Infinitely Content

Shelvey as an option off the bench could be big for us as well.

Liking the team

Shit aye, I forgot their entire season hinged on an average at best loan player. So grateful to Sunderland for always being there to offer us the perspective needed to realise how worse things could be

Not that I think it would happen but his reasons for dismissing Rafa would be completely different from any previous sacking tbh. He'd probably quite like Rafa to be gone if Ashley was sticking around. Their relationship is not, nor would it ever be, sustainable. The only reason Rafa is still here is because of the takeover talks. On both sides. Rafa staying because of what we could be, MA keeping him because he's a hugely valuable asset to any potential buyer. If MA changes his mind, Rafa will be down the road. Just a question of which one blinks first..... I see what you're saying, but the only reason that eventuality would be the case is out of pure spite. There's no benefit to his business position by letting go NUFC's biggest and most important asset. I'd personally say the club would be worth 10s of millions of pounds less and be far less attractive if the manager wasn't there. I know you can't put it past Ashley to act out of pure spite, but if I had to guess, I'd say the chances of him sacking Rafa this season are extremely slim.

Don't you's remember how many years it took him to sack Pardew? A few weeks bad form is nothing compared to what he put up with off McClaren and Pardew.

What am I reading here man The fact it's even a discussion on any level is stunning to me.

Nah mate, sorry, but this isn't a must win game. Saying it is takes any meaning away from the expression. A must win game is when it's sink or swim towards the end of the season or a cup run. There's plenty of points still available and plenty of time to get them. I wouldn't worry just yet.

I'd be very happy to see Perez back in the squad. I think Mitrovic is the best partner for him mind, Gayle/Perez doesn't really give you many options in terms of going more direct. Perez/Mitrovic strikes a better balance.

Certainly not a 'must-win'. Ludicrous to call it that in November given we've already picked up a reasonable points tally. A win would be very welcome though, and it would be a good time to get 3 points all circumstances considered.

Yep, these are pretty much my thoughts too

West Brom 1-2 Newcastle - Ritchie (pen), Perez

Regardless how of poorly we played in the last game, I can't help but feel excited and optimistic on a match day. Newcastle win.

Wankers. Can tell the poor thing is completely unaware of what's going on other than being dragged around by the neck. Can't stand it when people use animals to fulfil their ideas. Purely mind-dominated people with no recognition or awareness of anything other than their desires and pleasures. Nothing smart or fun about what they're doing here.

And I'll happily accept I was wrong about saying Gayle is shit. I was speaking out of frustration after a match. He's not shit, he's just not clearly better than Mitrovic to justify Gayle starting and Mitrovic not.

Aye and Shearer scored 58 penalties out of 260. Does that make his premier league record invalid? Don't think it's really fair to frame things like that.

What I'm saying is, how can people be so confident and sure of Gayle starting yet so disregarding of Mitrovic starting? People, for whatever reason seem to think Gayle is superior when there's nothing to back that up. I'm not saying Mitrovic is superior either, I'm saying it's much closer than what people make out. Anyone who shouts for Mitrovic is considered blindly affectionate though. It's silly.

Given he only got 4 assists in the entirety of 2015/16 in the PL, that "fact" is clearly bullshit 22 starts, 9 goals, 4 assists. That's him being involved in a goal more than every other game. It's actually an even better record than his decent 16/17 record. I'd take that all day and I'd be surprised if Gayle or Joselu could better it this season. No it isn't. He got at least two of those goals in games he came off the bench so its not 9 goals in 22 starts and two of them were penalties which I personally wouldn't count when assessing how good a striker is. Anyway your original point was that the stats showed that Mitro could be involved in 10 goals in the next 11 games in the PL when that is clearly bullshit I think it's only fair to go off number of starts. 10 minutes at the ends of matches in varying circumstances (usually bad) isn't a good gauge of how well someone can play. Even if you remove two goals, it's 11 goals involved in, in 22 starts. 1 in 2. Again, I'll take that any day. No reason he won't do it again if he's given the chance.

He was our main striker when we got relegated. Much though I'd prefer him to be starting ahead of Joselu, he's not guaranteed to do any better this time round. And he done his bit tbf. Involved in 13 goals in the season at 21 year old in a new league. Very good stats. If only other members of the squad done as much as him that season it might have been a different story. He was the least of our problems.

Given he only got 4 assists in the entirety of 2015/16 in the PL, that "fact" is clearly bullshit 22 starts, 9 goals, 4 assists. That's him being involved in a goal more than every other game. It's actually an even better record than his decent 16/17 record. I'd take that all day and I'd be surprised if Gayle or Joselu could better it this season.

If Mitrovic started the next 11 games and got 4 goals and 6 assists, would any of you be displeased? Because he is easily capable of that and his record proves it in whatever league or team he's played in, that's a fact. Similarly, if Gayle started the next 11 games and got 4 goals and 6 assists I think he would be praised to the rafters. Hence the problem I see when people are quick to complain about Mitrovic with the idea that Gayle is clearly superior. It's much closer than that, yet anyone that praises Mitrovic is just being blindly affectionate, apparently.

You need to not get yourself banned to make it to 5-10 starts, like. Not to mention his 29 appearances last season where he was useless. He should be getting more chances than he is, there's no denying that, but this whole idea that he hasn't had chances or that he's been really hard done to is pure nonsense like. He simply hasn't performed when he's had chances, and he's limited his own chances by not performing and/or getting himself banned. I mean he's a striker and at the age of 23 he's been suspended due to yellow and red cards 12 times in 5 seasons. That's 1 less than Sergio Ramos in the same amount of time and it's completely indefensible. For whatever reason, some people overlook that or romanticise it, but to me he's just been a pure knacker that's needed to grow up. You talk about his 29 appearances in the Championship (it was actually 25) & his suspensions. He started 11 matches, scored 4, assisted 6. Pretty good return that like. Oh and he didn't get a red card once. You can frame it however you like but you're talking nonsense really. You say he hasn't been able to make 5-10 starts because he gets banned? In well over 2 years he's been banned 4 times, not ideal yes, but you're blowing it way out of proportion to suit your narrative there. As for him not performing, perceive what you will but it's clear you don't like him so your judgement probably isn't going to be reflective of the reality anyway.

I doubt it. ...b...but he tried to slide tackle the ball clean through on goal. Pls Rafa.

Not sure how anyone can really be so sure on their judgement of Mitrovic. When was the last time he got a run of 5-10 starts which all strikers need? Think he can absolutely be better than Gayle & obviously Joselu, but he hasn't had a look in and some fans have written him off anyway by the sounds of it. Daft really. Keep hearing Gayle is better for us but unless you play to his very limited strengths, which we don't (we play lofted balls forward & deep crossed into the box very often) then Mitrovic is the best option for us all day long. Which is why some won't stop harping on about him starting. Another thing is, Gayle and Joselu have confidence issues, their heads go down so easily. Mitrovic has been treat like shit here and yet he still looks brimming with confidence and positivity when he eventually makes it onto the pitch.

Innovative stuff.

Why do you need new flags every 2 weeks? Just fly the same ones and rotate them from game to game. Better to keep the consistency and brilliant atmosphere generated by you lot than to lose momentum. I was just being overly defensive. Apologies. We are going to be rotating the banners a bit more I suspect and they will feature regularly. We're just planning and doing a lot of fundraising stuff at the moment so decided to keep yesterday low key. Nah mate don't apologise! You're putting a lot of work into something by the sounds of it so it's natural to feel defensive about it, especially if you've seen criticism here and there. Keep up the quality work, it's brilliant that we have something like the flag movement going on at all, in whatever capacity it is to be. I'm also sure that when results on the pitch pick up it will only motivate you guys and other fans to make it even bigger and better.