Mikel and crew are the Coldplay of doing just that. He's certainly better than Kepa has been. We'll be fine.
Hmm… but tell us how you really feel? And is there any chance he’s improved since you wrote those glowing reviews? (I haven’t seen him in a few years) Lastly do others agree? Is there consensus about his shitness? I sincerely hope not.
He might turn out to be decent. I recall people moaning about buying Jens Lehmann way back in the day.
Some of those were recent - he lost the Leeds starting job to Darlow, who also sucks and was allowed to leave on a free, in April 2025, and has not seen a single minute of first-team football since. His only gametime last season was 2 starts with the U21s in February. He only made the first-team bench 5 times all season. One comment from a Leeds fan on Reddit: "He genuinely looked out of place in our U23’s (in a bad way). Perplexed by this. Does he qualify for homegrown status?" (answer to that is no) Another: "was good for his age when he was 20 but he never improved and then actively regressed in the championship - seemed to have a crisis of confidence and got the yips which led to a series of increasingly shocking mistakes doing the basics." The only hope I have is that we're signing him to be the #3 and we bring in an actual goalkeeper to be the #2.
If he turns out to be a bad signing, it only affects us if Raya gets injured. It may hurt us in the league cup and in FA cup games against lower division opposition. Even so, he will have the best defense in front of him.
The keeper signing is underwhelming at best. No arguments here but... who is a very good keeper, starts for his club and is willing to come and play maybe a handful or half a dozen games a season barring injury? I think you need five appearances for a medal Not 100 percent sure of that but what ever it is, its tough and go for a back up keeper because that's basically the primary reason to come. Who is willing to come if not this keeper?
He's been seen at Colney. So I'm pretty sure it's happening. According to Charles Watts, he's been signed as a hedge. The club is still hoping to keep Kepa as the No. 2 (insert joke here), but if the release clause gets triggered and Kepa wants to leave, we didn't want Setford to be No. 2 because we want to send him out on loan for match time. Thus, Meslier.
No, it's now left up to club to decide who gets a medal. Prem doesn't have minute requirements anymore.
Saying Meslier is #3 behind Kepa until Kepa leaves feels like Meslier hasn't been given any assurances about playing in cups. I'm sure someone like Sommer would have wanted those guarantees. Setford probably goes on loan, but maybe they are leaving the door open to Setford winning the #2 job in camp.
Saw someone on twitter saying backup keeper is like a second refrigerator, i.e., something you don't think about a ton. I agree with that take.
The only thing I would want considered in any back up keeper is that he has the basic needs Arteta is looking for such as good with his feet, etc. Basically the reasons we bought Raya. Kepa did okay as a back up the few times I saw him. Raya and Rice are two people we can't afford to be out for any extended period of time.
🚨 EXCL: Bruno Guimaraes informs Newcastle United of wish to leave & join Arsenal. #AFC stepping up pursuit - ready to offer deal worth up to £60m at present but no club-to-club contact yet + #NUFC stance still not entertaining bids for 28yo @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/6W3cpcqKKh— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 8, 2026
I think the Newcastles, Villas, et all, need to and are trying dump their decent and good players and start a rebuild. They should get dumping while the dumping is good.
🚨 EXCL: Bruno Guimaraes informs Newcastle United of wish to leave & join Arsenal. #AFC stepping up pursuit - ready to offer deal worth up to £60m at present but no club-to-club contact yet + #NUFC stance still not entertaining bids for 28yo @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/6W3cpcqKKh— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 8, 2026 [/QUOTE] They aren't going to sell for 60m BPS. He still has two years on his contract.
For Newcastle that is weakening. But for Villa, I think they will be better off with the Rogers money available should we get him. I'm actually warming up to MR. I thought he isn't an actual LW but it's all about versatility. He is strong, technical and holds up well. Smashed the ball upon sight of goal. Only Leo did that for us.
Was linked to Arsenal a while back. 🚨🔴🔵 EXCLUSIVE: Crystal Palace reach verbal agreement to sign Oscar Mingueza, here we go!Deal agreed for Spanish defender to join as free agent from Celta Vigo; seen as top ‘secret’ target as club sources confirm.#CPFC agreed all terms in last 48h, deal done. 🦅 pic.twitter.com/KzpbyI0Qma— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 8, 2026
Nope. £75-100m 🚨 Bruno Guimaraes tells Newcastle he wants to join Arsenal - but club will only engage if contacted by PL champions🗣️ Sources say 2nd verbal offer has now been discussed but NUFC astonished no call from Arsenal💰 Sources claim £75m could see progresshttps://t.co/kYUvzjhC7V— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) July 8, 2026 I’m told Bruno is extremely emotional following Brazil’s early exit from the World Cup. This is probably his last chance to secure a big money move to a team competing for title and Champions League.But he does not want to tarnish his legacy at Newcastle and will only leave if… https://t.co/UUzWkQwEds— Luke Edwards (@LukeEdwardsTele) July 8, 2026
Romano says Bruno is not forcing his way out like Isak. A suggested £65m bid was rejected. Newcastle might accept something around £90m