The College Dropout

Newcastle Specific Player of the Season: Bruno G Young player of the season (21 or lower): Livramento Season to forget: Tonali Most Improved: Gordon Unsung Hero: Murphy Signing of the Season: Livramento Goal of the season: Schar PSG Moment of the season: 4-0 PSG Low point of the season: 4-1 down or whenever it was against Luton Manager rating (Out of 10): 8.5 Premier League Specific Player of the Season: Saka Young player of the season (21 or lower): Palmer or Livramento Manager of the Season: Depends on who wins the league. If Arsenal Arteta. If not.... Emery I guess. Season to forget: Man U

Palace players too.

Our strikers role is just to score goals. Both have wonderful underlying data for Xg. I think even Gordon would get a good few playing 9 for us.

Quotes from Eddie suggest he's in contention to start.

I don't agree with the comparison. Pope was a much better keeper than Dubs based on GK statistics (save %, Xg prevented, claiming crosses etc., distance of defensive actions). That was hard evidence of what he was likely to bring to the team and it turned out to be true. That's not the same story with Ramsdale. Ramsdale is better with his feet - that is it.

Haven't paid a fee for a transfer since the 20/21 season apparently. Cash payments don't influence FFP. The fee is recognised and amortised according to the length of the contract.

In a world with Hall starting LB, I think Tino has to start RB.

Leverkusen fans are a bit shit eh? When they scored the goal at 2-1, it was the most timid reaction I've seen. Is that typical of Leverkusen fans?

Villa will surely finish in the top 4 this season.

Ferguson achieved miracles at Aberdeen too - that bought him a lot of credit. His position in British football was far greater than Eddie's. Finishing 6th would be a great achievement. I've been critical of Eddie at times but finishing 6th under these circumstances would be another superb season. I would consider 8th as par.

He's a stop-gap backup measure for Madrid. He's only there on loan. Since he left us he's been on the up and up. A couple of really good seasons in La Liga led to the loan. I always thought he could look a tidy footballer but something else seems to have clicked for him. Commentary suggested he had been getting a bit of stick in the Madrid media. But like... he's Joselu... even before last night he had performed as well as could be reasonably expected - if not better.

Is that the worst thing you can find about me talking about JOSELU? I'm not the type to have a massive go at the likes of Joselu. He tried his best. Seemed to have some ability but also... short of "it". Which is why he had the career he had until 32.

He would still want to demonstrate his availability. Make it a decision. I suspect he's in contention to start on the weekend?

He’s also at an age he can secure 3 maybe 4 year contracts. Next year that’s likely to dip and he may have further injury issues. If we pay 70% of his wages and release him. He can probably get another club to get him to 90-100% of that value next season with a commitment for another year, 2, 3 already confirmed.

Unless they are transfer supremos - I do think it's hard to judge the DoF role. Particularly in regard to hiring and firing managers. Youth teams. Contract value and extensions. FWIW Dan's time here and Brighton - he seemed to have a tight control on wages. He negotiated those. I assume he was involved in the 25% CL bump for Isak and others for example. Now Dan has gone we seem to be happier to increase wages for contract renewals. I liked the hardline approach Dan/Brighton/Spurs take but appreciate that causes other issues.