Newcastle

Did you see the team Newcastle had out last night? They literally couldn’t make a sub because it was full of kids, goalkeepers and championship standard left backs.

 

Yeah at least in cricket there’s rarely any player contact decisions to make.

Can you imagine asking for several slo-mo’s to see if Kohli did actually glare at an umpire or mutter swear words under his breath !

 

Aww poor little Newcastle with their injury problems, infinite cash and owners that mince journalists.

 

Was it deliberate, no. Did the arm move towards the ball, no. Could have reasonably stopped the ball from hitting his arm, no.

Never a penalty in a million years.

Regardless of the moral state of the clubs affected by the decision, the handball rule is not fit for purpose, and neither is the offside rule. Until they sort them out there’s eff all point in having VAR.

 

Infinite cash is irrelevant with FFP. They wanted to strengthen the squad further in the summer but weren’t able to.

13 of their first team squad missing last night. Half of the team were bottom of the league under Steve Bruce 2 years ago.

 

It was a good performance, but they aren't David to any of the goliaths.

Didn't they spend around £150m in the summer?

 

Current guidelines state unless it's deliberate or stopping a clear goal, it shouldn't have been handball. As long as it comes off another body part first it shouldn't be

 

They signed Tonali for £60m ish but it looks like Milan have shafted them in regards to the betting ban. He was the big signing.

Barnes for £39m. Livramento for £40m. Substantial fees but nothing out of the ordinary for this day & age. Also signed Lewis Hall on a loan with an option to buy but they couldn’t sign him permanently due to FFP.

Ultimately they have to get recruitment right or they risk going the same way as Everton who wasted £500m.

They’ve got to pretty much get every signing right to establish themselves amongst the big sides & keep getting the TV money & champions league money that allow them to become an elite club without breaking FFP.

Basically they can’t do a Man City & get loads of big signings wrong.

 

I'd say it was definitely out of the ordinary mate. The fees in isolation, fair enough. But brining in as many as they have over the past 18/24 months isn't. They've done incredible with their scouting though - Botman, Bruno G & Isak especially, to get them (obviously $$$) was a real coup, they'd be at other huge clubs already if not soon.

 

Absolutely bang on!