Chicken Dancer

Exactly this, and I didn't pack in my Season Ticket when Benitez left...I gave them the benefit of the doubt for a short while. A combination of the Trust's scheme and especially Bruce getting the job made me chuck a ticket I had for 16 years and over 150 points. He was literally the most typical appointment of the Ashley era so I don't even know why I was surprised. Obviously I wish I still had the ticket now, but it's hard to regret something when you know at the time it was something you felt you had to do to try and initiate change.

3. he was a fucking shit manager who deserved to be nowhere near the Premier League, let alone Newcastle

Wonder if they’re almost conceding the Top 4 if that’s the case? Be interesting to see where he ends up, thought that was nailed on.

Yeah I think time has made people view his time here negatively, completely forgetting how he was shit on like messrs Keegan, Shearer and Hughton before him. He really was one of us, and like someone else has said, 10x the Geordie Bruce will ever be. Sadly I think his stock has fell to a level he won’t get another ‘top’ job, and I do think coaches like Benitez have been left behind by the modern game. Guardiola and Klopp (and others) have revitalised the way everyone tries to play now, and in my opinion probably the only way to be successful is to play the ‘modern’ way. Conte is the next bloke who will be seen in the Rafa mould. Fans won’t stand for being pragmatic now, especially those of clubs who think they should be at the top end of the table.

Completely agree with everything you’ve said. He definitely had flaws of which I think stubbornness was the worst. You sort of know what you’re going to get with him too in terms of how you’ll set up, you just need to buy into it as a fan which thankfully we (mostly) did. St James’ never turned under him from what I can remember. I’m sure Bruce would have had some awkward afternoons had it not been for the majority of his tenure being behind closed doors. I do remember though always having confidence during the bad runs that he’d get it right eventually. Genuinely - despite league positions - I was never once worried about getting relegated under him (excluding 15/16). Just knew he’d get results when needed. The only time I ever really wavered was Leicester at home (think it was the 125 years game), but quickly remembered it was December and we would definitely stay up. Special bloke who was one of the only shining lights of a rotten period in the clubs history. Love Rafa me, always welcome at mine for a drink.

Aye, we’re 3 or 4 windows away from having better options than Murphy as squad players.

They only dropped points in 6 games that season to be fair. That was the best version of Pep’s city.

4 points in the next 2 and even this pessimistic prick will start to believe. Would absolutely take a point now but no reason why we can't get all 3. 12:30 should help us in terms of atmosphere - always find home crowds a bit flat for them.

I think Fulham replaced Leeds - was originally meant to be Leeds (I think).

The football was not better under Bruce, like. Benitez was heavily criticised for that 0-1 defeat to Man City in 17/18 and it stuck (the 100pt season btw). Don't get me wrong, it was never free-flowing attacking football, but we used to create plenty chances in certain games. Going toe-to-toe with that Man City team would have meant a 0-4 defeat or something, Rafa was wise to the importance of goal difference. We played pretty much the exact same game plan the following February and won 2-1, nobody said a word because we won. The same sort of thing is happening now - the media/socials is telling everyone that we are this disgusting, time-wasting mess whereas we who watch it every week know it not to be the case. It took a few transfer windows but the second half of 18/19 when we signed Almiron and were playing a settled side every week we looked every bit a decent team. Benitez will always be a pragmatic manager, but to say the football was better under Bruce is utterly absurd and just outright wrong. I'd have loved to see Benitez able to sign a £40m striker. I understand that Benitez wasn't everyone's cup of tea, but Bruce was like a sunday league manager and that's being kind. The Geordie Pardew, but maybe that's being harsh on the silver fox.

I think you's will do it you know. I'm potentially getting carried away given your form (despite not losing too many) hasn't been great for a 5/6 weeks, but I think everything just fell into place yesterday. Even Friday too - if you's had held on. Norwich not winning is huge given they have Boro away at the weekend, although Boro seem to be a tad deflated lately. There's a few around you who play each other too, so if you can win the next 2 it really will go down to the wire. Based on what I've seen you're better than Milwall & Coventry and you've recently beat Norwich, so nowt to fear. If you can get into the playoffs winning 5 out of 6 (which you may well need) then that's cracking momentum for the games ahead. It obviously doesn't help that there's a few teams above you, but if you can go into the final 3 games with it in your hands you'd have to fancy you really. Good luck - but not too much!

Aye I’ve just checked the fixtures for all teams for final 5 weeks, pretty certain they’ll get playoffs based on that. 4 point gap will be gone by next Tuesday. Blackburn’s game in hand is against Burnley btw.

Was a cracking day for them like.

Look forward to the day you call us a painful watch.

Similar game to be fair. We didn’t need to play ‘that’ well to smash them. Fantastic sign going forward as that was in the early days of that magic October/November.

we always have loved hating our own. Been the same for years. By own I mean academy graduates. He’s absolutely fine and will be a fine squad player going forwards, and we need to keep him for homegrown quote in Europe. Fitting he sent us to Wembley tbh.

Excuse me

Their next 3 looked kind on paper (4 including tonight), whilst the teams around them play each other. Cardiff will be buoyed from today and Huddersfield are flying. I’d imagine they’re fucked for the year - nail on the coffin could come Monday. It must be fucking shit being a mackem at the minute like

Still got a relatively decent chance of making the play-offs I reckon. The teams directly above play each other over the next few match days, whereas these have 3 very winnable games coming up. Both good results for them so far today as well.

Our midfield really remind me of Liverpool’s at certain stages of the last 5 years or so. Not much in the way of goals but absolutely vital to the way we play. He’s a bit like Henderson was back then - never ending engine and good protection for the right side of the defence when Trippier attacks. He must be one of the fittest players at the club (not in the way Schar is fit…)

Not sure on the figures, but it certainly helps hugely in the way of balancing out the books for future spending (sponsors/partnerships etc). With the new rules it'll take us beyond Villa/Everton/West Ham corporate deals to other Champions League sides. Absolutely massive if we get it this early, fast-forwards about 3 years I'd think. FWIW I still don't think we will go that mad. We might see 2/3 £50m + players with a few more in the £15-25m range to beef out the squad. Getting in consistently will be the next challenge, which will be sound as we will win the thing next year.

There's no in between with them - either magma or like ice.

I'd have taken 5 points from the 3 away games, so a win here would essentially make Villa a free-hit in my eyes. Thankfully Howe & the players won't think like that. Really need to try and change my mentality. I've spent all season thinking 'ahh top 4 probably won't happen this soon' but now we're at Easter with a huge chance. Somebody please help.

I know it’s been said countless times and irrelevant to his fantastic performance (yet again) but what a handsome bastard this fella is. Christ.