Yes.
3 Likes
I still say save the money, keep Nunez and sign CB or Wharton or both.
Nunez about to sign for a Saudi club.
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I don’t see scoring goals as a major weekness in this team, so I agree with the sentiment of save the money and dig deep for a CB. Even Nunez is starting to click.
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Goals is one thing, there’s also depth. It wouldn’t be clever to go too short compared to last summer.
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I have always wondered if players on that type of trajectory worry about signing for clubs that have shown to be hesitant to sell star players.
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Exclusive detail: Can reveal that the striker has been told to report on his own to the training ground — after the rest of the players and their families have left.
Eddie Howe has arranged a family day/gathering for players and their partners/children this lunchtime
Isak was’nt invited to that family and friends event.
https://x.com/SkySports_Keith/status/1953058526420517273
https://x.com/sharma__awnish/status/1953069293454713116
5 Likes
I’m a believer that we were a little front heavy last season, and part of that was the club accounting for Jota to be absent for 1/3 to a 1/2 a season each year through injury. We have had 1 too many forwards IMO and it’s why we couldn’t really share around those minutes for the 3 positions available.
Looking at our list, seeing Ekitike in and Rio doing well pre-season, on the face of it, with Nunez very likely leaving and making assumptions that Chiesa might stick around, it might look like we hit the 5 players for 3 positions that I would ideally like to see. But I think it’s more like 4 1/2 knowing that Rio is still very young.
I think I’ve been proven wrong in believing Flo would play mostly as a false 9 as that’s not how Slot has utilised him preseason, so I would more count him as replacing Elliott (even if Elliott barely had minutes) than being an addition up forward.
I really think with what we have now, we don’t have a real quality option off the bench, so I think we are still short of a top player. We managed so well last season with bringing players off the bench to finish a team. Regardless of pressing needs in defence, we can’t go into this season relying on Rio being the first change firepower off the bench.
Keep: Salah, Gakpo, Chiesa
In: Ekitike, +1 (Isak), Rio (?)
Departed: Diaz, Jota, Nunez
It’s a complete mess for Newcastle you know if Sesko had been signed then you have a feeling this would have happened very quickly.
6 Likes
The bridge is burnt to the ground now its unrepairable.
2 Likes
Nar. Every bridge is repairable. Especially for a goal scorer. The only thing that would prevent that is if he comes back has a bad start to the season. That could get toxic even if he is clearly putting in the effort but just not getting the breaks.
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I doubt he plays against us anyhow… a win win.
6 Likes
Not for me with the latest info its another scathing dig at Newcastle.
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I do think its noteworthy that we have lost 3 significant (in the sense they would have expected to have lots of minutes at the start of 24-25) forwards but this list includes keeping one (Chiesa) who was only a backup and includes another who can only really considered (at best) a six option at this point (Rio). On that reading, if we don’t get Isak we’d be light up front even on your metric - down 3 forwards replaced with max 1.5.
My view is that, unless we are looking to change formation, we need 5 quality options whom we can rely upon playing good minutes. Gapko, Ekitike Salah only make three at this stage. Perhaps Chiesa and Rio together can be considered another but we clearly are short unless we are planning on playing Frimpong, Wirtz or Szoboszlai out wide.
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I think any deal more than likely happens after that game.
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Yeah same, he isn’t going play it unless we’ve completely walked away because I don’t expect Slot would play him if they signed him between then and now. For him its a slight bonus that it is unlikely he will play in Newcastle if he comes to us for at least a season.
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Rio at his age can’t be considered an option any games we get out of him is a bonus.
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Starting to feel like the relationship is beyond repair. After losing out on Sesko, I expect Newcastle to go after the likes of Mateta/Watkins/Ramos, etc.
I still feel like we end up with Isak, but it’s going to be ugly all around.
5 Likes
Newcastle need to get a striker in, then they will sell. Isak is becoming persona non-grata there, given what Howe said the other day about needing the desire to train with and be part of the group. That draws a clear line in the sand, as Isak’s desire is to leave, and he has told them that, all along.
The delay is partly because they are coming to terms with losing their star man, partly because they don’t want to make anything smooth for us, and partly because of their lack of leadership in closing deals right now.
We can be patient, to a point, and I think this one closes as soon as they sign someone. Most of the supposed bigger fish are now gone, but there’s still Watkins and Mateta in the Prem, and obviously several strikers around Europe who would love to play in the Prem and CL.
It’s going to happen, but the timing will just delay Isak from being productive for us for the first 2-3 weeks of the season.
4 Likes