afar

Way too early for this.

Don't like the individual, also don't rate his ability and think he's not someone that would strengthen us in the PL. Bad move all round. As for Mitro, I wouldn't blame him for wanting a move, he's just not getting the game time with us and probably never will under Rafa. That's no disrespect to either party, just Rafa prefers a one forward set up and his forward he prefers is a much different type to Mitro. Will be sad to see him go but probably better for both parties assuming we have someone lined up to replace him in the squad.

Shelvey may want to appeal in order to not admit that he is a racist. Right now that's the picture the FA have painted of him. If you look at the Tom Brady saga in the NFL, he took the league to the highest court in the US but it was more to do with getting his name cleared than playing in 4 games. For Shelvey, if I was in his position and I felt I was innocent of any wrongdoing I would want to pursue it as far as possible because I wouldn't want to be known as a racist, even if that meant an extension to the ban. If it's a "he said, she said" situation then I don't see how any court within the legal system can uphold a guilty verdict, which surely is available to him based on defamation of character, legal eagles please correct me if I'm wrong. If he maintains his innocence and the club's own witnesses collaborate it then NUFC need to back him and live with any additional reparations that may come his way. Of course he may also be guilty and non guilty plea was a delaying tactic only, in that case the point is moot and he should just accept the punishment.

Obviously we don't know the full story yet, so it's a bit premature to say if this is right or wrong. And we could go on a boring debate on what is offensive and what is not for ever. What we do know is we are without a key player for the next 5 games, imho our best player and not directly replaceable within the current squad. The obvious change is to give Hayden a little more licence to push up and bring in Tiote or Colback (when he's fit), we could also move Clark up the field, drop Diame back or bring Ritchie more central (none of these would be my choice). The positive thing is that it's almost January and we can make a move in the transfer market to cover this (however it may be too late to get them ingrained into the team to be effective). It also forces us into finding out if we can win without Shelvey, that wasn't the case early season, it has to be now as this is a busy period of course.

Could be one of those situations we regret in a few years, but clearly his heart wasn't in it with us, for his personal career perhaps though the spell he had will have done him the world of good, gave him a kick up the backside that he needed.

Gotta agree here, I'm sure Brighton can point to instances of injustice too however. But If you look at each of the losses closely you can say Fulham, referee was awful missed at least one if not 2 clear pens, even their players said they got away with that one. Huddersfield we were beaten by a team who worked extremely hard and took their chances while we did not, 9 times out of 10 you don't lose that match. Wolves was an awful performance, but again we were not outplayed here, it was comically bad defending from Mbemba who scored their first and since this game he's not had a look in , Mitro misses a one on one that could have changed the game. Forest was the most ridiculous refereeing performance any of us have seen in a long time, even with 10 men we were by far the better team. Blackburn was classic poor team comes to the league leaders and sets up for a point, they catch us on a set piece and take the 3 points. In all of the losses we've not been outplayed and lost to a team that was clearly better than us on the day. I would say Preston away was about as close as we've come to that situation and in the big game between the top 2, it was men against boys really. I'm not convinced Brighton will be able to sustain this, they obviously didn't last season, I like Hughton but he is nowhere near the level of Rafa, and has never won promotion with any other team than us despite a few close calls. As for Hans point on them having a better starting 11 than us, that's not true, they have about 3 or 4 good quality players that would for sure compete for a spot in our team Knockheart is better than anything we have in a wide area, but outside of those they have a lot of filler. The other strength of their team is CB with Dunk and Duffy but I would argue that Lascelles and Clark are the best CB combination in this division. We have a much more well rounded first 11. Our weakest players in our first choice 11 are probably Dummet and Gouf, Dummet is more than capable at this level defensively and Gouf got a number of very important goals for us this year. At the end of the day being in the top two is all that matters but I would still make us very strong favourites for the title based on what we've seen so far.

Certainly improved of late, long may it continue.

Other results didn't go for us today, so it was important that we didn't slip up. 24 games left now to get 41 points, or perhaps even less, be shocked if we didn't get it.

Shelvey's passes for the first chance and the goal on these highlights are amazing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-qYOvunlLw

When and how did Brighton blow it last season ? Another great result today for them.

Huge win for them today tbh, honestly think this could be a record season for low points staying up ridiculous that they are now (if things stay as they are) just one point from safety after the way they've played.

Sounds like we are hanging on a little here. This will be a big 3 points if we can hang on.

This SOB is gonna keep the Mackems up isn't he ?

Reading some threads on their board, sounds like they are expecting 50 million by selling Pickford and Kone, WTF ! Hasn't Kone been extremely dodgy for them this season ? He's not a young buck either, 10 million tops even in today's whacked out market and I doubt they have too many takers. Pickford is a GK with half a season first team experience for them, done OK but yet to be proven, paying in excess of 10 million is a huge gamble for any club.

It's amazing he's not been relegated in the last few years, they aren't even in the relegation zone this year despite the wretched run they are on ! I wonder how long it will be before the ownership begin to panic ?

I'm back to 9, which is the highest I will go unless we are mathematically certain. 90 points was always the target in my mind to be certain that we go up (correct me if I am wrong here but I don't think a team who has accumulated that amount has ever failed to gain automatic). We are beyond the half point in terms of points required at 46, with two games to spare and 4 points up on a 2 point per game target. The other thing that's working massively in our favour this year is that the chasing pact keeps beating each other (with the exception of Brighton), there are 5 points separating 3rd from 10th. You don't see an obvious team among that trailing pack that can put a consistent run together that will be required to bridge the gap. Perhaps Derby, Sheff Wed, Norwich (if they find form again) are the teams with the best chance of putting together something. As we enter the busy Christmas period, squads are going to be stretched, again something you would hope will favour us. Lots of reasons to be positive right now, although it's been great fun winning almost every week, we really do need to get out of this division, we are well on course to do so.

Got to give him credit for turning things around at Derby, weren't they below Villa when he took over ? Now firmly in the playoff hunt. To be perfectly honest though that squad is one of the stronger ones in this division and absolutely should be in the top 6. He's getting what should be expected from the group of players, which is a lot more than Pearson was able to do or what Di Mateo and now Bruce are doing at Villa. I'm so glad he's not our manager anymore though, but in a sense we should be thankful to him for being so bad Ashley finally woke up and employed a proper manager.

If they don't spend in January it's going to be next to impossible for them as surely those around them will be spending and improving their squads. They've got a few long term injuries to a squad that even when fully fit is simply not good enough for the top league, they are fortunate this year that they are not the only ones in that position. Got a sneaking feeling that we'll see Hodgson turn up there in a desperate attempt to recapture what he did at Fulham and West Brom, he would be well advised to stay clear of the current squad and likely transfer kitty.

Has to improve for me. Honestly when Atsu came on he immediately improve us, offering something down the right, Ritchie had failed to do all game and of course got a goal. Think we need to look at both flanks in the summer to improve, not convinced Ritchie will be the asset for us in the PL we originally thought he would be.

Didn't even get off the bench. Part of me feels for him, but honestly he completely made his own bed and has to lie in it now. Would be pretty funny if we passed him on the way up. Talented player though not sure how Pardew has messed him up so much, it's a an amazing skill he has for sure.

Nearly snatched a point apparently, they are now 4 points away from safety, look certain to be going into the christmas period in the relegation zone. Excellent.

Certainly living up to your user name today

Take that, good win in the end comfortable but there was some nerves there for a few minutes.

That was a beauty of a ball by Shelvey

Their Left winger looks decent. Not had much of the ball but looks their most dangerous outlet.