Ketsbaia

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.

I still don't think we're actually that good, like. No idea how we're top That was another stinker.

First good captain in a loooong long time, thanks to Zlatan Just brought him in this week, so he covers the fact that only 9 are playing and Benteke got -1.

Ahhh you're right. And merry xmas.

Merry Christmas to all, been a mad year and especially for NUFC. Hope everyone has a great day..... except Pardew. Fuck Pardew.

Pardew made me feel feelings that I never want to feel again. Will never forgive him for that. So his yuletide sacking makes this the merriest Christmas of all :indi:

It was asked somewhere on Twitter the other day who the most overrated PL player is. Barkley came straight to mind. Still better than Sissoko though.

8th is probably right but how are Sunderland that high?

Dave Kitson? More like Dave ITKson

Some strange gaps between the 3 Christmas games. Chelsea have the best spread (5 day gap, then 4 days), but the majority are either (5,2) or (6,2). Southampton play on 28th, 31st and 2nd - 3 times in 5 days! Then you have Boro v Leicester at 12:30 on Mon 2nd, less than 48 hours after their Sat 3pm games.

Tony Barrett ‏@TonyBarrett 2h2 hours ago This time last year, Alan Pardew claimed English managers are "regarded as an underclass." If it wasn't for those pesky results.............

Delph's contract was about to expire but he signed a new deal with an £8m release. So maybe he shouldn't have declared his love for Villa (although you'd kinda have to in that situation), but he could easily have walked out for free. The issue is that he must've known he'd be bench fodder.

If they need to raise money to buy players, they won't sell their best player for just £5m.

David Ornstein ‏@bbcsport_david 52s53 seconds ago Steve Parish tells me #CPFC "in a rut", expansive style hasn't worked & "going to wind the dial back the other way" http://tl.gd/n_1spfbo3 Winding it the other way from 'complete shite'. Interesting approach.

Warnock, Pulis, Pardew, Allardyce. Quite the sequence