Lush Vlad

Not bringing Rafa in sooner will be what costs us. Funny you should say that. I just posted the same in the Rafa thread

I dunno like. On that Teammates on Soccer AM. It was obviously all light hearted stuff. The fact Lascelles has mentioned Shelvey not training well, when his head's not right, is pretty damning.

I never noticed him being so mad on the touchline, for his previous clubs? Has he always been a bit of a nutter, on the sideline?! He was shouting and organising, right until the final whistle. Absolutely love how compact we are when defending and how we appear to have some actual shape and structure to the team. Then after the game, he says all the right things. Yet again, he hasn't blamed the officials or tried to make excuses. Something we became very used to, under Pardew. It's just a shame it took us so long to appoint him. Even just the 2 games earlier and I think we'd be sitting here with 4 points more than we currently have. Fuck sake Rafa. You've now given me a bit of hope and belief, after accepting our fate weeks ago. It's now going to hurt like hell if/when we go down.

You know what, I have always been against it. But I think I agree for things like this. The same way when they use it in Cricket, just to check if it's a no ball or not. I wouldn't want to see it brought in for other decisions, though. As you would get situations similar to Vardy vs Arsenal and also against West Ham. Where it's still inconclusive and people have different views on whether or not it was a foul, dive or neither. I just worry, that if it is brought in for offsides. They'll start using it for other decisions, like red cards, goal scoring opportunities, penalties etc. I don't want that and I really do think that would ruin the flow of the game.

I'd agree with that. I think at the minute, we need performances like last night, over the ones from earlier in the season. If all of our players work as hard as that, then I think we'll grind out some results. He's been a passenger for so long, that it's nice to see the change in him. In fairness to him, since Rafa has been here. I think there has been a noticeable shift in the effort he puts in. He had just been stuck out on the left, where he looks terrible.

Need to see it again, but it didn't look like there was a huge chance to square it? They had 2-3 players in the box, that got across to him fairly quickly. Then when he cut back to get room for a shot, there was no angle to pass to anyone. I thought he did pretty much everything right, a lot of credit has to go to Hart. Came flying out to close him down and spread himself really well. I hate the 'he struck it too well' cliché. But I think Henry was spot on and it is actually applicable, in this instance. If he catches that slightly on the inside of his foot, he might have dragged that into the bottom corner, or if he sliced it a bit, it might have gone through Hart's legs. Fine margins. I have a feeling that miss and the 2 points it has cost us, may come back to haunt us.

You can't fault his work rate. He tracks back a lot, whilst being pretty threatening going forward. Considering how long he had playing for the stiffs at Spurs and the injury he got when he first arrived, he looks in good shape. He was still tearing up and down, just before he came off. Not the most talented and he makes some bad decisions. But he seems to care. Which makes a refreshing change.

Such a frustrating player. Based on the second half, that is as well as he's played for us in years, possibly since his debut away at Everton. But he only seems to turn up for games against the big boys, or his style just suits those games. The fact that he is AWOL for most of the season and then when he does play, looks overweight, uninterested and s***. If he plays like that for the rest of the season. I don't think we'll concede too many from open play.

Only saw the second half. Him and Tiote looked good. They were pressing in the right areas and Colback actually looked physical, for a change. Still a lot of cheap fouls and still pretty shit on the ball. But has suited the system for the last two games.

Had the first half on 5 Live on the way home. He was great for Anita's goal. You could hear him in the background celebrating "Yesssss. Get in."

Based on the 5-10 Brummies, that you've encountered during your life?

If you think they are not alike in regard to lack of discipline in a crucial role then you are clueless. Fabregas is completely immobile, can't tackle and doesn't look to play Shelvey/Gerrard type passes, at all. But because he apparently lacks positional discipline. You compare him to Gerrard? It's as bad as the Ramsey, Charlie Adam, and Gerrard comparisons. Just quit now, whilst you're behind. Such a mongrel.

I want Leicester to win the league. But a lot of my good mates are Spurs fans and I'd be really happy for them, if they had a bit of success. Hopefully not at our expense on the last day of the season. Spurs are pretty likeable at the minute, as well. Decent, inoffensive, young manager. A youthful team with a lot of English players. Play some of the best football in the league. All that said, I'd still be pretty disappointed, if Leicester didn't see it out.

I can't see anything but a complete and utter arse raping. Hopefully, the win on Saturday has given the team a bit of belief and confidence and we can grind out a draw. I think anything other than a loss, would be a bonus.

Stop comparing players that are nothing alike.

Like Everton. If memory serves, at least the game was pretty much over by that point? I'm probably just being paranoid. It just seems like we've got a bit of positivity about a player and my stock reaction, is to expect it to all go south.

I am loving his passion and the fact he is calling out some of his teammates, on their pathetic performances. However, I can't help but feel he's going to set himself up for a fall. He's backed up his words and he has played fairly well, of late. It just feels like, in typical NUFC fashion. He's going to massively fuck up, or get sent off or something and it will cost us points.

spot on Joey. Ramsey is pretty mobile, is well suited to playing in the best passing team in the league, he can operate out wide, he can play behind the striker or as a centre mid. I would say comparing him to Charlie Adam and Jonjo Shelvey, is a bit of an odd one? As for Shelvey. I think Cronky is spot on with his assessment. In a team that can control possession and dominate games. I think he'd actually be a very good player. For a team like us, that do neither of those things. He's pretty ineffective and is actually a bit of a hindrance.

He was class against Liverpool and Man U, as well. So he only gets pumped up and plays well, against big name clubs?

This. I don't think his ability is in question. His close control, the way he turns to shake off his man, his finishing and the runs he makes, are all quality. But he is obviously a gutless bastard. I can't remember the last good game he had?! He has had games where he has looked almost world class. So I don't think it's a case of him just playing well above his ability, on a few occasions. It just seems like he hasn't got the heart for the fight and goes missing all too often. Massive shame, as we could do with some of his quality, right now. But the way he is strolling about the pitch. We could really do with playing someone in his place. You know, someone that is actually interested in fighting for the team.

I know after 33 games. There are going to be a lot of moments you can look back on and say 'what if?' But the last minute Norwich goal, really does look massive, now. We'd be on level points, with a +1 better goal dif, if we had seen that out. It looks as if sunderland are the ones with the best chance of stopping up. So we'd still have to outperform them for the last 5 games. But I still go back to the 3-2 at Carrow Road and think that might ultimately be what fucks us. Unless we get a shock win against City or Liverpool (yeah right), then I think we're down.

I was quietly confident we could sneak a win. But never thought we'd bang in 3 goals and keep a clean sheet. So it's great that we still have a fighting chance. I think sunderland are the most likely to stay up. But we're still in the fight, at least. I've only seen MOTD. From watching that and seeing the stats. It still seems like we're a long way from figuring it out and we're obviously not going to become a good side overnight. At this stage of the season, it doesn't really matter how you get a win, of course. I'm sure the result and the clean sheet, will do their confidence no end of good. I'm just a bit worried about the next two games. I think the City and then Liverpool, will bring us back down to earth. Watching City on Saturday, was pretty scary. If only De Bruyne was still injured.

Norwich - 33 Newcastle - 32 Sunderland - 31 I thought I was being fairly optimistic, as well. Lots of draws and losses for the mackems. Us beating Swansea, Palace and drawing with Villa. I doubt we'll even win tomorrow.

Because his touch is shit and he can't pass or tackle. So pretty much the same as the rest of our centre midfield

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has published changes to the laws of the game for the 2016/17 season, the most notable altering sending-off and cautionable offences inside the penalty area. The previous 'triple-punishment' rule meant that a player who denied a goal-scoring opportunity was automatically red-carded and handed a suspension, as well as giving away a penalty. That's from the post on the last page. Makes it sound like it's for inside the box, only. But then it's not 100% clear as the article goes on and the BBC link, makes it even less clear. I agree with you. This new rule should apply to fouls inside the penalty area, only. It should have been brought in ages ago.