TK-421

#BREAKING: Adam Johnson sentenced to 6 years in jail for grooming and sexual activity with a child

From Sky reporter Twitter: Judge says #AdamJohnson has no remorse. Judge says there's three aggravating factors. 1. Met in dark place. 2. Tried to conceal. 3. Impact to victim. Judge says #AdamJohnson crimes fit into "Category A" type of offending. This looks like a potentially long sentence coming.

Just looking at the fixtures, I have us (probably slightly optimistically), to get 13 pts by the end of the season, which would leave us with 38. Hoping for wins against Norwich, Swansea, Palace and Villa, and a point at either Southampton or Liverpool. Doubt we'll get anything from either Man City or Spurs, but Man City are quite unpredictable at the moment, so who knows?! Hopefully during this break we'll get some players back available, and the point gained on Sunday will be a boost fort he players, and they wont need 60-odd minutes, or to be a goal down to get going next time.

Really hope that's true. So glad that run has ended. Gabbiadini was saying on Total Sport one night that if they got the 7th win, that would be a record that would probably never be broken. That was in response to Howey saying the other 6 wins were in the past, and Marco arguing that they were still relevant until the run was stopped. Lets see if he tries to spin it another way tomorrow.

That 'Superior Striker' dude will have been stroking himself. One training session, and Mitro scores!!

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/premteams/7014958/Newcastle-1-Sunderland-1-When-the-dust-settles-Toon-will-still-look-likely-to-go-down.html By DAVID COVERDALE NEWCASTLE still look likely to go down. There was joy at their late equaliser, but when the dust settles this was not a good result. Rafa Benitez’s appointment has not had the immediate impact fans hoped for." All them years with Whitesnake have definitely knackered him!! I certainly didn't expect us to beat Leicester at their place, yet they only managed one shot on target. Today, we went into a fixture we've lost the last 6 of, and which had become a huge monkey on our back, and yet we managed to gain what could be a massively valuable point. Not sure what other 'immediate impact' he thinks we (the fans) expected, but the signs already are much more positive than had McClaren stayed in charge.

It's a blessing tbh, two weeks for him to put them through the paces, get them working cohesively, etc. He's not had time to breathe since taking over. Agree. These international breaks are generally a pain, but this one could help us massively. Gives Rafa another fortnight to work with the players, and hopefully get a few more back from Injury before Norwich. Main thing was not to lose todays game, and hopefully we can take more out of it than them... it'll feel like a loss to them, now their 'run' has ended. If Mitro's goal had come 10 minutes ealrier, and he'd managed to finish the game I think we might have won it... we had the imputice after the goal... just a shame we had conceded first half.

Gotta be pleased with the point... and at least that run has ended. Gotta hope we can beat Norwich, next!

Not exactly surprising, but McClarens removal from the 'Football Board' is confirmed. http://www.themag.co.uk/2016/03/companies-house-confirm-steve-mcclaren-loss-directorship-newcastle/

It was mentioned a few days ago, but really hope the atmosphere in the ground can match that of the last derby under Keegan (2-0) or the first one back up (5-1), where it was great for our players, but intimidating for theirs. We/the players have to try and forget the last 6 /shudders/ results against them, and treat this as a one off, and just another game we have to win. I'd love to give them a thumping, but would also take a win by the odd goal. Its 3 points that matters!

Apparently he's been meeting Benitez at the training ground.

Well, we must have tightened up at the back (would have expected to get humped under McClaren), now he just has to work on the attacking too. Hope the mackem game has a cracking atmosphere to get the players right up for it. This loss was expected, but wasn't a (potentially confidence crushing) hiding, so not the end of the world. Real work starts on Sunday.

Since the turn of the year, Leicester have only manage to draw against Bournemouth (H), Villa (A) and West Brom (H) whilst they only managed to beat Norwich 1-0 (H). As long as Rafa can set us up right, the players do as they're told and we don't let our heads drop should they score, then a draw at least, is very possible.

If he can stop the heads dropping if/when a goal goes in against, that'll be a big step forward already. That was half the battle with the squad under McClaren... as soon as they conceded, the heads dropped. Still think a win would be a big ask, but think a point could be very achievable.

Just had another quick look over on Ready to Groom... only the 12 threads on the front page related to/about Benitez joining us. But of course, they're not bothered.

Whatever happens from now till the end of the season, we have arguably given ourselves the best opportunity with this appointment. Hadn't realised that Leicester were 7 pts adrift with 9 to play last season, and turned it around to win 7 of those games, and finished 14th. That's not an advocation of Pearson, but simply to show that a team seemingly cut adrift, only going one way can turn it around. As has been said, all these managers with 'relegation experience' usually have that experience for a reason. This appointment has given everyone a lift - the fans, the city and hopefully most important of all, the players. Hopfully they can respond to him, and I believe we now have a much better chance of getting the points we need to stay up.

Would be happy with a point, given recent results as it'd be a point more than I'd expected this time last week. Anything more, would be faptastic!

Only the 6 threads (so far) about Benitez on Ready to Groom. Rattled much, marra? 9-1 FTM

I know they have a different level of player, but I'm just hoping this appointment can have a similar effect on performances as Hiddink did at Chelsea, when Mourinho left. Or at the very least, some 'New manager bounce' for once.

Stats are nice, but given its importance this time, hopefully we can just treat it as a match we have to win, instead of a 'Derby' we have to win.

If/When Benitez signs, do you think this will be the same unveiling as McClaren... i.e. interview on NUFCTV then released to the various media partners, or something a bit more public/formal, given the apparent feeling about his arrival?

Aye - even if Benitez comes in, meets the players, and even has some say in how the team sets up on Monday night, I think publicly it'll be Pedro or Simpson and Cathro 'in charge'. Simpson is quite close to McClaren, so he might go at the same time. Just hope this gets sorted/announced today. Will give everyone a lift for Monday, hopefully including the players!

^ same for me. Wanted him to do well, just not up to the task. Lets hope the next man is.

Mort helped to create the mess. Yeah, maybe. But perhaps if he'd stayed on as chairman/MD, then he would/could have advised Ashley better on decisions he's made since. Communication between the club and fans was a lot better when he was here. As I remember, he left shortly after the Wise/Jiminez/Vetere backroom was set-up, and Llambias was MD by the time KK quit. He was part of the team that brought Keegan back, so maybe had he still been here, he could have helped sort that mess out, without it going the way it did?

And, without a hint of irony, considering where their own ground is built.