Hhtoon

Yeah that is a good point actually, Pards did become the focal point and people coming out on behalf of Rafa is helping.

I mean, I get where Tubes is coming from in some ways. If there was another Pards-esque manager then they would be another target as with the Bishop or Charnley. That would turn the stadium toxic (crying Pards ) increasing the pressure and media awareness. Respect for Rafa is muting that avenue of 'attack'. However, implying Rafa is staying for selfish reasons is probably off the mark and repeating it incessantly everywhere rather grating

Rafa's or Mitro's? Either way could you sum up please? I'm paraphrasing, but "Rafa wanted me to press from the front, that's not my game, I get tired doing that, my game is crosses in the box, I tried adapting but I couldn't do it." Wish people would move on. He was never going to play under Rafa and asking Rafa to adapt his ways and tactics which have given him so much success down the years to accommodate him is daft. If Rafa was backed it would be more black and white than simply Mitro being sold and proving a world beater whilst Rafa prefers Joselu/Rondon. This. The sensible solution was for Rafa to be backed with a striker he wanted. Whether it can be claimed Rondon is that backing is another matter. However, assuming Rafa is leaving at the end of the season and we have only loaned Rondon, in retrospect it's a shame we didn't loan Mitro out. A new manager probably would have played to his strengths and can't help but feel that we'll be a lot weaker next summer without him. Fuck this shit. Fuck this shit because Ashley is likely to be here still; so what's the point of the above? If that goes to plan (a new manager complementing Mitro), then I'm sure there is something else that Ashley would have fucked up. Sorry mate, this is the Mitrovich thread. Obviously we could post on every thread that it's pointless discussing <insert thread name> because of Ashley, in which case let's lock the football forum down and replace with a sub-forum called Mike Ashley, with one thread also called Mike Ashley.

Rafa's or Mitro's? Either way could you sum up please? I'm paraphrasing, but "Rafa wanted me to press from the front, that's not my game, I get tired doing that, my game is crosses in the box, I tried adapting but I couldn't do it." Wish people would move on. He was never going to play under Rafa and asking Rafa to adapt his ways and tactics which have given him so much success down the years to accommodate him is daft. If Rafa was backed it would be more black and white than simply Mitro being sold and proving a world beater whilst Rafa prefers Joselu/Rondon. This. The sensible solution was for Rafa to be backed with a striker he wanted. Whether it can be claimed Rondon is that backing is another matter. However, assuming Rafa is leaving at the end of the season and we have only loaned Rondon, in retrospect it's a shame we didn't loan Mitro out. A new manager probably would have played to his strengths and can't help but feel that we'll be a lot weaker next summer without him.

Why couldn't he have got Rafa in instead of Steve. Rafa with that summer spending...

Not sure on what basis we would be worth more? Watford have invested in their squad over the last few years whilst we haven't. And in the training ground, infrastructure etc. If you think about what a new owner would need to invest in to get us up to speed: training ground improvements, academy investment, playing staff investment, you're looking at a lot of cash, probably £150m minimum. Yeah, I live in Watford and the stadium used to be a shit hole, in a shit location. The location is still ropey but the stadium has been given a massive makeover especially externally and I'd say it's improved that particular area as looks so much better. They also had a stand closed due to disrepair that has obviously been fixed now.

Richard Dunne is a certified piss head. The rest though, got Bishops hoof prints all over it. 100% they have a narrative that these ex players & managers are more than happy to swallow. If all of these fuckers appearing on sky are or have recently been represented by KBA, should we be complaining to Sky about it? Has to be some sort of conflict of interest, or are they supposed to give a balanced view of things? Am surprised the local journos haven’t written more about this. Come on man, there always needs to be 2 sides to a discussion or else what's the point? Should Shearer be allowed to comment about us as sure he has a bias towards NUFC. Carragher got a champions league medal under Rafa - should he be banned from supporting him? Fact is, a lot of people will give Ashley a lot of credit for "helping" us to get promoted after relegation unlike clubs like Sunderland, Aston Villa etc. I'd much rather these morons were given a voice so that people like Jenas and Humphrey can make them look stupid, by using the actual facts rather than spouting shite with no substance. Anyone neutral watching surely would have been firmly swayed on to our side of the argument....

City goals 1st half - 2nd half - our total goals

I didn't give you £50m because you didn't invite me to your training session *flounce*

Ashley is to blame for a lot, but tonight it was up to Rafa to make the players interested and we certainly have 11 players who are capable of beating a championship side. We lost and were outplayed. Not turning on Rafa over one game but come on, he had a bad night and that's all there is to it.

I like the way people forget games are 90 minutes long when Sunderland go behind.

Why do the keep on with these stupid values/comparisons? Ashley saying we can't compete with Man City - agreed, how about the other 18 clubs? £250b of his own money - no, just what the club generates. If he wants to make the best of the club and throw a 5th of that on top then that would be nice I suppose. And he lets the familiar "Mike" slip in. Or maybe Keith made a typo on his script.

What with Lazaar, Gamez, this fella and even Yedlin to some extent, Rafas choice in full backs seems a tad suspect Mbabu has kicked on since leaving as well.

Welcome to spit in my kids face whenever he wants after that

ImGoneUntilAshleysGone

Relegation 6 pointer imo

Love a crumpy post

Rafa rinsed them during the window, one letter doesn't change that. The windows shut so he can't change anything now and he's focusing on the season. I actually think the letter smacks of desperation and almost patronises the fans, as though they think we're too dumb to see through their pathetic attempts of using the team and Rafa to stop any protests.

Rafa did his part in pre season with his comments clearly outlining his views on the ridiculous transfer policy. However, the guy wants to be a winner and any negative narrative may impact the team so he'll crack on now. Over to us to take up the mantle in our own way!

It's just an embarrassing letter written by a man-child. The paying for relegation - your fault. Take responsibility. Linking training facilities and 10th - on that basis with better facilities could have been 7th. Loans - do proper due diligence you fat fcuk. Then trying to blame the petition on the social media campaign is just deflecting. It's all just whiney.

Owners enjoying a few drinks: https://www.readytogo.net/smb/threads/stuart-charlie-and-juan-all-in-the-colliery.1440395/page-5 My favourite post: "Just been in and spoke to Juan he says that his ambition is to win the Premier league within 5 years and even in Uruguay its well known that the mags are deluded and a laughing stock and also Rafa needs to stop whining on blaming Ashley and do his job the fat waste of space. top bloke like really liked him came across well"

Absolutely this. You can be anti-regime and still attend but hopefully still showing your displeasure.

You don't have to explain yourself to anyone. If going gives you the best time with your brother then do it.

How do you know what people find enjoyable? For some little kids and grandads, it might be that one bit of quality time they spend together. A little 5 year old (lets call him George) probably isn't going to understand what's going on and their grandad might just want to enjoy the experience with his grandkid like he probably did with his when he was a kid. Poor little George may even have autism and need that routine with his grandad. Maybe his parents have just got divorced and every home game he spends with his Dad and he looks forward to it all week. But I'm guessing, I don't know his life. George will grow up and learn Ashley is a c*** in his own good time I'm sure, but at the mo he probably doesn't even know who he is. Thought I was reading a Stifler post there. He's my muse

How do you know what people find enjoyable? For some little kids and grandads, it might be that one bit of quality time they spend together. A little 5 year old (lets call him George) probably isn't going to understand what's going on and their grandad might just want to enjoy the experience with his grandkid like he probably did with his when he was a kid. Poor little George may even have autism and need that routine with his grandad. Maybe his parents have just got divorced and every home game he spends with his Dad and he looks forward to it all week. But I'm guessing, I don't know his life. George will grow up and learn Ashley is a cunt in his own good time I'm sure, but at the mo he probably doesn't even know who he is. Inventing fictional fans and fictional scenarios is just mental ... grandads can always take their kids to the park or a northern league game ... taking them to SJP at this point in time is tantamount to child abuse : ) Yeah, obviously I'm a bit bored, but in reality there probably is some truth in it.