Tiotes Witch Doctor

So we should be grateful that after having spent more money, we are being outperformed by Brighton and Huddersfield who we came up with? They don't have the "world class" Rafa pulling the strings either.

Hughton the better of the two managers these days it would seem, similar amounts spent -50 million last season and performing better in the league with a side that looks far more functional. He's taking us down with a whimper.

Surprised there wasn't a post in here for last night, thought he looked very composed for the most part at the back, was impressed with his performance. Wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to see a potential partnership between Dummett and Lascelles, though I'd still prefer him at LB over Manquillo.

Happy to trust Shelvey though who has the same mental flaws and has been sub par all season. You’re assuming trust is limited to a disciplined approach to the laws of the game, that’s only half the story. We're all assuming, ultimately we know fuck all, I can only go by what I see on the pitch and that's others under performing week in week and and keeping their place while others don't get half of that chance.

I think he knows something.

If we manage 4 points from our next two, we'll realistically need about 16 points from our last 16 games, 5 wins and a draw should be more than do-able if we can hit a little bit of form like we did earlier in the season.

Happy to trust Shelvey though who has the same mental flaws and has been sub par all season.

Don't rate him, and don't understand the praise hes been getting lately, not really counting the City game as its pretty much a free pass but think he looks as bad as he did when Rafa first started giving him a chance. Might still come good but looking a right dud so far. Makes Atsu look like Hazard.

Would go: Elliot Yedlin Lascelles Mbemba Dummett Ritchie Shelvey* Merino Atsu Perez Gayle *Would rather give Saivet a chance after WHU but his total exclusion from that squad last night suggests this probably wont be the case.

Has been disgracefully treated IMO. He is no world beater, but we've needed something different in games, games we've lost with a whimper due to no attacking prowess, and Mitrovic could have provided that extra spark as he did in championship games where he came on and held the ball up or assisted, or put himself about. No idea what the story is but not using him has potentially cost us the odd point here and there, I could be wrong but neither Joselu or Gayle have scored as many as Mitrovic (9) in a single premier league season, seems mental not to use him at all. Not that bothered if he now goes aslong as we replace him well but I don't think it had to be like this. (Just waiting to get shouted at for daring questioning Rafa)

Absolute nothing player.

Regardless of where the money came from he still spent 50 million picking and signing players, for that money we should have already had a huge advantage on both Brighton and Huddersfield and then the three of us spent very similar money and we are the worst of the three. They spent their amounts on better players for the price and we spent ours on players like Manquillo and Joselu, not to mention wasting the bulk of the money on "one for the future"

They will end up about mid table and be chuffed with it.

Much better second half, actually managed to get the basics right and get into some good areas but ultimately as usual let down by the quality of strikers and or final ball. The squad isn't anywhere near good enough, but with the 50 million spent last season, the similar amount to the likes of Hudds and Brighton spent this season, its a bit disappointing that a manager of Benitez' pedigree isn't doing better, not so much in this game as a 1-0 defeat is fairly credible but the dropped points against the teams around us. If he does get money for January he needs to spend it better than he has so far.

This is going to be horrible from start to finish, I think we will really get shown up here.

He's one of those players who truly appreciates to be in the situation he is.

Awful squad of players, money wasted on shite, and surprisingly poor management. 8.

Hes managed a higher tally in his one full premier league season than any other striker we have on the books and didn't get a fair chance, still don't understand it, best we just get him sold and use the money for a striker Rafa will actually give the time of day to.

Persisting with Manquillo and giving Diame minutes

6 hours till Joselu time

Fucking get in!

Hopefully fighting for their place in the squad if we're gonna go glass half full.

He needs to put his stubborn tactics and personnel to one side and select the right team for this one, No Joselu no fucking Diame, get a solid team out there and get them fired up. We need to start picking up wins we are getting dangerously close to being sucked into a relegation battle. The league is shite, we've picked up a point from 18 and still 5 points away from the drop, we just need a few wins and everything will look a lot better. Couple of decent signings wouldn't go a miss in January too.

Just think I've still seen more from Aarons in his brief stints in the team over the years, didn't think Murphy was worthy of the praise he seems to be getting from the Man Utd game though he did look a bit more sharp at times. Much of a muchness really both are a bit underwhelming in their own ways, wouldn't be that disappointed with either.