Mattoon

Rafa will have them fired up for the second half, I have faith in him, not so much in the players. But these are here for the taking if we can step it up a notch.

Does anyone realise that to avoid relegation we need to actually win this?

Confident if we can get to half time without conceding we'll be fine in the second half.

Given what we've had to endure you're quite right to expect the worse but this is Rafa's team now things are changing.

First time I've included us in an accumulator this season, feeling pretty confident today!

He's the glue holding everything together right now, for the first time in recent memory, players, fans and club are pulling in the same direction, it'd be just our luck for it to be too late. If/When Rafa leaves, it'll all fall apart.

You're spot on, but sadly I doubt the part in bold is the view of the majority. No you're right, but the majority on here and the die hards that were driven away by the whole regime will. I hope we stick it to his team tomorrow and I hope that rather than attack him we just sing Rafa's praises for the whole match, show him exactly what we're made of, a noise he'll have never been privy to!

NUFC came out and said they didn't want to qualify for Europe, or have a cup run. What was the manager (Pardew or any other) supposed to do with that? Do you honestly believe that Pardew wasn't in on that using Europe as an excuse for his terrible form, claiming the squad wasn't capable of competing on more than one front? It was a match made in hell.

100% it's Ashley's doing, but I can't agree with you that any has-been in the dugout would have been able to facilitate that. It takes a special kind of smarmy, smug, egomaniac with extremely thick skin to do what has been done.

Think that's one of the longest times I've ever nodded. Absolutely spot on. Being absolutely barmy about Newcastle United was something that I never thought would waver for me. I take my hatred for Pardew really personally and I'm certain I'm not the only one. Bleeding Black & White is every Geordie's birthright (even an adopted one like me) but Ashley facilitated by Pardew made us have a mauve transfusion. It's unforgivable and unforgettable and it's heartbreaking to hear supporters not wanting to take the next generation to games because they don't want to taint that love they had and turn them away from NUFC. It's heartbreaking seeing them want to support a Manchester team or a London team because there's been nothing here to support thanks to them. Our only last dying hope is that Rafa can bring some pride, passion and belief back to a beleaguered support and ignite a passion in the next generation.

Yup. Surely a rhetorical question?

Souness was undoubtedly worse in footballing terms, in a time where he pulled apart a great team, however Pardew is responsible for the disemination of mediocrity and destruction of expectations. He destroyed the spirit of the club, it's hardened supporters and dismantled the pride throughout the club. Psychologically what he has done has ruined a generation of supporters and created an ethos of "that'll do" throughout the club, now I'm not saying he is solely responsible but he was the chief facilitator and will be reviled for his part in the ruination of a once proud club. That for me is much, much worse.

Ah the wonderfully incitful Lawro, what a waste of oxygen that guy is. Personally I've stopped letting the "inside track" bother me, it's clearly a looking out for the lads statement. You'd have to be blind to not notice the run he's on and completely retarded to not realise this downward spiral started with him and was in large part caused by him. Only now we've got a real manager in charge are the roots of recovery being witnessed. Lawro can go suck a dick for all I care.

Aye it's not worth agonising over, it's clearly out of our hands, we just need to go out and get the three points we should against Palace and Villa and see how it pans out.

Wenger always struggles against these sort of teams, we all knew this kind of result was a distinct possibility, in fact there was concern it could have been worse. They aren't "in form" just very difficult to break down and very direct. I'm happy if they think they're guaranteed safety, let them get cocky.

Crack on imo, I don't agree with half of what he says buy I won't bite, just like I won't with others who can get on their high horse about stuff on here. Besides which it'd be boring as hell if we all agreed on everything.

Hopefully by the end of the season NUFC will put a smile on your face man. I'm hoping by then everything will fall back in place, cheers

Stifler man, you're my idol, having a really shitty time of it right now but you always manage to cheer me up never change man!

We're the form team now, Norwich picked up some form and have now lost it whereas Sunderland are just grinding out draws and the odd goal win/loss. We will pick up the most points out of the three but with games in hand and our late surge it may be too little too late. It really is a toss of the coin right now but nothing is certain either way. I feel 100% more confident than I did 2 weeks ago but until next week don't have confidence of us staying up. This is a massive week for us before we even play Palace.

Tomorrow will be a huge indicator of our chances, Sunderland go down with a whimper tomorrow and I can see us picking up enough steam to climb out of this. Next week is huge also!

Benitez the come back king, get in you mofos!!!!!!

Great start, didn't even have time to load up the BBC sport page at work.

Grilling people? I don't feel this got the appreciation it deserved.

I don't want to imagine RTGs take on this matter She knew what she was doing marra

Was vehemently against him signing and was much more excited about Shelvey, boy was I wrong, turning out to be just the kind of character we need right now. Glad he proved me wrong like.