Stottie

But it was him that masterminded their league win, not Ranieri, you know. Kevin Phillips said so. Indeed. Leicester have had a hard start this season, but weren't far off getting something out of the high scoring games with Arsenal and Liverpool. I'd have expected them to rise up the league as the season progresses. As with Ranieri, it's all a bit kneejerk. Plenty of potential for another backwards appointment to come.

I'd normally side with the weary skepticism displayed by nufc.com, but there have since been positive noises from Caulkin. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/mike-ashley-puts-newcastle-united-up-for-quick-sale-v73tn8zvj (I'd love to read the rest if possible...) So perhaps the "Roll up! Roll up! Easy terms available!" wording is just another example of unprofessionalism and ineptitude, not quite the desperate appeal it sounds like.

I've always thought Gayle was good enough for the PL but I don't know if he can recover from that injury last season. fwiw, here's some great analysis about how strikers at promoted clubs fare in the next season. It's very rare for them to thrive, with Andy Carroll being the best example. Based on 32 players, the calculated drop in goals is 40%, which would make Gayle still useful in the PL if he can get fit. https://experimental361.com/2017/07/15/how-do-goalscorers-fare-after-their-team-is-promoted/

It was an idiotic challenge from Lejeune. The ball had clearly gone though, so if a pundit ever claims that might be a factor in a challenge not being a penalty, remember this incident where it wasn't treated as one.

FT. Decent enough result, but two points thrown away given the way the game played out. We gifted them their goals. We hit their woodwork and had one cleared off the line. Yedlin should have been off though. I think it was Bimpy who said Long was our bogey player before the game, and he got an absolutely nothing penna out of us. I think the last goal he got against us was the one where he walked it past Steven Taylor, that plank's last contribution before Rafa dropped him, but he managed it today against a seemingly much better player. Maybe there is a voodoo working some black magic there. Gayle came on with a knackered Shelvey at #10, a total hiding to nothing, so don't judge him on this. I would have liked to see more energy from Murphy, so maybe a kick up the arse is needed there. He looked lazy for a young lad who'd just been brought on. All in all, two points lost, but suck in up and move on.

Ah well, test of character this lads. Still there to be won.

My word, that was fistpumps level of bad. A total gift.

If we're going to stretch it, Gayle is the only hope.

Shelvey looks too knackered to play at the top of a diamond.

Yep, looks like Merino is coming on though.

Commentary hasn't mentioned it but I reckon Blob was worse than Forster there. Yedlin lucky there for sure. You can't do that any more.

YES AYOZE! Before that, shit goal, letting him get the shot off and the timber! dive from blob.

Winning, but a bit jittery and giving them the ball and freekicks easily. Tell em to calm down, give it 15, and stick Gayle and Merino on, I guess.

If that's Harry Redknapp, I bet their lot hate him too for his time at Pompey. If this is how you choose go-to pundits, they could have had Roy Hodgson and David Moyes on yesterday.

According to Transfermarkt, Gabbiadini has never played second striker for them. That sounds like a defensive CM pairing for them too.

In the last couple of seasons, yep. https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/shane-long/bilanzdetails/spieler/37304/gegner/762

A surprise, but Hayden's been all right this season. Hope he can impress. The little bit of Lejeune we saw was tasty, so lets see if he can pick up where he left off. Decent bench, but I'd have Mitro over Diame.

The first seven games certainly suggest they're not as good as before. They can't blame difficult fixtures either, unlike Everton. http://www.football365.com/news/which-team-has-had-the-easiest-run-of-fixtures

Contrast City at Chelsea last time out with Man United killing the game today. Mourinho gets such an easy ride.

6 for City. Glorious football.

City are evilly good. 3-0

Game over at City. 2-0 already

The displays have been fantastic. You can only do something this big with organization, and any organization is going to have some kind of committee where you'll get differences of opinion. The main thing is to keep the thing focused on what it was set up for and not allow distractions take over. I think this name change qualifies as a distraction and nothing more. On the whole, I believe matchgoing fans are a major factor in us having Rafa Benitez and feel grateful to them for their part in the club's revival.

I expect another tight game that we'll be in but which could go any way. Believe it or not, but we're third in the league in average shots per away game and average shots on target. For all that though, we've only scored one goal, the Lascelles header at Swansea. Southampton sound a bit leaky at the back, so its a good chance for our forwards to get off the mark away from SJP. Many bad memories of this fixture of course, but that was before Rafa.

Aye 100% for Merino and 25% for stud rights.