Tiotes Witch Doctor

Yeah everyone was buzzing at HT on the concourse, not a single person expected us to go on and win, everyone just saying if could even keep score down to 2 or 3-1 we've done alright, but in true NUFC style we tank the game 6-1. Great days.

I was at the 6-1, one of those where you just have to forget the scoreline and have a good time in the stands and get mortal after.

We won 3 games in a row after our second PL game though, not much chance of that happening with the fixtures we have coming up, I just worry with not too many winnable games coming up the damage could be done and we might struggle to recover. Theres every chance we could be firmly rooted in the bottom 3 by October.

Same script as Chelsea, but these are better, 2-0 loss both goals coming in the final 30 minutes.

Don't really understand the darlow hate, made one mistake and one outstanding save had no chance with the others, he is shite mind,but he would be the last one that I would be criticising.

Kenedy deserves to be dropped for his performance vs Cardiff and his complete lack of interest tonight, schar absolutely appalling throughout especially for their second. All round disgusting performance, team and manager need to have a long hard look at themselves.

Ashley and backing and transfers aside we should still be able to muster better than this, they have been better than us in every department.

a

Looks like pub footballer in this match.

Does anyone actually think Mitro will score less than 15 goals this season? Even if he does end up being an all round shit PL striker he will still bang them in this season just because its us. I'd wager a small bet with anyone that Mitro will not only outscore Rondon but also Rondon and Joselu combined. In his one full PL season in an awful relegated McClaren team he managed 9 goals, which again I'm sure is more than Joselu or Rondon have managed in a single PL season with much more time to prove themselves.

Darlow Sterry Fernandez Schar Dummett Murphy Longstaff Diame Atsu Muto Rondon

These tactics would be a problem if we approached every game in this manner, It's not particularly enjoyable, but I think with a more settled forward line and our best 11 fit we would have created more anyway. Bottom line I can take 3 or 4 of these kinds of backs to the wall performances as long as we try and take it to the rest of the teams.

37. Same old same old.

Still not seen a thing from him yet to suggest he has what it takes. Probably needs a decent run in the side in reality though.

Hes already relegated us once marras.

Whether it was complacency playing against what he thought would be a pushover Cardiff team or he just felt extra confident on that day, he decided that he wanted to try and be the man to win the game for us single handedly and it backfired massively, the way he refused to pass the ball but instead tried to take everyone on was infuriating, yes it was one bad game but the manner in which he had the bad game could have been completely avoided, Cardiff pretty much had his number throughout and he didn't get a sniff. Would like to think Rafa is the sort of manager who could tell him this and is something that he will learn from and make him a better player.

Dubravka (7) Probably did what he could for the goals, kicking was suspect at times. Yedlin (5) Don't rate him defensively, caught out far too many times, he would be one of the worst fullbacks in the league if not for his recovery pace, still hope hes ok though, the alternative is worse. Lascelles (7) Not one of his greatest games but pretty much solid throughout Clark (7) Same as Lascelles Dummett (6) Made some good interceptions and blocks but was caught out more than once, awful for the first goal. Ritchie MOTM (9) He was absolutely everywhere, beautiful assist and some great weighted passes over the top, never stopped as usual, the decision to replace him was a poor one from Benitez. Diame (6) Would have been higher but he had a first half to forget, seemed to find his feet second half though and looked like he did late on last season. Shelvey (6) Had a few moment of genius but ultimately pretty ineffective, didn't really stamp his authority on the game. Kenedy (7) A few dangerous looking runs and was unlucky to be fouled on some of the better ones, but thought he was wasteful with his passing and crossing, and that first touch for the chance he had was Perez (6) Some good moments, really looked dangerous early on but faded, held onto the ball far too long when he had good options either side. Joselu (7) Hold up play was mainly good and took his goal well, even though it was a free header. Subs: Thought Muto looked bright, seems to have a good turn of pace and looks composed on the ball, but not much to go off. Rondon I think is going to be exactly what we need up front, strong, quick and direct, would start him next game. Atsu was like a headless chicken, really disappointed in the decision to take Ritchie off, easy to say in hindsight but I feel we stood a better chance with him on the pitch.

Just needs a ciggy and a nice little lie down and he'll be right as rain for Spurs.

I have our net spend as -19 million if that includes a reported 5 million loan fee for Kenedy I saw somewhere.

The sad thing is if we actually just brought our net spend back up to 0 with half decent players before the window shuts most would be fairly happy

Really wouldn't mind seeing this but really don't want to pay £5, especially with the current goings on.

Same goes for Josef Yarney, who will replace Mbemba. Amazing that we have become even cheaper, flicking squad players and replacing them with kids who may or may not be good enough... At least if they do well we can sell them at a huge profit which we're bound to benefit from

Not arsed if he goes if hes replaced like, hes a grafter and decent in the tackle but shits himself if he has to find a forward pass.

I think even with the current squad he would find a way to keep us up, I'm man enough to admit I've questioned him at times so far in his tenure and in some cases rightly so and in some cases out of frustration, but its obvious the more he works with his players the better we get, it wouldn't be a top half finish and it would probably be a battle but I think we would come out of it and stay up. Its ridiculous that we are even having this conversation, this easily could and should be one of the most exciting times in a decade of following NUFC, we should be seeing us loosen the purse strings a bit, making strides and everyone confident ready to take on the new season and move forward, but here we are again hoping we at least spend what we bring in from sales and slowly starting to pray we get someone like Rondon in because nobody better will be paid for, and worrying about Rafa leaving. Just a shit sandwich all round.

Everyone loves a bargain, frees, loans and budget deals are fine when used in the right way, would be happy with that if we spent the money we brought in from the bigger sales in the most important areas, which we all know is a quality striker and a couple of quality midfielders.