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Isakly what we need

Yep. He was a dick. We tapped him up and caused that situation.
And then he reintegrated and played until the January transfer window when he moved on.
And Saints fans still don't hate him like they hate Lovren.
I hope it's a sign of how Isak will behave if and when we sign him, because the way he's acting right now doesn't encourage me.
 
Yep. He was a dick. We tapped him up and caused that situation.
And then he reintegrated and played until the January transfer window when he moved on.
And Saints fans still don't hate him like they hate Lovren.
I hope it's a sign of how Isak will behave if and when we sign him, because the way he's acting right now doesn't encourage me.

Does it really make any difference? Does it really say anything meaningful about how they'll perform?

This is what players do when they feel like they have to force a move. I've just seen it way too often to care now. Even Wissa is doing it to Brentford!
 
The big difference is that Guehi can negotiate with teams regarding a free transfer in 4 months time.

Isak has 3 years left on his deal but informed the club about wanting to move on 2 weeks before the season ended.
No doubt that he hasnt handled this well either but I can see why he has grown frustrated now.
He told Newcastle in March he wanted out and reiterated it in the summer, this fallout has been brewing for a while. All the Geordie insiders have known for months that this has been rumbling
 
If a player wants to leave a club, it’s fair that the club would try and persuade him otherwise - new contract, more money etc, or try and stall with a “give us another year” and if you still want a move, we’ll accept that and smooth the transfer over as long as it’s reasonable.

That might mean giving up some transfer fee income, but it keeps everyone happy.

However, if the player rejects all that and says, nope, want to go now, don’t want to wait… etc, there really isn’t a point in keeping them and the best course of action is a quick and painless exit.

Looking at it dispassionately - you’d just want to get a decent deal done and move on - the opposite of what Newcastle have done.

It’s shit for their fans - maybe this is their Torres moment, I dunno, but it’s happened to every club (maybe not City) - they’ve just dealt with it so badly, that they’re fucking themselves over it.
 
Antonio had the most honest opinion on it all




MORE STORIES
Michail Antonio aims dig at West Ham in defence of wantaway Newcastle star Alexander Isak and claims players are 'MEAT' to clubs
By TUM BALOGUN, SPORTS REPORTER
18:20 11 Aug 2025, updated 08:29 12 Aug 2025


Football players are 'meat' to clubs, former West Ham striker Michail Antonio has declared in a fierce defence of Alexander Isak's actions in pushing for a move to Liverpool.

Antonio, who left the Hammers as a free agent this summer - eight months after he was involved in a potentially life-altering car accident - has claimed that 'loyalty in the game has really gone' and queried why players should remain devoted to their employers when it is no longer reciprocated.

His strong statements come amid the reported deterioration of relations between Isak and his current club Newcastle, who have been steadfast in their determination to keep the Swedish striker despite his desire to join the Premier League champions this summer.



The Swede is not training with his team-mates and will not play in the Premier League opener at Aston Villa this weekend after letting it be known to boss Eddie Howe and the club he wants to move to Anfield.

The manner in which Isak has agitated for what would be a British record transfer has been criticised in some quarters, but Antonio has defended his fellow professional and provided an insight into the psyche of today's stars.

'As a player, loyalty in the game has really gone,' he told FourFourTwo. 'Obviously I was at West Ham for 10 years, like all these players, that [loyalty] doesn't really last anymore, and I feel rightly so, because end of the day, clubs no longer treat players like they used to either.



Former West Ham striker MIchail Antonio has claimed that players are treated like 'meat' by clubs

The 35-year-old Jamaica international was involving in a potentially life-altering car accident last year

'So, because of that reason, why should the player be loyal to a club? I understand being loyal to fans, but being loyal to a club when he's going to try and better himself and better his life and try and achieve things that he's not going to achieve at another club.

'So, it is what it is. For me, I feel like what he's done is trying to better himself and do what he can to better himself.'


Following his remarkable recovery from an accident that required him to be cut loose by emergency services after being trapped in the wreckage for more than 45 minutes, Antonio was unable to agree terms on a new deal with the Hammers.

After being taken hospital, thew Jamaica international learned that his leg was badly broken, with his femur shattering in four places. His impressive recovery saw him training just four months after the collision.


The 35-year-old has been adamant that he wants to return to competitive top-flight action and continue his career, but remains without a club during this transfer window.

His perspective is particularly important given his recent ordeal and claims that players are treated are dehumanised carry serious weight.

'We are meat to them,' added Antonio. 'As soon as we start going stale, it's time to sell or throw away. Before, if a player was at a club for a few years, you see the human side of that player - now it's all about money, and how much money can they make [for] the club?

'And that's where it's got to, so if a club is going to think about the money side of things, why shouldn't a player?'



Antonio has defended the actions of Newcastle striker Alexander Isak who is agitating for a move to Liverpool
The decision on whether to sell Isak rests with the club’s Saudi owners. The message from the top remains that he is not for sale, but there is also an acceptance among some that an exit, on Newcastle’s terms, could be best for the club going forward, which is why they pursued the likes of Joao Pedro, Hugo Ekitike and Benjamin Sesko as replacements for the 25-year-old.

Liverpool are waiting for Newcastle to sign a striker before returning with an improved offer, after their opening £110m bid was rejected last week.
 
Does it really make any difference? Does it really say anything meaningful about how they'll perform?

This is what players do when they feel like they have to force a move. I've just seen it way too often to care now. Even Wissa is doing it to Brentford!
It's not his performance that bothers me, more that he'll throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn't always get his way with us over something or other.
Obviously Virgil hasn't done that and hopefully Isak follows his example.
 
The Geordies are having no luck getting a striker. Samu has been priced out with his current club asking for £80m. The kid is worth £60m at most. They need a sporting director asap, thats their major issue. Had they had one, the striker situation would have been resolved.
Mika Biereth and Karim Adeyami would fix their striker issue


Eddie Howe warred with Paul Mitchell from the day he stepped in last summer. Finally pushed him out after winning the Carabao and qualifying for the CL. Mitchell left in June 2025 and since then Eddie's nephew has been leading the first team recruitment on an interim basis.

Quite apart from the removal of anyone competent from the hot seat, who knows who made what promises to Isak, and when ( or maybe Isak just blagged it)?? Probably left the entire situation on KIV status while they tried to sort out the mess. I can see why he is taking the chance to kick off.
 
If a player wants to leave a club, it’s fair that the club would try and persuade him otherwise - new contract, more money etc, or try and stall with a “give us another year” and if you still want a move, we’ll accept that and smooth the transfer over as long as it’s reasonable.

That might mean giving up some transfer fee income, but it keeps everyone happy.

However, if the player rejects all that and says, nope, want to go now, don’t want to wait… etc, there really isn’t a point in keeping them and the best course of action is a quick and painless exit.

Looking at it dispassionately - you’d just want to get a decent deal done and move on - the opposite of what Newcastle have done.

It’s shit for their fans - maybe this is their Torres moment, I dunno, but it’s happened to every club (maybe not City) - they’ve just dealt with it so badly, that they’re fucking themselves over it.

Tbf it sounds like the bolded bit happened, and Newcastle changed their mind
 
Yeah, I think the reason that Isaks camp is pushing this narrative is surely that Newcastle have either gone back on their word from earlier this summer or that the Newcastle media narrative is blaming him for everything.

Newcastle are badly run at the moment, and have been a shambles in the transfer market.
 
It's not his performance that bothers me, more that he'll throw his toys out of the pram if he doesn't always get his way with us over something or other.
Obviously Virgil hasn't done that and hopefully Isak follows his example.

It can, has, and will happen. See: Suarez, Coutinho, Torres, etc. the Club has to ride the waves and negotiate an exit that benefits them.
 
I think what Newcastle needs to accept the £120 mill bid going in is exactly for Isak to be such a cunt the fanbase "just wants the rat gone". Then Eddie Howe can legitimately say that we tried our best but it was best to let him go before he stank up the dressing room. *Ahem.*
 
Our favourite Fried Chicken Seller (aka David Ornstein's burner account) has just tweeted that Liverpool has made a bid of £120m with £5m add ons.
 
What goes around comes around.
Players like Torres, Coutinho, Suarez and Mascherano caused a ruckus before they left us to win shit, it's just part of the game unfortunately.
Can Newcastle honestly say that they've never caused the same problem for a smaller club?

I honestly don't care if Isak is acting like a cunt. I actually believe that he told them that he wanted to leave and they didn't bother because they thought CL football and a league cup would convince him to stay.
 
What goes around comes around.
Players like Torres, Coutinho, Suarez and Mascherano caused a ruckus before they left us to win shit, it's just part of the game unfortunately.
Can Newcastle honestly say that they've never caused the same problem for a smaller club?

I honestly don't care if Isak is acting like a cunt. I actually believe that he told them that he wanted to leave and they didn't bother because they thought CL football and a league cup would convince him to stay.
Newcastle got Gordon through similar circumstances.
 
I keep seeing this.. what exactly does a transfer request do? Do you have to give some $ up when you make one? Otherwise, what's holding players back - and why would clubs care about your request?

Fuck all really - I'd imagine it's just a respectable formal way (in writing) of saying you want to leave, but it'd be pretty pointless Isak handing 1 in now when he's already gone above and beyond to the extreme.
 
Doesn't it means that you forfeit what is remaining on your contract, thus making it more appealing for the selling club. Newcastle would make an extra 6m per year left on his contract. Or maybe I just made that up....

At least it should mean that if they don't agree, they officially have someone that doesn't want to play, which is a pretty good reason to sell.
 
What goes around comes around.
Players like Torres, Coutinho, Suarez and Mascherano caused a ruckus before they left us to win shit, it's just part of the game unfortunately.
Can Newcastle honestly say that they've never caused the same problem for a smaller club?

I honestly don't care if Isak is acting like a cunt. I actually believe that he told them that he wanted to leave and they didn't bother because they thought CL football and a league cup would convince him to stay.

Completely understand fans throwing toys out of the pram. We did it when it happened with Torres, Suarez etc. Now we are conditioned to it. For Newcastle fans this is a reality check after being in the clouds for months. And I get that.

What I am surprised by is the action of Howe and Newcastle football administrators. Whatever happens, you never ever ostracize a player from your end. Always keep the doors open. Always praise the player. If your ego takes over you weaken your negotiating stance also. Klopp was always in support of Coutinho. Don’t behave like a fan. We have the luxury of being petty.
 
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