afar

Happy for the Everton lads that come on here, that's a great appointment but lost a lot of respect for that club following their pathetic showing at the stadium of shite last season.

Really great to see those fans that live locally really getting behind the club again. Hopefully this loyalty will be reciprocated with work on and off the field by the club. Those of us who live further afield owe the local support a lot of thanks for firstly creating an environment that made Rafa want to stay and then showing the club what can be achieved with a little hope and some ambition. Will be great to see near full houses every game next year and in the top 3 or 4 in support for the whole country despite being in the lower reaches, yeah we are proper deluded, ffs !

I have no real desire either way if he stays or goes. If he stays he will be a real asset to us in that league. I trust Rafa to have worked out what he's all about by now and if he's someone he wants to keep around the club, fortunately it's our decision not his.

We have more strikers than last time when we played more often with 2 up front.

I'm still to be convinced we need another striker, despite the ronny gill's clamour for it. Shola, a young Carrol, Harewood (briefly), Lovenkrands an a non scoring Leon Best, were our attacking options last time and we did perfectly well. We have right now Mitrovic, Perez, Armstrong, Tony, Riviere and Cisse, in a system which will only probably feature one forward. If Cisse and/or Mitrovic were to leave then yes we do need to replace but honestly don't think we are bad off in the striking department for the level we'll be playing at next year. Want to see what we have in Mitro, Perez and Armstrong too, bringing in a veteran (who may not be any better than what we have) may stall their development. Maybe though the bean collectors feel that they can't take a chance on what we have and feel we need the "proven" Championship player, perhaps that's the sensible approach but I was hoping that something good to come out of this relegation was the chance to develop those youngsters that have been on the fringes, it certainly helped Carroll the last time we went down.

Then why did he sign a new extension last year ? He's been agitating for a move home for a while, just seems to want to do it with a wedge of cash in his pocket. He's stolen a living of us for the last few seasons.

Might be for the best in terms of NUFC, as it'll keep him out of the shop window. If he had a good Euros, no way we would have been able to hang on to him.

He did ok when he came in, but really in a season when we struggled so badly, still no where near player of the year. Over hype of the year maybe.

At the end of the day, all our good players that are in danger of leaving are locked up on long term contracts, the ball is very much in our court. If we don't want to sell we don't have to.

Based on what, are they going to change the pay day players they sign and the ethos of that ramshackle pit of a club (mind there are sure to be a new crim or two about to help them), remember they will not have the drive to better us...their only reason for existence I kind of agree with HTT here, the form they showed towards the end of the season, was pretty remarkable really. Considering the pressure we were putting on them. They got a little lucky with fixtures in the end, I'll certainly not forgive Everton, Arsenal and Chelsea for the way they helped them to safety but if they had kept that kind of form going through the season, no reason why they couldn't have been around West Ham's level. The fat f***er made some good signings too, that Kone looks like a bit of a beast, putting Kirchoff into midfield was probably the factor that saved them, he looked woeful on his debut at Spuds at CB but was transformed when he moved him into the holding role, that other guy that scored that goal against Chelsea looks decent too. More signings like that, that fit the way he wants to play and they will be a pretty solid unit. The expectations there are minimal, just stay up, that's perfect for fat face, he's under no pressure, has the confidence of the fans and the owners and can play the way he knows to get results. The problems won't start to appear until they start to expect progression. That's what happened at Bolton, they were very successful during his time but the football left a lot to be desired, they were happy initially to put up with that because they were competing at a level well beyond where they were. Once expectations rose, the fan base became more displeased with what was on show. It'll come with Sunderland too, but it'll take some time.

You have to build up a momentum in that division. The last two times we won it, we started out really fast 92-93 we won 11 on the bounce at the start of the season. The last time, we were at or near the top practically all season. Once you build that momentum, the wins just keep piling up and no one can do anything about it. Unless you are managed by Steve McClaren of course. I really don't know what to expect this time, I would be hugely surprised and obviously disappointed if we didn't bounce straight back up but I don't think it's going to be a walk in the park that some think it will be even with Rafa on board. If we think we only need to show up to win these games we'll fall flat on our faces, no doubt. Having said that, you do need to project a sense of superiority over the rest of the division. That's what we did the last two times, we beat a lot of teams before the game kicked off because they didn't think they stood a chance, much like ourselves going to Man Shitty and Arsenal. From a personal POV, it's a shame I will miss much of the season because of a lack of coverage of that division over here in Canada, I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun now we have Rafa along for the journey.

Things can start happening now, this is what I suspect will take place: Going: Krul - we won't sell for anything less than 7million though and wouldn't be surprised if we got 10 for him. Sissoko - Part of me thinks he'll stay but there is bound to be a PL team or someone from Italy or Germany, that come in for him, we'll set a 20 million price tag but probably accept half of that. Tiote - Chinese team will come in for him, we'll accept 4 million or thereabouts Cisse - Another that will go to some foreign shore, teams play a premium for forwards and despite his real worth we'll get about 3 - 4 million for him. Saylor - Sent out to pasture unless he accepts a huge pay cut or a pay as your play type contract, I think the Southampton game gave Rafa enough information on his abilities. Janmaat - I wouldn't mind keeping him but he's not going to want to lower himself to championship football, he's going and has enough good rep out there to still command a fee the club will accept, 5 million plus. Loan out: Gini - He's not going to play in the Championship. We'll look for more money than other clubs will be prepared to pay and we won't want to keep an obviously unhappy player around. So we'll do what QPR did with us, with Remy and loan him out to a PL team. Townsend - Way too good for the championship, I don't buy the 8 million release clause thing, don't think even we are that dumb to do that. If goes to the Euros and plays like he has for us since he joined, then the interest level will be extremely high. We'll not want to cash in on him but see a one year loan as the best compromise in the situation, we'll get a decent loan fee and not have to pay his high salary. Thauvin - No one will pay what we paid for him, no one will match his salary, can't see him being prepared to take a significant pay cut so early into his contract. But he won't want to play in the championship and there is enough interest in him for other clubs to want to take a low risk chance via a loan. De Jong - Don't think any club will take a chance on him and his injury record, we'll want to move him on so the only way that will happen is through a loan deal, probabaly back to his dutch roots. That's a lot of outgoings ! Considering we already lost Marveaux and Obertan, and we saw this season from their performance that there is very little in reserve. There'll be some money coming in from sales and loan fees, we'll need to augment our squad with a number of loans from PL clubs. We'll also need to fill the obvious openings with suitable replacements, our returning loanees offer little to hope outside of Armstong. Big job for Rafa, but the good news is we have players who are going to thrive at that level and won't jump ship unless they are pushed, if we can build a squad around the likes of these players then I am confident we'll be very competitive next season, with the best manager in the division no reason why we should expect to bounce straight back up: Darlow (think he can bloom into a top GK, if not I hope we go to young Freddie and not to Elliot, who I see as anothing more than an average at best back up) Laschelles (Got the physical attributes to be awesome, just needs top class coaching, could not ask for better than the manager we now have) Mbemba (you can say the exact same things about him as you can for Laschelles, those 2 together could be a huge part of our future) Anita (could easily be the best RB in the division next season, hopefully they work on him in that role and not as a midfielder) Colback (yes I know, but it's championship level, and I for one thought he looked a lot improved in those final few games) Arrons (needs to be given a run in the team at LW, lets see what we have here) Perez (needs to pick up his game a bit though, even at that level) Mitrovic (He'll tear that league apart, if he can stay on the field) Armstong (still unsure about his physical presence, needs to assert himself more, needs to be given the opportunities, hopefully the season at Coventry have help to give him the confidence to do what he has been doing throughout the levels in his young career) Shelvey (if Rafa can work with him, get him to play to the level he is obviously capable of, he could light up that division)

If any club let this charlatan anywhere near their manager's chair, they deserve everything they get as we did.

I don't mind that shirt at all, dunno what all the fuss is about tbh.

I wouldn't be surprised if both were loan deals, unless we get big bids for either I don't think we'll sell.

His first few games were brilliant, I forget who it was we were playing, could have been West Ham, where he made his home debut. He was pinging the ball around like crazy, with pinpoint accuracy. I didn't think much of the signing when we made it for the price we did but those early performances had me second guessing myself. Something happened though that made that early promise look like a mirage, you still saw the ability to pick out a pass on the odd occasion but it was clear Rafa saw the Tiote/Colback pairing as the only option open to him to help protect that back four. Bearing in mind that Rafa seems to favour that two holding type CMs to protect, what is currently a very youthful backline, you have to wonder if there is a role for Shlevey in a Rafa team (if he is our manager of course next season). Didn't he have Xabi Alonso at Liverpool though, Shelvey is nowhere near that quality but he plays a similar role as a "Quaterback". I don't know maybe it takes more than a pressure filled 10 game stint to instill a system that can be utilized to make the most of Shelvey's talent.

They don't get a penny. Gate receipts only shared in cup games. Ah ok, still the home games against those teams will attract bigger crowds even if it's just the away following.

No way they will give up the extra gate money without a struggle, not sure what the split is now but a trip to SJP, Villa Park and Elland Road for the likes of Burton Albion will be huge to those clubs.

I believe even you or I could replace this guy, wouldn't lose too much sleep over that aspect.

Two champions league winners in the championship, wow.

I can't believe you'd actually dare make this argument. They were being signed to play for us, you complete and utter f***ing joker. Far too many weren't fit for the Premier League. Why do you have to reply like that man? For years this idiot (and others) have robbed a living from NUFC doing an utterly s*** job culminating in another pathetic relegation and people actually want to defend him? It's either wummery or selective ignorance and I've no time for it. Lies. You practically live on this Board man, and take every opportunity to act like a bully and have for over a decade. Don't pretend you have "no time for it" when you have probably tens of thousands of posts to your name on this Board and commonly post insults like this at 2AM. What you lack is manners and everyone knows it... except you apparently. I wonder if he's like that in real life, he's probably the nicest bloke in the world, a vicar or something You really couldn't talk to people the way he does and get anywhere in life, unless you are Donald Trump or something !

I'm not a religious man but praying to the high heavens that this is true.

For me the biggest issue is the role he played in the McClaren appointment. I also of the belief that we can't just exonerate him from blame because the club didn't pick his top choice, for the amount we paid for the likes of Riveire, Cabell and Thauvin, there were plenty of other options out there, his list can't be just of the obviously potential world beaters and crap below it. As far as I'm concerned, don't let the door hit you on the way out.

Thought he was OK in his last game, surely it's his last game for us, good luck to him, he lived a Geordie dream playing 15 years or so for the club, I think we all would loved to have been in his position. He had a lot of potential early on, but much like Shola never relly met it, his injury record probably slowed down his progression it was shocking.

If Rafa signs on, and Andros stays, I think that'll be a huge sign to all we are expecting to bounce straight back up and I doubt many others that we want to keep, head out the door. At the end of the day that's what's important really, keeping the players we want to, while letting the others go. Right now I think Rafa has a good idea who he wants to hang on to, another reason to hope he's still here come the start of 2016/17.