themanupstairs

7-0 Gouffran will get a hattrick. Murphy, Shelvey, Ritchie and Hayden.

One of the perks of having someone like Benitez manage your club is the trust and confidence he exudes. Fuck the pessimists. I know Rafa is only human, but he embodies all the good human and footballing values I want to see at NUFC. There was nothing in that interview to suggest that he's uncomfortable or that he wasn't telling the truth.

Barring two red cards for both Lukaku and Firmino, looks like 100+ for this gameweek which is exactly what I needed to get back up there in my league.

Murphy stripped and ready to come on

Was there a pen and a sending off given?

Agreed. Get a proper manager in ffs!

safe travels mate. don't do drugs and Philippine

Think he'll be busy with the bairn.

And unfortunately also way too thick for joining Real at that stage of his career.

Not sure that's what he said tbf. He just means that Brighton come from a position of relative stability in their quest to gain promotion, whereas NUFC has just been relegated, and is attempting to go back straight back up having overhauled an entire playing squad and coaching staff, add to that the rotten mediocrity that had set in....

Know her very well personally as she went to my school. Dated one of my best mates through lower and upper sixth form. Lovely girl

Agreed, once again.

First time I've felt a tinge of disappointment with Benitez. I know he doesn't like to make reactionary decisions, but it must be absolutely clear to him now that we need at least 2 signings if not 3 in strategic positions, if we are going to not fuck this up. Colback simply must be binned. We need a left back if Lazaar isn't up to it. We need a winger, and we need someone to link up the play in the final third. I know he sees it, but it simply HAS to be done.

Agreed. Also, happy new year mate. How's the woodwork?

This.

100% categorically not Rafa.

But but, aren't we allowed to rip right into him? How long before we're allowed to call him fat, and Spanish? How long before we can comment on a minimum wage job which he may or not have had in the past?

This was as random and ridiculous an appointment as bringing in Avram f***ing Grant Utter madness by the Swansea board.

Take it you've not heard his post-match interview then.

Pretty sure Rafa hasn't clocked on to this. Best be sending out on a postcard to the Wirral HTT!

Dat "header"

A big part of the problem is playing Ritchie and Gouffran together in what is effectively a front 3 when we go forward. They are intended to be Gayle's supply line from wide positions when we have the ball in the final third. Neither of them is quick enough or incisive enough. Ritchie's body language has turned into some sort of Scott Parker/Jack Colback hybrid whereby he no longer looks up, and seems totally bereft of ideas. Gouffran has no turn of pace and no sharpness from out on the left side, and he clearly would still rather play more central. In order to play the way we do, and especially without Shelvey's precision passing in midfield, we need searing pace down the flanks, both from midfield and fullback positions. I know it's unlikely but I wouldn't mind seeing something like Yedlin and Haidara (if and when fit) at fullback, with Atsu and Lazaar in the wide positions, and then one of Ritchie, Diame or even Gouffran (a more natural finisher) behind Gayle.

We haven't lost a single game at home this season. I'm genuinely utterly f***ing perplexed as to how that is the case. It was like when I recently found out Doris Day is still alive.

High quality turd. He'll be fine at this level.

We haven't had a manager who knows what he's doing for absolute ages. We finally do, and he has us sitting top of the table, smashing this league, and people are bored. Don't quite get it sometimes.