nufc4eva

Don't think I watched a single game last season. Can't wait for tomorrow but unsure what to expect from us. Hoping for sheer awesomeness, but will settle for excellence

If Gayle plays I would doubt that Perez will. Rafa seemed to like Diame beside Gayle last year

Digging in for a draw would probably be decent. Positive performance would be good though showing if we can be organised and be dangerous on attack

It will come and go, fully expect us to play 4-2-3-1 all season as Rafa loves it and trusts it. 3 at back is hard to pull off imho and most teams will drop it quickly. Wing backs have to be fit and good at both ends and centre backs need to cover that space. Prefer traditional 4 at back tbh

The quality Watford area demonstrating makes me feel think the opposite. I'm not watching the game, last night's pace was enough to scare me

We will piss this league won't we

Yes, yes it is. Unreal man [emoji3] They have convinced themselves Rafa is a shocking manager that relegates teams and fluked a champions league. Awful at other clubs despite the trophy haul. They also believe Grayson will settle them at top of league and promote them, despite never doing it in his life. They really hate us that much that they convince themselves of alternative facts

I mean, wtf were Arsenal doing first half with that shit back 3. Showed that Leicester struggled once the tactical switch was made. Rafa would never be done like this [emoji6]

Under most situations i'd agree, but it's not like he's going to play anyway. It's probably lifted the squad man.

It's the lies that piss me off, I don't mind if we have a limited budget and he'll take some profit Mike, you own the fucker. But don't drag us back a forth, string us along or hire absolute cretins. Develop a plan, communicate to fans and set the expectations, however don't put limits on it. Clubs like Southampton and Swansea managed to develop without billions.

Happy no more Colback day [emoji512]

Or just be honest in the first place and explain the constraints

I really can't see him dropping either Clark or Lejuene at the moment.

They needed it more than us and have spent all of that to probably stand still, just replacing the loans they had last year really.

Improved or played in a lower division? That's where some of our fans need to think twice before getting ahead of themselves. WTF man. Who is getting ahead of himself ? Are you suggesting that Rafa influence on the players is non existent ? Then why are we all clamouring for him to not leave ? Are you seriously telling me that Clark is not a better player now than he was before he joined us ? Or that Shelvey is still the same player he was when he left Swansea ? The point I was making was that these so called pundits know f*** all about our squad and are basing their views on their hazy memories of a year or two, because they live in a PL bubble, they may be proved right in the end and these players never improved but they are talking from positions of no education. Stop with the considending s*** and use some reading comprehension before mouthing off next time. Never recall saying Rafa has had a non existent influence. I was referring to the point you were making about the perception of our players. Clark. Can't judge yet other than say he looked better in a poorer league. Shelvey. Exactly the same player as he was at Swansea with same strengths and weaknesses. My point about fans getting carried away was originally was directed in a broader but after reading your response then yes it also now includes you Calm down I personally think we are in a lot better shape than the last time we were in this league and carry more of a threat. It will be tough at times but I bet we don't get hammered. I don't know about carrying more threat, we had Townsend, Sissoko and Wijnaldum in that side, but I do think we will be better organised at the back so we should be able to make it hard for them as long as we don't concede early. True but that team was so lopsided, didn't work as a unit and we had no threat from the wings other than Townsend that it rendered it useless. We now have reasonable wing options, a good functional midfield, physical presence in defence and midfield and players like Ritchie, Shelvey and Lejuene with good passing range. Compare that with Colback and Wijnaldum in midfield and Gouffran / Sissoko out wide and imho we are a better team. It might not be enough and certainly the level is a massive step up, however are we worse than Burnley, Bournemouth, Brighton, West Brom, Huddersfield, Watford really?

Improved or played in a lower division? That's where some of our fans need to think twice before getting ahead of themselves. WTF man. Who is getting ahead of himself ? Are you suggesting that Rafa influence on the players is non existent ? Then why are we all clamouring for him to not leave ? Are you seriously telling me that Clark is not a better player now than he was before he joined us ? Or that Shelvey is still the same player he was when he left Swansea ? The point I was making was that these so called pundits know f*** all about our squad and are basing their views on their hazy memories of a year or two, because they live in a PL bubble, they may be proved right in the end and these players never improved but they are talking from positions of no education. Stop with the considending s*** and use some reading comprehension before mouthing off next time. Never recall saying Rafa has had a non existent influence. I was referring to the point you were making about the perception of our players. Clark. Can't judge yet other than say he looked better in a poorer league. Shelvey. Exactly the same player as he was at Swansea with same strengths and weaknesses. My point about fans getting carried away was originally was directed in a broader but after reading your response then yes it also now includes you Calm down I personally think we are in a lot better shape than the last time we were in this league and carry more of a threat. It will be tough at times but I bet we don't get hammered.

Probably a good move for him.

Would Jota, Joselu, Perez and a keeper mean we have done good business. Never really seen any of them play. The three of them all play for galacio though, which I noticed

Oh how I missed that pisshead gobshite, as if Rafa is going to attack just to appease us. I think we will shock Spurs tbh

Correct. If we have a good season and invest a bit, then some of our players could be getting touted about for 30-40 million. Surely Ashley sees that a good season ( mid table / top 10) would see the value of his assets rise significantly, although obviously we wouldn't want to lose our best players, that money could then be reinvested to even the squad as a whole. Mind I accept it's a lot of wastage on players each month, however, Rafa should be given 50-70 million net minimum to ensure we stay in the division / push on.

I think it will be a real battle this year whereas last year it really was just us, Brighton and Huddersfield. It could be any of around 8 teams fighting for automatic promotion. I fancy Villa, Boro and Fulham to be close

Smacks of taking what we can get, rather than what we most need. 2015/16 we had an excess of attacking midfielders to try and fit in. 2017/18 we have an excess (relatively speaking) of wingers; mainly right wingers: Ritchie (left footed right winger), Atsu (same), Kenedy (same), Murphy (right wing), Aarons (left). Presume Kenedy is for the left side (though not his preference, apparently) and we have flexibility with the others playing on the left if needed, but not ideal. Rafa loves a left footer. Atsu will probably play left wing this year I suspect and looks the best fit with Ritchie right to start, unless as stated Ritchie will play in attacking midfield. Murphy and Aarons will offer more directness looking at them and Kenedy maybe coming in as insurance against Aarons being knacked again or just to have options.

Looking proper skint if we are only targeting loans, unless we think we will get better value in next few windows which is unlikely

I think people will finally turn on the fat cunt and walk away from the club. I know I will, final straw if they fuck him off and he leaves.

If that should happen we will still be in a much better position than under any other recent manager. I just want him to stay and lift the standards. He has already transformed the place and shown his absolute class in the way he has built essentially a new team compared to last premier league and it looks in the most part balanced and tactically aware. Obviously, the biggest test is yet to come but he showed us how to win games and be effective last year and I have no doubt he could get us competing in the top ten given the time and more importantly some fucking money :-)