Altamullan

I loved Mira, man. Can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear him trot out a song which really came to life on an away trip to Blackpool (we ended up going into the ground in sombreros and grass skirts... how Brazillian is that )

I had a newborn today. Probable consequence of a 3-1 defeat to Southampton last April. Welcome to the world James Junior! Congratulations man Pretty sure you could come-up with a plausible Rafa variant for either sex!

Good on him. The other two come over as rude fuckwitts.

I think both Chelsea and Spurs were more 3-4-2-1 last night. I think that formation actually quite suits our current strengths and isn't far away from Rafa's philosophy, or at least not at odds with it. If Yedlin and Lazaar can play/settle as wing backs then when full (current) strength elsewhere I reckon it's a goer: with Ritchie and Diame as the 2, and Hanley in the centre of the 3 (I suggested a slightly tweaked cup side in the Brimingham thread this morning).

Wythenshawe town centre (think Shameless) has got more going for it than Sunderland, ffs.

Aye Figures, but 'hope is a good breakfast, but a bad supper.' (Like a bit of Bacon, myself). (P.s. There are possibility half a dozen English Lit bods in the world who might find that funny...).

Didn't see that much football when Smith was playing (there's a joke in there somewhere!) but was he worse than Des Hamilton? Or for that matter Marcelino? Though neither of them actually played that much (Smith played four times as many games) they both drove me mad. Or what about Billy Askew? Even fewer appearances, but similarly head-scratching levels of shitness.

SSN saying Sunderland's valuation of DeFoe is £15m... it is going happen isn't it?!?! (Though WH also made £10m bid for Hogan from Brentford).

Haven't read the piece. And while all of that is true... the Championship is x100 worse. The point he is trying to make is that being in the Premier League is not the only way to enjoy football. I'm loving this season (barring a few bad results over christmas), because you go to a game (which 9 times out of 10 we actually compete in) and enjoy it for the most part. Something that does not happen in the PL, at least not for us in recent years. I would, genuinely, absolutely prefer to stay in the Championship and compete every week if someone tells me we are going to struggle to get out of the bottom 4 or 5 in the PL for the next few years. Life is short. Fill it with fun things. Losing is no fun. funny that, i was watching the spurs chelsea game last night and it really struck me that we're almost playing a different game to them both in terms of quality like it's going to be a long slog if we get back up imo, unless we literally go and spend £150m filling the squad up with better players and shipping out the garbage same. What a game of football. We look a long way off the pace, by comparison. (Did enjoy tanking Spurs last PL game though).

Sels Lascelles Hanley Clark Yedlin Hayden Anita Lazaar Perez Ritchie Murphy Time to roll-out a 3-4-2-1?

Stop your messing around ahhhh, ahhh, ahh You helped to take Villa down ahhhh, ahhh, ahh Now give the Boro a Prem future 'Else you'll wind-up in Holme House... ( )

Just read of a Paul Barker who is apparently now our European Scout. Is this old news/have I missed the memo?? http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/01/04/do-report-ryad-boudebouz-favoured-by-newcastle-united-scout-but/

What a goal! Strikes the ball like Laurent Robert.

Here's the 'reverse fixture,' for balance

HITC Sport: "With ... the Black Cats are potentially facing more of an exodus of players, than any incomings... [so desperate times call for desperate measures, an excellent source may be NUFC players ] With this in mind, we are asked [ahem] Sunderland fans which Newcastle United players they'd be happy to see don a red and white shirt." I am loving the bloke who would take Jack back!

Even less reliable source shows HTA having a kick around in Tunisia wearing NUFC shorts (Nemtizz posted video above) and quotes Diame: confirming Ben Arfa's encouragement for him to sign for us, Ben Arfa's love for Newcastle, and his own opinion that a return would be good for HTA. http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/575402/Newcastle-news-Hatem-Ben-Arfa-transfer-loan-rumour-PSG-shorts

Yep. But then, why wouldn't he?

Ditto

Good point; well made. Just had a look at 1992-93. Between 13 December 1992 and 28 March 1993 we only won 6 of 19 games (8 draws). Whereas we'd won 16 of the first 19. We had a strong finish and won 7 of last 8. From memory, it seemed less of an issue as we pretty much stayed top for the whole season.

Bradley, Pardew, and Phelan: a not so happy new year. Bruce so did the right thing stepping away. Can't see anyone making a positive difference at Hull.

'Kin hell. Is there no 'moderation' (no pun intended...) on there? Nobody posting such views would get away without censure on N-O? Dave and the guys would surely be all over it. U [edit: ah, ok. Quotes from article, rather than RTG posts.]

Good shout. Thing with Tomasson is that he was touted as the best finisher at the club (amid strong competition) and apparently looked a legend in training. I think he had excellent technique but struggled with confidence (here at least). Get the impression Mitro wouldn't shine in training, at least 'technique' wise; suspect Gayle and maybe Perez/others would kick his ass in any finishing competition. However, can't help liking the guy and he is a competitor/does bring something to the team. I personally would be sad to see him go and do think he has the potential to go and achieve at a higher level. Just don't think the decrease in pitch time he has been given bodes well for his future here.

Thought he had some good moments, particularly defensively/when we were without the ball. Less good attacking wise, but the lad has balls, was up against a physical side and kept getting stuck in. Average game, rather than a shocker, imo.

I deleted it because instead of editing because I cannot really be bothered. Your weird obsession with me is doing my head in though, please f*** off Ouch! Not sure why you think I am obsessed with you, perhaps just part of your general ego centrism which flows through a lot of your posts and the back-peddling ones that often follow. FWIW, I don't like sarcasm and unjustified assertions and ranting, don't have a problem with you per se, didn't quote you and as I inferred by the HNY, I was happy to see you self-censor and remove the negativity. Be happy dude.