Hughesy

Wow.

http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/statistik/endendevertraege Nothing that promising..

They seem very upset on their forum that they aren't getting enough attention.

Maybe football isn't the sport for you. Says the fella who loved the pardew era. You know what I mean though... your club has had a successful season under the best manager in recent memory. Have to enjoy it a bit surely. Otherwise what will you enjoy? I'll enjoy being back in the premier, and constructing a decent team. What we've got now is s**** and could have easily gone the other way relying on a couple of key players and some lucky results. Basically it was all a little bit too close for comfort second half of the season. I've relaxed ten fold since our 3rd last night. We've also had some dreadful refereeing decisions that have directly affected games and lost games we should have comfortably won on the balance of play. That's football..

Interesting speculation regarding a potential takeover in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2017/apr/25/newcastle-premier-league-mike-ashley-rafael-benitez

That wasn't exactly an easy chance - he only had the keeper and two defenders on the line to beat on a header from about 15 yards where he had to generate all the power himself... I mean - at least criticise him for chances he should be scoring.

He really makes a huge difference to our team - we'd have been up long ago if he'd stayed fit. Each time I see him, I'm more and more impressed by his attacking drive as well.

I've enjoyed it - but I'm relieved to be out of it and sincerely hope we never return.

Is the money for getting in the Champions League even that significant now compared to the PL? I thought I read an article recently saying it's not even that important now, but could be way off.

Get in - like winning, but really couldn't have coped with another season in the Championship.

Hayden makes such a huge difference.

What a brilliant double by Perez. Better than Stockdale's.

Great save by their player.

Haven't been anywhere near as bad as people are making out.

Cool under pressure from Mitro.

Our crowd is dreadful today. The constant groaning is pathetic.

From an article in the Guardian: "Newcastle outcast Sylvain Marveaux’s move to Lorient was hardly given a second thought in the summer, given how poor he had been at Guingamp two years ago. When he started the season injured and Lorient struggled, that indifference seemed validated; how much could 30-year-old whose reputation was built on one solid season impact a struggling team? The answer was quite a bit; all of Marveaux’s five goals and six assists have come since the dismissal of Sylvain Ripoll, establishing himself as the team’s creative fulcrum. Faced with a match against relegation rivals Metz – who have also been boosted by a veteran in the form of Cheick Diabaté – Lorient could easily have been worried about Marveaux’s absence through injury. Not wanting to disrupt Lorient’s tactics, Bernard Casoni called on the youngster Jimmy Cabot to take Marveaux’s spot on the right side of a 4-4-2, and the former Troyes man responded brilliantly, recording a brace and two assists in a demolition of Metz that sees Lorient up to the dizzy heights of 16th. The good form of Romain Philippoteaux and Marveaux mean that Cabot has often been on the bench this season, but the youngster showed he should be given more of a chance come next season, provided Lorient’s seemingly impossible bid for survival is a successful one."

Saw some speculation (admittedly Skybet driven) that we are interested in Tammy Abraham next season. Think he'd be a great signing, whether on loan or as a permanent. Would be surprised if Chelsea were happy to let him go though.

Agreed - thought he was absolute quality. He'd have had an exceptionally good PL career I reckon.

He wasn't particularly good last season like. Happy to keep him on as back up because of his versatility but when everyone's fit he shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team assuming we are in the PL. Nah - he played pretty well at right back last season. Would be more than happy to have him and Yedlin was our RBs next season, given the need to strengthen elsewhere. Shouldn't even be close to a priority.

Wow - so sad. Always thought he was a quality defender and seemed like a great guy.

This.

They do but often it's because players stop listening to them. Or become tired of them, or lose respect if they've ballsed up elsewhere. Rafa had no respect at RM. But the players at NUFC should be delighted to be working with someone like him, which is why this job is a good fit. Completely agree - the cloggers we have in our squad should be grateful to even have one coaching session from Rafa, let alone have him as their manager. I'm just hoping that our current players are too stupid to understand what he's asking them to do and that he is permitted to rip the squad up and start again.

Think most managers do tend to have a shelf life. Feels wrong even typing it, but I really hope Rafa doesn't, given his tactical brain and coaching ability.

Way bigger problems to solve than Anita at right back. And his versatility is useful.