Andy84

Everton would be crazy to go for Rafa when Pulis or Mark Hughes could be available

China FFS

Craig Hope has just tweeted he's verbally agreed to stay and has begun work on transfer targets

Looking through our squad even as it stands it looks very young and inexperienced still. We really need to supplement what we've got with some experience and players who can comfortably deal with the championship and in the future hopefully the PL. Wouldn't mind seeing some hard b******* come in also, definately at CB. Also a goal scorer we can hang our hats on and get us 20 plus

IF this happens it will be interesting to see what the first SJP attendance in August will be. I recall last time didn't we start mid 30's and at the end it was pretty much 46k plus?

Rafa likes to rotate the team anyway. The next thing we will hear is that he doesn't have Championship experience

It's all relative with this TV deal like, the prices and wages of completely bang average players will go off the scale

A subdued St James' Park?

Aye. We'll probably take them numbers even if they keep the policy tbh

Surely a positive that Ashley has felt the need to speak with him personally and get this done, he left the appointment of McClaren solely to thumb. It strikes me like the club are desperate for him to stay and will pull out the stops to make it happen.

I've analysed all of his interviews to try and reassure myself . It's torture this

He'll be one I'll be genuinely sad to see leave and to be fair the Championship is way below where he should be. If the 8 million relegation buy out clause is true then it's a great piece of business for someone, wish him all the best. Cheers Andros

His time here is a shame like, clearly a very good but at the same time baffling footballer. One of my abiding memories was when he absolutely took West Ham's midfield to pieces in January and the 4 v Norwich. Other than that he's been s****. All that's left to do is take out the S after the I in the title and close the thread.

Like a mirror image of 12/13, 13/14 here

I think we're gonna get taken to the cleaners here, hope it doesn't impact on the support for Rafa when Spurs get their 3rd goal

Love how they think they're seething when that obviously reads as them cringing their tits off. They can't even mock us correctly without looking like absolute tits man, they're f***ing hopeless. The story would also have to be real

As if

I'm surprised that people are surprised at all of this, it means everything to them man Effectively to them, this is like winning the treble. I'd be shocked if they weren't looking to organise a plane.

The nation is delighted we are down like

Someone made a good point on Twitter that Benitiez will probably not want to seem callous by making a hasty decision to go. We will soon likely get a statement to the effect of "it's with a heavy heart that I have decided to leave". His reputation will be in tact as this was the impossible job. For all he may have grew fond of the place and the supporters, Rafa Benitez will not be managing a championship club imo. Gonna be a wrench this like.

I don't think these will ever go down

Relegation is almost a side issue now, actually couldn't give a f***. It's all about keeping this man at the club at all costs.

Would rather have Norwich down there with us tbh

Everton beat these what 6-2 or something earlier in the season? Everton beating Sunderland seems realistic anytime apart from now, where it seems almost impossible

Barton in that team man, he's s****