Hanshithispantz

HAULED OFF

I actually think Diame's looked canny energetic in the centre tbh. I don't think Hayden has looked any better this season. EDIT: That should probably be 'athletic'.

Aye, really cannot see how Diame's been bad like. I didn't want him in the side at all but he's been decent imo. Agree about Manquillo too.

Pleased Diame's been fine. I'm assuming Benitez has just gave up on our forwards at this point and Joselu is the one he trusts most to press when required, not do anything stupid, and not die on the pitch after a light jpg.

I don't even think we've been bad at all tbh, we have no cutting edge but we look comfortable on the ball. Enjoyed the half in a weird way.

Thought it might have been aimed at Kevin Spacey

Wasn't the ball pinged at him? I don't think he did too much when he came on like, but he was only on for about 10 minutes. I don't think it was physically possible for him to have been 'absolutely rubbish'.

Diame starting and Saviet on the bench is pretty surprising tbf Aye I'm pretty fucking surprised by Diame in central midfield tbh

MeriNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I definitely believe Benitez walked out of the dressing room to let Stevie G lead the half time team talk in a Champions League final like. That's definitely something that would have happened.

"It is in studying Benitez’s time at Valencia, however, that we begin to see the potential rationale behind signing a player like Joselu." Because he got fucked over with Abraham and Lucas Perez. I just don't think Joselu's performances upfront can be dressed up at all tbh, if he doesn't start scoring or at the very least making himself a nuisance up top then I cannot see the point of him in that role. Basically any footballer with decent stamina and a half good touch could do the job he's done recently.

I thought that when we played Swansea, aye. He never scored but he looked energetic and mobile and he's obviously atleast decent in front of goal. He'd improve us loads.

Joselu is a better football than Mitrovic imo. Our style of play doesn’t suit either of them mind. Too bad Gayle still hasn’t recovered mentally from his injury last season. He's technically better I agree, but he's a training ground champion IMO. He's got worse every game he's played, and his finishing goes to shit under pressure. Mitro's got more self belief, and I think that counts for a lot playing for a club like Newcastle. On the game itself, I think we might lose this 1-0. Two well drilled sides, but I think our back four has more potential for errors. He's in the team for the same reason as Ayoze. Other options aren't as intelligent and hard working as they are. You say "training ground champion", Rafa says team player. Missing a chance here or there is not that important in the big picture. https://www.unibet.co.uk/blog/football/premier-league/why-joselu%E2%80%99s-poor-goal-return-won%E2%80%99t-concern-rafa-benitez-just-yet-1.955264 http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/i-can-read-comments-rafa-13827888 That Unibet link is the most nothing article I've read in a while like. Joselu might somehow get better but there's been no signs of it happening the past few games. Rafa would obviously prefer to have a striker who can score goals on the books.

It has me genuinely terrified for what the next couple of decades has in store for me.

Never seen a man age worse than Simon Grayson like.

All I can think looking at that is how much Tommy Down's breath will stink talking right into that other kid's nose.

If we didn't have things like Brexit we wouldn't have people like Mick McCarthy. Massive fan of the guy like.

Ah whey. Football's dead. Was a good innings.

I'm probably in the minority but it'd proper feel like I was losing my club if we were bought out by a 'sugar daddy' like. I'd probably get over it pretty quickly when I realised I didn't have to watch Perez and Joselu every week like.

Some of it is obviously overblown like, I mean he will have 2 personal physios because he's worth like £200m to them

He's been injured tbf.

Yedlin's only just turned 24 like and Sunderland was he first real shot in the Premiership. EDIT: FWIW I'm not saying Rafa is bad at coaching players and improving them, I just think "Benitez is actively improving players" is greatly exaggerated. He's the kind of manager who can make shit players perform well for sure.

I thought I was quick with my edit Clark instantly looked better than he ever has and has sort of just continued that back into the Premiership. I dunno if he is a better player now or not like, maybe he is, but Villa were absolutely shite for most of his career there.

I don't think many have actually improved loads like. Lascelles obviously but he was a 21 year old centre back when we went down so him not improving was unlikely under any decent manager. Most of our players grew into the system and we now look very solid because of it, but I cannot think of anyone who wasn't in their very early 20s who actually looks a better player than at any other point since Benitez or they arrived. Clark could be argued but I think he falls under the 'better because he's been managed by a good manager in a settled team' bracket.

The balance things was aimed at Mole tbh, I skimmed the thread and hadn't read HTT's post properly like.