HawK

Look what happened since Juventus were relegated, they got black and white stripes too.

Wullie, I respect your views - what's your opinion on my post on the previous page?

I think there's not really a chance of Rafa staying unless he had total control. Just think about this - Ashley does not want to be hands on at all, and has delegated everything, to the clubs detriment, to unqualified, inept persons. Now, if he delegates to Rafa Benitez, are we not going to get the club we want, long term, built by a proven winner? While I abhor Mike Ashley for his track record with this club, history does show that we'll have a semblance of a squad that should easily come back up again from the Championship based on the last time around - especially with Rafa at the helm. Last time we were able to keep most if not all of the players that wanted to say, and we brought in numerous loan signings to cover the gaps that did a job whilst keeping our 'stars' on big money like Colo, Nolan and Barton. Actions speak louder than words, and there have been lots, and lots, and lots of words but no action from Ashley over the past 10 years. Well, persuading Benitez to manage us in the Championship will be the biggest action Ashley will have ever delivered for us for the betterment of the club and it could be the start of something else. At last there would be a tangible change, I just can't see Benitez bowing to the whims of the living human thumb or Darth Vader.

"We should stick with Pardew, who else could we get?" Equating Benitez with Pardew

Tough poll, edging towards B. When are we ever going to get a manager remotely close to Rafa's ability, even with new owners? The chance to be a project for one of the best managers in the world imo is a once in a lifetime thing. I'll gamble on Ashley giving him the leeway he needs after 10 years of Ashley's way not working.

It's hard to not get carried away when on YouTube every chance he gets, he scores, but the placement on most of his goals is absolutely top notch, Kane-esque almost. Reminds me of how Owen used to play when he was at Liverpool. Really hope he does the business for us next season, and if Mitrovic stays, would be a great big man/little man combo.

I started it like 7 years ago, fucked if I know tbh.

wat? When Owen was his age he'd already been scoring the same amount of goals in the Premier League and looked like he'd be a genuine world class striker. Owen never scored 20 league goals in a season.

Wasn't he just injured loads? This, best left back this club has had in living memory. That says a lot.

I think I'm gonna put £10 on Steven Taylor starting the first game of the new season if it's in the Championship.

Nahh, he's more than good enough at that level. I think people on here somewhat overrate how high the quality in the championship is tbh If we keep the majority of the squad together we'll walk the championship. If Colback is good enough at that level, then the likes of Sissoko, Wijnaldum and Perez will be dismantling teams week in week out. I haven't even mentioned Shelvey, Janmaat or Townsend etc. Obviously a lot of those will be looking to leave, but they are under contract at the end of the day. If we can get half decent fees for them then fine, sell them and buy replacements. There is literally zero chance of the first two staying tbh. Janmaat would be off too. Shelvey would almost certainly stay, but I could see Townsend going to a club like Everton tbh.

Although rarer, there are numerous examples of world class centre forwards who couldn't outrun Boris Johnson.

Why? Massively overrated, and a terrible record at Wigan and Everton. He won a cup with Wigan. And FSS, they're Wigan. We're not. Everton has been patchy, for sure. But, you can make a case for him: - He's managed in the lower leagues, so he knows what it takes. - He actually has a football identity. He knows how he wants to play, even if it doesn't always work out. He's trying to implement a system, not just field the best 11 and hope for the best. - He works with younger players and isn't afraid to get them on the pitch. With the state of our squad/recruitment we could certainly use some of that. - His ridiculously positive attitude might actually help in turning around our team of bottlers. He wouldn't be my first choice. But he's got some selling points and I think he'd be up for it. The cup win means nowt, McClaren won a cup for boro, Pardew could win it with Palace. His Wigan side were consistently terrible, pretty much 4th bottom year after year, yes they are only Wigan but Steve Bruce had them top half. His teams have no idea how to defend and are pretty shocking going forward. Just look what he has done with Evertons most talented squad for years. Keep well away. Can't escape the fact that regardless of his recent history he'd still be the better manager on paper than most of our previous managers post-Robson.

"We're" Eh? our fans weren't chanting that

Down with the Villa, you're going down with the Villa!!!

Aye Mitrovic has been a massive improvement Still defends starting Cisse even after his 'performance' He was s*** but when the replacement is just as s*** it isn't a decision that "might have relegated us" I disagree actually, both have been shocking - Cisse ever since he returned from injury, and Wijnaldum since December, no surprises really. What's surprised me is that one of the best managers in the world wanted to start them ahead of others, like De Jong, Perez, Mitro

Aye Mitrovic has been a massive improvement Still defends starting Cisse even after his 'performance'

oi

Championship could be the making of Mitrovic

Don't tell his fans that. Done more in 15 minutes than Cisse in 50. All he's done is give the ball away and miss a sitter, so same as Cisse really Don't tell his fans that. Done more in 15 minutes than Cisse in 50. All he's done is give the ball away and miss a sitter, so same as Cisse really Mitrovic controlled a long ball and passed to a team mate. Cisse hadn't even done that once. They're both not up to it. If we had Defoe instead of these two we'd be staying up. No argument from me, said that in another thread a couple of weeks ago. The reply I got was quite curt though, along the lines of 'but we didn't sign him so what's your point?'

Don't tell his fans that. Done more in 15 minutes than Cisse in 50. All he's done is give the ball away and miss a sitter, so same as Cisse really Don't tell his fans that. Done more in 15 minutes than Cisse in 50. All he's done is give the ball away and miss a sitter, so same as Cisse really Mitrovic controlled a long ball and passed to a team mate. Cisse hadn't even done that once.

Don't tell his fans that. Done more in 15 minutes than Cisse in 50.

Mitrovic controls one long ball and passes it to a team-mate. Cisse couldn't manage that all game.

Unlike Cisse then.