Hmm, that's a bit misleading, they asked him who is favourite German player is not who the best is?
What are the chances, posted this last night and just today CEO has been announcedView attachment 157484
@Markhor
I'll discuss further here as it's more relevant in this thread, grab a cuppa as I feel it could be a lengthy one
Equally culpable as Isak, or at least partially culpable? I'll discuss the issues a bit more next but Isak refusing to train/play is fully on him, I'll discuss our faults but I lay 100% blame on him not honouring the contract he happily signed 3 years ago
When it comes to the contract if Isak and his agent had half as much faith in his ability as Howe/The club had in him then they should have inserted a release clause, Demba Ba did that when we signed him on a free, Bruno Guimaraes did that when he signed his extension and no doubt there are many other examples. If a £110m was inserted at that time I think it would have been accepted if it was to kick in at a certain time
Where some blame lies on the club or more specifically Paul Mitchell is last summer, about March 2024 Staveley/Ghodoussi they said to Isak a contract would be discussed in the summer but they ended up leaving (they say the exit was always planned, which it was due to their share being diluted but it was quite sudden so not sure of the exact reason, some reports suggest it was due to the PSR scramble where we ended up selling Anderson and Minteh). Mitchell then said to Isak he has 4 years remaining and a contract extension due to PSR does not make sense at this stage.
So that is likely the trigger point that gets us to here, and the majority of Newcastle fans are not happy with Mitchell overall and that moment specifically. This is where I did have some sympathy with Isak, nowt worse than someone breaking their word, though the people that gave their word were no longer at the club but it still had a club impact so Mitchell should have honoured that.
However that sympathy evaporates because for me his contract still stands, that's the main thing and part of that is a requirement to train and plan, beyond the contract there is a social contract if you like with the fans and players, which is for being paid handsomely you will always step on that pitch and give 100%. I can begrudgingly accept someone refusing to train for a bit, here and there but refusing to play is indefensible, it has arguably ended up costing the team points and that isn't fair on his team mates, the manager that helped develop his game and the fans that gave him unwavering support.
Not necessarily yourself but I find it strange how so many Liverpool fans are trying their best to change his image and want us to soften our stance towards him, it is patronising and ultimately is not going to work. I don't expect Liverpool fans to dislike him or have ill feelings towards him, that's our issue with him, Liverpool fans should rightly support him and in return expect him to give his all. I apply the same towards Wissa, he has our full support as long as he gives 100% but I'm not oblivious to what he did from his side and that's why if a Brentford fan has ill feeling towards him I'm not going to challenge it, though they got a really hefty fee for him I'd be surprised they feel short changed but the behaviour part I can understand if that upsets them. @ssuhaide @Technics 1210 As our resident Brentford fans I'd be interested in your thoughts feelings towards Wissa
As for Mitchell, his appointment was a bit of a disaster really, he was appointed last summer by Darren Eales (I believe they are friends and have some working history) with no input from Eddie Howe, whilst I don't think the manager needs to appoint the DOF/SD I think giving him a heads up is sensible. That didn't happen and Mitchell came in like a bull in a china shop, talking himself up and having a dig at the previous set up (which was an absurd move considering how well that set up served us). Mitchell/Howe seemingly started working together but think it was always an eggshell relationship and with Eales about to step down (due to health reasons) he took the opportunity to leave.
We've known about Eales leaving for a year so I absolutely agree it's a bit farcical a CEO has not been appointed, the DOF/SD I can somewhat understand as he left suddenly. There's reports a CEO should be announced very soon.
In terms of this summer, even if we had a CEO and a DOF/SD staying I don't think it would have made a difference, it's quite clear Isak via his agent was tapped up a while ago and made it clear he was going to go and his behaviour was towards that and he ultimately got what he wanted.
I do agree if Mitchell gave him the improved contract last summer with maybe a hefty release clause then this summer would have been avoided.
On the last part I couldn't agree more about Eddie Howe, he's brilliant, conducts himself with absolute class. Never see him having sly digs at other teams and despite the relentless questions about Isak he remained dignified and calm throughout. Overall the window I think has been good, there's a valid argument that our squad is stronger than last season, it's just the Isak situation which was a massive cloud over the entire window but that's been sorted now.
Very interesting read, thanks for that.View attachment 157484
@Markhor
I'll discuss further here as it's more relevant in this thread, grab a cuppa as I feel it could be a lengthy one
Equally culpable as Isak, or at least partially culpable? I'll discuss the issues a bit more next but Isak refusing to train/play is fully on him, I'll discuss our faults but I lay 100% blame on him not honouring the contract he happily signed 3 years ago
When it comes to the contract if Isak and his agent had half as much faith in his ability as Howe/The club had in him then they should have inserted a release clause, Demba Ba did that when we signed him on a free, Bruno Guimaraes did that when he signed his extension and no doubt there are many other examples. If a £110m was inserted at that time I think it would have been accepted if it was to kick in at a certain time
Where some blame lies on the club or more specifically Paul Mitchell is last summer, about March 2024 Staveley/Ghodoussi they said to Isak a contract would be discussed in the summer but they ended up leaving (they say the exit was always planned, which it was due to their share being diluted but it was quite sudden so not sure of the exact reason, some reports suggest it was due to the PSR scramble where we ended up selling Anderson and Minteh). Mitchell then said to Isak he has 4 years remaining and a contract extension due to PSR does not make sense at this stage.
So that is likely the trigger point that gets us to here, and the majority of Newcastle fans are not happy with Mitchell overall and that moment specifically. This is where I did have some sympathy with Isak, nowt worse than someone breaking their word, though the people that gave their word were no longer at the club but it still had a club impact so Mitchell should have honoured that.
However that sympathy evaporates because for me his contract still stands, that's the main thing and part of that is a requirement to train and plan, beyond the contract there is a social contract if you like with the fans and players, which is for being paid handsomely you will always step on that pitch and give 100%. I can begrudgingly accept someone refusing to train for a bit, here and there but refusing to play is indefensible, it has arguably ended up costing the team points and that isn't fair on his team mates, the manager that helped develop his game and the fans that gave him unwavering support.
Not necessarily yourself but I find it strange how so many Liverpool fans are trying their best to change his image and want us to soften our stance towards him, it is patronising and ultimately is not going to work. I don't expect Liverpool fans to dislike him or have ill feelings towards him, that's our issue with him, Liverpool fans should rightly support him and in return expect him to give his all. I apply the same towards Wissa, he has our full support as long as he gives 100% but I'm not oblivious to what he did from his side and that's why if a Brentford fan has ill feeling towards him I'm not going to challenge it, though they got a really hefty fee for him I'd be surprised they feel short changed but the behaviour part I can understand if that upsets them. @ssuhaide @Technics 1210 As our resident Brentford fans I'd be interested in your thoughts feelings towards Wissa
As for Mitchell, his appointment was a bit of a disaster really, he was appointed last summer by Darren Eales (I believe they are friends and have some working history) with no input from Eddie Howe, whilst I don't think the manager needs to appoint the DOF/SD I think giving him a heads up is sensible. That didn't happen and Mitchell came in like a bull in a china shop, talking himself up and having a dig at the previous set up (which was an absurd move considering how well that set up served us). Mitchell/Howe seemingly started working together but think it was always an eggshell relationship and with Eales about to step down (due to health reasons) he took the opportunity to leave.
We've known about Eales leaving for a year so I absolutely agree it's a bit farcical a CEO has not been appointed, the DOF/SD I can somewhat understand as he left suddenly. There's reports a CEO should be announced very soon.
In terms of this summer, even if we had a CEO and a DOF/SD staying I don't think it would have made a difference, it's quite clear Isak via his agent was tapped up a while ago and made it clear he was going to go and his behaviour was towards that and he ultimately got what he wanted.
I do agree if Mitchell gave him the improved contract last summer with maybe a hefty release clause then this summer would have been avoided.
On the last part I couldn't agree more about Eddie Howe, he's brilliant, conducts himself with absolute class. Never see him having sly digs at other teams and despite the relentless questions about Isak he remained dignified and calm throughout. Overall the window I think has been good, there's a valid argument that our squad is stronger than last season, it's just the Isak situation which was a massive cloud over the entire window but that's been sorted now.
