Lush Vlad

Most of them look bad. But I can’t believe how poor Ritchie has been. Manquillo garbage and all. But nothing new there.

I prefer players who can play football. Dummett is average at playing slide tackling (usually as a necessity after fucking up higher up the pitch). It's a myth that he is a good defender. Only enhanced because of his shit ball control. I'd say he is comfortably the worst player with the ball at his feet in the entire PL. Manquillo is shit, but not to the level of Dummett. Agree with the ones who would rather see Mbemba play. Dummett currently experiencing the weird scenario where some people think a certain player suddenly becomes better than they are because they have been out injured for some time and/or their replacement is crap. See Rolando Aarons for another example. I'm sure it used to happen with Ryan Taylor, as well. I have to be honest. Despite never rating Dummett or thinking he is going to solve our problems at left back. I do genuinely think he is a better option than Manquillo. Especially in games against better teams. Neither inspires much confidence and it is an area that needs looking at nearly as badly as our options, or lack of, up front and at no.10.

A bit glass half empty. But if any of that turns out to be accurate, then you could be right. Still, a chance to get rid of Ashley is too good to be true.

What I liked about him, was his willingness to have a go and carry the ball from deep. We got a lot of joy down his flank and Yedlin and him combined fairly well. He worked hard coming back, as well. Got his head down a bit at times and a couple of pointless shots. But a solid game, I thought. If he can build on that. He could be a more useful player for us than Atsu, who I don’t particularly rate.

Is he the fastest player to ever play for us? I can’t get over how quick he is at times. I really like him and he seems to be improving all the time. I have wiped most of the game from my memory. But I thought he perhaps could have done better on the first and I think the third. But he was still probably our best player.

Strangely enough. He reminded me of earlier Coloccini, at times. Not full blown Colo The Clown defending. But some really classy bits of play on the ball, where he looked skillful and composed. Followed by looking like he’s not paying attention and being scared to tackle anyone. I think he will develop into a top player for us, the same way Colo did. Just hopefully he doesn’t then revert to type, the same was ol floppy hair did.

Sums it up nicely. Perhaps a top level keeper saves the first two. But he isn’t a top level keeper and we are not a top team. So it’s kind of a moot point. I was more worried by how lost he is on every set piece and cross, he always seems glued to his line. Always thought his command of his area is poor and takes odd angles 1 on 1. He went full rogue last night when coming out his box for no reason, only for Manquillo to bail him out.

That video They had to mention the 'world class training facility' didn't they? Saying the place will be full every week if they do well? Aye, righto. I really don't get why they think they were going to 'build something' with Allardyce? He was always going to fuck off once a better offer had come in and if memory serves, they still had relegation form when he was in charge. As for that bloke's hair in the camo jacket. Well.........

Take Hecks over Rafa any day me like. Would genuinely prefer Heckers in our situation. The waiter got them Rafagated and spent a shitload bringing them back up. FTM. If he goes there, it won't be long until some of them come out with something like this. I mean, there were plenty saying Grayson was a better choice than Rafa

Hecks for me like.

I go the opposite way, KI. I think City are just up there on their own, then come the usual SKY 4-6 teams. After that, I really think the league is horrendous. Despite all of the money and big name players that will sign for smaller clubs because of it. I have found a lot of games I've watched this season to be horrendous. Just awful football, really negative and too much percentage football. I don't watch enough of other leagues to compare fairly. But I have always found the prem is the best league in the world argument a bit absurd. Ot always seems to be a bit of a throwaway comment, often by fans who probably don't even watch the other major leagues. When I do catch Bundesliga and La Liga games, I am always surprised by the style and the ability on shown. Especially when there are so many lesser known players. I think some of it is to do with familiarity with teams and players, too. I think with the money in our game, the standard of football should be a lot better and the games more exciting. We've been involved in 4 games already that must have been absolutely brutal for the neutral.

I think I would have preferred the likes of Italy and Holland to have qualified. Not really sure why? As both have been shit and their current teams wouldn't have really added much to the competition. So I guess it must just be because I am used to seeing these teams at major competitions, more than anything. Always had a soft spot for the Dutch, mind. Growing up in the 90's, they had some amazing players.

International football is mind numbingly boring. I watched an hour of the game last night and I get there was a lot at stake, but it was just turgid shite. I wasn't sure who I wanted to qualify by the end of it. Probably neither

I actually agree with some of this, but all I could think when reading it was:

"Buying a football club is much like making love to a beautiful woman Paul...You woo them with the fine things, French wines, Belgian chocolates, an NDA so tight you couldn't fit a Rizla through it. Then you hope the other party is interested and provided there isn't the occasional leak, sew up the deal with minimal fuss before loudly announcing it to all your friends..." :lol: I'm glad I didn't attempt this, as yours is so much better than anything I could have come up with. Class!

That last tweet just made me think of Swiss Toni

Palace, Swansea and I think Huddersfield. I reckon they will start to drop after Christmas and their lack of quality will eventually show. I would rather they stop up and West Ham or Stoke went down, mind. The league looks really poor this year IMO and outside of the big 4-6, it has for a while.

Not that Murphy has shown much/anything for us yet, he has barely played, TBF. But I really feel it is a case of absence makes the heart grow fonder with Aarons. He isn't that good. That said, unless he really has been that awful in training and for the reserves. Then he should offer similar to Atsu and hopefully more than Murphy.

Shows that the team is greater than the sum of its parts under Rafa. I can't really think of a stand out performer bar Merino and Lascelles. Both have missed games and have been more solid, rather than spectacular. I don't think Atsu has been particularly impressive at all. In fact, I don't really rate him. But when you look at it subjectively, he probably has been one of our better performers. To me, that just highlights how badly we are lacking decent attacking options.

Don't necessarily disagree with that assessment but his alternatives are worse and he's the only non-Yedlin player in the team with any pace. I don't even think he is that fast. He can be direct, but he doesn't look like he will regularly beat his man for pace off the ball. But he is sometimes crafty enough to work his way past a full back when in possession. We have a pretty slow squad overall. As you are probably right about him being our only other regular starter with any kind of speed.

What a headline

Yes. That is exactly what I am saying lads. I don’t want Rafa, I want a relegation scrap and I want Pardew back. I merely commented on how dreadful the last two games of football were. When there were about 2-3 highlights of note in each game and the lynch mob are out in force. Not like this place to overreact off the back of a throwaway comment. Weird cunts.

He’s not very good.

You have a very short memory of that is the case. People have already forgotten how bad it was under Pardew etc. Fuck all to do with a short memory. It is just we have played two negative teams, were both managers have been cautious as fuck. I am not saying this is the worst NUFC team in recent years or anything. Or massively digging out Rafa. I’m just highlighting, that as a fan of either club, or a neutral. These last two games have been woeful in terms of incidents, shots on target, decent football played etc. At least under the former clowns there was usually some comedy value, or the other team scoring a few

The Palace game to this. Two of the worst games I have seen in a long time. I guess Burnley fans will feel like we did last weekend. Horrendous game of football, made better after sneaking an undeserved 1-0 win with a late goal. Sky will surely stop picking us soon? We have served up some brutally shit performances so far.