ExiledGeordie

Today is an unmitigated disaster no doubt about that. To be so toothless in all areas is a major concern, we are doing our best to bottle this

Nerves and inexperience I'd say

It's starting to look this way. A loss today would be nothing short of a disaster

There was more to it with Mbemba. That's exactly what I heard from my in the know source

I like he lad, he's a young player with the right attitude and I'd keep him in the squad next season as he can improve under Benitez. No way should he be starting though, not good enough currently.

That's the one element this team is clearly lacking. We don't have experienced players to shut games down when they need to. You simply can't concede goals like that one last night. Back four will look very different next season though.

Great intensity and effort from the team today, really enjoyed that. Without Gayle we miss that cutting edge and we still seem to lack that experience and nous to close games out. Lascelles switches off on too many occasions and to concede a goal like that at the end.... We're almost there though, last push!

That was nothing compared to what happened to him once outside. The stewards were trying to get him down to the police van waiting to take him away which was parked outside the Strawberry when he was ambushed by dozens of Toon fans. He literally had the sh*t kicked out of him before the police got control of the situation. He'll be in a hell of state this morning. That'll learn him

We're still 8 points clear including goal difference without having played today yet. Huddersfield have Derby away and Fulham at home as their next two games, not easy. Let's not all piss our pants just yet

No point thinking like that. Let's hope our players don't run out tonight with this kind of pathetic bi-polar attitude

Apologies if it's been mentioned already but any involvement for Hayden or Yedlin today?

Exactly. How many points of 3rd were we clear last time after this many games out of curiosity? Apples, I'd like to introduce you to oranges Possibly the worst ever use of this phrase. You think the 2 scenarios are directly comparable Ian, really? The point I was making was that everyone talks about us pissing it back then so I was curious to see what the difference is points was. 17 Clear of 3rd with a game in hand last time at this point. We were on 89 points & with 48 GD, so bit better all around. Same amount of wins though, it's all draws. Considering we largely kept together much of a prem side that season though, compared to changing near our entire team this i'd say Rafa's done very well. Not to mention he's had to turn around a losing mentality that has festered for years. Club has been rotten to the core for years

He's proved he can't play the number 10 role and for me doesn't do enough in CM. He puts in a shift for the most part but just doesn't have enough impact on the game for me.

Its the tactics and style of play that stifle the performance. Your telling me that what Rafa has at his disposal after all the money HE has spent that we shouldn't already be home and dry? This place would be in f***ing meltdown if any of our recent managers had pulled that result / performance yesterday. Would you rather he wasn't manager then, maybe have one of those previous idiots in charge? We're almost about to go back up at the first attempt which is vital for our clubs existence and we have been a basket case of a club for years. Surely you need to look at the bigger picture? We went in to yesterday 10 points clear of 3rd place? We should be on the front foot from the off....boring negative s*** - the back four passin sideways one way then the other how many f***ing times? Ask that back 4 to do some basic defending and they couldn't. I wouldn't disagree with you, yesterday was awful. Our away record speaks for itself tough surely, in he most we've been immense away from home.

Its the tactics and style of play that stifle the performance. Your telling me that what Rafa has at his disposal after all the money HE has spent that we shouldn't already be home and dry? This place would be in f***ing meltdown if any of our recent managers had pulled that result / performance yesterday. Would you rather he wasn't manager then, maybe have one of those previous idiots in charge? We're almost about to go back up at the first attempt which is vital for our clubs existence and we have been a basket case of a club for years. Surely you need to look at the bigger picture?

He doesn't have the players to play his system currently combined with other "functional" players that he's simply getting the best out of. The lack of a solid midfielder next to Shelvey, a competent left winger and proper number 10 really affects our play. Injuries to players like Hayden and Yedlin show up the weakness in the squad too. It's not pretty at times but he's basically grinding it out to get the job done which is simply to go up.

His passing is woeful

Standard 5/10 performance again

Piss poor performance but we've been awesome away from home all season so I'm not going to complain too much. We just don't get enough from the likes of Diame and Perez though while Gouffran is "functional". Benitez has got the best out of this squad and the main aim was to go up. Squad needs a complete overhaul for prem league but we all know that

Awful defending

Think we will lose on Saturday but we will beat leeds. I do fancy Huddersfield to lose Saturday too Huddersfields games at home to Fulham and away to Derby are tough. Considering those they can't really afford to slip up in any others with only 6 matches left

They've been appallingly run and their luck has finally run out

He needs time to develop. Would probably benefit from playing with a solid experienced centre half. I can't see him starting next season though, just not good enough currently. Ok when the ball is in front of him but in behind and he goes to shreds. I thought he was quicker than he is too. Being slated by fans at this stage is ridiculous though

Yeah it's fundamental to Rafas system isn't it. The over reliance on Shelvey for creation hasn't been painful at times.