves) or how strong they can be in duels.
I think an attack of Elanga, Gordon and Nunez would be very one dimensional. A lot of pressure to connect and create would fall onto Gordon and not to forget that one of the first late arrivals from midfield would be bloody Joelinton (and lately Tonali, since they switched the midfield roles of him and Guimaraes).
If Newcastle are breaking in that higher level company, want to establish themselves further and actually start fighting for trophies soon… I don’t see why would they think of Nunez and even touch him? We made a mistake, now it’s time for him to go elsewhere, probably to a lower level league and club. Others of a similar or lower level will probably learn that lesson and say “no thanks”.
I think the first club in that league table closest to us that might have good enough arguments to do it would be Forest. A team heavily based on counter attacks. But guess what, they have Chris Wood, a target man (albeit getting on a bit) who also banged in 20 (league) goals last season. Nunez can go to a more competitive team, but in a lesser league.
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I agree with much of what you say. The problem for them is if Isak leaves. They’re in a tricky spot needing a replacement, and clubs will already suspect that if they’re targeting their forward, it probably means they’re going to receive mega money for Isak rather than adding another body alongside him.
There are other forwards out there for them to consider i.e. Aghehowa, Boniface, Vlahović, Muniz, Wissa (although that’s likely to be a replacement for Callum Wilson), even Nicolas Jackson, but then will their value increase to a point where they’re just like, ‘no thanks’, or would they bite the bullet and pay over the odds?
My thinking is that given Newcastle’s difficulty in signing a forward, and they know Isak wants to come to us, their attempts to sign someone have failed thus far. They’ve already missed out on Joao Pedro, Ekitike, likely Sesko as well. It’ll be interesting to see how they navigate, and who they eventually turn to. They may have to compromise on what they want in a forward versus what’s available on the market.
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I don’t know enough about some of the mentioned players there, I’m also not convinced Wissa would be the right option for them as a single striker. Seems to me like a very lazy move if that turns out to be their only move.
Sesko is still possible, although some Newcastle “ITK” journalists now say that he’s more attracted by United. Even Sesko brings some question marks with him, but I think he’d be a better fit than Nunez. I’d say even Jackson would be a better fit.
I just think that someone like Nunez wouldn’t be such a great fit with what they already have around that single striker spot. There is enough of the pace and aggression aspects as it is (Gordon and Elanga being an upgrade of Murphy?), they need someone to compliment those strengths with some different skills.
They did toy with their structure and players changing positions last season, so there is also what Howe might change with what he has. Gordon wasn’t always a (pure) LW. He had games also as a single #10 and their structure (sometimes being in a back 4, sometimes being in a back 3) in the final against us was very, very clever. He used the league game at Anfield to hide his real intentions for the final. Plus, the set-piece aspect.
Whether they have the scouting and especially recruitment department up and runnning to a level where they can find someone below the radar (or not among the most popular names in media and among fans), this late or close to the start of the season, remains to be seen.
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Honestly, where do you guys find the time to invent and post these convoluted speculative musings. No-one knows anything at all. Why not just sit it out. Que sera sera.
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Welcome to the forum Rambo, you may find some things on here puzzling at first, but you’ll soon get used to them.
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We’re going to Wem-ber-rley?
I’m starting to go cold on this deal. We do need another attacker but Rodriygo (sic) at Madrid feels a better option and even he is probably not exactly what we need.
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I have always been cold on it. Price too high and injury prone. But not sure who else is out there as a backup 9.
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Or a first choice #9, if Ekitike is more the backup one?
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He’s not really injury prone.
His biggest injury last season was a broken toe - not really something you can plan for or avoid.
The other injuries look to be over use injuries, but having already signed Ekitike, getting Isak means there is a back up so we can rotate meaning it reduces the risk of injury occuring from being over played.
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The problem at the moment according to TIA Newkie are angry with Liverpool because Liverpool have not put a bid in for Isak but we are also waiting for them to tell us if we can put a bid in as they keep saying he is not for sale, all this looks like they are stalling for time hoping he will change his mind. On the other hand they have removed his pictures from the adverts for the new kits giving him the message that they are pissed off with him, all in all they are all over the place dithering but very soon LFC will run out of patience and will move on and they will be left with an unhappy player and even worse trying to find another buyer willing to pay £150M for him.
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So he moves to Al somebody for £150m then low and behold, it turns out he doesn’t settle and Liverpool go back in for him for £120m in January.
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Yeah but Newcastle will have seen Nunez’ lack of end product. And vesus Isak’s lethal finishing its a bit MEH to be fair to them. I’d be less than pleased swapping the two if I supported Newcastle. That said, maybe we’ve been using Nunez wrong. Maybe he’ll find his footballing brain and realize what the offisde rule actually is. Or maybe not.
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Maybe the 2023 match where Nunez scored two late goals against them after VVD was sent off is still fresh and blinding enough in their memories? 
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I thought they were taking us to court.
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In the end money talks they need legit income.
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Feels like a deal gets done at something like 115 + 15 add-ons. Maybe 120 + 10.
It’s a massive investment into our future from FSG here, but with that comes massive pressure on the squad and the manager. Hopefully both are up to the challenge.
Still, I’d rather we take our massive dick out and slap it on the table than meekly scrounge around for “bargain” deals hoping to unearth more gems. Making moves like we have this summer isn’t just about strengthening the squad, it’s about sending a message to the other “big” clubs that we mean business. The cunts.
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