Heron

Might be better if it's slowed down like.

Sheer hesitation. Split second and was punished. Easily done.

Poor sod is gutted. Felt for the lad like. Yeovil have made a good go of it though. Expect it to be 2 or 3 nil now though

How small is the Bristol manager?! Sure I just seen Snow White chasing the other 6 in the background too..

With that in mind what makes you think we'd sign someone better than Mitro for the price we sell him at, if it's to someone in this division? Especially when in order to improve the squad we're gonna have to look at teams in the higher echelons across Europe, most of which will be aiming for cups and league titles and will require their top goalscorers. We are unlikely to spend more than what we sell as the history of Mike Ashleys tenure here suggests. So what would be the benefit of selling him to fellow relegation candidates? If we don't sell and improve upon him (or worse don't replace him) we've weakened our sporting hand and short term strengthened Mike Ashleys financial hand. We've lost another saleable asset that if a takeover occurred at the end of the season could be sold and add to the investment that would possibly occur. To return to strengthening Ashleys hand financially, if the sporting hand is weakened enough for relegation to happen then it would force him to lose a lot of money or keep us. Theres virtually no realistic positive outcome of us selling Mitro to a relegation rival. Not unless something is done out of the current norm, as far as the club is ran. We are in a relegation fight as things stand, Rafa isn't playing Mitrovic, therefore Mitrovic isn't adding to our 'sporting hand', isn't contributing anything for us on the pitch. The only purported interest in the player has come from within the Premier League, with Premier League clubs most likely to have the funds to spend in the region of the £15 million which seems to be at least approaching our valuation. And my feeling is that for that sort of fee, it should be eminently possible to find a forward capable of contributing something rather than nothing. Clubs aiming for cups and titles in the higher echelons of Europe have nothing to do with it. Who is suggesting that our squad is so strong, that our strikers are performing to such a high standard, that only a player from one of Europe's top clubs would constitute an improvement on what little we've got? Unless Rafa is convinced that the money won't be reinvested - which hasn't been the practise so far during his reign - he should have enough conviction, in his judgement of the player and in his scouting prowess, to move Mitrovic on and to bring in a replacement who can help us over the coming months. It isn't adding to our 'sporting hand' you're right but it also isn't helping anyone else in the division which it could very well be if we sell him to someone like Brighton as an example. We are already rumoured to be willing to pay approximately £15million for a leading striker in the Dutch league which is being kicked back and the Dutch league is nowhere near as strong as the Premier League. That's why I made the point of clubs across Europe who'd be challenging for silverware, etc. Obviously, in the likes of La Liga players from teams slightly lower down the table might be a good fit, and I have no doubt Rafa's team can find hidden gems. Ultimately though, teams would know we were desperate for a striker if we sold Mitro and there'd be absolutely zero certainty of the money being re-invested regardless. I don't see the point in selling him to a PL rival at this stage of the season given how tight it is, 1 goal could make a massive difference to the whole league. For me, we're all talking about it as if we have normal owner. This whole discussion is more than likely going to be pointless. Cause regardless of whether or not we sell, we won't invest enough to improve upon our current squad. We're relying on Benitez to get the best out of our team, and I believe he is doing just that. Therefore, my judgement falls on Benitez's decision and the strong argument that any money made goes into Ashley's pocket and not the club.

I'm getting sick of saying it now, but what makes you even 51% certain that we will put any money raised back into the purchase of any players based on Ashley's tenure here and numerous transfer window let downs? It's all very well making it otu as if it's blind faith in Benitez, but actually it has less to do with him and more to do with not wanting to potentially strengthen a rival when we're not likely to purchase a replacement. What fucking good is £15million in Ashley's pocket when we're relgated cause Mitro scored a goal off his arse for Brighton vs West Ham and we go down as a result?

I feel a little bit of this creeping in and my Dad certainly does. It's not a sport anymore it's an elitest entertainment business.

With that in mind what makes you think we'd sign someone better than Mitro for the price we sell him at, if it's to someone in this division? Especially when in order to improve the squad we're gonna have to look at teams in the higher echelons across Europe, most of which will be aiming for cups and league titles and will require their top goalscorers. We are unlikely to spend more than what we sell as the history of Mike Ashleys tenure here suggests. So what would be the benefit of selling him to fellow relegation candidates? If we don't sell and improve upon him (or worse don't replace him) we've weakened our sporting hand and short term strengthened Mike Ashleys financial hand. We've lost another saleable asset that if a takeover occurred at the end of the season could be sold and add to the investment that would possibly occur. To return to strengthening Ashleys hand financially, if the sporting hand is weakened enough for relegation to happen then it would force him to lose a lot of money or keep us. Theres virtually no realistic positive outcome of us selling Mitro to a relegation rival. Not unless something is done out of the current norm, as far as the club is ran.

Few things I can remember from Saturday: Getting a bruise on the ribcage in the celebrations of our goal. Belting out in unison with the rest of the away section "You fat cockney b******, get out of our club". Trying to get the "Hey Alan Shearer" chant going. It didn't get going. Thank f*** for that. I was awfully pissed, don't berate. "Why not?" I say. We should sing about our old legends and players like Man United and others do. It's part of your clubs history. I agree with that but come up with something better than that song. Like "Fergie said to Shearer..."?

Few things I can remember from Saturday: Getting a bruise on the ribcage in the celebrations of our goal. Belting out in unison with the rest of the away section "You fat cockney b******, get out of our club". Trying to get the "Hey Alan Shearer" chant going. It didn't get going. Thank f*** for that. I was awfully pissed, don't berate. "Why not?" I say. We should sing about our old legends and players like Man United and others do. It's part of your clubs history.

I thought I did have. Maybe I was shouting at the commentary too much.

Could easily have been talking about Shelvey, there. Yup - another reason why the discipline argument is nonsense. Shelvey is arguably worse than Mitro in all areas of discipline and hasn’t really bought much to the team in relation to performances all season, yet he still starts ahead of Merino. I think that's as much down to protecting Merino as owt else to be honest. Easing him in to the league and lifestyle, etc. Shelvey fits our style of play when he's on the ball, he just doesn't without it. Mitrovic hasn't proven that he suits our style of play with or without the ball. Because Joselu holds it up better. That being said, I think Perez and Mitro have a good relationship and I think we're currently a better team with Perez in it.

It has to be said it didn't come across that loud on the tele like. I assume it was in the ground...

I'd take playing them in the final like. A nice easy home tie. That'd be a treat.

classic NUFC transfer twattery this

Could easily have been talking about Shelvey, there. Aye. I think Shelvey gets away with it a little more because its clear he's one of our better players, that's all. I don't really like Shelvey but he's one of our most effective players still. With the ball that is.

Who do we want in the last 16?

I thought he was harshly done to vs West Ham FWIW. Nonetheless, discipline doesn't just mean getting Yellow and Red cards and giving free kicks away. It's about his positional play, his willingness to muck in and defend and his reluctance to stand waving his arms around and dropping his head when he loses the ball or doesn't get a free kick. I like the kid. I really want him to do well and do well here, but if it's not to be then it isn't. He is capable of making a difference elsewhere in a different set up, just not here and ultimately our safety in this division is far more important than a lad on a multi thousand pound a week contract doing the thing he loves for a living, not playing for 6months.

I see your point but unfortunately it's completely contradicted by Ashleys NUFC. Sales don't necessarily mean purchases.

To be a strong defensive unit that is hard to break down and capable of knicking the odd goal through the use of pace on the wings and maximising success through set plays. That's where we're at as a club. Mitrovic contributes to being able to knick a goal and that's it out of the 3 and even then it has been debatable. As I said, I think he deserves more of an opportunity but we clearly do have a style of play and to say it isn't "effective" is a little bit hard to understand for me, given that we have a reasonable goal difference comparing to some other clubs in the bottom 11 and most still have the likes of Man City to play again. It may not be attacking or attractive but it most certainly is effective, given the ability of our squad compared to the likes of Crystal Palace and Everton for example.

Because in another team he might be effective. To use a cliche "there is no I in Team" so why would Rafa play him in his team if he is showing that he is more bothered about getting his own way. Other clubs or sides might adjust their play to suit him but we're not gonna do that. Therefore, it is totally logical not to sell to a fellow relegation candidate.

Not every player fits every team like so it's not that illogical. Rafa wants someone he can rely and trust to bring others into the game and not go off sulking when he doesn't get his own way. Hence Joselu. That being said I do think Mitro deserves a fairer crack at the whip, but expect that Rafa is also right in his judgement. Why would we sell to anyone in the bottom 11. That goes for Shelvey too who has been rumoured away. Seems to me that it's as much trying to turn people's heads as owt else.

How many times have we said "Even Ashley must realise" and every time he let's us down...