Papavasiliou

Would Deeney being our most expensive player ever tip you over the edge?

Can't wait for the news stories to call him by his full name when they report this. "Former Newcastle Striker Nile Ranger"

Found that one funny back in December. Can't trust Mitro to be on the pitch any longer than 10mins but Deeney is perfectly fine.

Obertan was exactly like that and it was always infuriating to watch. A player with that much pace at his disposal and 99/100 he'd pussy out of taking the man on and just end up dropping the ball back to Danny Simpson in our half.

Needs to learn when to get rid. City had constant preasure on him knowing that if they just stant in his way he'll er the ball and give it straight to them. Decent game apart from that though. Put himself around enough and got some decent tackles in. Best you can expect from him, really.

When I first saw the linup I expected this to be an "Excuse-maker" of a game. Raffa trying a couple of odd things just so when people ask for them in the future he can point to that time we got shafted by City and say it didn't work. Give Aarrons a start? Nah, look what happened when we tried that against City. Play 3 at the back? Nah, look what happened when we tried that against City. Dummett at CB? Nah, look what happened when we tried that against City. Drop Ritchie? Nah, look what happened when we tried that against City. Was surprised he didn't start Mitro just to round out the whole thing. But f*** me it ended up working. I still think Gayle being on from the start would have been a much better choice over Joselu. I think this is what he was going for with the 3 at the back against Chelsea too but obviously the other issues in that game like the lack of Lascelles, Ritchie at WB and the early goal kicking Chelsea on scuppered those plans.

1 goal in 4 games since he took over? Lovely style.

I know it's daft to take a stat like this in isolation, but his natual positioning can't be that bad if he's wracking up numbers like this for interceptions. Interceptions in La Liga 2016/17: Lejeune 104 Felipe Luis 70 Pique 65 Carvajal 65 Busquets 60 Alba 55 Godin 54

Sturaro from Juve linked now. At least they're getting more believeable now.

Doesn't he tell the press he wants to see out his career there every month or so? Who makes this s*** up lol

To be honest I've not really seen that much of him the past 2 seasons besides 2 or 3 games but he does have that reputation. Wheather he's changed that much or he's just protected more by having a player like Kante there, I don't know. Personally I'd snap their hand off if he was offered. Just seemed like a strange connection.

There is the small matter of Luiz being loads better than either of them. Aye but loads is made about Rafa picking players who do what they're told no matter their level. For example, Joselu getting picked ahead of my nana. Obviously she's 10x the player he is but no chance she's doing what she's told on the pich. Too undisciplined.

Anyone else find Luiz a bit of a strange player for Rafa to be interested in? Imagine not wanting to play Mbemba or Mitro because they're too much of a loose cannon but being perfectly fine with David Luiz bombing around.

Only at CB, CM up top or at full back.

Aye. I guess that depends on who we can bring in to replace him. For example, if we sell Mitrovic and bring Sturridge in on loan for example, i'd say that's probably good business. West Ham would be the best place to sell him (from our perspective, not his) considering how shite strikers always turn out to be when they go there.

Nationalise Newcastle!

Mitro doesn't even look like he's heading the ball, just threatening it towards goal.

3-0 down by half time. Shite performance till the last 15-20mins when Joselu comes off.

Should be interesting. There's a great video of him taking the training when he was at Palermo. Abel Hernandez lands a decent volley then gets up and starts doing some daft dance in celebration. A second later Gattuso charges in like the Rino he is and tries to boot Hernandez into orbit.

I've noticed a few times when we've had breaks on he's been abscent this season. Perez will get it around the centre of the pitch and you'll see Atsu set off down the left, Joselu do something useless and the right will be completely empty.

5-0 just to be a complete contrast to the last few games. Lejeune to step up and confidently lob De Gea from 30yards for the 5th.

He just feels like Danny Simpson all over again. If anyone asked what his strengths are I'd be hard pushed to give any answer.

It was meant to be one of the Acast episodes but it just appeared in my feed and downloaded it's self automatically. Must have been some sort of mixup releasing it. Aye. Throughout his whole career by the sounds of it. Was first choice ahead of Dudek and playing the Champions League games till his back gave out. Went out on loan the next season and when he got back Rafa had bought Reina and told him to find a new club.

Aye but it was mostly about the difference in coaching methods. Raffa prefered the more methodical way that I'm not sure Krul would be used to after spending the majotity of his footballing life up here with Woodman blasting volleys at him for a few hours a day. Kirkland did seem a little obsessed with it being "English vs Foreigners" but according to him Raffa literally said when he came in "I'm selling you so I can bring a foreign keeper in instead".

Anyone else listen to the Football Ramble's interview with Chris Kirkland? He talked a bit about when Raffa came in at Liverpool and changed up things. He said Raffa insisted on bringing in his own non-English speaking Keeping Coach who's training methods were a lot slower and less reliant on shot stopping and reactions and stuff. He went on about it a lot. Had a real issue with foreign coaches during his career by the sounds of it. Made me wonder if the same thing happened with Krul.