Heron

He does offensively but does he defensively? I don't rate Ritchie positionally but his graft alone makes up for at least half of his defensive capabilities. He has more of that than Murphy, I'd suspect.

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half. Again there is no excuse for that. If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win. It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release... It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home. Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein... Second half. It was like a different team, a different game. I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least). Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this. And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end. Are you feeling alright? There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man... Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some. Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring shit, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though. I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat twat still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more piss taking from the hierarchy. I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor. Any points are good points. I agree with all sides of the debates when it comes to us, thats why I can see with some members arguments that they are unhappy with our hopeless approach at home, and our cautious style, instead of bossing the whole game at home when you know a side is there for the taking. I love hearing the St James roar on motd when we go at sides and attack, its what most of us were attracted to in the first place. But sadly its missing at home atm because we are not going with that approach. [emoji1303] I appreciate your sentiment. However, on the subject of fans, it's the cat we have 26,000 there wanting to be entertained and sighing / booing at every opportunity that I'd also killing us. For every roar there's equal discontent. We knew where we'd be pre season yet some only remember the last pass. We're not alone like but there's no such thing as fans these days. Not in the UK. Just customers. Speaking in the majority of course.

Have you actually seen his set-pieces recently? They've been fucking diabolical. They were an asset earlier in the season but now they aren't at all. Have you ever stopped to think that might be for alternative reasons though. Not saying that is the case but players making wrong or shit runs and not scoring when chances are given don't help.

I wholeheartedly Disagree, and I'm not a Ritchie groupy

Out of curiosity... What would be your ideal NUFC pairing at home I’d play the following: Hayden Murphy Merino Shelvey Atsu Gayle Fair dues. Don't think we've seen enough of Murphy to warrant his replacement of Ritchie like [emoji38] Lets just keeping players out of faith then despite going nearly 3 months with almost no form. Not that funny tbh mate. Ritchie is like joint 8th on assists in the league (with lots on same amounts) and has done more than any of our other midfielders in terms of creating goals. So don't be a dick.

Out of curiosity... What would be your ideal NUFC pairing at home I’d play the following: Hayden Murphy Merino Shelvey Atsu Gayle Fair dues. Don't think we've seen enough of Murphy to warrant his replacement of Ritchie like

1

I'm far from his biggest fan, but he is still one of the players with some of the most assists this season. Final ball is good, he just needs to defend better and not shit himself when going at people

50,000 Geordies of which half are sighing or whinging when things go wrong isn't much of a plus like. Just to be argumentative ...

Aye. That's part of it like...

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half. Again there is no excuse for that. If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win. It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release... It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home. Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein... Second half. It was like a different team, a different game. I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least). Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this. And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end. Are you feeling alright? There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man... Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some. Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring shit, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though. I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat twat still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more piss taking from the hierarchy. I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor.

Short had had the right intentions all along he is just a bit clueless in terms of who he's employing. He's out of his depth. That's far more forgivable than being an spoilt, arrogant, ignorant, modern day slave labourer cunt.

Out of curiosity... What would be your ideal NUFC pairing at home

Wrong. Feel free to tell me why. Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in 3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained. We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most... I think its clear that it was tactical at that point considering he took off Shelvey for a more defensive player and didn't even use our last sub Who came on for Shelvey? Merino. If so...then your talking shit...but I'm not certain. Merino isn't more defensive than Shelvey in your opinion? Shelvey is basically CB for 70% of his game. So no. Definitely not.

7 may be a tad generous but he wasn't below a 5 that's for certain. Diame is just a popular hate figure is the point I am making. He was certsinky no worse than Shelvey today

Wrong. Feel free to tell me why. Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in 3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained. We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most... I think its clear that it was tactical at that point considering he took off Shelvey for a more defensive player and didn't even use our last sub Who came on for Shelvey? Merino. If so...then your talking shit...but I'm not certain.

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half. Again there is no excuse for that. If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win. It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release... It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home. Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein... Second half. It was like a different team, a different game. I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least). Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this. And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end. Are you feeling alright? There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

Diame was a solid 7/10 at least for me today. If it was Shelvey people would have said so. Bored of this relentless hate for Diame. It's probably fair to say he isn't very good or "the answer" but more often than not he gives it his all. People just have it in their heads that he is shit and cannot see otherwise.

Was quality today. But both him and Shelvey failed to fill the 50 yard gap in between...

Makes a big difference for us. Why? I'm not sure. Intelligent footballer! Technically decent but lacks physicality. Luke the kid and he is good for us but not the answer long term.

Wrong. Feel free to tell me why. Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in 3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained. We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most...

What?! We should have been like 3up at half time man... Fucking madness H. Rafa is giving us a chance in games, the players just aren't good enough. Some seem to think we could just flick a switch and attack teams to death blithely ignoring that we get picked off at home in the current defensive system and we don't have any good attacking players. Crazy shit. We had like 4 good chances in the first 30minutes. Your post is lost on me, maybe cause I'm half cut but the game today was in our hands. We didn't win because we lacked confidence and composure Yeah I think you're giving pissed because I'm agreeing with you other than you're attributing a lack of goals to composure or something and I say the strikers are simply not good enough. As I've said Rafa has the team system functioning and creating chances but we don't have good enough players to finish them. I agree mate. It's the lack of quality that's killing us but I for one would have that 10 times over rather than the spineless cunts that have come before. People cannot criticise Benitez for tactics today like. I get peoples frustrations vs Man City but today we had plenty of chances to score we just didn't take them. I've tried to be diplomatic for a while. But sorry... If you think Benitez is part of the issue and we could do better without him you can fuck off and support Sunderland. I kilowatt you don't BTW. Just generalising Ah man, I'm saying Rafa is spot on with what he's doing like, just for the record. I kna pal. I kna

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half. Again there is no excuse for that. If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win. It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release... It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home. Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein... Second half. It was like a different team, a different game. I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

What?! We should have been like 3up at half time man... Fucking madness H. Rafa is giving us a chance in games, the players just aren't good enough. Some seem to think we could just flick a switch and attack teams to death blithely ignoring that we get picked off at home in the current defensive system and we don't have any good attacking players. Crazy shit. We had like 4 good chances in the first 30minutes. Your post is lost on me, maybe cause I'm half cut but the game today was in our hands. We didn't win because we lacked confidence and composure Yeah I think you're giving pissed because I'm agreeing with you other than you're attributing a lack of goals to composure or something and I say the strikers are simply not good enough. As I've said Rafa has the team system functioning and creating chances but we don't have good enough players to finish them. I agree mate. It's the lack of quality that's killing us but I for one would have that 10 times over rather than the spineless cunts that have come before. People cannot criticise Benitez for tactics today like. I get peoples frustrations vs Man City but today we had plenty of chances to score we just didn't take them. I've tried to be diplomatic for a while. But sorry... If you think Benitez is part of the issue and we could do better without him you can fuck off and support Sunderland. I kilowatt you don't BTW. Just generalising

What?! We should have been like 3up at half time man... Fucking madness H. Rafa is giving us a chance in games, the players just aren't good enough. Some seem to think we could just flick a switch and attack teams to death blithely ignoring that we get picked off at home in the current defensive system and we don't have any good attacking players. Crazy shit. We had like 4 good chances in the first 30minutes. Your post is lost on me, maybe cause I'm half cut but the game today was in our hands. We didn't win because we lacked confidence and composure