nufc4eva

We actually look like a football team again, just ripping through these

Where've you heard this then? Exclusively on here, mainly since we were relegated. If he actually jumped for the ball rather than try and fight his man everytime with just strength he would be a lot more effective. I like how Rafa has compensated for the lack of Shelvey and Gayle by having pace, skill and crossing on wing with Mitrovic in centre. Hayden can pick a pass as well, added to Yedlin overlapping it looks like a well balanced team tbh

Has that Bailly been any good for them? They have a shocking defence and midfield compared to the other teams up there now

I always thought he liked balance and thought Schneiderlin would suit his style.

While I agree it will be tougher for him in Premier League, he finds space well and drops in when required. He is showing short and long passing range and happy to drop it off to defenders if being tracked. He's a class player if he keeps that consistency he has shown in last 10 games and we haven't had a midfielder with that passing ability for a long time, I have faith in Rafa to keep him right and to look a bargain at the 12 million we paid.

No point buying anyone unless they can make the step up, if we are in same position in Jan we will have more than enough to win the league.

Think he misplaced 1 pass all game, good movement to find space as well. He is also aware when to lay it off or play it back whereas previously he used to just try Hollywood shit all the time

Fast as fuck, end product suspect but tricky and will open up opportunities for other players. Good movement as well

We aren't all a bunch of racists you know.

Ridiculous at this passing malarkey. Unreal balls to Anita a few times

Absolutely correct. We were rotten and slowly the club is being mended. Players that want to be here and a manager that can drive us on. We may play shit football and lose some awful games but there has been a massive amount of progress since that first game. I think once we get through the tough first part of season our squad will shine through and we will go up. I just hope if we do that the board back Rafa and don't fuck him about. At least give him the chance to build our club and see where it goes. He needs 3-5 years with the boo boys settling down and showing some patience. I was pissed off when people booed at end of Wolves game, so fuck we lost, get over it.

Have a feeling the Telegraph will come in and Pardew will snatch defeat from the jaws of victory Let's hope so. Hope he's involved

Pardew next please, the country awaits

Yeah I never got the love in for him. He had nearly a whole season and they survived because of their magical end of season form that always kicks in.

Thought he offered something different yesterday especially attacking, his pace caused them issues

If grief Spurs him on he should be class at home.

It's a bad loss, but I said to lad next to me we just need to take it as a lesson, no need to lose our heads about it and certainly the booing is shit. We lost a game so what, I'm sure it will be put right.

So glad we are rid of Sissoko, he's just shit

Think he will bring Mbemba back in for Clark, Yedlin for Anita, Diame for Perez and might start with Mitro up top again. Atsu will be a sub I reckon. The opposition must struggle to guess our lineup bar a few players

Dull 1-1 draw :-) nufc and hope don't go together. I do hope we go to town on them though, atmosphere should be great

Hell of a difference between Lascelles and Mbemba and the other shambles we had back there, for starters both can actually challenge physically. I also like how they don't pretend they have been shot / fist pump or don't look to hoof the ball aimlessly up the pitch. Lo g may it continue with them both being 21/22 (allegedly) Love it and having competent replacements is great.

I honestly think I would leave my wife for him and that's hella gay ( although I might leave her for just about anything)

He was more conservative / pragmatic than some managers and football was slightly less exciting, he does promote more rigid football and patterns, however it's tactically spot on most of the time. You can see the changes clearly and a shape taking place, you can really tell he has thought about and coached every area of the team in to a unit. They talked about it against Derby how we work in pairs across the pitch in terms of closing down / retention. We also keep it simple and work our way into positions, play less balls back to the keeper but do play triangles between midfield and defenders. The bloke is class and anyone that can't see it needs to watch every performance since 2004. Long term I expect us to be a professional premier league team that has an identity and hopefully challenges for Europe or a trophy. He will help us compete as he knows how to build a team, we just need the board to let him get on with it and support him where they can

9 at the moment, can't see who will finish above us and we are starting to hurt teams. Players still to come in and capable of rotating in any area should see us in top 2.

Fantastic. All coming together by the sounds of it. I would be surprised if we scored less than 4 in every game from now on