SNSUN

Freed From Desire...

Bye bye Cris.

This run up thing is balls IMO.

Spain can beat either of these two. France have been poor for the most part, Portugal marginally better but still poor. Without Mbappe on form France's attack looks blunt.

I get it, especially as there’s a noticeable lack of quality in our side and we may be losing KWP and Bednarek, and relying on AA and Smallbone to have a good seasons, neither who have yet proved they’re Premier League quality. It definitely looks like we have one eye on the season after next. That said I’m excited by the Edwards signing and I do think we have a lot more to come to improve the quality of the first team once a few more outs are confirmed. Signing Downes is key but there is a lot of work to be done yet.

Well UK talent... 😁

Thought I heard Matterface say it...

Great game this overall. If you're going to take one for the team, do it when you're already missing the semi. Only now Caravajal will miss the final too

Or not! Great header and delivery. Spain deserve this based on over the tournament even if not tonight.

Swansea fans on their forums seem happy to have got rid of him but at 22 for low money with his attributes when he'll be back up for us, doesn't sound like bad business long term.

Germany will win this in a typical German way... on penalties. They're in trouble for the Semis though if they get through, quite a few players will miss out due to suspension.

Thats a surprise, i think I posted yesterday that I thought Taylor meant our left back business was done. Manning as a back up and Taylor as first choice. I can only conclude that if we sign Wellington we're looking at 3 CBs and wing backs with Taylor as a potential LCB. I know he's defensively flawed but I would have thought as a back up he'd be ok. He must be on his way out unless we really are stocking up on LBs. Both need loans. Meghoma to continue his development and Larios for match fitness post injury. But it will take a brave club to take Larios after so long out.

Well done idiots, so many of you voted and now you have to live with your awful choice. Bloody disgraceful behaviour from the voters if you ask me. It's plain to see who the winner should have been. Gareth Gates should have beaten Will Young on Pop Idol back in '02. 😁

Mitchell appointed Newcastle sporting director Newcastle United have announced the appointment of Paul Mitchell as the club’s new sporting director. Mitchell's appointment comes following Dan Ashworth's departure to join Manchester United. Mitchell is a former footballer whose non-playing career started in scouting and recruitment, initially at MK Dons, before prominent roles at Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, RB Leipzig, Red Bull Soccer International and AS Monaco. Darren Eales, Newcastle United's CEO, said: "We are delighted to welcome Paul to Newcastle United. He brings a successful track record and wealth of experience to the club. "His extensive and diverse experience in football leadership, cultural change and recruitment mean he is the ideal person to lead our sporting directorate. "We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him in our pursuit of long-term, sustainable success."

Interesting. There were definitely some over inflated deals there. I wouldn't be surprised if there are a fair few points deductions for teams because of PSR next season. It can only be good news for Saints in a season where we will be fighting for survival. I didn't realise Brighton weren't in danger of breaching PSR which makes the £32 million they spent on the almost completely untested Minteh even more surprising. That's a hell of a gamble for a 19 year old with just a handful of starts in Holland and for The Gambia.

1) Or the worry they'll be flogged off for big bucks after a season and you never get to enjoy them properly 2) Possibly why we're also looking to bring Wood on board - for pace.

Our business has been good so far, THB, Taylor, Edwards, even Lallana will add squad experience. I still half expect us to go all Saintsy and announce we’re in talks to resign Mason Holgate or something.

I'd say all transfers are a risk if you think about it unless you are prepared to spend money on someone like Mo Salah. Even someone like Rickie Lambert was a risk at the time (just an example). Ings was a risk because of his injuries at the price we paid but that turned out OK (also just an example). A CB jumping two divisions to play in the Prem for the first time I'd say qualifies as a risk, even with the attributes he has and praise he gets. However it is definitely a good risk both because of his age and his price and it is definitely one I'm glad we've taken. I agree this (and the Wood transfer) bode us well for next summer, either they power us to safety, we make money from them or we have good CBs ready for a Championship season. Good decision from the club. When I lie down, I'm a foot tall. And when I lie down and get an erection, I'm still a foot tall. I'm like Ken from Barbie and Ken.

That’s a big yes please, it’s also a very West Ham-style signing.

I tell women I’m 6’1” but I’m actually 5’11” and a half. Ok that’s a lie, I don’t talk to women. Transfermrkt has him as exactly 6’, Wiki says 5’11”. Either way not the tallest as CB’s go but as long as he’s committed, quick and reads the game well, he’s got all the attributes to do well in the Prem. THB, Jan and Wood are 6’2” so we will have some height there. It may only be an inch or 2 but every inch matters - amirite ladies!?

Bree is fine as a back up RB IMO, getting the 1st choice RB right post-KWP is key. The fact we’ve been linked to RBs shows we’re preparing to sell KWP this summer, though I’m not sure Aarons is the answer. Aarons and Bree as a pair of RBs doesn’t fill me with as much confidence as Bree being a back up to KWP. Ross Stewart will be very much part of our attack IMO. He would have been first choice last season had he not got injured and we’ve already lost (tbc) Adams from that striker list. I just hope he makes the step up. We definitely need another striker though, maybe even 2 (or a versatile winger than can also play as a striker) as we cannot rely on Mara in any capacity from what we’ve seen. Sulemana and Alcaraz… that’s anyone’s guess. I’d like to see Alcaraz stay but I’m not sure where he fits into our system. Sulemana I’m non-plussed about apart from giving us an extra attacking bench option.

Smart signing - it’s a risk as most transfers from a lower league are but it’s a risk worth taking. Other Prem clubs have been sniffing around and he seems to have all the tools to succeed. Sure he’s not the tallest as CBs go but plenty of CBs have been a success without hitting 6’, it’s all in the reading of the game. Welcome on board.

Question is - would we have renewed McCarthy's contract without Bazunu's injury? Possibly not and let's just say we still got promoted with Baz in goal, we may very well be going into the Premier League season with him as No 1 again and Lumley as back up - and that would worry the hell out of me as Baz doesn't fill me with confidence and nor would Lumley as a 2. McCarthy isn't perfect and I'd prefer someone "better" but I think he's more solid than Baz. But that's IF McCarthy is in our planning as a No 1, which, while some people think he is, I'm still dubious of. You need 3 Keepers in the Prem and, if Baz is out for 6-8 months or so (could be out the whole season), I still think we'll bring in another (possibly loan). Just a hunch.

As a right wing back fine, but he's not a great right back having seen him play for Norwich. We've just sorted out left back defensively, I hope we don't know screw up right back unless we're planning to bring in 2 of them (with PSR I can't see that).