Billy Pilgrim

Imagine going from Ashley to the mega rich business milf. Just imagine.

Have to work in Catterick of all places on a Friday, there's a chippy nearby that's got a big massive poster of Rafa with his toon badge on the fridge

Starting to show himself as an important player even when he's not great, because he can be an option for the passing triangles we're developing at the top of the pitch. There were a few times when he was the option that unlocked the short, sharp passing on the right side.

I'm obviously siding with Benitez in all of this but I have to say that a lot of the cloud surrounding things has been brought on by him and it looks as though he's unsettled the squad a bit. Frankly we're capable of beating Huddersfield and Forest, we came up as Champions and almost immediately we've been talking ourselves down to try and get signings through the door. He's being pretty ruthless in trying to dismantle the squad that got us up and I'm not sure that's such a good idea if he's going to walk over not getting any money, leaves us in a pretty shitty position.

He's nearly been in a few times. Happy enough as things stand tbh.

The mackems were raving about him during the Derby game. Aye I'll just not bother next time

This Honeyman lad makes Colback look like Isco

I like Perez a lot. He's an unorthodox type of forward, the thing he's missing more than anything is pace but if he had that he'd likely be less good with the ball coming at him awkwardly when he's static and he wouldn't be at Newcastle tbf. He's a clever finisher and though he can be bullied out of games he's definitely worth persevering with and one of our better players imo.

He's starting to look like a player. Has obvious natural talent and ability but towards the end of last season and as the new one comes around he's starting to look as though he understands his role, he's taking players on, linking up well with midfield and his fullback and is showing some end product.

To break up the will he won't he drama, this is the most organised I've ever seen and am likely to see NUFC. Based on the pre-season stuff I've caught so far it looks as though we've gone up another level in terms of working as a mesh of tactical units. It's pretty impressive stuff considering the dross I've watched week in week out for most of my life.

Gave the ball away when trying to play it square from the centre of the box once, aside from that they didn't have a sniff. Pretty decent performance that. They were absolute shite but I was under the impression at least that our organisation has moved up a level from last year. Shelvey is looking trim, everything he did was exactly perfect except when he knocked the ball back to their keeper and made him run 6-7 yards. Atsu had their fullback on toast, Perez's finish was tidy and Hayden did excellently until he was moved to right back.

I never really cared much for Shelvey before we signed him. In fact I used to take the piss out of him fairly regularly and laughed my sack off when Ferguson had him seething. However having seen a fair bit of him up close I have to say I'm convinced he's actually quality. He's not the fittest, he's mental and he goes missing a lot but as a footballer he is pretty special. His range of passing is top notch but what I like most about him is that he's always trying to go forward. This results in hollywood balls now and again but unlike Gerrard for instance most of the stuff he attempts comes off when he's not trying to play the final ball. This is a big season for him and it seems as though he's aware of it. If he starts like he did last year by christmas he'll be in England contention. However there's always the if with him. Should he ever decide to do something with himself now is the time.

Was watching people dogging iirc

Sorry but he's s****. Not even an upgrade on a knackered Krul. Can't catch anything, barely makes a save, preening gobshite, England baggage, rubbish for coming on four years at least. Would genuinely rather start Elliot. I understand some have reservations about Hart, but this is just nonsense. He's clearly the type that needs to be wanted, settled and adored and I think he could do that here and regain his form. He has been getting dogs abuse off our lot for years and has had plenty of adoration at City and England. He's a bag of mistakes and I want him nowhere near us.

Sorry but he's shite. Not even an upgrade on a knackered Krul. Can't catch anything, barely makes a save, preening gobshite, England baggage, rubbish for coming on four years at least. Would genuinely rather start Elliot.

I'm not so much worried about signing anyone this early, for me it's the stark reality that at some point Ashley is going to piss Benitez off and start fucking around because he's an idiot. I wouldn't have been so worried either if there wasn't takeover talk, if he's trying to sell the club and deciding he needs to be frugal while he does so, pisses Rafa off, doesn't end up selling anyway I wouldn't be surprised.

They're actual footballers

They're genuinely excited about Dekka You've got to feel sorry for some of the more sensible ones on RTG, they just want some straight up footy craic and they're surrounded by lunatics who are picking the spoils of an unremarkable Aberdeen side.

Looks like a bloke who sits in the passenger seat of vans

He's an uncomfortable player to watch. All arms and legs, his posture makes him look panicky but actually he's generally alright on the ball and has a decent range of passing. As for Mangala, every time I've seen him he looks utterly brainless. Physically he's ideal for a centre half but during a match he has the look of a man who is wondering whether his wife is looking through his phone.

Bout time we had a hammering

It's not really worth panicking about at this stage. We've shown that we're susceptible to playing defensively when we should be tearing sides to shreds. When I saw the teamsheet today I thought we were going balls out attacking, but based on the radio coverage it sounded as if we were playing it safe from the beginning. Rafa is going to have a problem with keeping a good thing going in the league. We're going to have to live with that, but I think we're going to have enough to see us through to promotion. At the start of the season I would've taken a playoff final win, and I still would. Some days we'll dominate, some days we'll get humped. It's newcastle ffs.

http://media.giphy.com/media/HP68mDARWZX20/giphy.gif

Our best player yesterday, imo. He's something we've been looking for since Tiote went to shit. Really like how mobile and composed he is, you'd have thought he'd have had a chance at Arsenal. Really solid signing this one.

Krul was visibly seething last night, before and after the goal. Was laying into everyone in front of him not just in an 'angry goalkeeper shouting at his defence' kind of way. Looked absolutely sick of his life.