Altamullan

... BB has been a disaster of Carverian proportions who has made the team demonstrably worse... I wish the man well in his future endeavours. I am considering lobbying the Oxford English Dictionary.

That's two of my three gone now. Phelan next on the list; what is it with ex Man Utd no 2s? Perhaps it is just the coach to main man step not being a safe or easy transition.

Funnily enough that was going to be my one suggested change to your team. I would like to see Hanley alongside Clark when we've two more progressive fullbacks. However, given the abuse Lascelles got from Forest fans and his horrible (for him/us) OG, I reckon he'll be right up for this. Starting to look like he needs a rest/competition though.

Would really love to see this. Forward overlapping movement from both fullbacks all four midfielders are competent attackers. Mitro giving as good as the he gets from the Forest CBs, creating gaps for Gayle to exploit. Would be exciting to see it take shape and offer a 'home' more attack minded option.

In the soap opera which passed itself off as our away game with these, Forest set-up with every one behind the ball. They gave us possession and hoped to frustrate & hit us on the break. Although they apparently pretty much do this all the time, they were pretty ineffective (not even a poor man's Leicester) and to me looked lacking all round, yet they won (I know...). That said they will take some breaking down at SJP. I really want to give them a spanking (please, please let Lansbury be 'fit' to play) and whilst I am not holding my breath, without Mr Shelvey think we are going to need more creativity and urgency to get through the massed ranks and really turn them over. Hope to see some tactical changes (no Colback, maybe Yedlin and Atsu staring along with Ritchie) and yes: two strikers. Not least to just even up the number of players sitting deep in their half. Can't see us not beating them anyway (I would be genuinely shocked; they looked that shit) but it is time for a performance. Let's take it to them.

This is an 'interesting' read today... Really don't agree with/understand the 'Rafa changes things loads' (during matches) and 'he over prepares for the opposition' claims. My sense is he defaults to a 'let them worry about us' strategy. My personal frustration with this, is that this doesn't seem as flexible as I would like to see. And yes this includes wishing to see a more attacking formation from time to time; especially against more aggressive/physical sides who seem to easily snuff (stamp!) out our one striker outball. That said, I had a bit of an epiphany re this yesterday, and feel better than I did about what I was beginning to see as pig headedness. The basis of the 'let them worry about us' approach requires neatly fitting square pegs in square holes. It seems more reliant on players fit for the purpose of their allocated role. I think it needs this more so than a fluid, 'go out there and play' Keegan type approach, where as long as the player has some strengths/is good he can express them. In a Rafa team, they have to have the particular skill set, for that role. Versus Sheffield Wed (in general?) Colback, Gouffran, Diame (to name but three) are round pegs IMO. Perez ... god knows what shape he is, but it doesn't appear to be a neat fit in any hole. Plus others were a little off form/outplayed. Getting players to do what he wants/fit his positional responsibilities is key. So, he will build his squad. He knows what he is doing. Is it going to be frustrating at times: yes. Is it going to look overly safe, at times: yes. But then some knew this. Many never much liked his Liverpool style of play, but it was effective and he knows how to win.

I am struggling to remember seeing a worse side than Forest this season. I would be genuinely shocked if we didn't win, and would go as far as saying my confidence in us getting promoted would be dented if we don't beat them by at least two goals.

Great agility shot stopping and reaction times; not just today. A little more presence and positional sense and think we're looking at a top class 'keeper.

S-l-o-w to change. All for persistence and transmitting self-belief to the players. There's a point where it becomes pig-headedness. When in Serie A, he opted-out of the rapid formation changes which typify Italian football, but surely there is a balanced and flexible mid-point between that and 'my way or the highway'. Because letting them worry about us, actually translates to let every f***er have loads of time to plan how to nullify our one-trick pony style of play.

Wonder if we'll see a spate of babies named Rafa if we win the league, like the Kevins and Keegans in their early twenties who are dotted around Tyneside?

This. Yep. Though won't be surprised to see Atsu and Mitro, instead of Gouff and Gayle.

For once I agree with Ron. Worse, imagine a childhood without having seen home alone? It's how sociopaths are made. funny. That said, maybe wanting to inflict the extreme violence 'Kevin' (who we'd definitely need to talk about if he was one of our children) does in the film is a better predictor of a future psycho killer.

Thanks to one and all for making this place such an interesting forum. For all the humour, debate, thought-provoking opinions, and plain silliness, thank you. Most of all, this place has helped me keep in touch with NUFC shenanigans from afar, and in doing so contributed to me slipping back into loving the club again. Merry Xmas everyone. Wishing you a healthly and happy 2017.

Does swapping Carver and McClaren for Pulis and Warnock make it any better?

I appear to be in the minority here, but it just seems like trading insults: 6 of one and half a dozen of the other. Fact is though the rule broken doesn't stipulate use of hurtful/abusive language so Shelvey could have said something far more offensive and not been charged. And if the smelly-breathed one (or team mate) had said exactly the same but replaced bald with Gypsy, he could have been charged. That said, totally support the 'kick it out' drive and perhaps stamping down on such relatively mild verbals (it's all a bit pathetic in the cold light of day) ensures the kind of pernicious racist nastiness of yesteryear stays a thing of the past.

Newcastle fan on TalkSport, discussing King of excuses... fucking Goughy defending him, 'when he left you were 9th in the Premiership'.

Imagine but Defoe leave Sunlun, for a London club? Surely not...

Fair enough opinion SUPERTOON, . Just not one I share. Nobody gets it 100% right and the view of that LFC site seems to be he did ok with transfers (outlay, income and quality wise).

He was at Liverpool longest (5 seasons) not convinced there is much truth in the 'always made questionable signings' assertion which seems to have become a common idea: http://lfcstats.co.uk/rafatransfers.html

Seems appropriate for the King of the Eagles, sorry, ego to have his say: 'For the last three years I don’t know, it’s science against me.' (2014). Which is fair enough, if you consider basic arithmetic as science... everyone being able count the number of victories has clearly not helped him.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to see Karma have its day. Hey!

Mr Shelvey at Souk Medina, London. His tangine looked a little 'creamy' to me...

round in circles and quote, really shouldn't be that funny but can't stop chuckling at both

Just looked at the strikers/forwards (inc clearly attacking midfielders) signed by Rafa at Liverpool: who are the only club he has really been at long enough to get a flavour of how he builds a squad (five top five finishes in five seasons, btw). The ones who stood out were: Luis Garcia 2004 (basically same role and importance as Coutinho has for Klopp's side), Morientes 2005, Bellamy 2006, Torres 2007, Keane 2008, N'gog 2008 (cover for Torres) Sterling 2010 (as one to watch). So mainly quick and creative and capable of playing a wide forward role (Kuyt springs to mind who apparently scored 15 goals one season from left wing/forward). However, add to this Crouch 2005, who according to the LFC fan-site Rafa turned from a laughing stock into an international. My reading of this is there is still hope for Mitro featuring and developing under Rafa, but probability is if he signs another striker it will be one in the Gayle mode, only perceived to be better.

Ranconteur, your reference escaped me. I can only apologise and book myself straight onto next FA 'thinking skills' course. [walks away, muttering something barely intelligible... But probably worthy of sanction anyway].