Heron

Think it's all down to Rafa really liking him and Lascelles wanting to keep playing. Someone having that sort of attitude can really have a positive effect on the rest of the team, especially when its your captain. Shows good leadership. Leading from the front and by example, albeit maybe not performance wise. Coloccini was the opposite style of leader for a long time before he decided he was no longer interested / was past it. He lead with quality and not the mouth piece / character. I feel like I can somewhat relate to Lascelles hence why I like him so much.

Apologies if there is a similar thread already...but aside from goals. What has been your moment of this season? Maybe a tackle, quote, decision, pass or deflection. If this should be a poll with options added then maybe someone can work their magic I probably have a couple. But I will let y'all get the ball rolling first...

We won't cash in what we spent on him so we will keep him. He won't be a first teamer next year so he will begrudgingly request to leave the club next summer following around 3 goal and probably 3 assists in the 17/18 campaign...And i like Mitro Not saying he won't become a good player or owt. Just not here not now which doesn't suit us or him.

Hate to say it in a way but for me Shelvey has to be one. Think Gayle would have to be the other statistically speaking. Very tough question though. Ritchie and Clark being close behind. I just think we're a different side with Shelvey and without Gayles clinical finishing we'd not be about to win the league

Perez Vs Brighton or Ipswich for me

I like the lad me. He might not be top drawer but he's a good steady defender with the right attitude and character

Ageism right there.

He's shit compared to big Vurn

Tbh all these bitter mongs within football who have it in for NUFC will come out with this nonsense for as long as Rafa is here. Just ignore it. It will probably just fuel his desire to stay more. Top bloke and top coach is Rafa.

More games for your money. Look on the bright side.

Yeah i agree, just mean in the sense of buying the right players for the system Rafa wants to employ. I wouldn't kna where to start with players from abroad like I barely know any in this country these days. Has to be plenty options about though...

I'll be honest like, I've never been completely anti-Carr. I could be wrong but didn't he help bring in the likes of Cabaye, Remy and Ba? Not sure... Benitez needs control regardless.

:lol:

I agree, and I also believe that Rafa not only commands enough respect in the game to attract proven players, he's also knowledgeable enough to know where to look to find someone who will do the job. Might have to ditch the policy of buying only assets that will grow in value. I think striker is such a crucial position that we should just pay what it takes to bring in quality even if he's 30 yrs old. Again, think back to Keegan signing Beardsley when we got promoted in the 90's. It's interesting, because for me I'd rather pay for a higher quality CB as a priority (maybe because I am a CB). I think a Coloccini type signing would be brilliant for us right now. Not the Coloccini before he left like, the one just after he got settled in. It'd potentially settle a lot of nerves and naivety. We have players who can get goals if they can play with enough freedom. Hard to judge really. It's just for me, and our style of play / formation we rely more on control, solidarity and stability, a top quality CB adds to that. Whereas a top quality CF adds to our goal threat. Regardless, both are necessities like...

Those kind of players cost loads though and most of them aren't that good I agree, particularly with Englishmen or from English clubs. However, the same applies to Spanish, French, German clubs too though. I think the Premier League looks promising to any of them and actually I think probably higher level teams abroad (excluding maybe Spain) will have players looking for an opportunity to go for big bucks. Let's face it, most players are mercenaries these days... If I was at Nice or Hertha Berlin for example I'd probably be inclined to make the jump, playing for a Rafa Benitez led PL side...

Aye, for me like I reckon players of current Premier League clubs would be willing to come here. Like even if they're starting elsewhere. I'm not necessarily saying him but the likes of your Troy Deeney's. I'm not necessarily saying I'd want him but they're the sort of player we can attract I reckon. Players at average PL clubs.

I'm obviously massively biased but I reckon we will have massive pulling power with Benitez in charge next season. Howay man, playing in the top flight of English football, with one of very few world class managers in charge and 52,000 there each week. This could be the start of something special and the players we go for, if they do their homework will also think the same.

Alreet Simba...

Aye. Other than that there wasn't too much untoward in that piece. Basically, everyone in world football with an interest in Newcastle United agrees Rafa must be backed... Quite nice to hear someone who I assume is a ManUre fan saying about us "punching our weight". Not sure what those Mourinho and Man United comments had to do with the discussion at all really.

I actually cannot stand Tim Sherwood. Thought Bellamy had a bit more sense in recent years...evidently not. If fans don't pay for Sky and fans don't pay for tickets, who do you think would be paying for your wages Craig? You cunt. You could have always stayed in a shite league and played for Aberystwyth...

I see Gayle as a 1 goal in 3 opportunities kinda guy and Mitro as a 1 in 5. Problem is, Gayle gets 3 opportunities a game, whereas Mitro gets one, misses and then is no longer interested. Like Mitro and would love him to do well here. Just don't see it happening.

It's mental how such an inoffensive, polite chap can be such a widely detested cunt like. (Owen.)

Hope they do and they finish 4th and win the cup. Then Wenger leaves and they employ a complete failure.