St1pe

Another pathetic thing on the back of the Luke Edwards interview: If communications have broken down, he isn't looking like he's going to sign or talk to them further and his camp hasn't anticipated it will go public why on earth have the club brought this to the media if they don't even have a shortlist for his replacement. What awful crisis management as well as every other aspect of the club. If things are this shit at least try and have some sort of plan in place.

I wonder how long it'll be before Rafa makes some sort of statement.

Hard to put into words the pleasure it's been having someone who's transformed the club and the fan base like he has. I honestly can't see a way back for us now given the impact it's going to have on the fan base. How is any manager going to be able to turn it around within the parameters set by Ashley? How are the players going to be motivated to play for a club aiming for survival and no further? The only remaining hope is the takeover and that looks all but dead now. I'm assuming if it was close Rafa would have stayed. I can't see me going back under this regime.

Are any of the fan groups planning any protest march, stadium gathering etc etc if Rafa is allowed to leave?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/newcastle-to-begin-search-for-rafa-benitezs-successor-hz7r6tvfv 1 Fuck

Looking ominous but I’m hopeful for another twist. If the journalist have proven anything lately is that they’ve got no idea and their sources aren’t close to the inner circle. I wouldn’t be surprised if all of this media stuff has just piggybacked on Caulkin’s opinion piece. I think he might sign for another year to see if a takeover actually happens then leave if it doesn’t. I think that’s mostly based on hope though because I’m not ready to see Rafa go and be back head first into complete meltdown as we’re all too familiar with.

Watching the England game last night was uncomfortably familiar to watching us under Pardew. Players absolutely terrified of the ball in the second half and when possession was won it was quickly moved back to the keeper and hoofed straight back to the opposition. Neville is an absolute fraud and I can understand why there was so much uproar when it was given to him over a woman. Mainly though it just made me reflect that having Rafa and playing with an actual system is something I’m not ready to lose yet.

Found that more interesting than I probably should have.

Still can’t believe the level of football he was playing at the end of the season before last - he was unstoppable. It’s just a shame he didn’t recreate it in any of his performances this year. It’s probably a wise decision he isn’t given a new deal but wish him all the best he’s been a good singing for us.

https://twitter.com/geordiedentist/status/1133280252048883713 That’s probably the most useful thing I’ve read so far that isn’t based on guess work.

?

Deflated. I’m more interested on what effect this will have on Rafa’s contract status at this point.

Yea but that’s what I’ve said. The main points were I agree with Rafa: IF he continues his form he has the potential to play for England even if only because our holding midfielders are absolutely shit.

I don’t think it’s out of the question he could become the holding player for England if he continues to play like he did in the last half of the season. I know every club outside the top few has a player that they’re adamant should be playing for England but given the weakness we have in that position I don’t see many players better than Hayden. It wasn’t too long ago Southgate picked Livermore to play in that role and Hayden is far superior to him.

I’m still baffled they have match threads for us spitting pure bile all game. When someone linked the Fulham one full of pure bitter none sense all liking each other’s posts I couldn’t believe it. Two divisions below and they’re still minute by minute following our games. Do other fans forums do it to that level?

I quite liked the look of Jahanbakhsh in one of the FA cup games I saw him play in but didn’t realise he cost them that much.

Love Hughton as well but they were one of the worst teams I’ve seen play this season - especially the away game that we somehow didn’t win.

Feel bad for Ajax but these semi finals have been completely mental

Jenas crying?

I can’t believe this

Spurs completely reverting to long balls in the last 10 doesn’t seem to have been a good idea

Where the hell was the keeper going for the follow up cross ?

How did that not go in!

Odd sub I thought Rose has been one of their better players

What a mental couple of games