Happinesstan

Just whack Ritchie in the middle. Or De Jong. Thing with Ritchie, we all know how he likes to cut in from the right and try a few shots. But if he was to start in a central position, drifting as the wide players bring it out of defence, he will still receive the ball in a wide-ish area, but hopefully will have less to do in order to try something.

Whatever Rafa wants... I'm now imagining Rafa doing his team talks like this.

This is one of those occasions where our team spirit will carry us through. 2-0 the toon.

Everybody wants to win 4-3 when they're losing 1-3. Don't they?

There's something in this line of thought, actually. He seems to be the only owner constantly being caught off-guard by transfer "packets," wages, commissions and all. What world has he been living in? He's watched every single club pass him by it seems. f***ing nuts. Shite Direct still doing ok though?

Rafa's not stupid. He'll be learning Chinese as we speak.

"Airing our dirty linen in public"? Maybe if we'd done some fucking laundry over the last decade, there would be space in the laundry room.

Once Rafa has assembled the best squad available on Ashley's budget, Joe Kinnear should be able to guide us to safety.

We need a tem bonding session in the forest, where people can easily go missing after dark.

It's not a disaster if he's not ready. Depends how 'not ready' he is. Crazy as it may sound I think we'd do better against Spurs with Mitro and Perez up top, anyway. Then it's Huddersfield and whilst Gayle would likely destroy them, we should still have enough. If this squad is supposed to be good enough. Maybe a sub appearance against Hudders then a proper runout in the Rumbelows Cup and he'll be ready for West Ham? Having said all that, we do need a back up, for Gayle. And his unreadiness should certainly serve as a gentle reminder of this fact.

How much momentum is left over from promotion?

Could do. They might offer him to us really cheap. And we'll stall because we need to get rid of Riviere. Which won't happen.

Can't see us getting anything if I'm honest. But I do expect a promising performance from whatever team Rafa puts out. I just think Spurs are going to be after us for the thrashing we dished out last time. It could set them up for a good season TBH. They might have worked just that little bit harder in pre-season. It could also be the reason that so many are seemingly injured, too.

Maybe it was the players decision more than Rafas. He states that he doesn't like players who cry off with niggles, and seems to feel it is part of his style of leadership by example, so I'm sure he would have been bending Rafas ear. Any other player and I think Rafa would have let them know who the boss is.

2 mins of very valuable advertising space there.

cheers

I'll do it.

This thread sums up our club really. 6 pages in 3.5 years.

I wonder how much that Gui'varch transfer would have cost in todays market.

Rafa is a top 5 manager and our squad is bottom 5, we'll finish 10th or 11th.

Count me in.

Gudjohnnsen for Chelsea. Seemed like he scored against us in the cups every year.

I don't think we will either, and I'm not sure Gayle would be as prepared to be the second choice. He's been patient throughout his career and waited for his chance. And when his chance came he has taken it. He has earned the right to be our first choice next season. His injury proneness means we need an adequate replacement though, and I don't think Mitro is that. I see Mitro as another option, rather than a back up.

Remember when we signed Mirandinha and Look North did a piece about how nobody knew how his name was pronounced. I was like 'Just ask him what his fucking name is' Never trusted the news since.

He doesn't complement Rafa's system, but let's be honest, we don't have the quality in any position to suit Rafa's system. It goes without saying that we will struggle at times this season. Mitro is a great one to have on the bench to change things up a little. Unless we can get better for the same price I'd keep him for this year.