Wallsendmag

I remember Liverpool played Blackburn away on a weeknight when they were struggling* under Roy Hodgson and were allocated the full Darwen End and only managed to just over half fill it and it must only be 40 or so miles from Liverpool to Blackburn. *they would still have been around 9th-10th in the PL.

Match should be replayed at Goodison tbh.

Just been reading the match report on NUFC.com of the Watford match last time we were in the Championship, on this day in 2009. Kevin Nolan was sent off that day after a foul on Henri Lansbury. "Watford's Lansbury made sure Nolan walked, with a double axel and twist" is how the incident was described. Seems like he's always been a cheating tw*t. http://www.nufc.com/html/2009-10html/2009-12-05watford-h.html

I'm getting mixed messages here.

Remember us saying the same thing against Wolves. They'd just been battered 0-4 at home v Barnsley a week earlier.

he's a total prick. i was stood behind him at villa and wish i'd clipped him. the sad c*** does it every single game, I've no idea why. he even has 'the whistler' on the back of his top, what is the point?? He sits around 15 seats away from me in the Gallowgate.

I can see dummett's being overturned. Referee will say in his report that he thought Dummett deliberately pushed their player over with no attempt to play the ball, FA will lap that up and keep the decision as it is. This. FA will take the easy option and back the ref.

Can't wait until the reverse fixture in a few weeks time. We should make their lives hell for these b*stards and as for that Lansbury, well if he doesn't bottle it (which I think he will) I would play Colback and send him out with the intention of ending the cheating c*nts career. I'm thinking Roy Keane on Alf Inge Halaand here. Colback is collateral damage, he isn't going to be here long term, we'd still beat them without him and that would be a nice legacy to go out on. Plus that's one more cheat taken out of the game.

Obviously the referee was the reason we lost the match and there'll be enough said about him without me adding to it but there's clearly a couple of issues that Rafa needs to address which are becoming more obvious by the match. Firstly we're conceding far too many goals from crosses into the box and this is something that's been happening since the very first goal we conceded this season down at Fulham and something that the opposition seem to have identified as a major weakness. Secondly we have a problem at the other end of the pitch. Perez and Diame shouldn't be anywhere near the starting XI and, despite all our possession in the last 3 games we've become predictable and easy to defend against. Rafa needs to consider dropping both of them and pairing Gayle and Mitrovic together. No reason not to in this league, against the sub standard opposition we're up against.

A nice double with him and that ref would be sweet.

The one time we expect Rafa to make wholesale changes he names an almost unchanged team

Rafa is 56 like.

Probably the best summing up of him.

We were by far the better team. Basically dominated the entire 120 minutes. Darlow plays instead of Sels and we're in the Semis now.

Played there most of his career hasn't he? Not sure where he played in Spain tbh but the role he's trying to play for us is something he hasn't done at NUFC very much, certainly not in regards to what Rafa wants from his #10. He's got the touch and technique for it but he seems to really struggle with knowing when he has time and when he needs to move the ball on quickly. Gets caught in possession far too often. Until he sorts that out he'll continue to be a poor #10 and even if he gets that sorted I don't know if he's got the vision or passing ability to really excel in the role. If he's not a #10 then I don't know what he's meant to be as he sure as hell isn't an out and out centre forward and he lacks the pace to be an effective wide man.

I know it's not an excuse but surely he must have been absolutely mortal drunk when he tweeted all that last night.

It's on in the Strawberry.

Currently being absolutely slaughtered on Talksport by the presenters and the Spurs fans ringing in.

It's a ridiculous situation. Football is a spectator sport. It's nothing without the supporters, yet the ground will be less than half full when the demand was there from one of the clubs competing to basically fill it.

Not sure how seriously they're going to take it. Certainly it seems their supporters couldn't care less and Phelan has suggested quite a few changes but on the other hand we've got another match on Friday whereas they don't play until Monday so they can pick a side without worrying about their next match but Rafa might have one eye on what's looking like a tricky fixture down at Forest.

He's starting to irritate me a bit now. Would like to think it's not the case but for a lot of this season it's looked as though he's hardly trying. A rough arsed centre half gives him a bit of a kick in the opening stages and he just seems to lose interest and the dummy comes out. Not sure he'll make it over here in all honesty which is a shame because when he arrived I really thought we'd signed a top prospect. If Benitez can't get any more out of him then I'm not sure who could.

It's my opinion, having been to every home game, and having seen 5 of the away games, that we seem to get more out of Shelvey when he's alongside Colback than when he plays with Hayden. It could be to do with the fact that as soon as Colback gets possession, he looks to give it straight to Shelvey whereas Hayden, who is more comfortable on the ball will look to do something himself but isn't as effective as Shelvey in picking out a pass. Because of this I'm pretty certain Shelvey sees a lot more of the ball when played next to Colback (certainly seems that way without having any stats to hand) and because he's our most creative player that is more beneficial to the team and we seem to create more chances. If we get back into the PL it's clearly a tactic that won't work as Shelvey will no longer be head and shoulders above his opponent but in this league I think it's a partnership that's worked well.

But, but.... Colback plays better with Shelvey. Based on f*** all, I will provide no examples of this or my reasoning. He just is. These stats are misleading Stick to American Football mate. You have a better understanding of that

Awful news to wake up to. RIP to all those who perished.

Dummett ain't no wing back.