LoveItIfWeBeatU

Apart from his finishing.

Typically the ref and his assistants seem to be going easy on us too now we're relegated.

The ball ballooned off Mitro's foot.

Typical.

www.nufc.com

Ill and Injured.

Some SAFC related news: - http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/adam-johnsons-sister-shoots-down-7972005

Not that it matters: - http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-wont-make-big-11333522

Without meaning to be arrogant, we don't want to load the squad with Championship standard players. If Rafa stays we're more likely to attract better players than you'd usually expect for a Championship club. Rafa wants a "strong" team so we go for promotion at the first attempt. We'll probably keep a few players you would've expected to leave, get new players of a good standard (some decent players may be willing to play in the Championship for one season if they expect to get promotion) and get the pick of the loan players available.

Will they dare do a lap of 'Appreciation' for the fans? Steve Taylor and a few others will be saying goodbye for the last time.

By the sounds of it the club will do what Rafa wants to keep him. Mike Ashley wanting to speak to Rafa before last Wednesday (but Rafa putting the meeting back to after today) and Charnley's job hanging on keeping Rafa. Securing Rafa and giving him what he needs (which will improve everything at the club anyway) is the closest guarantee to getting promoted back to the Premiership as we can get. Premiership status is what matters to Ashley. Whatever it costs will be cheap compared to not getting promoted. The fans are fully behind Rafa. It's been a long time since we have had a manager the fans trust and respect.

That's one hell of a positive quote there.

Upgrading the training ground, the wages of Rafa and his staff and the root and branch review of all areas of the club will all cost a lot less than the fee wasted on Thauvin. It's a massive job which needs to be done. Give the job to someone who is qualified and actually wants to do it.

For the last month or so, ICNewcastle has been uploading videos of each pre-match press conference within an hour or two of them happening. For some reason this one hasn't been uploaded.

Yes, 4 extra games at home, you are correct.

He's a far far better striker than mitrovic and 34 means nothing, Defoe is 33 has just singlehandedly kept the mackems up and talk of an England recall We need to get away from this ageist bullshit While i'm not a fan of Lambert, what you said is one of the many reason were where we are now, not signing older experienced players when we need one, or one that suits our team. There's old and then there's old. NUFC wouldn't sign players over 28. That doesn't mean we should get players who are 34 and over now. Most players (apart from goalkeepers) are at the end of their career by 34. I'm all for signing players who are over 28. Anyone signed over 30 must get a suitable length contract though.

Most Championship clubs loan players from the Premiership and elsewhere. I can see us going down that route and we may have the best pick of them if we keep Rafa. As for free transfers, I'm sure we'll look to see if there's any decent players available. Carrick is 34. How long is he going to keep playing for?

Prices will probably be the same as this season. A drop in league but 8 extra games being the justification. I think that's what happened last time.

They'll want their 'loyalty' payments so probably none of them will hand in an official transfer request.

I'd like a striker who is guaranteed to score goals. I don't want to be relying on untested strikers again. That's a big reason why we've been relegated. Anyway, we're way off topic.

If Rafa stays it will be interesting to see if he wants to keep Mitrovic or not. He's preferred Cisse to Mitrovic so far. Maybe Rafa doesn't rate him? If Rafa stays I'll go with his opinion on whether he wants to keep Mitrovic or not. Anyway, for all we know Mitrovic's agent may be frantically looking for a new club for Mitrovic.

Literally the only thing that comes out of that statement is that he clearly rates Rafa. Which may end up being the most important thing. If Ashley rates Rafa he can do everything in his power to keep him.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36288281

If all the talk was about Rafa being heavily linked to the Everton job I'd think he might go there. That doesn't seem to be the situation.

Adam Johnson should have been allowed out on escorted day release so he could join in the 'lap of honor' on the pitch on Wednesday. After all, SAFC wouldn't have stayed up without his goals and assists. Never let them or the media forget that.