JP

The change in tone from last summer to now is fantastic to witness. August 2016 - The championship won't be easy, Rafa took them down and has signed a load of shite. April 2017 - NUFC promotion - Rafa has under-achieved, they should've walked that league with that squad. May 2017 - Sunderland fans worried sick about the strength and competitiveness of the championship (the league Newcastle under achieved in with automatic promotion by 10 points and possibly the title) The boot is well and truly on the other foot and I love it

Rafa talked up the April 'mini-league' a lot. He was referring to us v Hudds. So far: Newcastle P4 W2 D1 L1 7 points Hudds P4 W2 D0 L2 6 points We match their points total and we do it comfortably (with 2 games spare)

Available for Wigan

Worth noting, Hudds game in hand is GW45 - the midweek before the final day. So if we match or better Hudds result every week until GW44, we will already be promoted before their game in hand even comes into effect.

This 'home form' thing. I looked after the Brighton game and we were at the following: Home 11W 2D 4L Away 12W 2D 3L Basically the Blackburn 0-1 aside away from being identical to our (rightly said) 'incredible' away form. Back the team after the brilliant last week and I fancy us for 3 points. Gayle to start.

Hope we improve on him in summer tbh. Passion doesn't cut it for me, there's hundreds of us on here who could show plenty of passion doesn't mean we should be playing for Newcastle United under Rafa. Move him on.

Disagree with this one. It might actually help the winger that Dummett isn't attacking minded in the slightest. Overlapping full backs bring 2 defensive players over to the wing. Dummett not overlapping would leave our left winger 1 v 1 with their full back more often than that. It happens now, trouble is Gouff hasn't taken a player on all season. Atsu beating his man several times v Bristol City (was always 1 v 1 with full back). Teams do this a lot - if Martial plays wide left for Man U you'll rarely see his own left back going past him. They leave them isolated as he will always have a go at beating his man.

Comfortably motm for me. Looked a constant threat delivery on the money more often than not and THAT PASS.

I really hope roles are reversed next seaosn. If Sunderland go down, the pressure on them to come straight back up after the shit we've had all summer will be immense and I'd f***ing love it

Basically aye. Our goal difference is already worth an extra point, so plenty of 1-0's will do. A good towsing handed out is always welcome but we haven't looked like scoring significant goals in a while, even the 4-0 over Rotherham was a grind. I don't know what happened to our football from September and October, we were creating loads in some games, could have scored 8 or 9 in the Norwich home game. I've learned not to expect much I suppose Only quoting this as a reference, not a direct reply to you but to the forum as a whole. I still think we create enough to win games? (Aside from Villa on Monday night - the most recent in the memory hence the overreaction of 'we don't look like scoring'). QPR home we had so many chances to finish the game off. Looking at you Perez. Norwich away we had Mitro 1v1 after 6 mins, Mitro hitting the post, Mitro header should've scored, Ritchie underside of the bar, Shelvey not connecting cleanly from 8 yards, Perez chance even after the equaliser late one. We do still create plenty to win football matches, whilst keeping opposition chances to a minimum with our good shape behind the ball. HTL!

Reading win tonight please?

It's the fouls, the needless f***ing fouls, that really get to me. WHAT DO YOU GAIN FROM GOING THROUGH THE BACK OF SOMEONE OUT WIDE WHEN THEY LITERALLY HAVE NOWHERE ELSE TO GO? The attacking player would 1,000/1,000 take the free kick for the niggle through the back compared to the dead end they were in with the ball. Frustratingly set pieces are a massive part of the play in this league as well.

Good save but I've watched it a few times and I wish Perez got a touch on it to go more in on goal in the first place. He lets it run forcing him a bit wider. Never mind, did have a good game by the sound of it.

Is this thread just full of the most optimistic people in the world or what? It's going to be 2 seasons he's been here this May. Shall we wait 2 more until he starts scoring? This. Plus he won't be scoring from the bench. Gayle back with all week to train should start Monday

Back 5 superb. Wolves had one shot on target (easy save). We didn't create much but I think that was through the lack of Gayle's pace again. Thought Atsu looked bright. Onto Tuesday

'very, very close' for tomorrow. Rafa's way of saying he's fit for the squad but not giving anything away to Wolves about who starts. Bench IMO

It Saturday yet?

Are we back to full strength for this? Darlow Yedlin Hanley Clark Dummett Shelvey Hayden Ritchie Diame Gouffran Gayle Hanley/Gouff could easily be Lascelles/Atsu? Nice to have our best 11 available again mind!

I wish every single player in our squad had his attitude. Love the man he just hates not winning football matches. Dream player for Rafa he's so well drilled, plus has that added technical ability.

Had we have won that game last night (which lets face it we deserved to on 2nd half performance/chances) would the meltdown have been as severe? I'm not sure Benitez would've been as scathing about the transfer window had we won 3-1 for example. You could tell how miffed he was with the result, being a man who is obsessed with controlling and winning football matches. Performance wise, 1st half was awful. Lascelles is my biggest concern as when Shelvey is man marked he will be on the one carrying the ball out from the back. He can't pick a pass at all from that position. Saw it many times v Rotherham he made the wrong choices. Whatever is happening behind the scenes is all speculation to us anyway, the best way to show MA what Rafa/the team mean to us is, as Rafa intelligently said, to stick together and support. Roll on Saturday.

Lansbury, described by yourself as a c***, is not the type of player Rafa would ever sign. He often talks about work ethic and personalities of players.

Villa are 13th? And they've still managed to attract more central midfielders in that we have. Villa have done well in recruiting Championship players, something we and Rafa are not interested in doing. This. If Rafa showed a genuine interest in any of their signings you really think they'd choose Villa over us?

Villa are 13th?

Seen the highlights, really poor. I know Sels gets a lot of stick but the organisation when he plays is so bad. I think Darlow brings a real confidence to the back 4 in front of him, talks them through the game which is why we see much better organisation when he plays. Other than that, we need a QPR thread.

Chances of him playing Wednesday?