Aleksandar Mitrović

[CPL]

Fulham threw that away, needed to go to the corners.

[wormy]

Wolves to finish 20th next season.

 

I might put some on them to finish top ten depending on how their transfer business looks.

[jimmymag]

Rafa is just flat out wrong on this one, he doesn't get much wrong but fuck knows how he could prefer Hoss-a-loo lumbering around or Gayle to Mits. Just plain weird, he scores in every other team he plays for constantly. Couldn't care less if he's shite and lazy in training if he's doing his fucking job every week.

Mitro is slow as a boat man, and couldn't score for us to save his life.

 

Just not good enough for us!

[taxfree]

Apart from personal issues/understandings between the two, we'd be missing a trick not getting him back. Especially looking at our current strikers. We've effectively loaned our best player out. From what I understand Rafa rates Gayle more as a counter attacking player. Which in turn would have kept Mitro on the bench from the start, and made him want to be loaned out.

[taxfree]

Rafa is just flat out wrong on this one, he doesn't get much wrong but fuck knows how he could prefer Hoss-a-loo lumbering around or Gayle to Mits. Just plain weird, he scores in every other team he plays for constantly. Couldn't care less if he's shite and lazy in training if he's doing his fucking job every week.

Mitro is slow as a boat man, and couldn't score for us to save his life.

 

Just not good enough for us!

 

Just not true at all.

[Elliottman]

Rafa is just flat out wrong on this one, he doesn't get much wrong but fuck knows how he could prefer Hoss-a-loo lumbering around or Gayle to Mits. Just plain weird, he scores in every other team he plays for constantly. Couldn't care less if he's shite and lazy in training if he's doing his fucking job every week.

 

Nah, you're wrong

[afar]

Rafa is just flat out wrong on this one, he doesn't get much wrong but fuck knows how he could prefer Hoss-a-loo lumbering around or Gayle to Mits. Just plain weird, he scores in every other team he plays for constantly. Couldn't care less if he's shite and lazy in training if he's doing his fucking job every week.

Mitro is slow as a boat man, and couldn't score for us to save his life.

 

Just not good enough for us!

 

 

Yeah that's all kinds of wrong.

[Mr Logic]

I'll admit, in the past, I've questioned some of Rafa's decisions, esp. where Mitro was concerned in the early days, but after everything I've seen and learnt this season I can't doubt the man anymore.

He see's 10 times what the average fan sees, his knowledge and understanding surpasses us all by a country mile.

 

[LionOfGosforth]

Rafa is just flat out wrong on this one, he doesn't get much wrong but fuck knows how he could prefer Hoss-a-loo lumbering around or Gayle to Mits. Just plain weird, he scores in every other team he plays for constantly. Couldn't care less if he's shite and lazy in training if he's doing his fucking job every week.

 

Nah, you're wrong

 

Great argument 

 

It's ok to love Rafa and admit he's wrong once in a blue moon kinell 

[Chris_R]

Did Rafa not have to free up wages in order to get our three loans in ? He took a calculated risk and amazingly it's worked out for everyone, it's almost like Rafa knows what he's doing

 

So he didn't play Mitrovic for months and persisted with Joselu stinking up our attack, losing us vital points week after week just so he could free up wages by loaning him out in January.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what happened.

[xLiaaamx]

It's not even so much a pro Mitro stance in my case, though i do like him. Just a heavily anti-Joselu one because everything he does irks me. I don't want to sell another striker before we shift him. Ideally none of our current strikers will be here next year and we'll start fresh.

[LionOfGosforth]

Did Rafa not have to free up wages in order to get our three loans in ? He took a calculated risk and amazingly it's worked out for everyone, it's almost like Rafa knows what he's doing

 

So he didn't play Mitrovic for months and persisted with Joselu stinking up our attack, losing us vital points week after week just so he could free up wages by loaning him out in January.

 

Yeah, that's exactly what happened.

 

Some crackpots in this thread like. For some, it's impossible to say Rafa got something wrong, like they'll spontaneously combust if they say the words. Love Rafa me, imo he's wrong on Mitro. That's it.

[Chicane]

If this was under any other manager I'd be furious. But it's Rafa. And I trust Rafa implicitly. He's gotten this squad to tenth FFS. If Rafa doesn't think Mitro would work for what he wants to achieve with this team, then I trust that.

 

This is exactly what it's about. You pick a team, not a group of 11 individuals. If Rafa feels the team is better off with someone other than Mitro in it, then so be it. It doesn't necessarily mean he thinks Mitro is "worse" than Joselu or Gayle, it means (in his best estimation), the team is better off as a whole with one of those two (presumably based on who the opposition is and countless other factors), on that particular day/game.

 

[mighty__mag]

The main argument is, Is he better than Joselu and Gayle.

Probably.

 

For me theres obviously some personality clash or he just got sick of his poor dicipline. Id bet Rafa would prefer him here if there wasn't an issue, but there quite obviously is.

[Bimpy474]

I love Mitro but sometimes a player fits in a team perfectly sometimes they just don't fit. Mitro doesn't seem to fit in Rafa's preferred system, whether or not he deserved a chance is a moot point, we're 10th are staying up, that's job done.

 

I say that as someone who thinks Mitro should play up top for us, but Rafa has just achieved a remarkable feat with 6 games to go (i know it's not mathematical yet but good as now). I don't like the Mitro situation but certainly love what's happened to us now.

[Infinitely Content]

Rafa has done his job and kept us up by devising & carrying out a plan with what he had (and thought he could get - Kenedy, Dubravka) at his disposal. Because he loaned out Mitrovic, a striker clearly better than Gayle & Joselu, does not mean it's an error on his part. He has simply done his job and kept us in the league by whatever means necessary. Maybe Mitrovic could work under Rafa, maybe he can't, but all is for certain it would have taken time to get them both singing to the same tune, and time we did not have. I'm a massive Mitrovic fan and pray he can score goals in a Newcastle shirt, but saying Rafa has got it wrong with him is unfair imo and seems to undervalue the enormous achievement of Benitez this season.

[LionOfGosforth]

If this was under any other manager I'd be furious. But it's Rafa. And I trust Rafa implicitly. He's gotten this squad to tenth FFS. If Rafa doesn't think Mitro would work for what he wants to achieve with this team, then I trust that.

 

This is exactly what it's about. You pick a team, not a group of 11 individuals. If Rafa feels the team is better off with someone other than Mitro in it, then so be it. It doesn't necessarily mean he thinks Mitro is "worse" than Joselu or Gayle, it means (in his best estimation), the team is better off as a whole with one of those two (presumably based on who the opposition is and countless other factors), on that particular day/game.

 

 

Obviously it's a decision made in the best interests of the team. But the fact is, Mitro has scored boatloads for Anderlecht, Fulham and Serbia (seems to score almost every game at international level). It's not unreasonable to assume he could do so for us, but Rafa has decided it's not to be. He prefers strikers that basically don't score (but provide other needed team-work and attributes) to a striker who would score given enough time in the team, but one who does not contribute in other ways. Most people think strikers who score consistently are worth their weight in gold but we'll never know if he could be that for us because he was never given the chance others have enjoyed.

[LionOfGosforth]

Rafa has done his job and kept us up by devising & carrying out a plan with what he had (and thought he could get - Kenedy, Dubravka) at his disposal. Because he loaned out Mitrovic, a striker clearly better than Gayle & Joselu, does not mean it's an error on his part. He has simply done his job and kept us in the league by whatever means necessary. Maybe Mitrovic could work under Rafa, maybe he can't, but all is for certain it would have taken time to get them both singing to the same tune, and time we did not have. I'm a massive Mitrovic fan and pray he can score goals in a Newcastle shirt, but <b>saying Rafa has got it wrong with him is unfair imo and seems to undervalue the enormous achievement of Benitez this season</b>.

 

It really doesn't. It's just an opinion on one aspect of the playing side. The man has worked miracles under this cunt of an owner, regardless of this.

[wormy]

If this was under any other manager I'd be furious. But it's Rafa. And I trust Rafa implicitly. He's gotten this squad to tenth FFS. If Rafa doesn't think Mitro would work for what he wants to achieve with this team, then I trust that.

 

This is exactly what it's about. You pick a team, not a group of 11 individuals. If Rafa feels the team is better off with someone other than Mitro in it, then so be it. It doesn't necessarily mean he thinks Mitro is "worse" than Joselu or Gayle, it means (in his best estimation), the team is better off as a whole with one of those two (presumably based on who the opposition is and countless other factors), on that particular day/game.

 

 

Obviously it's a decision made in the best interests of the team. But the fact is, Mitro has scored boatloads for Anderlecht, Fulham and Serbia (seems to score almost every game at international level). It's not unreasonable to assume he could do so for us, but Rafa has decided it's not to be. He prefers strikers that basically don't score (but provide other needed team-work and attributes) to a striker who would score given enough time in the team, but one who does not contribute in other ways. Most people think strikers who score consistently are worth their weight in gold but we'll never know if he could be that for us because he was never given the chance others have enjoyed.

 

And if you think he's wrong for that then that's your prerogative. It's my prerogative to trust that Rafa gets more out of this team as a whole without Mitro than with. Like I said above, I know I'd be on your side of the argument if it was any other manager but that's because aside from Sir Bobby and Keegan, we've not had a manager in my lifetime whose vision I trust. But Rafa falls into that category for me and for that, I'm disappointed it's not worked out for Mitro here but I equally have faith in whatever reasons Rafa has for not playing him.

[Infinitely Content]

Rafa has done his job and kept us up by devising & carrying out a plan with what he had (and thought he could get - Kenedy, Dubravka) at his disposal. Because he loaned out Mitrovic, a striker clearly better than Gayle & Joselu, does not mean it's an error on his part. He has simply done his job and kept us in the league by whatever means necessary. Maybe Mitrovic could work under Rafa, maybe he can't, but all is for certain it would have taken time to get them both singing to the same tune, and time we did not have. I'm a massive Mitrovic fan and pray he can score goals in a Newcastle shirt, but <b>saying Rafa has got it wrong with him is unfair imo and seems to undervalue the enormous achievement of Benitez this season</b>.

 

It really doesn't. It's just an opinion on one aspect of the playing side. The man has worked miracles under this cunt of an owner, regardless of this.

 

Yes, but maybe the reason Mitrovic had to go out on loan is because Rafa knew he needed quick results and to get a team playing a certain style of football with some immediacy. Had Rafa persevered with Mitrovic in spite of this, it could have been very damaging. Therefore it is hard to see it as an error, more as a cog in his great achievements with us this season.

[LionOfGosforth]

If this was under any other manager I'd be furious. But it's Rafa. And I trust Rafa implicitly. He's gotten this squad to tenth FFS. If Rafa doesn't think Mitro would work for what he wants to achieve with this team, then I trust that.

 

This is exactly what it's about. You pick a team, not a group of 11 individuals. If Rafa feels the team is better off with someone other than Mitro in it, then so be it. It doesn't necessarily mean he thinks Mitro is "worse" than Joselu or Gayle, it means (in his best estimation), the team is better off as a whole with one of those two (presumably based on who the opposition is and countless other factors), on that particular day/game.

 

 

Obviously it's a decision made in the best interests of the team. But the fact is, Mitro has scored boatloads for Anderlecht, Fulham and Serbia (seems to score almost every game at international level). It's not unreasonable to assume he could do so for us, but Rafa has decided it's not to be. He prefers strikers that basically don't score (but provide other needed team-work and attributes) to a striker who would score given enough time in the team, but one who does not contribute in other ways. Most people think strikers who score consistently are worth their weight in gold but we'll never know if he could be that for us because he was never given the chance others have enjoyed.

 

And if you think he's wrong for that then that's your prerogative. It's my prerogative to trust that Rafa gets more out of this team as a whole without Mitro than with. Like I said above, I know I'd be on your side of the argument if it was any other manager but that's because aside from Sir Bobby and Keegan, we've not had a manager in my lifetime whose vision I trust. But Rafa falls into that category for me and for that, I'm disappointed it's not worked out for Mitro here but I equally have faith in whatever reasons Rafa has for not playing him.

 

Totally fair and reasonable comment and I don't disagree with any of it. I just wanted the lad to be given a run in the team so he could be judged properly for us. It's not happening and that's that 

[UncleBingo]

If this was under any other manager I'd be furious. But it's Rafa. And I trust Rafa implicitly. He's gotten this squad to tenth FFS. If Rafa doesn't think Mitro would work for what he wants to achieve with this team, then I trust that.

 

This is exactly what it's about. You pick a team, not a group of 11 individuals. If Rafa feels the team is better off with someone other than Mitro in it, then so be it. It doesn't necessarily mean he thinks Mitro is "worse" than Joselu or Gayle, it means (in his best estimation), the team is better off as a whole with one of those two (presumably based on who the opposition is and countless other factors), on that particular day/game.

 

 

Obviously it's a decision made in the best interests of the team. But the fact is, Mitro has scored boatloads for Anderlecht, Fulham and Serbia (seems to score almost every game at international level). It's not unreasonable to assume he could do so for us, but Rafa has decided it's not to be. He prefers strikers that basically don't score (but provide other needed team-work and attributes) to a striker who would score given enough time in the team, but one who does not contribute in other ways. Most people think strikers who score consistently are worth their weight in gold but we'll never know if he could be that for us because he was never given the chance others have enjoyed.

 

He was given plenty of chances in the Champo with us but the fact is, he was comfortably out performed by Gayle and even Darryl Murphy. If he 'd played like this for us last season, he probably would have started the season as our number one striker, but he didn't and then any chances he might have had disappered with that brain dead elbow against West Ham.

I've never been convinced with him myself but have been impressed by some of the finishes I've seen at Fulham.....who knows, perhaps the penny has finally dropped for him and he's getting his head down and listening to his coach.....something that wasn't happening here.

 

 

[UncleBingo]

Apart from personal issues/understandings between the two, we'd be missing a trick not getting him back. Especially looking at our current strikers. We've effectively loaned our best player out. From what I understand Rafa rates Gayle more as a counter attacking player. Which in turn would have kept Mitro on the bench from the start, and made him want to be loaned out.

 

Don't be silly man.

[LionOfGosforth]

Rafa has done his job and kept us up by devising & carrying out a plan with what he had (and thought he could get - Kenedy, Dubravka) at his disposal. Because he loaned out Mitrovic, a striker clearly better than Gayle & Joselu, does not mean it's an error on his part. He has simply done his job and kept us in the league by whatever means necessary. Maybe Mitrovic could work under Rafa, maybe he can't, but all is for certain it would have taken time to get them both singing to the same tune, and time we did not have. I'm a massive Mitrovic fan and pray he can score goals in a Newcastle shirt, but <b>saying Rafa has got it wrong with him is unfair imo and seems to undervalue the enormous achievement of Benitez this season</b>.

 

It really doesn't. It's just an opinion on one aspect of the playing side. The man has worked miracles under this cunt of an owner, regardless of this.

 

Yes, but maybe the reason Mitrovic had to go out on loan is because Rafa knew he needed quick results and to get a team playing a certain style of football with some immediacy. Had Rafa persevered with Mitrovic in spite of this, it could have been very damaging. Therefore it is hard to see it as an error, more as a cog in his great achievements with us this season.

 

You could well be right, the results have been excellent since new year, a marvelous achievement on the pitiful budget allowed. The overall point is, nobody knows what he could have done because he wasn't given a proper chance, it's not like he was given 15-20 straight games and failed. So we'll never know and let's face it, not much point in debating beyond that because he's just going to end up a small footnote in our history anyway.

[taxfree]

Apart from personal issues/understandings between the two, we'd be missing a trick not getting him back. Especially looking at our current strikers. We've effectively loaned our best player out. From what I understand Rafa rates Gayle more as a counter attacking player. Which in turn would have kept Mitro on the bench from the start, and made him want to be loaned out.

 

Don't be silly man.

 

Oh fuck Not best player, of course. I meant striker.