KaKa

I've got this soul-destroying feeling that we've appointed the best manager this club could get ... far too late.

 

 

 

At least we have a chance of enjoying something potentially really special. Has to be better than still being stuck with McClaren man. Just have to enjoy the moment.

Lovely post from the Liverpool lad too. Fantastic stuff.

Reading win here would cap off a perfect day.

 

Rather they got to the semis and continued to do s*** in the league tbh

Rather they do crap here and crap in the league and someone craps on Pardew.

Newcastle are getting an obsessive in Rafael Benítez. He watched Milan train on his honeymoon and his wife says he introduced her to 4-4-2 on their first date.

Has a good control of his wife. Key.

Palace on BBC one against Reading. Oh what an escape we've had

Hope they get absolutely lit up. Looks like Ian Wright is in the studio too.

We'll see Mole. I'm really concerned about the use of Sissoko going forward. I guess he could remain where he is currently, but then that would mean either Mitro or Perez upfront for me. Shelvey has to play behind the striker with our current defence in order to tighten things up.

A mate of mine today said he would take Rafa and relegation than staying up with SMC and another 3 or 4 years of him.

 

By the way if we do go down, I could see a scenario where Rafa stays and takes us back up. Its about the project with him!

We just have to assume he is definitely going if we go down. No point getting our hopes up to that extent.

Sissoko playing as a pivot man. Behave Kaka.

If not then the guy might have to sit on the bench man. He isn't providing enough in the final third to take up the role he has had. Would rather have Perez and Gini in those wide roles. Shelvey as I sad cannot stay central so has to move further up. Our central midfield is crucial in this run in. Pretty sure Sissoko played alongside Capoue in that Toulousse midfield in France.

Ultimately the only thing that can rescue our horrendous defence is getting that midfield two right, and playing two players in there that can really support our defence and close things up for opposing teams. We cannot afford to have Shelvey as one of the two with the defenders we have at the club.

Rafa moved Gerrard from cental midfield to behind the striker due to Gerrard not being great tactically and leaving too many gaps there.

 

We may very well see the same with Shelvey who actually played a more forward attacking midfield role coming up at Charlton. Think it would improve our midfield solidarity.

 

Someone start a Rafa tactics thread ...

 

Perhaps longer term Shelvey will be pushed forward but I think that is quite difficult to pull of this season where we have too many attacking midfielders and no one that can play well in central midfield other than Shelvey.

 

Having said that though, if he were to make a good box to box central midfielder out of Wij or Moussa that would be amazing.

He tends to be play with two pivots, i'd be surprised to see any box to box players although our squad isn't suited to his system at all.

Saivet and Sissoko as the pivots for me. Sissoko has experience in that role from his Toulousse days and we need to utilise his strength and pace in midfield. He can then get forward in counterattacking scenarios.

From what I've seen I like Saivet's positioning and discipline in that role, and he is another good athlete. Both French so hopefully can develop some chemistry too.

Gini and Perez can then play in the wide attacking midfield positions and tuck in a bit, with Shelvey in a number 10 spot. Mitrovic upfront.

I think that would be an interesting approach.

Rafa moved Gerrard from cental midfield to behind the striker due to Gerrard not being great tactically and leaving too many gaps there.

We may very well see the same with Shelvey who actually played a more forward attacking midfield role coming up at Charlton. Think it would improve our midfield solidarity.

Someone start a Rafa tactics thread ...

A lot of chat on RAWK alluding to Newcastle becoming somewhat of a second club for them  

Man .... they love Rafa something serious.

Loving the NFL gifs

Dab on dem Palace folk!

Fair play to the Sack Pardew lot imho, no way this happens without that whole thing

 

Be careful what you wish for

Who will want the job

http://i.imgur.com/HS2pv2e.gif

Amazing!

:lol: :lol:

My goodness ... to think Palace taking Pardew off us has ultimately led to this moment. This has to work out. We deserve this to work out.

God bless Rafa for respecting this club enough still to want to make something of it. Love and respect his guts for taking this on. Really hope it works out amazing for him too!

Scholes man. The state of him right now.

 

:lol:

Imagine if Ashley came in and said, "nah, we'll stick with McClaren."

Man ... that would actually be a lot less stressful. You could just watch everything crash and burn and laugh at the dufus.

This Rafa possibility has filled me with hope and would have me on tenterhooks the rest of the way, praying everyday that we stay up so he can stay on.

Mad situation.

Scholes man. The state of him right now.

There must be loads to sort out considering the whole thing is being overhauled. We just have to see what transpires. But the silence from both the club and Rafa's people has given me more confidence really.

Lallana really settling in now too. Fair play to Klopp.

Man first few games Firmino played for Liverpool he looked no better than Thauvin did for us. Look at the guy now.

Henderson is so garbage.

With the money coming in the summer, we really should be able to promise the guy a decent amount of money going forward, should we stay up. Seems we already had plans to invest anyway. Juts stop letting Charnley and Carr call all the shots on that front.

Scholes is a bloody disgrace saying that wasn't holding. These guys can't be honest with themselves when it's against their team.