Odear

I really like the lad. Always plays with a smile on his face. You can tell he’s putting himself under massive pressure to score which is having an effect on his decision making.. essentially his energy is all over the place. Fully expect once he scores to settle right down and grow in confidence. He could really learn from Ayoze who is very efficient with his energy levels.

I had my missus in my ear about booking holidays, was about to strangle her.

Rafaball. Tremendous effort.

What sort of transfer fee would he command? A year or two ago I’d have said lucky to get 12-15 million, somehow think that’s a lot higher now. His game has matured big time this season. Real Madrid or Barca wouldn’t be options for him but could see Athletico or Sevilla coming in for him, be shite to lose him but he’s served his time if he wants to leave.

Well don't justify it then and don't bother any more full stop. Liverpool are playing Chelsea on Sunday. Fill yer boots. Plenty of positivity there for you. Get yerself away. The viewpoint is completely understandable, especially when people are ST holders who are getting their pockets picked every year for a PL club to plead poverty. FA to do with gloryhunting. Aye, I’ve accepted Rafa will be leaving.. it’s easier to deal with that by stepping back from it. The summer is going to be a total shit show

I forgot they were playing today. Assumed it was a 3pm Saturday and decided I wasn’t going to bother watching it like last week. My weekend was all the better for it to be honest. It’s hard to keep justifying something that brings almost zero positivity or reward for decades of blind loyalty you give to it. If this was any other business, people would stop being customers. They know they have you by the bollocks because it’s a one horse town.

That’s totally over the top. Whatever he did, you’d expect coverage like that if Adam Johnson was playing in some exhibition tourno at the same time as a kids thing. Almost feel sorry for Beardsley but then I remember all that sticking up for Mike Ashley over the years.

Rondon is having a bad game but our midfield has no cohesion. If we get in at half time with the score same it’ll be a chance for us on the second. Rafa needs to make some changes. Shelvey on for Diame...

I’d be concerned with Fernández in the team. Looked rusty as fuck against Bournemouth. Lascelles is back fit so play Lejeune in Schär’s place and bring Dummett in to the left of Lascelles. As we'll no doubt be playing on the counter. Shelvey should play as we're gonna heavily reply on balls through for Rondon and Almiron. Hayden still doing enough to keep his place. Diame might be an option to bring on if we’re trying to hang on to something?

It won’t be sorted before the last game of the season. Also, Ashley buying Debenhams is a huge distraction. He won’t be giving the club much if any attention right now. Let’s just assume Rafa wants to stay but only if he gets some iron clad assurances. He’s going to have to wait for those, we know he has the patience so am not worried just yet.

How did Rice do?

His career is pretty much done at this point. I just don’t see the value in charging him, whether it’s true or not. Are they making an example out of him?

7 arrests including a teenager. Stupid stuff. Waiting on a club statement condemning us all now ?

Serious let off that.

Fernandez has been gash. Now we know why he’s been left out.

That would be the ultimate project for Rafa though. Not just buying average to good players and making them better, but actually developing youngsters from early stages. Ajax used to have an amazing academy where senior players would leave and be replaced by younger lads who knew exactly what the football system was and what piece on the chess board they were. Think that article is mostly bollocks though. There’s no new information in there, just assumptions off his previous form. I think he’s very aware that his investment will be fucked without Rafa. It’ll be right into June before we know what will happen.

Still together afaik Guess it's family and not wanting to be away from them with a young baby. Not quite. They tried being up here but it didn’t work out. The issue is that the baby (and his partner) had a very difficult birth and needs treatment and regular check ups which she gets at the hospital where his girlfriend lives close to. It’s not just as simple as “move the family up here” or “offer him a better contract” Some things are more important. I totally respect his decision whatever way it works out and will applaud the lad any time he returns here. He’s carried himself with total dignity and professionalism in what can only be a terrible situation to be in.

He did alright today coming on. Far better linking with Almiron than Ritchie.

This. The lad works his bollocks off for the team regularly. The truth is that his limitations as a player are why he signed for us when he did. If he was better he’d be elsewhere. It wasn’t a great penalty but not something to hurl abuse over. What I am pissed off at is his lack of understanding with Almiron. Just pass the fucking ball to him. It should be easy. It’s not vindictive, he’s just not on the same wavelength.

No I think that’s how he was pretty much beforehand. Doesn’t waste possession and passes well but Longstaff is basically exactly the same thing except much faster, more agile and bags more stamina. It’s not a hard one to work out. Can’t compare him to Diame or Shelvey for that matter, totally different style of players.

If Ashley gives him what he wants he will stay. Even if he gets half of what he wants, he still might stay.. it would take a total fucking over to make him walk clean... that could happen. But I’m more worried that Real Madrid will be looking over the managers they fucked over and realise that Rafa is just the man to rebuild them.. he would be given everything he wanted and there’s probably no major egos in the dressing room to deal with now as obstacles. Will be a huge clear out there this summer.

That's actually a really positive sign imo. I hope so! My mate plays golf with one of the managers there. This lad organises a few rounds of golf for the team while they’re here too. Speaks very highly of the club generally. Correct me if I’m wrong but we did go there once or twice before Rafa’s time? I actually live a stones throw from the place, I would have gone to watch training last summer but our first baby was on the way so that was the end of that notion ?

Carton House has just been booked for the teams training camp again this summer. Looks like he’s making plans for if he stays? Very hard situation to read. Unless someone else at the club is deciding these things?

The financial crash circa 2008/9 exposed the chancers in business, funnily enough that was around the time Chelsea got rid of Kenyon. He did 6 years there and 6 at Man Utd. His career has been all downhill for the last decade. I think Ashley would sell if any genuine buyers were to bid.. Staveley and Kenyon don’t have a pot to piss in between them so it’s anyones guess why they put themselves out there like that.

He’s far more attacking minded than Rice, if anything they would make a great pairing for England at some point down the line. Didn’t have a great half today. West Ham just swarmed us out the wings so it was impossible to keep the ball.