Mattoon

I've said it before, if Rafa takes the job you can be damn sure his lawyers will make his position watertight, there's no way he'll give Ashley the opportunity to do to him what's been done in the past a fact of which he'll be very well aware of. There's no way Ashley and his cronies can spin this one its Rafas way or to the dogs.

S'cuse me but I can't help but notice I'm much better than yow

Rafa has him in a corner here tbf, the fans have been very vocal and obvious what they want, Rafa has said he wants it and the ball is firmly in Ashley's court. There's no way Ashley comes out of this with any spin looking good if Rafa doesn't stay. Even the media will ridicule him at this point, it has to happen now, surely?

Mitrovic averaged 1 in 2 before he came here in two countries...his point clearly doesn't stand when his opinion applies to a player he doesn't like. How many has he averaged in the premier? That is the only stat which is relevant. I agree with Benitez that central defenders in England are probably as good as anywhere, especially against big centre forwards, which would explain why Mitrovic's scoring rate dipped pretty drastically since coming here. 1 in 2.6 according to Whoscored

Our first double of the season, only team to get the double over spurs, contrasted with the only team that couldn't beat Villa. Tells it's own story.

Ban

IF Rafa stays you can guarantee that whatever agreements are in place will be heavily pawed over by his legal team and he'll get Ashley over a barrel if he goes back on any of his promises. That may be a stumbling block however Rafa will be aware of how certain managers have been treated by the regime in the past and he'll make sure that doesn't happen to him.

If anyone can convince him to stay it's Rafa, one season in the championship won't wreck his career and he'll be back in the Premier League before the World Cup if the England team is on his mind.

Like additional evidence was required to concrete that fact, you only need to look at his shit-eating grin to come to that conclusion!

To many ifs, buts and possibilities to make an informed decision, however, with Rafa in charge we could really be a force again. I think, after a season in the Championship and a season getting grounded in the premiership, Ashley would reap the benefits of having a manager like Rafa in charge. I can't see him going back to his old ways once the club starts ticking.

I'm sure I read that he said he doesn't expect a war chest, but he does want enough money to buy the right players, I guess you can't put a figure on that. Plus with the money for finishing 18th/19th and an exodus of player sales should be enough to get what he needs without the fat man having to put his hand in his pocket. However I have said from the start, I'm not as worried about Rafa wanting to stay as I am about them wanting him to stay. If there's a way to muck this up, I don't trust them not to do it.

Michelle Keegan to Michelle McManus in one move.

They've put a stop to this I'm led to believe, qpr weren't allowed to use advertising funding from their owner to offset ffp

This has unwittingly become the most nwoat

Rafa, the only one out of the lot of them that doesn't deserve it.

I'd be surprised if they announce it at all, Charnley's got his fingers in his ears " La La La"

Well after today's results I'm firmly at a 9

Let's not forget the utter failure to admit we were in trouble with just 15 games or so left, they weren't even thinking about relegation then either.

I know he's a knob but I can't help but love the guy sometimes.

Me too but tbf it should say Ashley not Charnley, he should be gone anyway.

Best thing we can hope for is Rafa stays, brings us straight back up and Sunderland finally flush without the obligitory 6 points we gift them every year and we don't have to see them again for a long while.

Haven't enjoyed football since Hughton was here tbh. The 2011-2012 season had its moments obviously but still felt like a dark cloud was cast over the club. Absolutely this, the enjoyment has been slowly drained from me, peaking at willing us to lose under Pardew. Rada made me feel again but I still didn't enjoy it, it's been draining and a chore to watch/follow for a long while. Can't remember what it's like to actually enjoy football.

Was gutted on Saturday after that pish performance, felt like that was it. Then I let hope creep back in that somehow there might still be a chance to claw our way out. Now I'm just angry, angry that we've got relegated again, angry that people like Charnley have been and continue to be allowed to hollow out and destroy a once proud club, angry that Pardew, Charver and then McClaren were allowed to to manage our club, angry that Rafa was brought in so late in the day when hope was all but gone, angry that Ashley cares for nothing but his fat pockets and tat emporium, but mostly angry that we've been relegated for a second time under this useless oaf at the expense of a bunch of paedophile supporters lording it up over us. Fuck Charnley, fuck Carr, Fuck Concur and mostly Fuck Ashley, I hope they all burn.

Well there goes all hope, queue Fat Sam parking the bus for the next 55 minutes.

yes As in "no". Norwich need another goal or two to go above us, we have 1 better GD right now.