ExiledGeordie

Hopefully he'll be close after these next few weeks and involved for the final run in.

I don't think Rafa works on different tactics, he works on the same tactics, shape, control, discipline, all within the restraints of a rigid 4-2-3-1. It's relatively successful at this level, however entertaining and good to watch it isn't. It'll look a lot better with some genuine quality injected next season in key areas. Provided he's given the funds and allowed to buy who he needs of course. This is a championship squad assembled with only getting out of the division in mind, and tbh, even our 2 or 3 best players would be only average in the Premier. How many current players you reckon would start next season assuming we go up? He'll want players to fit his system - new striker, no10, centre mid, left wing, left back, centre half minimum?

The games for Huddersfield at home to Fulham and away to Derby (now managed by Rowett) are tough.

Fit enough to come on though? I don't get it. I'm guessing that Benitez having spoken to the player, doctors, physios probably had enough knowledge to decide starting the player wasn't the best option ?

All three teams are a bit jaded and you can understand why with so many fixtures. Two weeks rest is crucial for us right now and then the final assault.

Yes my fear is the clash with Ashley if we go up. What he will consider financial outlay will be worlds apart from Benitez and there'll no doubt be the age old issue of trying to avoid buying all foreign players.

Team needs to start quicker and force the issue more. That'll get the crowd going but equally crowd need to do their bit too and give full support

I respectfully disagree. If that is the case and we are promoted we're totally f***ed next season without major surgery to the squad. Massively. IMO we really should be performing better than we are. If he's doing the best with the squad he has, let's not get promoted as we are coming straight back down. Does anyone honestly have think Benitez would be happy in the prem with the current squad I tell you what I wish we'd got someone in with proper knowhow of the championship like Nigel Pearson haha It's not perfect but we are currently top and very likely to go up

Very frustrating result indeed but this weekend could've been far worse. We could have lost and Huddersfield might've won. Have to consider Gayle not fully sharp yet, Shelvey ill, Yedlin/Hayden injured. You get the impression we're kind of limping to the finish at the moment. Players look drained. Two weeks to regroup and try and come up with a plan to put away two very winnable (in theory) home matches. I think the doom and gloom is excessive given where we are still

Shelvey has been ill all week. Exactly he's not going to start a player whose been ill and isn't 100% ffs

Huddersfield back Fulham at home and Derby away (Rowett in charge now), can see them slipping up there too

A win today would almost seal it. Psychologically Huddersfield have taken a whack now too

Burnley must fancy their chances today. Can see a draw though

Really looking forward to this game now, so I imagine the players will be aye. Yeah the result last nigh I'll have been just the tonic. Just need a solid professional performance and we should be alright. Gayle will have benefited from another weeks training, should be sharper.

Whatever happens tomorrow it's another game that's gone with Huddersfield not making a dent into the lead.

Huge chance now.

7 if you consider goal difference

I don't think Gayle is fit. Not 100%, he seems to be holding back, don't know if that's mental or physical, but something doesn't seem right. Yep 100% He'll be lacking match fitness and sharpness and hamstrings can be notoriously difficult to fully recover from. Confidence will probably be a bit of an issue because he's probably worried about it going again. Get another match in at Birmingham and then two weeks full training before the home matches and I'd say he'll be back to his best.

We've had Pardew, Carver, McShite in succession........we are top of the league with Benitez at the helm and automatic promotion looking likely. Fuck off

W all know Colback is weak as piss but the continued complete ineffectiveness of Diame and Perez game to game has really hurt us this season. I thought Perez would rip this league up but he's been nothing short of a disaster this season. Diame clearly isn't a number ten but his fluctuating and often woeful form only heaps more pressure on Shelvey to do something.

Just to entertain this absolute horseshit for a second more than it deserves, to be promoted already we'd have to be sitting on 102 points right now. From a maximum available of 111. Okay. Given our budget I say that is extremely relative. We should be miles ahead. Poor recruitment and negative tactics is costing us. No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him. "No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him" dear oh dear But he doesn't. If he did he would have backed him in Jan. But previous recruitment which is the direct impact of how s*** we are (for me extremely lucky to be where we are) along with his negative tactics. Any top manager wouldn't have Jack Colback anywhere near the first team. He'd have replaced him with better recruitment in the summer. So you'd rather we'd be under the tutorship of someone like Nigel Pearson or some other knacker then? We aren't perfect but save for some questionable home form we are top of the league. Look at Villa if you want to analyse poor recruitment too. You need to look at the impact Benitez has had on the club and area since his arrival too and it might be worth having a look at what he's won before you question his credentials. Giving genuine credence to Ashley not backing him too, that's the real winner too, lol

Just to entertain this absolute horseshit for a second more than it deserves, to be promoted already we'd have to be sitting on 102 points right now. From a maximum available of 111. Okay. Given our budget I say that is extremely relative. We should be miles ahead. Poor recruitment and negative tactics is costing us. No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him. "No wonder Ashley doesn't trust him" dear oh dear

Gayle is the deciding factor for me. He'll get chances today and unlike recent home matches where we've missed chances, he''ll convert.

Agree, it seems pretty clear that he really likes it hear and has an affiliation with the fans/area. I think he'll give Ashley every chance to confirm what he originally asked for and demonstrate ambition but if he's dicked around he'll be off for sure. It's almost like he's backing Ashley into a corner to the point where Ashley will be seen as the complete idiotic cunt if he goes back on his word. "I want it, the fans want it.....over to you"