Happinesstan

How times have changed. I was in much the same condition for KK's first game as manager (1st time), having tried speed for the first time.

The kid off the milk advert?

I know it mentions a number of reasons that the talks broke down, you'd like to think one of those reason's was that the FA said "Fuck that for a game of soldiers".

Yeah it's awful, the main reason Lejeune has to play. Agree, with both of you. It could be that Rafa has played a blinder with Lejeune though. He basically re-started his career with us against Man U, and he looked as good as he did against Spurs.

Watching us is a pick'n'mix of frustration this season. Also Robert and Bellamy had the luxury of playing off Shearer.

Arlene Foster?

One of the reasons we struggle to score is our inability to get players forward, with 2 fullbacks pushing forward we have needed our midfield to hold position a lot more. With Dummett moving in as a 3rd CB it allows Shelvey and Diame to take more risks in the opponents half.

His future is definitely as a full back who becomes a 3rd CB when we attack.

Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy and Danny Drinkwater were all on the bench in that mad playoff game against Watford Vardy was aboot 26.

Aye when your squad is as s**** as ours, players like Dummett tend to be invaluable. That's not to put him down, loads of average players make themselves good careers just by being dependable and having a positive attitude. By good i suppose I mean memorable.

Aye you only take the team away if you've got Stan Collymore in the squad.

Do you know I think there might be an element of intelligence in his defending? I've noticed a few times, when his opponent gets the ball he'll sit off him and let him make his decision, and quickly calculate the position that gives him the best opportunity to make a tackle. Then he runs as quick as he can to that spot, and more often than not he makes the tackle look easy.

Eat less Bob. Did you just call me 'Blob'? http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r11/pyreplay/ODDITIES/Blob.jpg What's that? Bob with a straw inserted? Slavver. Edit: Could be as effective as the gastric band. Every time you get a craving for fatty foods you suck on your own straw, drawing from your own reserves.

Can't be arsed to check but I'm pretty sure at Armstrong's age Jamie Vardy was making it in non-league football. Not comparing them, but maybe Vardy would have struggled in the championship at that time and might have been completely overlooked.

Eat less Bob.

That's the exact point I'm making though. I wasn't arguing or even disagreeing with you.

I don't think we'll see too much rotation from now on tbh. His reason for rotation early on seems to be so that his best team have enough left in the tank to maintain the final push. I may be wrong but I'm sure that was the case last season.

Every season I have been aware of Rafa's work has been the same (as far as I remember). All the issues that have been discussed on here. Baffling selections, missed opportunities and other things that is simply Rafa doing his thing, his way. But he always finished the season stronger than most, which generally vindicates his decisions, but the following season the same questions are asked again.

Perez has the most to gain from any impact Slimani makes. If he can settle, and do well, we'll begin to see the best of Perez.

Ashley's promised him a new pair. When the next round of TV money clears.

I'm suspicious that they're even crosses at all. They often come from very tight situations and I reckon he just panics and tries to put his boot through it, and slices it.

I don't think our win against Man U is a reason to alter our approach ti this game. We have been very good at taking the lead and if we can do that then that win gives should give us a bit more confidence to try for a second, knowing that a draw wouldn't be so bad.

Of course it was - kicking an opponent in the face is only dangerous play if you’re not Newcastle. f***ing refs union. They very rarely say the ref got it wrong, regardless of how blatant it is. I'm guessing he said he can understand why the ref yesterday didn't award us that stonewall penalty? He has a strange view on the pen. Says it's a penalty but it's okay because the ref wasn't sure if it was in the box and 'forgot' about whether it was a foul or not. He was so focussed on whether it was inside the box or outside that he forgot why it mattered.

Exploit the sensitivity of the baldy fella.

My favourite moment from him was when it looked like a 50/50 that he would dive into, but he just chipped it over the defender's toe.