Teasy

I've no doubt Marseille won't want him as he hasn't been starting for them recently. But I seriously doubt we'll want him back either so looks like he's gone. Also while Thauvin has been in their side and doing well they can't afford him and he hasn't met any agreed number of games so he'll be coming back.

http://www.themag.co.uk/2016/05/marseille-stuck-remy-cabella-sending-florian-thauvin-back-newcastle-united/ So apparently they haven't bought Cabella yet but are obligated to do so in the near future. Also interesting to read that Thauvin has been the one actually getting in the side and scoring while Cabella has been on the bench lately, but Cabella is the one they'll end up due to the clause.

So did I, just when I was looking around a few places still have him as our player on loan (NUFC.com for instance). Obviously not definitive and maybe just hasn't officially gone through yet, just wondering.

I'm not doubting that another offer could have seen him go elsewhere, its very rarely any other way. I just think that article itself is bollocks in the way it portrays Benitez as waiting for another offer then agreeing to stay here because nobody else wanted him.

Wonder what will happen with Cabella and Thauvin, still just on loan with no sale agreed AFAIK. Also is Coloccini now here till 2018 with his contract extension?, because I'd like to get rid and replace him with a younger player with potential to improve.

He had been open about his intentions apparently but Valencia and Everton "might have been attractive"? Why are they guessing if he was open about his intentions?

The Mackems are clearly rattled, not a big club, Rafa can only run a club that's already had the work done for him, he'll fail in the championship because he's not done it before, he's a failure because he got us relegated, he couldn't do in 10 games what Di Canio did in 7, etc... different circumstances, different levels of incompetence, Rafa will transform this club and it doesn't matter what league we're in, a class manager is a class manager. He's got this and I've never been so excited for a new season, not for neigh on 20 years. They really are thick as mince, Di Canio got less points per game than Rafa, they stayed up because of the incompetence of those around them.

Rafas family was the main reason he came here. Don't kid yourself. The main reason he's here Is that his emotions supported this decision. So while you're right you're sort of discounting him. His Family, our fans, club history, and potential legendary status all factored in. He's not a lap dog to anyone. He'll do what he well pleases for his own ambitions. This is your club too by the way, there's no need to downgrade its capabilities. Don't let 2009+ NUFC cloud what we're truly capable of my man. Aye, as much as wanting to stay in England has had a big impact on his choice their's no chance he'd be managing a club like West Brom or Stoke had they been in need of a manager IMO. The size of this club, its fan base and the huge potential it has would absolutely have had a influence on his decision.

Yeah if that is the case then it would make it worth it.

Agree 100% I actually think in this instance, relegation is probably the best thing we could have hoped for. A year to gain togetherness, focus and get used to Rafa and for him to put his stamp on the team. Enormously excited about the season ahead. I think he had already started to bring in a sense of togetherness in the last half dozen games of last season and that would have continued if we'd stayed up. We'd also have had the funds to completely reshape the squad if we'd stayed up. Our budget now will be very limited and the money we'll lose will unfortunately still be holding us back a bit when we come back up. The only positive in relegation IMO is if its forced Ashley's hand in agreeing to Benitez demands on full control. That could genuinely have made it worth it if he really is getting more power now than he would have had in his initial contract.

Aye, I mean who would want to manage this club?, nobody

It is fitting like, and because he's made such a laughing stock of himself and we're so close to a real top class manager I can look at it without being pissed off, its just funny as fuck

You mean if Benitez doesn't stay right?

Playing much shiter teams every week would do it. Last time out our home and away form were both donkey shit but we quickly turned that around in the Championship. At least this time around our general form has already improved massively, joint second in the form table in the last 6 matches.

Aye, why would Benitez trust their word?, I wouldn't. He'll want it all signed before he commits publicly.

He'll be 30 at the start of the season and has never risen above the Championship. The idea of signing players who are proven at a lower level is similar to bringing in a manager who's proven at a lower level, its a bit short sighted. Surely £10m can get someone better, whether proven at Championship level or not.

Erm no.

Fucking hell

I did want Shearer to stay, but I still knew it was going to be a gamble, he had by no means proven he had any ability as a manager. With Benitez you just know he's top class and will absolutely bring success if given the chance.

apart from the fat c*** releasing a statement saying that asking shearer to be manager was the best move he'd made, despite relegation. Aye, yet he still didn't so much as return Shearers calls let along have a meeting with him AFAIR, just sound bites for the fans. This is far more concrete. If it does go wrong then that's it for me, won't even be following the club anymore, and I hope thousands do the same.

I can't remember their being any real indication that Shearer would stay that summer. No meetings between him and the club and no noises at all from the club suggesting they wanted him. So while I agree they need to get a move on I don't think its anything like that situation.

People said the same about Barton when he got himself sent off at the end of our last relegation. But in the end you don't want just nice lads when you have to scrap your way out of the Championship. Think Mitrovic would be lethal in that division.

We start to get decisions our way once we're already relegated..