Altamullan

The King, is special and shouldn't be judged by normal criteria. I, for one, have very confidence that he can do it.

The collective noun for N-Oers is apparently a disagreement. Heard tell it takes 30 minutes to decide who's kicking which way in the Lockwood Cup.

Ring a Ring o' Roses themed creativity has occurred! (Apologies in advance): Portugal, Spain 'n' Holland-o He's faster than Rolando Chris Atsu, Chris Atsu, He'll send you down.

There must be some words we can put to 'ring o' roses' for young Christian.

Really hoping for the Taylor/Carroll altercation version 2, with Mitrovic and Colback. Is that wrong? Hey, why wish for a behind closed doors annihilation. I'm thinking more Bowyer Dyer, once we're 5-0 up,obviously.

He flew all the way to China for the same to happen. Who's advising him, his mothers in law?

He reads a book a week. Nah. Just Arabic, Italian, English, Berber and French menus.

Doubt 'Andybiotics' was auditioning for the secret service disinformation team. That's not what they're called btw; nobody knows what they're really called, they're that good.

Cabella http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/newcastle-boss-alan-pardew-thanks-3859841 Brought it all back reading that. So happy that chapter is over; soured my feelings for the club more than the Sports Direct Arena mafia.

Hilarious way to make an important point

I'd missed that too (Southern Cock)

It would be nice to have a Gary Speed flag.

Are you convinced of him as a footballer? For me he's just not worth signing because a.) He just isn't that good and b.) He's going to have such a hard job getting fans on side. A) we'll see how Rafa's selection looks in Rafa's side; B) first cross that Mitro nods in should swing it.

Crocked Greedy bastard

The wall's long been breached, bring in more of the beautiful blue-bottomed sweaties! "oh Flower of Scotland..."

Get the debate about his quality (though IRWT), don't get the indignation about steering clear given he's capable of the kind of fouls he did on Haidara. On the basis of that logic, we should have got shot of this psycho b******: (About 35") snip [edit: the 'snipped clip' was Shearer deliberately kicking Lennon in the face]

Yep that's it, thanks. I just found it; came back to win 3-2 after being two down. Robert, Dyer and last minute Lua Lua. Quotes from Shearer re the collision and team sheet links below. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/apr/16/newsstory.sport http://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-newcastle-united-13-april-2002-12131/

Was anyone there when Shearer and Lee (best footy friends) ran into each other? Can't remember the score, just the sickening smashing of faces, with blood everywhere. Apparently they went out for a meal afterwards, like a pair of prizefighters.

Re-read the post. See if you can interpret it differently.

Alongside Colback he looks , and has to be, more 'progressive', alongside Shelvey he is going to have to sweep-up and cover more. Thankfully he's flexible, intelligent, has a bit of grit and self-belief, and reads the game really well. He's a proper modern (for that read traditional) central midfielder. Can do it all, but prioritises the good of the team and does what's needed.

He actually smiled, on at least two occasions, yesterday. Go Rafa! #teamspirit.

Which is exactly why it's preposterous that so many (like the eejit below) desperately want him out. We can win the league without him, is it really necessary for us to keep someone who doesn't want to be here? Is it f***. No tears need to be shed when he does one. What's necessary is that we get maximum value from our assets. Be that in terms of sale price or contribution on the pitch. Selling him for below market value with no opportunity to reinvest in a timely fashion is pretty blatantly the wrong move. His market value is what someone is willing to pay. Your argument comes across more as one made by a business manager that by the manager of a football 'team'. If you can get the best out of the collective, make a team more than the sum of its parts, then how much is that worth? You don't buy an effective team, you build one. You also clearly give the message that you're either giving your A game or you're gone. Get the blend right with everyone fully engaged and giving their all for the badge on the front, not the name on the back of the shirt. Don't see Sissoko as part of this solution. Also don't see him being worth significantly more in January than his 'market value' now. Just sell, swap or loan the egotist.

He's been chosen for his style of play and how many goals he'll help the team score, not solely how many goals he'll contribute. On that, we'll never know, but I suspect he would have converted more of the chances than Mitro did last season and I also think he will (if he is open to it) teach Mitro a trick of two. I'm delighted, just what we need, for now.

The very presence of a want away player who thinks he's too good for NUFC/'Rafa's project' is detrimental to both. This makes him a bad apple, regardless of his attitude and that looks like it stinks: he comes over like a miserable self-important cunt, IMO. I don't give a fuck about any of them who don't give a fuck about us. Rafa's cleared most of the journeyman and mercenary dross. Happy to see the back of this one.