Shearergol

Ahh, here it comes.... "Well, the club had up to £80m to spend on players, but because Rafa didn't sign his contract nobody wanted to sign for us. Now Sam is back at the club we can really push forward and spend the money the club has generated. With that said, please welcome Cameron Jerome to the club, the new record signing at £18.2m"

Muto started the last two games tbf. How is Joselu the first choice? Oh, and Rondon is injured. Atsu cost £6.2m. Merino didn't get back in the team following his injury because he lost his form and Diame was playing so well, then he wanted to leave. What could Rafa do about that? Actually, I could easily argue against every point you make there. Rafa bought players for the championship who are still here, because we can't sell them, either because we can't replace them, the wages are too high (nothing to do with Rafa) or nobody else wants them. Muto is not a striker who can play upfront alone. He is simply not that type of player, especially when we play so many long ball. Atsu cost us 10m in total including the loan fees. Merinos problem is about the clause. Basically, he joined us on a condition that he could move on as long as any team would pay the amount we paid to Dortmund. Now tell me what's the point of this deal then? The player plays well - left within a year and we got nothing. The player plays shit - we got a deadwood in our squad. And yea if Merino enjoys life here what should you do? Give him faith and ask him to sign another contract to change the clause. And no, Rafa didn't give him faith after his injury and so that's it. Of course Merino would leave. And of course we would get nothing left behind. Now tell me what's the point of getting him at the first place, and why handle the situation like that given our only way out is to pursuade him to sign another contract? Yea I agree Diame deserves the starting spot but for teams development you should play Merino instead, especially after our safety was guaranteed. For the last point, yea if what we get is that shit and can't move on then what's the point of bringing in other shits that can't replace them and make a change to our team? Yea you got it fucking spot on. The likes of Ki Schar or even Muto do looks like the new deadwoods in the making. Never mind Joselu Ritchie Hayden Manquillo etc. You're changing your arguments. You said Joselu was first choice. He hasn't started the last two games. Whether Muto is suitable for that role just means we didn't sign a striker who would be - the club's fault. Merino's clause - the club's fault Atsu's fee - the club's fault (where does it say we paid £3.8m for a loan btw, or are you including wages?) You ask what the point is of bringing players in? It's been said hundreds of times on here - if you need a squad player and you have £3m to spend, you buy a player worth £3m. Or would you prefer to not buy that player and just have 12 players on the books and and extra £20m in Mike's pocket?

Don't they always beat us? 2-0

Muto started the last two games tbf. How is Joselu the first choice? Oh, and Rondon is injured. Atsu cost £6.2m. Merino didn't get back in the team following his injury because he lost his form and Diame was playing so well, then he wanted to leave. What could Rafa do about that? Actually, I could easily argue against every point you make there. Rafa bought players for the championship who are still here, because we can't sell them, either because we can't replace them, the wages are too high (nothing to do with Rafa) or nobody else wants them.

I mean, ideally, but how small can our squad be allowed to get? Which is exactly the point certain people are missing. If you need 10 players and you have £30m to spend, you don't go and buy 1 player for £29m and then moan that the others are shit.

Aye, fair enough anyone that thinks it's certain like, but just hype in general is getting daft. I've just read that Perez is a league one player, the same one that scored 10 in the Premier League last season. That’s because you read everything too literal. Here you go. Perez’s performance today (and most games recently) was league one standard. Amazingly, players can both improve and get worse. Hope that helps. I didn't think it was serious. That's why I said that the hype is getting daft. It was serious, but worded badly/quickly. His performance against Brighton was akin to a league one player.

Fuck off, man. Decides to just come up for the game to watch this shower of shit? Not having it. Might have been in the area tbf on business. And wanted some time away from his wife.

Nope, what he's actually saying is Rafa should be winning games playing 7 players (all worth £20m each) rather than having a squad full of cheap players. You know, why actually have 20+ players on the books when they're not good enough? In fact, sell them all and just sign Aguero, let him play on his own.

I was more confident until I remembered we wouldn't spend in January either. Bye bye premier league, see you in 9 years.

Pure tosh, you're right. 2 x 30 million players would be better.

Because you can always find someone else. In football it’s NUFC or nobody.

I assume Leazes Mag wrote the article. Or HTL

Aye, fair enough anyone that thinks it's certain like, but just hype in general is getting daft. I've just read that Perez is a league one player, the same one that scored 10 in the Premier League last season. That’s because you read everything too literal. Here you go. Perez’s performance today (and most games recently) was league one standard. Amazingly, players can both improve and get worse. Hope that helps.

So why doesn't he walk? Would that not be what is best for both club and manager? (If as you suggested he's just seeing out his contract) £3m? Who should replace him? Souness? Alladyce? Pardew?

League one standard.

Who's gonna replace him and do better? Better than bottom with 2 points? Is that what you mean? Yep, that’s what he means. So who?

I just assumed it was purely based on us having an absolute Glebe of an owner more than anything. Quite clear tbh

Problem is, everyone knows Rafa is leaving, so the players stop playing for him and the fans at the ground stop supporting him. Mike’s gonna just blame him for the reason he’s not spending and people will lap it up.

Sacked in the morning....

12 years since we won a game at home when behind at half time? That can’t be right?

He’s been invisible this match. Like 99% of his other matches. Get Joselu on for him.

Nah we were shite last season until we got confidence from a decent patch of form. But others have improved and we have zero confidence. Oh, and Diame has gone to shit.

And a lot of the fans will support that.

At least we’re always mega-awesome in the second half.

If we’re gonna keep missing chances we deserve to lose. It’s the same story every game.