gazzaA2

I hold it against him in terms of his supposed credentials as a big Newcastle fan. Not like he even went there to get back in work, he walked out on a mid table Prem team at the time to go there.

LOL, this just backs up the statement I made in the Ashley thread re the Fifth Estate being dead. This is exactly the sort of thing that should be brought up. Historical reference. But hardly anyone gives a s***. The majority move from soundbyte to soundbyte with next to no memory of what happened before. The Romans had their circuses to keep the population distracted, when the crowds grew restless they would throw them some bread. Nothing has changed, literally nothing, just a different coat of paint. Why would any Newcastle fan leave a stable Premier League job to go and manage Sunderland? He wouldn't. Bruce is a mercenary. Managed Villa despite being Birmingham manager for 5 years and burned his bridges there. The idea of Bruce of some local hero is embarrassing.

Rafa is a top manager but a terrible picker when it comes to jobs and must have the worst agent in football (would have had to pay Newcastle to resign last season for example).

Keys is pathological about Rafa because he took the piss out of Keys and Sky with facts in interviews at Liverpool over the criticism he'd get over zonal marking and rotation. Boy does that man hold a grudge.

Gateshead run by good people now following the takeover and a lot of local derbies next season

Yes, looking forward to this on Premier Sports (I don't have BT or Sky). Conte in at Inter, Milan improving, Ancelotti at Napoli, Sarri took over at Juve, a really good attacking Atalanta side who are in the CL. Lazio and Roma fairly strong. Could be the league to watch next year.

Follow a local non league club. A lot doing well in the north east at the moment and will value your custom. The football is a decent standard, local lads, more affordable etc.

Fulham spent 120 mill and are effectively down in February. Imagine if Rafa had been properly backed.

He's usually rotated when he's had two games a week because he's usually been in Europe or the Championship. He prefers a settled side when it's one game a week. He's good at managing a squad.compared to how clueless Pardew was that season we were in Europe.

"Get rid of him". Because Ashley will give Rafa the money to replace him will he?

Warnock's out to kill the game. History with him and Rafa he'll want to stop him winning at any cost.

Rafa making a point with that team picked.

Exactly. How many points of 3rd were we clear last time after this many games out of curiosity? Apples, I'd like to introduce you to oranges Possibly the worst ever use of this phrase. You think the 2 scenarios are directly comparable Ian, really? The point I was making was that everyone talks about us pissing it back then so I was curious to see what the difference is points was. I appreciate that. Bigger I'd think as we were promoted over Easter. Some folk are using things like this as a stick to beat Rafa with is all - and i just don't think comparisons are valid, either in terms of our position as a club or the make up of the league. I'm a bit defensive of Rafa - sorry if you're not one of the naysayers. I think last time we were more a mid-table Premier League side with the likes of Nolan, Barton and Butt who were competitive leaders and able to dominate the Championship and the likes of Andy Carroll, Jose Enrique and Colo were all superb and the squad was well managed by Hughton. That side should never have gone down but were so badly managed. It was a better side than we have now. Apart from Shelvey there's not a great deal of Premier League quality and he'd have struggled to get into that side of 09/10. We've signed more solid pros to get the job done and hope that the manager is backed in the summer to sign the quality needed to do well in the Prem.

Villa spent an absolute fortune as well in the summer and another fortune in January. Rafa wasn't backed in January when we needed more in and it's been a battle since but well on course for automatic promotion with over 90 points.

Rafa got 82 and 86 points with Liverpool. Arsenal haven't done that since going unbeaten.

Worried the effect this will have on the team if we lose this. The suspensions won't help either.

The Liverpool fans did adore him too for the most part which was why he stuck around there as long as he did.

There are some who had absolute hate for him and as far as I could see it stemmed from people who knew players or workers at Anfield. Rafa was sick of things leaking to the press and such, plus he wanted The Academy to produce players who could step up, play the way he wanted them to and forget about winning youth cups. That cup wasn't important to him, the coaching of the players was. Heighway had control of the youth set up for 20 years and it's arguable whether enough players came through. Gerrard and Owen were top players who would have come through anywhere really, but there wasn't enough of the Carras from Heighway. Once he got control he had a Rafas 'night of the long knives' where he got rid of 16 Academy and back room staff. This is where the hate stems from. Rafa doesn't care for ego or reputations and is very dedicated to his job to the point where he'll make enemies. The media hated him as well. He shows no favouritism and that rubs up the ego of the likes of Ronaldo or Steven Gerrard who need their egos massaged regularly. In effect it's his weakness as a modern manager but he's very old school and expects respect and professionalism but without having the personality of a Mourinho or a Klopp. Most Liverpool fans love him and still do, but there was a massive smear campaign against him towards the end of his time there (from marginalised staff at the club or some players) that drip fed into some fans.

Terry Venables.

Short of ended up in a relegation battle (probably only need two wins) the season is over anyway so if key targets don't want to move in January then wait till the summer.

he did on football focus today. Said "i've hardly played for Stoke so my goal to minute ratio is still good".

It really affected Reading today against West Ham.

Why would he? He's happy enough to pick his 90 grand wage packet with rumours flying around, he couldn't give a toss. Not bothered enough to force a move away for first team football showing an incredible lack of ambition but like most footballers these days, it's all about the money. West Ham offered to match his wages and then increase it if they stayed up, but he wouldn't go there. He'll only come back here.

Ashley's cutting costs. Does anyone really think the £35m for Carroll will be spent? Not on transfer fees but on wages as it looks right now and while we are on why do we buy so many players with injury problems atm Whilst big earners like Nolan and Barton, Enrique and Smith (if not this summer then next summer) are moved on, so we end up with less of a wage bill anyway.

Ashley's cutting costs. Does anyone really think the £35m for Carroll will be spent?