Mr Logic

VAR to the rescue.

In what fucking universe does an owner of a football club look at Rafa and think, "Well, I don't want to give him a new deal. No good for the club at all!" Then proceed to select Bruce as the solution to any upheaval the former decision might have caused.

Then went on to be voted 'most insightful poster' 11 years running.

Brewcie Doubtfire set to mix things up against Spurs

Wonder how many times we have to lose before some sections of the press grudgingly concede Rafa maybe knew a bit about tactics.

Looks like it, who is the guy directly next to Charnley?

You want complete contradictins from the past too? Back in 2009 when he was Sunderland boss, Bruce said: "Managing Newcastle has never been my dream. This opportunity at Sunderland has everything I want – the infrastructure, the fanbase, an ambitious chairman and an ambitious new owner. “I don’t need anything else – I have everything here. Everything you look for as a manager is here at Sunderland.”

Its exactly like Brexit, and everything else. I'll hit the horrible figure of 60 next year and up to my 20th I can't say I paid too much attention to debates on any kind of subject. But from 21 yrs on I noticed more and more over the years. The world has never been so divided in my lifetime as it is today, or perhaps it always was. The only difference is the prevelance of social media (all media really) and how easy it is to disseminate points of view. Both accurate and inaccurate. If you don't pay attention it is easy to start believing the inaccurate stuff. Take Bruce's comments on signing for Sunderland and contrast with alleged comments on signing for Newcastle. They are at total odds with each other.

You need to visit a Doctor mate, some tranquilisers could be in order. Ask him if he's got Ketamine.

When I was a kid the phrase 'Get knotted' was a variation on get fucked, get lost etc. Gains a whole new meaning when considering sex with dogs like.

LOL, this just backs up the statement I made in the Ashley thread re the Fifth Estate being dead. This is exactly the sort of thing that should be brought up. Historical reference. But hardly anyone gives a shit. The majority move from soundbyte to soundbyte with next to no memory of what happened before. The Romans had their circuses to keep the population distracted, when the crowds grew restless they would throw them some bread. Nothing has changed, literally nothing, just a different coat of paint.

I just read that Martin Samuel piece interviewing Ashley. The fifth estate is dead. I'm sure Ashleys lies are transparent to 90% on this board but fuck me what a load of unchallenged guff he spouts. Proven liar in a court of law but time to set the record straight. Yeah, ok Mike "I've made mistakes" Ashley. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7290525/MIKE-ASHLEY-EXCLUSIVE-think-club-forever-Martin-Samuel-Newcastle-owner.html Read it if you avoided it before, we need to stoke the anger not let it flicker out like a waning candle.

Took the liberty of removing superfluous words.

Shelvey was injured. Bench selection was shambolic yes. Didn't relaise, still leaves Longstaff coming off as bizzare though after already losing one of only three recognised central mids. Strangely there is an almost perverse anticipation to see what he does fucks up next game, and so on. Could be a new reality TV show. "Brucie Watch"

Never even noticed the subs on Sunday tbh, but good old Steve picks four defenders and no midfielders. Decides to change things second half, looks at the bench he picked, clocks no midfielder. Hooks Shelvey. 10 minutes later, 'Hmm, need to mix it up a bit more', looks at the bench again, yep, still no midfielder. 'Right, hook Longstaff'. So far out of his depth. Think its time for some of us to offer our services, we seriously could do no worse and Ashley will surely go for it when we say we'd do it for a grand a week.

Might just be a case of early days but we really looked dishevelled. What's worse is that it happened before we conceded. I didn't expect us to have lost our sense of organisation quite as dramatically as that so soon. Snap! You could still see Raf's shape, especially at the back in the first half. My midway through the second half that back line was pretty far from a flat 5 all too often and the midfield was all but absent. Pure speculation on my part but Rafe would have won that game.

Fucking moron, destroyed whatever midfield we had with his subs. Completely opened the game up in Arse's favour.

Rafa's training is incredibly intense and to a certain extent repetitive and boring. He will make players repeat drills, positions till they are 100% perfect. It is a lot of information for folks to process. And he is incredibly cold and brutal apparently during training. His attitude was "you train 4 hours per day for 4 days, get paid millions of dollars, why are you complaining, this is nothing compared to what the rest of society do, if you cant take this get out of here". It takes players of a certain mentality to appreciate Rafa - Torres, Reina, Baraja, Mascherano, Garcia. I think there is a big cultural mentality difference in how players from some of these countries approach training - they are ok with it being hard, repetitive, and boring. At LFC too, when Rafa left, there was a lot of statements from players like Gerrard, Carra on how training was "more fun" now. Even Bellamy, who played for LFC under Rafa and King Kenny said how training was more fun under King Kenny. However, at the end of their career, almost all of them acknowledged that Rafa was the best manager they trained under. I think pretty much all of them realized it once we started dropping down the table. So I don't think the NUFC players are being disingenuous or anything. I think they are genuinely enjoying freedom. They don't have a person walking up to them shouting at corners, when the opposition is making 32 degree runs in front of you using zonal marking, you should stand 26 inches from the goal line at 48 degrees. You were at 24 inches and standing at 41 degrees. Let us repeat this 37 more times till you get it right. Well it worked - end of last season our form was excellent. Tactically the players knew what they had to do. Yes, I can imagine many players resent the seemingly endless grind of repitition but they also have to have been aware of how often it paid off in the back end of last season. That said I imagine they could get pretty disillusioned at the beginning of the season. Its only in hindsight they will look back and realise. I still feel that we will see a gradual deterioration this season as defensive duties get neglected in the middle of the pitch, the doubling up, the being in the right place. With Bruce having no answers.

Have an increasing feeling we're going to confound everything and fucking win this.

Just seen this, what a pile of wank. Sweepstakes on how many minutes he'll manage all season. I go for 104 and I fear I'm aiming high there.

Rafa would have binned him last season if he'd been allowed to get a better player. He was well useful in the championship but nowhere near good enough for the PL, only his work rate kept him in the team. Stupid, stupid comments to make, has to have been 'advised' I feel. Same as Lascelles. Shola's just a selfish prick.

Supporter/fan, thats just semantics. If you still go you've got battered wife syndrome and need counciling, or are simply empty headed, superficial. Superficial like girls always posting selfies and counting the likes to measure their self esteem.

I don't go to games, i'm not as enthusiastic as I used to be & I care even less now Rafa has left. I want Bruce out as much as I do Ashley. But as we all do I still retain an interest in & support Newcastle United. Ok, that's different. Welcome to NAA, Newcastle Addicts Anonymous. I'm addicted to Newcastle, currently its an illness but I won't go near St James as long as Ashley is here.

When Ashley has gone, (I know), will it become your club again? Our situation isn't exactly MK Dons level of utter shitness. No that is the big difference, it's not permanent but it might as well be. Tens of thousands of our fans are determined to keep him here by filling his pockets. Yeah, that's the bummer. In a sane world there would be no coming back from replacing Rafa with Bruce.

When Ashley has gone, (I know), will it become your club again? Our situation isn't exactly MK Dons level of utter shitness.