Elliottman

His bad period is most of the season. Hmm, probably wouldn't agree with that. He's not been the better of the two centre halves but I don't think he was 'bad' earlier in the season. He's going through a bad period now, which also coincides with pretty much everyone else.

Mature. The kid has been taking a load of stick from all angles, thread title tops it off. You're not allowed to have a bad period as a Newcastle player.

Really it should have been an easy three points no matter what, we are at home playing a team we beat comfortably at their place early season who've got absolutely nothing to play for and without looking back at the records probably haven't won at SJP in a very long time. It's as good a last fixture as we could ask for at this stage, problem is we don't look like winning another game this season. Nonsense. Other than two poor performances away from home at Ipswich and Sheff Wed, we've been fine. It's like the Leeds performance never happened.

Awful thread title, amazing how quickly we turn on our own.

Aye. Seems to be way more hoofing and our passing and movement has slowed down. But then again we were great against Leeds, honestly think it's a combination of quality, confidence and fatigue. Just think we've run out of steam a little.

If they lose and we win the most they can get is 87, we'd be on 88. But if reading won, technically we'd have to wait. I think.

The players he's working with just simply aren't good enough. There's two or three of the starting 11 that are terrified of the ball for a start. That said, there's a good chance we'll finish with more than 90points.

It's going to be a long week.

Did either of them cost anything? Easy to say this in hindsight now they haven't played, but they might have been needed. A lot of people said the same thing about Murphy IIRC. Well Lazar was our only other left back up until after weeks back so he was absolutely necessary.

Doesn't change the fact he has the most talented group of players in the division. Im sure about 100% of championship managers could/would say the same. Failing to get promoted with this squad would be a massive failure and f*** up regardless of lack of investment in january/not getting wanted players in the summer. That beeing said, Im extremely confident that he will take us up, and few bad games where we have our key spine in the team out with injuries doesn't change that. I like that he is keeping true to his philosophy as I think it will make the team more prepared for better teams next season. Who are all these talented players? Not counting say, Gayle, shelvey and Richie. In addition to those you so kindly already listed, Clarke, Yedlin, Atsu and Hayden would walk into the starting XI of any team in this league. Possibly even Anita, Mitrovic, Gouffran and Perez. Don't agree at all, Clark yes although none of us would have thought when he signed. Atsu absolutely not, big fan of Hayden and his injury is part of the reason why we've struggled. The other four, no. Goufran ffs. Please tell me which team in the f***ing championship would turn down the opportunity to field a 30 year old winger/striker with experience from PL, europe and previous ligue 1 winner? I know we don't like him on here, mainly due to previous years, but don't be so naive because of what the consensus is on here. What on earth are you on about? What has his career history got to do with anything? He's absolutely awful, watch any team in the top half of the championship and they'll all almost certainly have wingers.which are more of a threat than him.

It's funny because we could still finish on 90+ points which i assume is normally a cracking total? Should he be getting stick if we are promoted with 90+ points or are we just shitting ourselves because a poor run has come at a terrible time rather than earlier in the season?

Doesn't change the fact he has the most talented group of players in the division. Im sure about 100% of championship managers could/would say the same. Failing to get promoted with this squad would be a massive failure and f*** up regardless of lack of investment in january/not getting wanted players in the summer. That beeing said, Im extremely confident that he will take us up, and few bad games where we have our key spine in the team out with injuries doesn't change that. I like that he is keeping true to his philosophy as I think it will make the team more prepared for better teams next season. Who are all these talented players? Not counting say, Gayle, shelvey and Richie. In addition to those you so kindly already listed, Clarke, Yedlin, Atsu and Hayden would walk into the starting XI of any team in this league. Possibly even Anita, Mitrovic, Gouffran and Perez. Don't agree at all, Clark yes although none of us would have thought when he signed. Atsu absolutely not, big fan of Hayden and his injury is part of the reason why we've struggled. The other four, no. Goufran ffs.

Doesn't change the fact he has the most talented group of players in the division. Im sure about 100% of championship managers could/would say the same. Failing to get promoted with this squad would be a massive failure and f*** up regardless of lack of investment in january/not getting wanted players in the summer. That beeing said, Im extremely confident that he will take us up, and few bad games where we have our key spine in the team out with injuries doesn't change that. I like that he is keeping true to his philosophy as I think it will make the team more prepared for better teams next season. Who are all these talented players? Not counting say, Gayle, shelvey and Richie.

If they.dont beat fulham and we win, the game against wolves is irrelevant.

I'm not convinced the squad is better that it's performing, not much better anyway. We've got 4-5 very good players, the rest in reality are bang average. This is another misconception imo that is regularly posted on here. We have a small number of players who look good at this level but very good players they are not, even in the championship. Gayle and Ritchie have scored plenty of goals but have often looked anonymous, Ritchie today was very poor. Shelvey has as many good qualities as terrible, the rest are as you say bang average. Clark who was pretty diabolical as a premier league defender has been by far our best player. Which would make the job Rafa has done all the more impressive then.

I'm not convinced the squad is better that it's performing, not much better anyway. We've got 4-5 very good players, the rest in reality are bang average.

We need one win against Preston, Cardiff and barnsley. We're up. Thanks to derby.

Same could be said for the summer transfer window though. He was given more resources than any of our challengers and he didn't use those resources to full effect. The signings of Lazaar, Sels and Hanley cost us a combined 13m. 13m that should have been spent on a #10 to balance out the squad. Maybe that's why they didn't back him in Janauary. Either way he's struggling and has been since the start of the season. Was just about to send a detailed response until I realised who the poster was.

That's my thoughts too.

9 aren't they? 6. Yeah was looking at an old table

9 aren't they?

I'll decide after the derby Huddersfield game.

Pretty clear why yedlin came off.

Yeah this is my issue as well. We average 2 goals a game across the season so this drop has been concerning. we get one then go all nervous, it's end of season pressure they are bringing on themselves, we are a big club and i feel the players know we all want this and go into survival mode, its just human instinct at times. Lose top goalscorer and main threat at the same time as losing best defender. Recipe for nerves right there. Hayden returning is my only hope as we shouldn't see much of Colback, hopefully ever again. Reckon he will start tonight sadly, 2 games in 3 days maybe too much for Hayden sadly. Well if he does then you have to start seriously questioning the managers decision making enough is enough. Jesus titty Christ. So you think playing Colback is a smart move do you - I don't think he will but if he does that certainly does deserve to be questioned. Where has Hayden been for the last two months?

Yeah this is my issue as well. We average 2 goals a game across the season so this drop has been concerning. we get one then go all nervous, it's end of season pressure they are bringing on themselves, we are a big club and i feel the players know we all want this and go into survival mode, its just human instinct at times. Lose top goalscorer and main threat at the same time as losing best defender. Recipe for nerves right there. Hayden returning is my only hope as we shouldn't see much of Colback, hopefully ever again. Reckon he will start tonight sadly, 2 games in 3 days maybe too much for Hayden sadly. Well if he does then you have to start seriously questioning the managers decision making enough is enough. Jesus titty Christ.