Tales from the Toon. The ups and downs of an NUFC supporter....

[JohnCharver]

Moussa Sissoko's agent angered after Newcastle slap £35m price tag on star http://dailym.ai/29A8uNg

Not as annoyed as toon fans watching that performance.

[toddswain]

Just me that's more excited for this season than they have for god knows how long. Just need to sell a few more to free up some squad places/wages etc. Think sissoko riviere and goufrann will go, and hopefully bring in one or two more.

Loving the start of the ' rafalution '

[DungBeetle]

Are some of these guys you are trying to ditch on big contracts.  Got to think they will do a "Bogarde" if so given how much their stock has fallen.

[JohnCharver]

Are some of these guys you are trying to ditch on big contracts.  Got to think they will do a "Bogarde" if so given how much their stock has fallen.

We look like we are rolling the dice on the wage bill (will be a championship record apparently). We have players like shelvey on silly money for how hes played but the only option is to try to use him as doubt we will get nything but big loss/ him refusing to take pay cut for west brom etc. We had the 3rd biggest ever last time anyway, below norwichs last yoyo, and qprs relagated team. Our revenue versus most of the rest will bridge the gap and we have removed some of the utter drains, colo and taylor etc, but our wage bill will be 70ish, probably more than double average, and treble or more a fair few. It would probably be best to sell sissoko aswell and the wage bill isnt really a problem anymore, when real give us 35m?

[DungBeetle]

Are some of these guys you are trying to ditch on big contracts.  Got to think they will do a "Bogarde" if so given how much their stock has fallen.

We look like we are rolling the dice on the wage bill (will be a championship record apparently). We have players like shelvey on silly money for how hes played but the only option is to try to use him as doubt we will get nything but big loss/ him refusing to take pay cut for west brom etc. We had the 3rd biggest ever last time anyway, below norwichs last yoyo, and qprs relagated team. Our revenue versus most of the rest will bridge the gap and we have removed some of the utter drains, colo and taylor etc, but our wage bill will be 70ish, probably more than double average, and treble or more a fair few. It would probably be best to sell sissoko aswell and the wage bill isnt really a problem anymore, when real give us 35m?

I expect Newcastle to be at 100 points of thereabout.  They have a better squad now than last season with Ritchie/Gayle and others.  Don't see paying Shelvey as a problem for the year - he's going to be such a cut above the Champ.  The worry I would have is the guys who are on "medium" contracts by Premier League standards on 40k/50k a week who haven't settled for whatever reason - they are a millstone and just don't see how you can shift them.  Anyway - win the league and no harm done.

[JohnCharver]

Are some of these guys you are trying to ditch on big contracts.  Got to think they will do a "Bogarde" if so given how much their stock has fallen.

We look like we are rolling the dice on the wage bill (will be a championship record apparently). We have players like shelvey on silly money for how hes played but the only option is to try to use him as doubt we will get nything but big loss/ him refusing to take pay cut for west brom etc. We had the 3rd biggest ever last time anyway, below norwichs last yoyo, and qprs relagated team. Our revenue versus most of the rest will bridge the gap and we have removed some of the utter drains, colo and taylor etc, but our wage bill will be 70ish, probably more than double average, and treble or more a fair few. It would probably be best to sell sissoko aswell and the wage bill isnt really a problem anymore, when real give us 35m?

I expect Newcastle to be at 100 points of thereabout.  They have a better squad now than last season with Ritchie/Gayle and others.  Don't see paying Shelvey as a problem for the year - he's going to be such a cut above the Champ.  The worry I would have is the guys who are on "medium" contracts by Premier League standards on 40k/50k a week who haven't settled for whatever reason - they are a millstone and just don't see how you can shift them.  Anyway - win the league and no harm done.

Yeah theres a lot of french dross, the only people who would take them would be the french, for little to no fee and a big cut in wages (makes them impossible to offload as they wont go). The flip side is a few big sales and their wages are paid for. The thing is though, last time we were relegated was the making of some of our players, inparticularly colo, who was awful the 1st time in prem, then was one of the top performers when we returned. It can act as a intro to english football and a chance to develop at an easier pace. We dont know whos crap and who might just get there if they get a bit of time. Our players imo will be overrated if we piss the league, as was the case last time, there was easy sales to cover the detour.

Really dont see us in trouble even if we fail to bounce back (cant see it, really poor league, filled with damaged clubs/clubs who want winfall but wont gamble on staying there through burnt fingers), we have assets and good turnover, the problems would occur when ashley finished buying his way back into the premiership and tried to balance the books when we are established.

[PathFinder]

Good signings so far for Newcastle.  Marshall and Ritchie.  Going to romp the Championship surely as they are going to end up with a stronger squad than their premier league team.

Welcome to the Championship

[tikay]

How do you boys see tonight panning out?

2 games means nothing, but as it stands, they gotta feel a bit of pressure this evening. 

[DungBeetle]

Reading the latest team to shine in their cup final imo

[toddswain]

The histeria over us losing the first two games is just ridiculous, yea it's not ideal but hardly the end of the world.

There was a list of previous seasons and how winners/teams promoted did in their first 5 games And we don't need to panic just yet.

That being said tonight's cup final is one we need to win 😛🎣

[Cf]

It's obviously a poor start but I think we'll still be fine.

The amount of rebuilding Rafa has had to be getting on with is ridiculous and shows how badly run things had been run previously.

[PokerBroker]

When do you start to panic though?  You can give Brighton/Norwich etc. a 7 point start. 

[Cf]

When do you start to panic though?  You can give Brighton/Norwich etc. a 7 point start. 

It's a 138 point season. Everyone will lose a few at some point.

[toddswain]

Wow I don't know what to say about tonight's line up, captain lascelles dropped after two games... And goufrann starting!!

[toddswain]

Happy with that. Hopefully Rafa dropping lascelles shows everyone that they ain't a gauranteed pick and they start performing for their places.

Apparently goufrann got a standing ovation...

InRafaWeTrust