Altamullan

good creativity and good craic sharing it. That said, suspicious smudge left hand side level with mouth ... (Obsessive Rafaphilia... first case to come out )

I expected to see a star on there for their first Championship/Divison 1 win. Oh, hang on...

kinda worried the curse also works in reverse...

Yep... hoping there's an absence of suspicious looking stains (just kidding )

If you're superstitious, just don't get Benitez or Rafa on the back as that seems to be the curse!

Aw man Yorkie, man, man... (Is genuinely what ran through my mind; since we're sharing)

Nacho is/could be a top player with enough game time. Coming somewhere he is relied upon/could be a big fish would I think be good for him, too. He also seems a nice lad; paused for a bit if a kick about with my son at City Academy (20 seconds of his day, made my son's month).

Interesting 'mind coach' perspective. Confidence idea aside, I personally think four things about Mitro: (1) I haven't seen any signs he has that striker's instinct we hear about; (2) he is one of the best players at holding-up the ball I can recall seeing (chest control and holding off defenders is quite exceptional at times); (3) he has an endearing mad as a box of frogs/committed to the cause mentality--like we could have grabbed him off the Bigg Market and popped him in a shirt; (4) he doesn't look very quick or optimally fit. Given his age, on two of the four I wouldn't mind him staying. But the other two, and failure to dominate in a lower division makes me think Rafa won't want him.

Good as he may be, if he has Ebola I would say no. Could really scupper our season and the health of the region.

thanks Trinny. Am I ok to forsake boots? They are quite expensive. How about shinpads?

Word.

Must have missed that tablet of stone/memo...

Yes and first one (if you exclude baby grows!) for son as well (little full kit wanker...).

Whilst I like Shelvey and rate Hayden extremely highly (more to come from him) my recent YouTube research (ahem) makes me think that Mooy and Cairney would be a better pairing. If it had to be one, then Cairney looks like a Premier League player (stats best in Championship by some distance) but also concerned that with him and Shelvey as a pairing we won't have the ball winning potential we will need. Guess these are the decisions where top managers earn their big bucks.

I realise it all depends on what happens with their squad, but if I was a Sunderland fan I would be very worried about the future of SAFC. I really don't see them being one of the best teams in the Chamiponship, yet like us, they will be a real scalp for the other teams. Norwich finished 8th (10 points below play-offs), Villa 13th (18 points below play-offs). Norwich achieved 34 pts (2015-16 PL), Villa 17pts. Sunderland currently on 24 with two to play. I'll guess at an 11th place finish for them next season; and that feels generous (though maybe bias kicking in!).

'Gallows' seems to have fucked-off (or been fucked-off) as not showing in list of members. Might have been amusing to see how his one track 'send him back to Chelsea' banter changed.

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11678/10879870/chelsea-winger-christian-atsu-agrees-to-join-newcastle (Snap! )

£6.2m four year deal. Good start.

Just did. Imagined it would feel great. Which I suspect isn't far from the truth for the daft lad either.

He has everything ability wise that any fan of football would love. I can't help thinking that there is something to yet be revealed about his private life which may explain the recurrent training ground bust-ups (at a number of clubs) and perception of him as 'difficult'. Perhaps he has matured, is more comfortable with himself, but I doubt whether he is the kind of personality Rafa would see as being part of his plan.

Dawned on me the three times I've seen Atsu play really well, he was on the right; including one game (can't recall opponents) when he switched over with Ritchie mid-game.

This. Will be interesting to see how many we go shopping for from the unsuccessful play-off sides (if we ever find out). I've had my heart set on Cairney from Fulham for the CM slot, but spoke to a Fulham supporter yesterday who was adamant he is not much of a tackler. If, and I am not certain, Rafa intends to start Shelvey then we will definitely need someone in the middle who is a competent ball winner (hopefully with high energy, good passing and goalscoring in his locker too). Speculation about Mooy today (26; Man City on loan to Huddersfield). Other than remembering he looked decent, don't recall much about his style of play. Could be play with Shelvey?

I agree, we'll done to everybody who attended and also to everybody who encouraged those going to do what they did. It was my then 7 year old son's first and only time at SJP (The House of Fun??) and he still occasionally ups his part by saying "We made Rafa stay Dad, didn't we!", he still has Rafa poster from the programme on his wall (even though Newcastle are his second team [ boo!]).

They might have contracted in new music to run out to? "Welcome to the house of fun Now I've come of age Welcome to the lion's den Temptation's on his way Welcome to the..." Think it could work well... Maybe weave in our big £40m new signing's name. He would be welcome indeed (if he brought us fun).