Shak

He fulfils the role to a large extent already tbh. Wasn't he made captain a few games this year when Lascelles was out?

He's just not very good at football. I expect Shelvey will be captain next year and Lascelles will be replaced in the starting line-up.

Why did we have no defenders?

Fucking bullshit.

Fucking yes. Well deserved.

Skinned a Leeds player at the byline down the left in the first half, cracking bit of skill tbf.

Twice we've taken good quick free kicks and he's pulled it back. He hasn't disregarded the laws of the game at least though, so he's better than the last cunt.

Ref is fucking useless.

In his head it was gonna be like that beautiful Robert assist at Blackburn back in the Bobby days.

Perez and Mitrovic seem to benefit each other so I'm happy with those two up top. Gouffran as always is depressing to see on the teamsheet but Hayden back in there is a big boost. Gonna be a tough game this, expecting a very cagey (aka shit) game as the first goal will be fucking massive.

Going to watch the golf instead. Just get out of this division pls, it's fucking shit and I hate it.

Gouffran is fucking useless.

Just checked in, see everyone going mental... What happened?

Players looked fucking aghast, definitely badly broken.

I'm at like an 8 maybe. We're fairly shit but Huddersfield are unlikely to win their remaining games so we have breathing space and our GD is basically another half point. I'm completely over this being in the Championship shite though, such a shite standard and we're dreadful to watch on top of it.

No need for anyone to start getting on their high horses again. Our home form is suspect, we have made sloppy starts to too many games and lost plenty as a result. People can rightly be p*ssed off or frustrated by it. Benitez needs to sort out how we start home games. It is a problem and the fault lies with him imo. Nah, I dont think theres a massive difference between the way he sets the team up home and away Players need to take responsibility I agree, but I actually think that's the problem.

We just have no idea how to take the game to teams.

Did we hit the bar? Who was it? Murphy?

Wait, we have a game tonight? When did this happen?!

I'm pretty confident that Gayle will score goals in the Premiership, I'd be happy to go into next season with him still first choice striker. Mitrovic will likely leave, Murphy will stay and play out his contract as 3rd choice/target man option off the bench. I'd like us to buy a promising youngster to back up Gayle, someone in a similiar mould as a player who'll be content enough to sit on the bench initially but who Rafa thinks can develop and ultimately take the spot from Gayle. Positions that I think we absolutely must buy players for this summer are left-back, central midfield, attacking midfielder and winger (two wingers if we don't sign Atsu permanently, I reckon we will though). Anything else would be gravy but if we could go into next season with... Krul Yedlin Lacelles Clark New LB Shelvey New CM Ritchie New #10 New Winger Gayle ... as our first choice eleven then I think that would be decent enough. Five big signings (those four and the aforementioned young striker) and maybe another option at CB if Mbemba leaves isn't an outrageous expectation IMO, especially when we'll be getting the likes of Gouffran, Mitrovic, Mbemba and maybe Anita off the wage bill. We'd have the likes of Hayden, Diame, Atsu and Perez as depth. If there's anything left over then buy a top quality CB. Defense does look weak on paper but I feel like Rafa will set us up well and we'll be tough to break down even if the players at the back aren't exactly world beaters.

What a marvellous game.

What a beautiful scabby goal.

Love how Ritchie is so fucking radgey all the fucking time.

Feel like we might see Perez and Murphy in for Diame and Gouffran (hopefully, if he drops Atsu I'll kill him ) and no other changes. He won't play Shelvey and Diame together in CM to start a game IMO and I begrudgingly accept that. How long until Hayden gets back?

The real hero was Atsu IMO, completely faked everyone out with an incredibly convincing preparation to shoot and then squared it to Murphy. Made the goal IMO.