Ketsbaia

He's a left footer playing down the left, which is a good start. We're full of inverted wingers right now.

Nobody will spend £10m+ on a 34-year-old and he's worth £100m to Sunderland, so I don't see it happening. Maybe if he threw a strop but, to be honest, Defoe seems a decent bloke. He was saying how people would lose their jobs if they went down, is really good to that Lowery kid too. Just wish he stopped scoring past us!

At home to Swansea, focal point of an Allardyce team. Nailed-on

Captain Benteke subbed at half time :lol:

Watford going down.

That Viera lad from Leeds too. They're making some interesting signings, definitely going to be a force for years to come. Definitely a new world order if Hogan joins.

Boro look alright, it's Watford who might eventually sneak down there. They look awful.

You can still criticise Benitez without hounding him out and it's quite clear there are problems. Despite the goal difference, I don't trust us to score past teams. We struggle with creativity and I think a clear formula has emerged on how to beat us. Game management is poor because subs are having no impact. The loyalty to Colback is baffling - I expected better from Rafa.

It's not a Rafalution anymore, that's for sure.

Even though his price has dropped I still think he's way too expensive. Limits what you can do with the rest of your team. Several missed penalties, red cards and now prone to rotation. Then you see Costa and Ibra delivering and it's hard to justify Aguero.

Was tempted at one point to bring Aguero in for this Burnley game. Benched Guardiola is another factor that's making it impossible to transfer him in.

It's not looking good for him :(

Palace v Swansea next as well.

Oh my god hahaha. Combined with Boro winning too...... they're the only 2 teams who can realistically drop into the bottom 3 and they've now built a gap.

Needed that win It wasn't pretty at all, but 3 more points and it's almost time to sign players again.

Sounds very concerning, like. Just hope we can scrape a 2-1 and quickly get some new midfielders in.

Same Luckily I'm taking him out anyway but still....

:lol: And the same poster didn't notice a larger, more suitable Rafa Benitez thread just below?

Yesterday's side needs changing as much as possible, bring in Yedlin, Atsu, Mitrovic, Lazaar and Mbemba.

Not saying we won't go up, but I don't think we're the best side in the division and we're losing a lot of home games due to Rafa's tactics. Maybe still being top despite this is a good sign but I'm rarely convinced by our performances. We urgently need midfielders in. 7.

Bradley has to go, like. Was always the wrong call and it's best to just accept it right now.

Got it wrong again. He's an inspirational figure but he can be infuriating, even in the Championship. Way too defensive at home, where we've lost a shocking number of games.

Absolute desperate for some January midfielders. We defend well and Gayle's banging them in, but in the middle.... ergh.

Rafa just doesn't like him It's such a shame, one of the few things I think he's got wrong.