Shadow Puppets

Christ, I don't know what matches they've been to, but it's been dire for years.

No. No what?

I mean, as usual, I think the truth is somewhere in-between. As we all know, Ashley has dealt Rafa a shit hand (yet again), but it would be stupid to suggest that Rafa isn't partly to blame for our league position. Of course he is. You all know that he has made quite a few mistakes this season with peculiar starting lineups, substitutions too late, negative tactics after going ahead, and the signings that he has been able to make have largely been poor. BUT, he is a class above anyone else we could hope to attract, has genuine quality when he has the right tools, is a revelation in his work off the pitch, and has brought pride back to our club. And I would hate to see us let him go without giving him a fair hand to play with. I wouldn't swap him for anything, but I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say he's done an average job on the football side of things so far (last season included - our final league position certainly did mask how largely crap we were for large chunks of the season).

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37426290 I remember the game mate. Seems like a lifetime ago. What were the changes that, in your opinion turned that game around? I remember us scoring really soon after they went 3 - 1 up on us and then us being pegged back until Gayles equalizer then it was mayhem, I sit in the East Stand and I know what a s*** atmosphere is like, believe me but, everyone was on their feet and the place was rocking that night! The introduction of Mitro for Diame was a big change, not least because it was the first time we went 4-4-2 and because the long balls we were going to pump up towards the final few minutes needed an outlet. Mitro had a hand in both the equaliser and the winner too IIRC. Atsu coming on for Dummett just before the two goals helped too, a much more attacking and pacey player had them rocking even more than they were. Although we won the game, I was there that night and everyone was pulling their hair out at how late the subs were again though. Just to play devils advocate.

Spoke to the corporate hospitality person here (the boss, not the waitress), and he says it’s all done. Just awaiting announcement.

For what it’s worth, I’m in one of the boxes tonight with work, and I’ve just walked past Slimani in the corridors.

Must admit, I don't know much about the guy, but doing some Dennis Wise scouting he looks like my kind of player. Big and strong but capable of scoring tap ins, headers, worldies... the lot. Hope there's an option to buy in there somewhere.

Surely not. I mean, that would be lunacy.

Source?

Taking a "punt" on undoubted quality though. Even if he's fit for 5 games and scores 3-4 goals for us, it'll go a long way to ensuring we stay up (IMO).

What's his injury record this year? 100% unavailable this calendar year. Suffered minor muscle related setback just after Christmas having already been unavailable for most of December. I thought it had been reported that he was available for selection for the last couple of weeks but Klopp didn't want him in the squad if he was going.

What's his injury record this year?

Like someone said earlier, even if he only plays 5 games for us, it'll be a good signing in the position we're in. A player of his ability, playing for us for a few games, would dramatically increase our chances of winning those games.

Could someone post the full times article?

Thread title very misleading if you read Matthew Raisbecks accounts of it. Basically, Rafa was told 3 weeks that Ashley would still be in charge all month. That's not at all as doom and gloom as the thread title appears.

He is right though, isn’t he.

?

It’s a nothing story, but here’s the link none the less... https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/5233743/newcastle-takeover-amanda-staveley-mike-ashley-50million-wall/

I thought we played alright tonight... created some really good chances which on another night would have seen us score a couple. You can tell confidence is low though. This takeover can’t come soon enough.

Not a chance!

Jim White makes literally everything he says up. He's an imbecile. Don't listen to him.

Excellent performance that. As others have said, pretty much the perfect away performance. Merino and Ritchie again bossed it. As far as Swansea go, Sanches was by far the worst player on the pitch today. Just dreadful. I know there's a good player in there from watching him a lot a couple of years back, but was quite shocked to see how far he appears to have fallen (one game, I know!).

Sadly they'll likely be old quotes from prior to the transfer window closing. It's taken from North East Life magazine, which will run at least 2 or 3 weeks in advance for printing.