Tisd09

I find it hard to believe that nobody has actually convinced MA until now that a thriving, successful Newcastle United can earn him far more than the current state. Hopefully if Rafa is finally confirmed it does signal a new ethos at the club. None of us want to see millions spunked we just want some ambition which has been severely lacking during MA era. I just hope this isn't a false dawn. Rafa seems a stand up guy with a strong mind. I am convinced if he stays that he has been assured things and he will make things iron tight in his contract. Give him control and let him steer us. Come next week I'm going to be a quivering wreck and rocking myself to sleep chant "why Mike why!"

Carrick has never relied on pace so wouldn't be adverse to seeing him here. We do need young hungry players but supposedly we had a lot of those this season. Carrick would be an upgrade on our cms so for me I would be happy enough with that. However, I could see him with a lower end PL club. I assume Chelsea may have a few decent youngsters available for loan next season, a few have played this season getting a taste for it and I would imagine Conte wanting his own 'superstars'

Matiiiiiiiiiiic

Happy with how it's gone so far. Very encouraging. Very frustrating when he loses it cutting on the inside but like someone said above its likely now and again reap dividends. Hopefully rafa will get to work on him and get him to use it as a feint so he can turn and run into the box on his right

The last two performances just make you think what if. What if we just hung on for a point at Norwich, what if Rafa was brought in earlier and we would have seen the team improve earlier which could have seen us beat Norwich and Sunderland. What ifs I know It's actually good to think we can get points from games these days. We are slightly disappointed with a point against Man City that in itself shows how far we have come in a few weeks. If my predictions go the way I have predicted after the point last night we stay up by a point its a point gained according to my predictions. #deludedmag

Using my shit predictions if they somehow all did come in all three teams would end up with 35 points so Sunderland's superior goal difference will give them an edge. I only have us picking up 7 points (beat Villa and Palace a point v Spurs) looks a bit grim but we all knew that anyway. Who knows what Saturday's win has done for the players. Massive if we do pick up some points tonight obviously.

The way I see it we need at minimal to beat Villa and Palace and then pick up 4 points from Man City, Liverpool and Spurs, it is a tall ask and can't see us the points we need but I just want to fight, not go into the Man City game tonight like we are already down 2-0. Hopefully the win on Saturday will boost the confidence of the team.

Excecuted himself in the centre of the pitch? This has been the most entertaining bit of my football day.

you know you are really clutching at straws when you are not disgusted at a Crystal Palace goal

Not at Ashley's prices anyway, then again they may go cheaper due to the wages..

oh wow we scored. Can't contain my excitement

Whilst I done a list of ones I wouldn't mind keeping, I wouldn't be that bothered by having a complete new squad.

I'm struggling to think who i would want to keep. Krul - Hasn't played this season regressed but is more than good enough for the Championship Elliott - Can't believe I am saying this but probably player of the season. Dummett - Could be useful in the Championship and I am sure he wouldn't be as gutless as some of this lot. De Jong - Hasn't had a chance but is made of glass Perez - a good player in the making, could we keep hold of him in the Championship?? Mitro - Hasn't been good enough this season but at least you feel he cares, not sure there will be too many takers??? Aarons - Maybe will play every week in the Championship, but isn't he out of contract? Mbemba - Not the best first season, maybe a season in the Championship will do him some good? A sad sad state of affairs Edit - Forgot about Lascelles, nowhere near as bad as some of these lot and as the last poster mentioned Armstrong to come back.

It is a horrible thought, the only silver lining could be a hammering at Wembley in the semi's . However, he's a lucky bastard at times and may squirm his way through. What I will hate is that if they do go through tonight the media will hearld him as some kind of second coming again and forget the no wins in 12 thing

Hopefully this is the start of a change in tact. Hopefully we will bin the Thumb, Carr and Moncur, give Benitez the full reign and employ a proper Director of Football a David Dein type.

If this does come off, I think it's the biggest and best manager we could get given our situation so like you I tend to agree we are fucked if he can't sort us out. Keeping in mind hope he hasn't been duped like KK was. He has point to prove recently as well!

Current NU regime is so unprofessional gong show that new manager must advice them how to proceed If that is true that is true "dignity and integrity" you can't blame Rafa for wanting this done first Get in..

Booooooooooom!!! Part one of today done... Now for the best part pull your thumbs out Lee!

Based on what Guillem? He's failed at his "top jobs" and most of his others. His major success was at FC Twente which nobody can take away from him to be fair and getting Boro to a European final is an achievement but other than that I can't think of much success. Time and time again he has been found out. When he was appointed my black and white tinted glasses where well and truly in effect, I actually thought he could do a decent job, maybe that was based that he couldn't be as incompetent as Pardew and Carver

Stupid Thumb probably can't get Mike on the phone or something so is just sitting in a locked room under his desk rocking back and forth hitting redial over and over.....

I'm sitting in work clicking between the two threads. My productivity levels have been awful today

Can I start believing now or do I need to smack myself over the head?

Hopefully the players say this when he walks in day 1 and raise their game 10 levels You can just imagine Colback sitting in the corner arms around his legs rocking back and forth thinking to himself "what is tactics"

We're doing a Sunderland, hiring a new manager a game before the derby As long as it doesn't turn into the cycle thing they seem to go for. We are long long long overdue smashing these lot. I hope my optimism is not dashed now. Come on Rafa man

Could you imagine it us actually having the new manager bounce for the derby and smashing them. Fat Sam over Benitez :) They do have a sense of humour at least