SteV

https://twitter.com/JonnyGabriel/status/987262690447028225

That’s not how things work. I don't know, the mackems would be on the verge of the play-offs if they hadn't sold Mannone.......

More or less, but I think SteV was talking post-expansion. I wasn't, but you're actually right. If we somehow were to expand, we probably wouldn't be recouping the layout for that for a good few seasons, and obviously that would be reliant on selling-out the expanded capacity. I think we need to be careful with expansion. I used to work with a Leeds fan, who always said Newcastle don't have more fans than Leeds (and many other teams), it's just that all your fans go to the match. And to an extent he's right. I think the primary reasons for that are the stadium location, which is unrivaled in this country, and perhaps from that a culture's developed that if you support Newcastle you go to the match. The way things are at the minute you absolutely feel we'd sell-out a 65k stadium, but if something were to happen that resulted in Rafa leaving.....

To be fair, given the cost and complexities involved in any future expansion, they'd need about 5 years of continuous sell-outs to justify it.

Article's referring to inclusion in next seasons team. This year's has already been announced. We didn't have anyone in it. Probably because we've been largely shite.

https://twitter.com/LeeMarshall9/status/986574577047359488

To be fair to Downie, I'm sure he's just reporting what he's been told from within Sunderland. And i'm sure someone on their side does genuinely believe that Newcastle fans have got hold of tickets for the away end. How they've managed to come to such a seemingly ludicrous conclusion is anyone's guess mind.

There's was something Sky put up during the Man Utd game on Sunday in relation to Sanchez. The exact phrase escapes me now (as I was deep into a few pints to celebrating Rafa and the lads) but it was something like "4 goal involvements in his last two games". So I wouldn't be surprised if that's something they are trying to introduce.

You might be right that there's still a player with ability there, but we shouldn't be at the point now where the only way we can afford players of that quality (15+ goals a season) is by 'gambling' on a player with some kind of baggage. Whilst most transfers are a risk to some extent, we should now be able to afford someone, like a Slimani, where there's more expectation than hope. We'll see....

Stoke City

Decent summary of Rafa and the current situation I think: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/16/rafa-benitez-ideal-manager-newcastle-also-perfect-club/amp/?__twitter_impression=true

Slim to non-existent.

Lascelles has literally punched him so hard he’s turned him into Patrick Viera.

Bryan Robson?

Arsenal can get to fuck with their lies. If SJP is to be renovated in future I hope we find a way of being able to have a segregation without losing seats. I think a few modern grounds have a movable segregation wall that clips on the end of seats. It’s all essentially lies like. “% ground filled” should really be “tickets sold/allocated”. Obviously the disparity with Arsenal is blatant but i’ve been at our games this season that have attendances announced at pretty much absolute capacity, yet if I look around I could probably count 10 seats unoccupied within 50ft of of me. And are we meant to believe there’s never an empty seat at any Bayern home game? Whey aye.

'Relegation Trouble in Chicken Town #FTM'

“But with trouble having flared at a recent Under-23 fixture between the clubs” ???

Even if they managed that, and Bolton were to draw with Barnsley, they'd still be needing Barnsley to not win any of their last four matches after Bolton.

No chance until summer 19 (when the external debt is due) at the earliest. Even then, the cost-cutting measures they have put in place have probably secured against it. It’ll be interesting to see how those measures continue in to League One. Certainly can’t see any significant transfer fees being paid.

:idiot2: http://www.football365.com/news/mediawatch-the-real-reason-manchester-united-won-the-derby Blowing a Gale There are plenty of takes surrounding West Brom’s capitulation this season, but you have to hand it to Sky Sports News pundit Tony Gale for finding a piping hot one. Asked to explain who was at fault for the club’s relegation, Gale argued that there was “nothing Alan Pardew could do”. Pardew was appointed with 23 league games remaining by a club outside the relegation zone. When pushed to apportion blame if Pardew didn’t merit any, Gale had his answer: “The West Brom fans are the reason they are going down”. As we said, piping hot.

Why would he play a weakened team in the Europa League? That literally makes no sense. Because it's a dead rubber, they're 4-1 up and extremely unlikely to lose 3-0 I know Moscow aren't any great shakes, but if Arsenal put half a team out, with their seemingly fragile mentality away from home, they really could get turned over 3-0. No chance Wenger takes that risk. They'll be full strength or thereabouts.

Presumably Maguire is going as backup to Stones? You would think they wouldn’t play together. You would also think Jake Livermore isn’t a international quality midfielder mind....

Both of them started last Thursday mind, so if they go with a similar team in the second leg I’d be surprised if they were both turning out against us. Might go with Elneny on Thursday now like. Doesn’t matter anyway, big Mo batters them all.

Have to concur with the general consensus of the away end today. Positive right from the start. Not too many ‘shit’ songs. Dubravka was loving having his name chanted in the 2nd half. All in all a great trip. Thank you Rafa.

It does appear like that from the outside, but if you look at their home form it's pretty good. They only really lose to the top sides at Goodison. Just as well for them, as their away form is really poor. Which makes our loss against them earlier in the season, even more frustrating.