Rich

He was playing on the left when he came on wasn’t he? I’ve got a shite view, so might be wrong.

I was at the match and this is still the worst thing I’ve seen today.

Agreed, have never wavered from this opinion all season. A team is greater than the sum of its parts, but I really feel we need our eleven most talented players on the pitch at once m I’ve always been a Hayden advocate, but he’s treading water at this level.

Moving towards the opinion that Merino/Shelvey is the only real way forward at present.

It feels like we’re in limbo to me, no clear direction at all and it’s reflected in the stands and on the pitch. I think it’s even affecting Benítez himself.

I love Rafa like the chubby Spanish uncle I never had, but he’s got me scratching my head a lot lately. I can’t be the only one who was bang up for this until I saw the team selection. Think he needs to get us back to basics and of course he needs some help from those above, because when you look at the players’ body language and ability and it’s a miracle we started the season so strongly. Give the man something to work with for fuck’s sake.

This lad has me gasping for Paul Dummett’s return. Think about that for a second.

Surprised we were still in it by 86’ and can’t argue with the result. We’re back in zombie club territory until the takeover happens, so much is wrong at the minute in terms of personnel, tactics, substitutes and attitudes. Atmosphere was fucking wank as well, people just happy to sit there and accept defeat for the most part as soon as it went 1-1 (sub-zero temperature probably didn’t help).

Exterminate. At least temporarily.

Oooooh you fkn tease. #skirge

They're usually alright with this stuff to be fair, would hope they'd help the groups with publicity given that it's a very pure cause. Or maybe Biffa just likes to see the teams coming out?

http://o.aolcdn.com/images/dims?thumbnail=1200%2C630&image_uri=http%3A%2F%2Fi.huffpost.com%2Fgen%2F1379948%2Fimages%2Fo-JIMMY-HILL-facebook.jpg&client=cbc79c14efcebee57402&signature=70aea445be2b81da6014225b722a15cd66d4b246

Typical Sun typo. Her name is Linda (mad woman). And she's not his wife, they're divorced. They got married again. Marrying Mike Ashley twice, what an absolute lunatic. That's worse than hiring Joe Kinnear twice. I wonder what she sees in the billionaire Mike Ashley.

Why’s there nothing about this on .com??

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42271172 "Do I want to lose him? Of course not. Do I fear losing him? Of course I do."

Anybody else miss him?

Already trying to sell Evans. Good lad.

You lose some protection in mid though, he gets through a ton of work and allows Shelvey to play. I would like to see him in the ten though Hayden serves the same function IMO, albeit in a more limited capacity when he's in possession. I'm just sick to death of Perez/Diame/Joselu really, scratching for a solution.

Doesn't Merino play #10 for Spain U21s? I don't think it's too much of a shoehorn, especially given other options. The benefit of putting him up there would mean we'd have an aerial target beside/behind Gayle for goal kicks and the like, it would also mean his higher risk style of play wouldn't necessarily be punished as much.

Darlow Yedlin Lascelles Clark Dummett Atsu Hayden Shelvey Murphy Merino Gayle Better still would be Merino/Shelvey with Mitro and Gayle up top and natural wingers (swap Atsu/Murphy)

Aye, darlow looks like a decent GK. Good shot stopper, he’s been giving the defenders no help though. Massively lacks command.

Is Rafa running on a time delay at the minute?

Best defender at the club apparently Needs some time out of the team, clearly has a lot of quality but he’s lacking communication and confidence.