Will this NUFC transfer decision prove costly?

[@michaeljp9605]

This is old news Craig, signing a striker wasn’t deemed a priority signing so the club invested in youth in WO instead. You can argue the case against transfers all you want but PSR has made it hard to get the players we want

[@andrewford119]

We didn't suffer without Wilson last year. We scored 85 goals in the Premier League. Our problem wasn't Wilson it was the leaky defence which shipped 65 goals....

[@matthewjones9565]

"We"? "Our"? Do you play for the club? Do you work for the club? No, you don't. As far as you're concerned there is no "We", and there is no "Our". You're a supporter, the same as me.

[@matthewsmith7244]

@@matthewjones9565 Heard Eddie say "our" fans in his press conferences quite often. if he's happy to use this kind of language, surely it works the other way? No?

[@matthewjones9565]

@@matthewsmith7244 Eddie Howe WORKS FOR THE CLUB. YOU DO NOT. I'm entirely sure which part of that you're struggling with. If you don't have the intelligence to see the frugality of your argument then I refuse to waste my time on you.

[@matthewsmith7244]

​@@matthewjones9565 In the dictionary, the word "our" means belonging to, or associated with. If anyone wears an NUFC shirt, that's an association with the club, therefore the term "our" is perfectly reasonable.

[@matthewjones9565]

@@matthewsmith7244 I, on occasion, wear a Newcastle shirt. My "association" stops there. I support the club, I have no official association with the club. I'm not going to argue the point any further with you, as you clearly lack the ability to understand the point.

[@chrisburns2064]

I hope Osula shuts up the doubters!!

[@Northumberlandbasssman]

There's no doubters? everyone wants him to play

[@neilsnowdon2863]

Lewis Hall looked more composed against City. He was only caught out of position once. No City player went round him. Let's give him a run now. I would play Kelly at cb with Krafth to give Schär and Burn a rest. Longstaff, Willock and Joelinton in midfield with Miggi, Osula and Gordon or Barnes up front.

[@OGA_999]

Tremendous lineup right there friend. In fact I agree with all except I'd play Tonali over Joelinton instead and continue building his match fitness up then maybe take him off early second half if things are comfortable

[@andrewford119]

In all honesty I thought the team looked more balanced with Gordon up front. His off the ball running and press was far better than when Isak is playing....

[@andyh8095]

Who were the people in Denmark who were surprised we paid £10m for Osula? It is an easy statement to make when it isn't backed up with any facts.

[@stephenstrong8885]

Play Ossula up front and a string team from the off. Toon have slipped on too many banana skins in the past. Bring on subs when/if we have a comfortable lead. Don’t underestimate League 2 opposition.

[@Baldnesz]

Willy Arsolo prefers to play at the back

[@LolsFishingAdventures]

This is the ideal opportunity to start Osula in my opinion. Let him prove what he can do with decent service, he had almost no service with his last club which is why he didn’t score. Swap it round at half time if it doesn’t work.

[@parallaxview6770]

Keep telling the truth Craig . Ignore the happy clappers

[@ianfletcher855]

Paul Mitchell said transfer policy was not up to spec he as a point.

[@SKINDEREE]

Matt Targett sitting on his backside getting 100,000 pound a week, of course it isn't fit for purpose!

[@TheTinker394]

Always knew this was the elephant in the room when people where banging the drum about a defender are winger when we had two injury prone strikers.

[@Sillygoooose624]

Club is fast becoming a joke. The fact Aston Villa can continually outspend and outgun is each transfer window is beyond a joke - signing a £20M goalie that will never play, selling 2 young players and only buying some donut from Sheffield United who's never scored and a Bournmeouth frweeend. We're still playing Dan Burn, Longstaff, Jacob Murphy and relying on likes of Callum Wilson, Dubravka, Lascelles as back up. The club is a shambles, no wonder Mitchell has gone mad at our transfer windows. We had to sell 2 of our most talented young players, sign a Greek goalie we didn't need, and spend money on a striker nobody wanted.

[@bianconeri06]

Whilst i agree villa seem to be doing much better business but their money for grealish runs out this year. They have had a nice bump every year of around 20 million that they can use to sign players with. amortise those new contracts and effectively spend about 100 million a year without touching PSR. We have had no one to sell and the only cash we have generated is through commercial revenue which villa has done too. That said why we are buying more keepers is beyond me too. And the transfer window was utterly underwhelming. But we need more revenue!

[@SwiftyDeejay]

@@bianconeri06great response this 🤌🏼

[@micksullivan6678]

@@Sillygoooose624 villa can out spend coz they have traded players inbthd past grealish for 100m gives a huge amount u can spend over a period of years we havent hardly sold anyone if note coz most were not good enough so had no big prices attached to them...Ashley's lack of investment is haunting us atm

[@bianconeri06]

@@micksullivan6678 exactly 👍

[@grahamtowler1761]

There were many mistakes in the transfer window, so far things are going well though but Mitchell needs to be much more switched on in January to keep us in a forward trajectory

[@davidrobinson2776]

I'm sorry lads but I this is not "troublemaking" or "shit-stirring", it is just an opinion. I know Craig is a very respected and, in my opinion, the best journalist reporting on NUFC but even if he wrote a piece every week entitled "Sack Eddie" it would make no difference to the way we played or what the PIF thought. Nobody is happy about the transfer window, our uneven squad or the way we've been playing until Man City and any journalist worth their salt should be highlighting those issues.

[@kyletomey43]

He's out for himself and purposely comes up with negative narratives for his own personal gain.

[@davidrobinson2776]

@@kyletomey43 I disagree. What you said has been levelled at almost every journalist I can remember from John Gibson and Alan Oliver to Craig and Lee Ryder. I would be more upset if all he reported was sunshine and roses. The main thing is I appreciate your view and the fact despite disagreeing, we keep things civil and respectful. Some of the nuggets who write in the comments and resort to name calling and abuse just stop decent people talking about different opinions. We are all Newcastle fans at the end of the day.

[@Toenala]

Some fringe players need to come in tomorrow night and showcase themselves. Golden opportunity for our young striker. As for Wilson, are we going to see much of him at all this season?

[@TrifficLad33]

I've completely disregarded Callum Wilson as a player, if we are lucky he'll play 3-6 games max all season. With that in mind and the troubles we had at ST last season not buying a first team striker is a massive mistake. Gordon will end up run ragged playing ST every week and get injured then we are fucked on the wing aswell.

[@MS-sy8ls]

Yeah agreed. Gordon will burn out playing as a lone striker. Plus we lose his efficacy on the wing

[@johnenglish929]

@@TrifficLad33 That’s certainly true. Nobody can play like Gordon did on Saturday in every game - plus internationals - and last for a season.

[@morgulblade4]

With our summer budget, and a cb, rw being priority, what "ready mde replacement" striker could we have got to challenge as a 2nd/3rd choice striker? We needed a youngun with potential, and we did that.

[@johnstephenson4711]

PSR/FFP have totally hamstrung us. Am sure we would have signed another striker, right winger and centre back if we were allowed to spend the mpney out owners undoubtedly possess. The Premier League do not want us to succeed. It is a closed shop.

[@kevinmyers5534]

Craig FFS Please STOP your negative comments...just look at real life, look at what Darren is going through...ITS A GAME of Football just enjoy the journey

[@MS-sy8ls]

Dan Burn pushed up quite a bit against City on Saturday. Maybe give him a run up front? 😅

[@kyletomey43]

Absolutely no need for the negative striker narrative. Why not focus on the positive that we just witnessed the best performance of the season so far? We bought a striker who was within our budget that is working progress. Deal with it

[@maccy4829]

Dubravka, Tino, Krafth, Kelly, Hall, Longy, Tonali, Willock, Almiron, Osula, Barnes

[@johnenglish929]

@@maccy4829 I doubt he’ll risk starting Tonali.

[@davekent9899]

Any talk of Jonathan David? Having a solid fellow Canadian putting goals in for my favourite club would be a dream!

[@garyperkins4193]

Good questions asked Craig, but when you refer to “mismanagement”, please remember that … (1) Questions regarding the failure to make necessary transfers should be asked of Mitchell. (2) Likewise, questions regarding injuries and fitness should be asked of Bunce. Eddie can only do his best with whatever players are left available to him. Given the restraints imposed upon him by (1) & (2) Eddie does remarkably well!

[@michaelmcdougall943]

The clubs reluctance to buy another quality striker is frustrating as these 2 are made of paper

[@Baldnesz]

Nonsense.....

[@parallaxview6770]

@@BaldneszHows it nonsense ? They are both out injured !

[@mjs32]

Craig Hope speaks negatively about Newcastle United after a brilliant performance and result against Man City. Imagine my shock.

[@craighope_dailymail]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKjLepx8e7Cfd7Mfeature=shared

[@parallaxview6770]

Grow up . Stop being a happy clapper

[@NUFC2412]

It was never enough in the summer. Absolute shambles of a window. Wilson sadly hardly ever fit. Should have been replaced in the summer. Even for the age situation at the very least

[@Baldnesz]

He was with Willy ...

[@rogercookcouk]

"it's the modern way(game)!" The not needing FW options. Yes, understand that 4-4-2 demands 4 options. But to effectively only have 1, due to fitness issues, we've needed another FW of quality for years.

[@matthewjones9565]

I've been saying for the past 3 transfer windows that they need more strikers. When a club has 2 strikers who seem to get injured if you look in their general direction, it's very obvious that the club needs more players in that position. Time and again they've fixated on one player and not signed them anyway. Something has to give at Newcastle, someone has to be held accountable for the current state of affairs at the club. I'd agree that defenders are needed, but the best defence in the world is little use if no goals are going in at the other end.

[@dirtydugz21]

Can we move on from the summer transfer window? We knew this was a likely outcome, just got to get on with it and it will be what it will be. If it costs us then the DOF and head coach will have to take accountability for it. No point in dragging on the negativity, that gets the team no where.

[@MrComicy]

Please let’s play Osula, without game time how can he improve.

[@steveningram3732]

In the context of me pretending to be a “sports reporter”… have you spoke to Ollie Holt this week?

[@steveningram3732]

To be more specific.. do you think you know more than a Premier League manager and Steve Nixon considering their PSR restrictions which no doubt you are aware of? Please stop criticising the club you profess to love when they are trying to grow as a club and compete with already established clubs. You tit.

[@damienreilly4347]

Howe's reluctance to get rid of Wilson is frustrating. Why have a striker that plays roughly 10 games a season?

[@opinionuk]

Because for what we could get for him isn’t worth it and we wouldn’t be able to buy a decent striker so might aswell keep him

[@andrewcharlton6080]

You’re not talking sense. Callum is old, extremely injury prone and on £100k a week wages. Who would sign him for the £15-20m we’d want? Simple fact is we couldn’t sell him and even if we did we couldn’t afford the £40-50m to replace him. Nothing to do with Howe being reluctant to sell

[@damienreilly4347]

@@andrewcharlton6080 He wanted to leave last season and another club offered to take him on loan with an option to buy so that's bollocks. Would you rather we had no strikers at all than have the club spend £40 million on a new striker? fool

[@andrewcharlton6080]

@@damienreilly4347 You do realise he got injured half way through the transfer window. Do you think clubs are lining up for an injured striker. I want an upgrade to Wilson, I expect us to buy one before I realised how bad the finances were, then I realised we couldn’t afford it

[@audreyhall8644]

Its the international breaks which handicap all clubs. Pointless games in pointless competitions,and half of the squad never get gametime.

[@peterward8574]

I think looking at the transfer window. They wanted to spend big on a centre back and hence no big money for a striker as to replace wilson would have needed pretty big money and was hoping that isak and wilson would stay fit enough between them and osula would come in now and again and that is a fairly good strategy. However there is enough evidence now that Wilson just isnt fit. I think this must be his last season. Lets see how osula progresses this year to whether we need a new striker or not. But most of our rivals always have a fit striker to call upon

[@bensouthwell1339]

One fit centre forward forth choice. Five very fit goal keepers tells you all you need to know about the Toon, can Eddie explain that with a straight face !

[@michaelmcdougall943]

For me the manager is going to have to utilise the forward that was brought in if he likes it or not as Gordon is needed out wide

[@Nebuchadnezzar-Wildebeest]

More troublemaking? Well, *that's* a surprise.

[@tugwilson786]

Thanks Craig 👍

[@LolsFishingAdventures]

Can you learn how to switch your microphone on in the presser please Craig?

[@jonny5alive7]

I'd put Almiron ahead of Murphy in the pecking order. The reason they've looked to sell him is because although he's not one of the "crown jewels", he is better than the average squad player so has a bit of value.

[@silvafox7719]

Two very different players. Both good off the ball, and defensive duties, Miggy offers relentless running. Murphy can cross with his right foot, and puts good balls into the box, wheras Miggy cuts in with shots. We need a RW that can do both.

[@jonny5alive7]

@@silvafox7719 totally agree, absolutely needed to strengthen there.

[@gruffy4967]

The reason they are looking at selling him is that he is clearly not good enough. It’s strange how no one in world football thinks he has a bit of value. Maybe that’s because they have watched him play and looked at his stats, xG and xA.

[@grahamritchie7755]

Completely agree Craig big mistake

[@PaulFranks-cx3yd]

playing against Fulham has aggravated Isak’s injury because he couldn’t play against City!

[@Mr.OakMountain]

A new striker would be 2nd next to Isak and Wilson be the 3rd. Wilson used to be good until the went over to become a glasshammer..

[@senshibat8920]

Thought Hall would develop into a Michael Carrick an Owen Hargreaves type Lad or play for another nation to get caps. Nice to have the passing balance on the Left. The overlap demands have taken time from ASM and jetro willims.. to get two way players with the futre he and gordon have there

[@Adamm357]

It seemed like they wanted to sell Wilson, but he got injured (again). Wilson will not want to be 3rd choice so I can see why it's a difficult situation. If there's a right-winger that can also do a job up front, then I think that's the priority.

[@BigDom61]

Why is Osula not playing we bought him for this exact instance to be the 3rd back up striker if he doesn’t play it’s a complete waste of money what’s the point of signing him

[@DavidSmith-gr9gd]

In short term would joelinton be a better option as a 9 than Gordon and put Gordon back on the wing

[@damienreilly4347]

Don't be silly 😂. Joelington is awful as a striker, Steve Bruce proved that for around 2 years.

[@johnenglish929]

@@DavidSmith-gr9gd Surely Gordon won’t play tomorrow after that shift he put in against City. I can see the logic in playing Joe there as a one off tomorrow but surely we should give Osula a game.

[@DavidSmith-gr9gd]

@@johnenglish929 I agree , I was merely speculating that playing joelinton as a 9 is IMO better than playing Gordon out of position , the best solution would have been to have as Craig says bought a striker in the summer !

[@johnenglish929]

@@DavidSmith-gr9gd I agree, but buying a striker good enough to alternate with Isak isn’t easy ! It’s just a shame the gamble with Wilson’s fitness didn’t come off. He’s top class when he’s fit but effectively unsaleable.now.

[@MarkSlavin]

Craig, weren't we looking at the greek goalie when he played for Benfica?

[@Soloiceman]

Why the need to stir something again Craig and be negative when everything is starting to look more positive? Even Eddie's tone towards you has changed. Again harping back to the transfer policy. Just leave it alone now until January. Nothing can be done now anyway. How about spinning it positively, both our strikers should be fit after the int. break. Great!! Osula and Gordon should be able to handle Wimbledon and Everton. Positive! Or does the mail require you to stir things...?

[@Soloiceman]

And for a journalist, it seems unfathomable that you don't understand why we haven't spent £40-80 million on a striker. And the number of goalkeepers we have is not in the slightest related to that...

[@petertaylor3446]

Joke questions from the press tbh, it's making people not want to follow press conferences because of the crap journalists asking pointless questions then posting this sort of stuff ,they know why we haven't brought this that and the other to the club,these people should be questioning the premier League hierarchy why the feel the need to weaken clubs unnecessarily

[@NUFC2412]

​@Soloiceman does the truth hurt about what should be happening?. So just better to call out Journalists instead of questioning what the club did in the summer

[@Soloiceman]

@@NUFC2412 Should be happening?!! According to Craig, we were meant to buy a striker, a right winger, a centre back AND a 'ready-to-go' left back instead of Lewis Hall, all while trying somehow miraculously to find £70+ million from our squad, forcing us to sell two young stars and make a dodgy signing of a keeper we don't need to return the favour to Forest. You don't have to be a rocket scientist to understand what's going on....

[@Soloiceman]

@@petertaylor3446 Good point, where are the hard questions to the premier league? Where's the pressure from the North East journalists?

[@andrewharrison7767]

West ham signed Fullkrug for £25-30 million, largely to be a back up - he would've been a decent option, a better version of Chris Wood

[@kyletomey43]

And he's already injured

[@andyh8095]

Fullkrug is 32 in February and has a 4 year deal. He's not what we need.

[@ste1887]

Man City only have one out and out striker Craig.

[@terrybarton4407]

It is about time that Wilson is given his marching orders. We are desperate for a fit striker, without him we are going nowhere.

[@andrewcharlton6080]

That’s also the reason that nobody wanted him. We couldn’t replace him without selling him first. Then he got injured which completely ruined that. The best option given the money situation is exactly what we did. We need to get through this season and replace Wilson in the summer after his contract expires

[@SKINDEREE]

If you put all the FFP/PSR stuff aside then Howe is at fault because he has failed to make the tough decisions regarding the striker situation at Newcastle. He has basically buried his head in the sand and gambled on two injury prone strikers staying fit over the last couple of seasons! This is unacceptable at an ambitious Premier League club being an act of pure folly and neglect on Howe's part due to his loyalty to sicknote Wilson! Wilson should have left the club at least two years ago but Howe opts to get rid of Chris Wood and did not replace him, madness! People have give Wood stick who now looks back to his old self at Forest after Eddie didn't have a clue how to use him deploying a target man as a lone striker! We have only just now brought in someone to help who has done zero in his career so far scoring two goals on loan for Derby County in the third tier! It is all good though because Howe gets a pass as per usual because he does no wrong!

[@broonybroony9564]

Osula hat trick!!

[@JakeD98]

Pope Livramento Krafth Kelly Hall Bruno Willock Longstaff Almiron Barnes Osula

[@christopherkirk7381]

So predictable Craig. Can’t you drag up something else to stir the proverbial? I remember you saying Isak wasn’t a £60m striker and we’d massively overpaid for Gordon. Not to mention you saying Bruno as t world class. And Tonali was a waste of a transfer. Your record shows you are hugely misguided and an antagonist. Bore off

[@geordie_mech]

Straight back to negative journalism on your own team again, Craig. We have what we have. Deal with it. Stop bringing it up. Nothing we can do about it

[@parallaxview6770]

Grow up

[@geordie_mech]

@@parallaxview6770 great conversation. Well done for getting your point across 🙄

[@Kidshadystayedtoonarmy]

Striker, Right winger have been a problem forever. Same as CB although not as bad

[@JayShibel]

France won the World Cup without No9

[@vivovivere9858]

as long as Eddie our manager, this situation are normal. we register 5 golkepper than forward player????? Eddie still keep his golden goose like Longstaf, Almiron, Tripier, Burn, Kraf, Wilson. for him, they all still can. do their job🤭 average mentality.

[@senshibat8920]

You can take a shot to a injury but toes in football take your pivot power quick darting skill down. you can get a protheses to sleeve the toe but its not the same touch feel. its much better then Seans knee recovery if you have a nerve trouble. Isaks never going to be a Duncan Ferguson Chris wood Rondon striker

[@IanPaterson-b4l]

Who is Man City’s 3rd number 9

[@davestainsby9964]

No hope at it again. 😕

[@jamespalmer3716]

i always feel after youve been in the press conferencess you put 2 and 2 together and come up with anything but 4. you always seem to twist things and talk about things that havnt been said. im trying to figure out if your just trying to stir things or you just dont grasp what gets said at the time 🤔 and by the looks of things im not the only 1 who thinks this.

[@HappyGeordieAngler]

Mr Neggy 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@jimmyeatsmovies893]

7:45 Oh, what would #MINTAH been able to do at this point in time, if the money had been organised a lot better, or these dumb rules that hurt and not help clubs! #openmarket??? Isn't that how the world runs! Is in every other business in the world. Lawsuits eventually? I believe it is ilegal. If clubs can garenttee their funds, why can't it be organised that way!!? That would stop another #LeedsUtd happen again!

[@nickswargaminghistory4637]

You're an awful journalist. Not reporting news, but trying to create it. Your opinion is worthless. You seem content to try and unsettle the team and encourage defeat in an effort to sell your columns. You're desperate to see the team fail. You should not be welcome at SJP.

[@parallaxview6770]

Grow up

[@corintaylor-salter2059]

Alex Fergusson won leagues with a squad of FOUR quality strikers - not FIVE mediocre goalkeepers . . . . . . . . . When did we last have three? How much was Dan Ashworth paid?

[@LolsFishingAdventures]

This is the ideal opportunity to start Osula in my opinion. Let him prove what he can do with decent service, he had almost no service with his last club which is why he didn’t score. Swap it round at half time if it doesn’t work.

[@johnenglish929]

@@LolsFishingAdventures If we don’t play him tomorrow you really have to ask why we bought him. It’s not as if he hasn’t played in the League and you would think that against a lower league defence where he will probably get a bit more room his speed and strength would come into play. Who else have we got ?

[@gruffy4967]

@@johnenglish929Maybe Eddie doesn’t fancy him and is making a point with Mitchell?

[@johnenglish929]

@@gruffy4967 Possibly but I don’t think so. Eddie nurses players until he thinks they are ready and it seems to me he sees Osula as work in progress and not yet ready for the PL, but I can see him giving him some game time tomorrow. I hope so.

[@LolsFishingAdventures]

Can you learn how to switch your microphone on in the presser please Craig?

[@BrunoG39x]

😂