Altamullan

Yep. Need Rafalution, not civil war.

Wasn't it lovely. That's what it's all about. The love of football and kids' heroes who are worthy of the love they receive.

Neither Rose or new Walker starting is good news. Here's hoping we can get at them. Particularly if Sissoko is playing wingback.

Alreet Mike? Entitlement: believing that we're inherently deserving of something as a right, our special privilege. Alreet Pards? Who believes that we be "pushing into the top fours' noses"? I'll be happy if we finish 15th. I'd be happy with top ten and content with 15th. I can recall being delighted with Keegan's vision, drive and reaching for the stars; not settling for 'consolidation' type rhetoric. But now that is exactly what we need to have in mind. Consolidating. Balancing the books, reaching but not tipping over. With that in mind other than it being him saying it, and how disaffected most are with him, what has Ashley actually said that is so toxic? If it isn't what he has said and is more the function of it (power play with the media/countering Rafa's recent interviews) then I get the anxiety but don't personally see it as a threat to Rafa's tenure. I would prefer it if the two of them had a closer 'from the same hymn sheet' approach to media releases, but that said I am also pleased that Ashley has by all accounts pulled out of day to day involvement/decision making in the club. Meaning they don't really have a relationship, working or otherwise. So guess we can't have it both ways.

Alreet Mike? Entitlement: believing that we're inherently deserving of something as a right, our special privilege. Alreet Pards?

Worn down by Ashley. Ashley lowering expectations. Is it an age thing, or an entitlement thing? Does anybody really think Fat Mike has brainwashed the more recent generation? How do you reconcile the rest of our history in living memory?to my mind, we had a great promotion season with Keegan. Then we had hope and shared values and a sense (by and large/with moaning exceptions) of something building. We looked good for a year, equalled a record by finishing third. There was something coming, something we could be proud of. It amounted to one season where we looked like the best side in the country. We were setting records building/filling huge stands. Cranking up debt. The next season, looked good on paper; never really in it on grass (Barca excluded). Even with the slight Robson Renaissance, that is it. We are not entitled to be pushing into the top fours' noses. Five years out of 25 years, if you're a 92er, sounds a reasonable proportion of time to be in and around the top. Would be lovely to be there again. But add the previous 25 years and we have over 50 years with 5 of them top four bothering. 11 of them in a lower league. When Ashley says we are Newcastle United (with self/club depreciating undertones) why are we chucking toys out left right and centre? Other than it is him, saying anything (other than here is some cash/gift/loan). I get ambition. I get pride. Growing up I never had expectations we would beat everyone or even play at the top level but I wouldn't be out sung and I wouldn't run away. Basically the things I could control I would try to, in support of the team. The city. No point fretting over stuff we can't control. Times have been much worse.

Didn't Rafa handle the question well. Respectful but clear.

Top man (that's not just you for posting, but that other chap in the vid's canny too.)

Most interesting or most contentious/provocative. 10 pages on here. God knows what the intelligentsia of social media are making of it. What did he actually say? In effect, the club will have to pay it's own way/be a viable business. Shock fucking horror.

ZzzZZZzzzZZZ

Some of them won't even make the bench. Haidara, Riviere, Krul and Colback at a guess. Well, you're a very long time retired. Hope the additional wedge they accrue comforts them during their meaningless, regretful post-football existence. Not.

In fairness, if someone offered you a new job with less pay, more work and having to uproot your life to a new place which potentially isn't as nice as where you are now, would you take it? Yes. If I was financially secure on the lower wage, and it meant I could actually spend the 15 or so years I have in the job actually doing it.

Doubt it would cost the club £25-£50 per shirt.

Absolutely. I do wonder whether this is a major obstacle for us too. Not just finding the bucks, but breaking the structure. If for example Shelvey is the top earner on £50k per week (not sure of source for this claim and figure) then there's zero chance we're bringing in a one-legged left back on 60% more. Might even scupper any 'star' signings if existing players have contract clauses linked to relative salary.

Theres no post numbers on through my mobile. What is it? Rather have a manager who's going places than one who has been places! (Yep. Great reasoning. Because of course you don't want someone who has learned from competition at the highest level. You want someone who is 'going' to get sacked (unfairly) due to failure to get a bag of s**** side promoted).

1341 was even funnier, new level of clutching at straws! If you want to save your eyes from the general outpouring of toxic brain shit, some knobhead was countering Rafa's list of honours and Grayson's complete absence by a my dad is bigger than your dad stylee: if Rafa won one EFL manager of the month 'Larry' will win two.

Kin hell! Autistic levels of empathy with the terminally ill and pill popping 'humour'.

Mick McCarthy doing a classic opinion piece on 5Live. Apparently we won the league because we kept all our (PL) players AND ought all the best Championship players.

Heard the odds are shortening for us to win the league (HeHe).

Improved or played in a lower division? That's where some of our fans need to think twice before getting ahead of themselves. WTF man. Who is getting ahead of himself ? Are you suggesting that Rafa influence on the players is non existent ? Then why are we all clamouring for him to not leave ? Are you seriously telling me that Clark is not a better player now than he was before he joined us ? Or that Shelvey is still the same player he was when he left Swansea ? The point I was making was that these so called pundits know f*** all about our squad and are basing their views on their hazy memories of a year or two, because they live in a PL bubble, they may be proved right in the end and these players never improved but they are talking from positions of no education. Stop with the considending s*** and use some reading comprehension before mouthing off next time. Well done with the stringent defence of your little point. Condescending: that's how to be it; that's how to spell it. (Joke, btw. Couldn't resist).

Gone are the days of breaking the world record fee, but was quite surprised to see that our £17m was still higher than the transfer records of half a dozen or so current Prem clubs. Also some surprises in terms of who (and how effective) the record signings were! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4646786/Premier-League-transfer-records-Club-club-guide.html

I'd chuck Fulham in there over Hull.

Excited by prospect of Yedlin and Kenedy as wing backs, with Lejeune and Clark as CB, Merino or Hayden dropping into the centre of a three when defending or as a lynchpin for moving out of our half. Chuck in Shelvey's creative forward passing, Das Bost (ahem; ok Gayle) and the speed of Aarons/Atsu and Murphy/or Ritchie's forward play and that looks like a decent Premier League side; given a fair wind and a bit of luck re form/injuries. Haven't forgotten we'll need a keeper btw!