afar

He's clutching his freaking forehead when the contact is on his neck, and it's hardly anything, wanker

There's just no zip in the team, ffs, you can't change coach 2 days before the world cup starts. Nacho can piss off too. Fucking hate Portugal too, and Ronaldo cheif wanker. Got a feeling this is gonna be one of those tournaments for Spain. Having whined all that, we've gotten a little better over the last few minutes, very open on the break though.

I love supermac as a player, but as a pundit, the man is painful to read/hear: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aleksandar-mitrovic-isnt-premier-league-14790167

He was a bit of a dick to leave, but tbh he flourished under Rafa, see no reason why he can't again. If we can get him for a decent fee, will be a good signing. If we could get Kenedy too, wow that would be a decent combo with Murphy and Atsu or Ritchie backing them up.

Getting excited, Howay Espana

Is morrocco versus Iran as good as it sounds on paper

They have the biggest job of anyone in that division, most have a core of players they can rely upon. The Mackems need to tear it all down and start again, that's no simple task even at the level they are playing at. They've got a squad of players there right now that have no desire to play for the club in that league, it's an ugly situation that's been a little forgotten about in the euphoria of the Don and "debt free".

If this finishes a draw and Russia win their next game they are through to the r16, that's good for the tournament, always good when hosts do well.

He's still such a little cunt isn't he ? That was like a school kid head down, taking it too far, didn't look anything like the world class player he is.

Love this tweet from Lineker

I had breakfast and my shower after morning workout, I take it, it hasn't gotten any better.

He is still doing quite well at Barcelona...if a little lower than his heights of a couple years ago. Both Egypt and Morocco are going to be extremely cagey and likely dull sides outside of a few creative players. This is how they got to the tournament, and I doubt they will change their ways now. With all that I invested in getting people to Russia and procuring tickets, it will seriously vex me if most matches are half-full like this one is. It is easy to notice that the majority of the unfilled seats are in the areas likely reserved for sponsors and Yekaterinburg is very out of the way, tbf. Yeah the empty seats is embarrassing, it's not like this was on of those, North Korea versus Saudi Arabia type of games that had little appeal to the neutrals. Suarez, Cavani and Slah should have brought in the neutrals by themselves. Couldn't imagine if England had won the rights that any game would be as sparsely attended as this one.

OMG that was one of the worst halfs of football I can recall, neither team should worry the better sides. Honestly it was like watching Champo football in terms of quality. I haven't seen much of Suarez since he left Liverpool but look completely disinterested out there, a little heavier looking than I remember.

Wonder if Palace will be able to hang onto Zaha, surprised there's been no gossip about him moving yet.

Would be an excellent fit here under Rafa, I'm sure he could get him playing to that potential he clearly has. Not going to happen though, seems like an Arsenal of old type of signing.

I'll be 57 when this kicks off, will head up the road to Edmonton for a game or two, as long as it's not Saudi Arabia versus Iran or something.

Haven't qualified since 2006 I'll shut up then.

Not sure how Saudi keep consistently qualifying for these World Cups, they are always terrible, sad due to the way qualifying works that teams like Saudi Arabia make it and Italy, Holland and a like don't.

Would have loved to have seen both those players under Rafa, rather than Pardew, Carver and McClaren. Would have made a big difference.

Now that's a waky notion.

From the Ronny Gill: Gossip: Sevilla to make offer for Florian Lejeune Estadio Deportivo report that Sevilla are ready to make a move for Florian Lejeune and will start with a €10m bid. Rafa Benitez is determined to keep the Frenchman at Newcastle United. WTF we paid about that, maybe more for him a year ago, he was a bargain then, and he excelled this year. Why would they even think we would accept that offer ?

Sounds like Sels deal to Anderlecht is off, I dunno if that's the worst thing in the world. If we look at our keeper line up, we've got Dubravka as the obvious number one, and Woodman as the future, but in the middle we have two players whom are probably never going to achieve much in the game,, perhaps Darlow still has a future but not at SJP. Sels is still young and although was tragic in his first season with us, has time to adapt, plenty of keepers have struggled at first in England, only to improve over time. If we keep him we should be able to cut ties with one of Elliot or Darlow, which is probably a better thing in the long run.

Yep say we get get 40 million in total for all three of them. But that 40 million is payable over 4 years, so in essence Ashley will say you get 10 million Rafa to replace them !!

That's all fine and well, if Rafa will see the full extent of that money augment the already in place transfer pot. But we all know he'll see a fraction of it. So we are left 3 young players with big potential down and probably Rondon, a failed striker in the worst team in the PL last year as the one replacement.

I'm half Spanish, half English and live in Canada. It's a different lifestyle completely that's all, no better, just different. I used to go to school for example from 1pm to 7pm. Mallorco where my family is from just didn't do mornings back then, things may have changed. Getting used to the weather is also a big issue, after 10 years over here I still hate winters in Canada and can't imagine retiring the full 12 months of the year here and having to shovel snow every other day in my 70's. English and Newcastle weather in particular are far removed from even northern Spain where Merino is from, it's a hard climate to get used too and can be pretty depressing to have so many days where the sun never shines. Having said that, it's not been a problem from Rafa or Perez, who have adapted to life in England and the North East easily. It's more about the individual than the country they come from, some people just struggle to adapt for various reasons.