Aleksandar Mitrović

[LionOfGosforth]

  On 14/04/2018 at 18:56, UncleBingo said:

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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.

 

 

 

I'd have to check but I'd be surprised if he started more than 6-8 games as first choice striker last season. I don't think that's "plenty". Recall he scored 4 in 2 against Preston, didn't score in the next game and was back on the bench right after. Basically Gayle played when fit and got in a rythmn until the injury in January. Gayle has so far been a complete failure in the prem, Mitro has scored goals in the prem, and in a struggling side as well. But he's not going to get the chance for us.

[Guest chopey]

Salami hatrick tomorrow would be interesting

[UncleBingo]

  On 14/04/2018 at 18:59, LionOfGosforth said:

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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.

 

Even the player himself has said he isn't suited to our style of play. What would have been the point of playing him for 15-20 games, to the detriment of the team?

[UncleBingo]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:04, LionOfGosforth said:

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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.

 

 

 

I'd have to check but I'd be surprised if he started more than 6-8 games as first choice striker last season. I don't think that's "plenty". Recall he scored 4 in 2 against Preston, didn't score in the next game and was back on the bench right after. Basically Gayle played when fit and got in a rythmn until the injury in January. Gayle has so far been a complete failure in the prem, Mitro has scored goals in the prem, and in a struggling side as well. But he's not going to get the chance for us.

 

He started 11, 14 as sub, apart from that great week against Preston, he never looked anywhere near as good as the way he has played at Fulham.......and certainly nowhere near as well as Gayle or Murphy either. Some of his performances were terrible, Blackburn at home sticks in the mind in particular when he couldn't even be arsed to challenge for headers.

 

Like I say, maybe the penny has dropped for in which case, I hope he's here next season to challenge for a place.

[LionOfGosforth]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:07, UncleBingo said:

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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.

 

Even the player himself has said he isn't suited to our style of play. What would have been the point of playing him for 15-20 games, to the detriment of the team?

 

Ok, how exactly is playing Joselu dramatically different tactically (or otherwise) than playing Mitro? Both none-too-mobile big lads who play with their back to goal and who rely on good service? It's the same thing, only Mitro can actually hit a barn door. The lad is only 23/24, can't he be given time to learn some tactical discipline if that's the issue? I just don't believe this line at all.

 

Maybe the penny will drop like you said and he's back next year. I'd think Rafa would be the perfect father-figure coach for a young lad needing some guidance.

[LionOfGosforth]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:13, UncleBingo said:

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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.

 

 

 

I'd have to check but I'd be surprised if he started more than 6-8 games as first choice striker last season. I don't think that's "plenty". Recall he scored 4 in 2 against Preston, didn't score in the next game and was back on the bench right after. Basically Gayle played when fit and got in a rythmn until the injury in January. Gayle has so far been a complete failure in the prem, Mitro has scored goals in the prem, and in a struggling side as well. But he's not going to get the chance for us.

 

He started 11, 14 as sub, apart from that great week against Preston, he never looked anywhere near as good as the way he has played at Fulham.......and certainly nowhere near as well as Gayle or Murphy either. Some of his performances were terrible, Blackburn at home sticks in the mind in particular when he couldn't even be arsed to challenge for headers.

 

Like I say, maybe the penny has dropped for in which case, I hope he's here next season to challenge for a place.

 

My point was, he got dropped pretty much no matter what he did. Mentally that's got to be difficult, knowing you're not getting a run. He already displayed a maturity issue but I thought that was somewhat understandable given he was a young foreign striker, expected to provide the majority of our goals in a struggling team destined for relegation.

[Chicane]

I don't agree that it's a given Mitro is done here. I suspect he probably is, and it'll probably be best for all parties involved - we can (hopefully) get a good fee that Rafa can use to buy someone who will better fit in and strengthen whatever system he's looking to build. Mitro gets a move somewhere he'll play regular football.

 

But it's not written in stone yet. I think the most you can argue right now is that Mitro should've been given more of a chance in the Prem, but there's not really been that much time to do it. Joselu was a new signing, it makes sense Rafa gave him his fair chance to bed in. And then by January, he had to act - things looked bad for us and the ONLY priority then was to keep the team up. If he was forced to juggle wages to bring in those players on loan who've had a massive impact in keeping us up, then Mitro presumably was an unfortunate sacrifice. But one that has (touch wood) unquestionably paid off and we're staying up (again, touch wood  ).

 

But I see some implication that Mitro's good form for Fulham somehow proves he's better than Joselu/Gayle - I think that he is, but that fact does not prove it whatsoever - and is being used to justify Rafa being 'wrong' about Mitro. That's silly, at best it can be used to argue he deserves more of a chance here, which again I agree with, but no more. Maybe if Fat Mike was less tight with the purse strings we could've brought in those loanees without moving Mitro out, and he'd still be here and perhaps getting more games.

 

 

[Elliottman]

  On 14/04/2018 at 18:31, LionOfGosforth said:

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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 

 

OK, well first and foremost he doesn't fit into our system, despite what you think of Gayle and.joselu in front of goal they follow Rafas instructions and work their arses off, this has a positive knock on effect for the rest of the team - defend from the front and all that. This is the fundamental reason he was never picked.

 

Then you've got the rumours of.him not doing as he's told in training, not really endearing himself to the manager.

 

Last season there were a few occasions where he started where he showed zero striker.instinct

 

He's also mental.

 

That aside.i quite like him and hope.he does well but Rafa got this one bang on especially if we end up picking up 20million for him.

[UncleBingo]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:14, LionOfGosforth said:

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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.

 

Even the player himself has said he isn't suited to our style of play. What would have been the point of playing him for 15-20 games, to the detriment of the team?

 

Ok, how exactly is playing Joselu dramatically different tactically (or otherwise) than playing Mitro? Both none-too-mobile big lads who play with their back to goal and who reply on crosses mostly for goals? It's the same bloody thing, only Mitro can actually hit a barn door. The lad is only 23 or something, can't he be given time to learn some tactical discipline if that's the issue? I just don't believe this line at all.

 

Of course he can. I think the main difference is Joselu grafts for the team without the ball, something which Benitez demands and not something we've ever really seen from Mitrovic.......he's utter toss apart from that mind.

[Dr.Spaceman]

Sometimes I get the impression that people would prefer McClaren back, with players not putting any effort in during training and ignoring tactics during the game.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

Don’t think I’ve seen any ‘graft’ from Joselu without the ball other than his debut.

 

He’s inferior in every way possible like. The softest big striker I think we’ve ever had.

 

I could understand Mitro being ostracised if we had a better option than him at the club, we don’t. You can argue Gayle and Perez suit Rafa’s style better, which I agree with - but Gayle’s goalscoring has been atrocious at this level and Mitro even in his debut season has a much better record at this level.

 

Mitro and Perez complement each other really well too.

[Elliottman]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:27, Figures 1-0 Football said:

Don’t think I’ve seen any ‘graft’ from Joselu without the ball other than his debut.

 

He’s inferior in every way possible like. The softest big striker I think we’ve ever had.

 

I could understand Mitro being ostracised if we had a better option than him at the club, we don’t. You can argue Gayle and Perez suit Rafa’s style better, which I agree with - but Gayle’s goalscoring has been atrocious at this level and Mitro even in his debut season has a much better record at this level.

 

Mitro and Perez complement each other really well too.

 

Would we be where we are if mitro had of started all the games? Hmmm, I doubt it.

 

Don't even know why this is an issue to be honest, all parties are happy.

[xLiaaamx]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:27, Figures 1-0 Football said:

Don’t think I’ve seen any ‘graft’ from Joselu without the ball other than his debut.

 

He’s inferior in every way possible like. The softest big striker I think we’ve ever had.

 

I could understand Mitro being ostracised if we had a better option than him at the club, we don’t. You can argue Gayle and Perez suit Rafa’s style better, which I agree with - but Gayle’s goalscoring has been atrocious at this level and Mitro even in his debut season has a much better record at this level.

 

Mitro and Perez complement each other really well too.

 

This. He's not just utter shite. He's lazy shite. Every thing he does is lethargic and tired even when he comes on as a sub, couple that with eyes and he genuinely looks like a man who has no energy at all. He'll move out wide, then take about a year to get back in the middle. And he's weak as piss for a striker that size.

[xLiaaamx]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:42, Elliottman said:

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Don’t think I’ve seen any ‘graft’ from Joselu without the ball other than his debut.

 

He’s inferior in every way possible like. The softest big striker I think we’ve ever had.

 

I could understand Mitro being ostracised if we had a better option than him at the club, we don’t. You can argue Gayle and Perez suit Rafa’s style better, which I agree with - but Gayle’s goalscoring has been atrocious at this level and Mitro even in his debut season has a much better record at this level.

 

Mitro and Perez complement each other really well too.

 

Would we be where we are if mitro had of started all the games? Hmmm, I doubt it.

 

Don't even know why this is an issue to be honest, all parties are happy.

 

I agree with you on us not being where we are if Mitro starts, but I don't think we'd have won any of the last three, or Manchester United if Joselu had started either. When Gayle or Slimani are avaliable it's fine. But I think he's a better backup than what we have.

[LionOfGosforth]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:23, Elliottman said:

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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 

 

OK, well first and foremost he doesn't fit into our system, despite what you think of Gayle and.joselu in front of goal they follow Rafas instructions and work their arses off, this has a positive knock on effect for the rest of the team - defend from the front and all that. This is the fundamental reason he was never picked.

 

Then you've got the rumours of.him not doing as he's told in training, not really endearing himself to the manager.

 

Last season there were a few occasions where he started where he showed zero striker.instinct

 

He's also mental.

 

That aside.i quite like him and hope.he does well but Rafa got this one bang on especially if we end up picking up 20million for him.

 

First point - 21 year old moves to prem from foreign league playing up top for a shit team, isn't immediately perfectly disciplined. Kick him out! Jesus, can't tactical discipline be drilled into a lad over time? A bit of a season and a few starts in the championship is enough now to determine he's a lost cause?

 

Second point - work with him, put an arm around him, fine him.

 

Third point - show me games this year when any of our carthorse strikers have shown instinct

 

He's mental. Yes, maybe.

 

None of those points shows Rafa got it bang on at all. It's all opinion and rumour. Granted my opinion is also just that 

[Dave]

Find it a bit weird how some people seem to think pleasing one player is worth more than the bigger picture.

 

We've done absolutely fine without Mitrovic and he's done well for himself out on loan, what's the point of worrying about what could have been? There's just as much evidence to say he'd have scored those Fulham goals for us as there is to say we'd be in the relegation zone right now had we played him more. Precisely nil.

 

If we were doing shite, fine. If we had a shite manager that couldn't be trusted, fine. Neither of those things are the case though.

 

It hasn't worked out for Mitrovic here, get over it.

[Tiresias]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:52, Dave said:

Find it a bit weird how some people seem to think pleasing one player is worth more than the bigger picture.

 

We've done absolutely fine without Mitrovic and he's done well for himself out on loan, what's the point of worrying about what could have been? There's just as much evidence to say he'd have scored those Fulham goals for us as there is to say we'd be in the relegation zone right now had we played him more. Precisely nil.

 

If we were doing shite, fine. If we had a shite manager that couldn't be trusted, fine. Neither of those things are the case though.

 

It hasn't worked out for Mitrovic here, get over it.

 

This, a million times. 1. Gayle scored for fun in the championship in a less attacking team than Fulham, look at him at this level. 2. If Rafa can't work with a player, ditch the player. He has improved so many of our team we had written off he's allowed to get rid of one he hasn't got the patience for.

[Ikon]

Downie cutting his wrists.

[Figures 1-0 Football]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:42, Elliottman said:

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Don’t think I’ve seen any ‘graft’ from Joselu without the ball other than his debut.

 

He’s inferior in every way possible like. The softest big striker I think we’ve ever had.

 

I could understand Mitro being ostracised if we had a better option than him at the club, we don’t. You can argue Gayle and Perez suit Rafa’s style better, which I agree with - but Gayle’s goalscoring has been atrocious at this level and Mitro even in his debut season has a much better record at this level.

 

Mitro and Perez complement each other really well too.

 

Would we be where we are if mitro had of started all the games? Hmmm, I doubt it.

 

Don't even know why this is an issue to be honest, all parties are happy.

 

I’m not necessarily advocating for Mitro to start every week, as I said, Gayle/Perez suit our system better.

 

Do I think we’d have more points if Mitro had played the minutes that Joselu has? Yes.

[alexjack]

I've just seen the goal. He scored that with his left foot. I thought he can use only his right foot and his head(for scoring goals and for nothing else). wtf

[Dr. TC]

Brilliant finish

[LionOfGosforth]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:52, Dave said:

Find it a bit weird how some people seem to think pleasing one player is worth more than the bigger picture.

 

We've done absolutely fine without Mitrovic and he's done well for himself out on loan, what's the point of worrying about what could have been? There's just as much evidence to say he'd have scored those Fulham goals for us as there is to say we'd be in the relegation zone right now had we played him more. Precisely nil.

 

If we were doing shite, fine. If we had a shite manager that couldn't be trusted, fine. Neither of those things are the case though.

 

It hasn't worked out for Mitrovic here, get over it.

 

I think most accept it hasn't worked out for him, those questioning it are just wondering what could have been. Nowt wrong with debating that is there?

 

We've done fantastic this year in the end, don't think anyone is arguing that. I don't think anyone wants to "please one player" over the team either. What if a young lad, from another league, plonked in a shit team and expected to score 15+ in his first season, was instead given a bit of time to integrate and learn the tactical discipline required for a Rafa team, instead of being tossed on our scrapheap? All that going on while Gayle and the other lump have scored like 5 between them. Well maybe Rafa just decided that he can't and that's that. Fine.

 

Anyway, he's finished here, just hope we get a fair amount of dosh from the inevitable sale and it can be re-invested properly.

[taxfree]

  On 14/04/2018 at 19:52, Dave said:

Find it a bit weird how some people seem to think pleasing one player is worth more than the bigger picture.

 

We've done absolutely fine without Mitrovic and he's done well for himself out on loan, what's the point of worrying about what could have been? There's just as much evidence to say he'd have scored those Fulham goals for us as there is to say we'd be in the relegation zone right now had we played him more. Precisely nil.

 

If we were doing shite, fine. If we had a shite manager that couldn't be trusted, fine. Neither of those things are the case though.

 

It hasn't worked out for Mitrovic here, get over it.

 

It's not about pleasing a player though. Why on earth should we not seek to get better? Yes, we're doing well, but that's hardly mainly down to our strikers. It hasn't worked out for Mitro for a number of reasons. Even with that said, he had a decent first season here. With game time, patience and trust/love from Rafa, I reckon he'd do very well here.

[LionOfGosforth]

  On 14/04/2018 at 20:23, taxfree said:

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Find it a bit weird how some people seem to think pleasing one player is worth more than the bigger picture.

 

We've done absolutely fine without Mitrovic and he's done well for himself out on loan, what's the point of worrying about what could have been? There's just as much evidence to say he'd have scored those Fulham goals for us as there is to say we'd be in the relegation zone right now had we played him more. Precisely nil.

 

If we were doing shite, fine. If we had a shite manager that couldn't be trusted, fine. Neither of those things are the case though.

 

It hasn't worked out for Mitrovic here, get over it.

 

It's not about pleasing a player though. Why on earth should we not seek to get better? Yes, we're doing well, but that's hardly mainly down to our strikers. It hasn't worked out for Mitro for a number of reasons. Even with that said, he had a decent first season here. With game time, patience and trust/love from Rafa, I reckon he'd do very well here.

 

It's weird because i'd guess that Rafa would probably be the perfect father-figure type coach to put an arm around him and guide him. By all accounts, Rafa is not the cold distant bloke Gerrard claimed he used to be in his Liverpool days.

 

We've excelled this year despite our strikers, not because of them. Everything behind them is so well drilled and yes, that is 1 million percent down to Rafa.

[huss9]

admittedly just going off highlights but he seems more focussed.

 

spent a lot of his time here looking for freekicks, and getting into needless tangles. also positionally found wanting on several occasions. ball would be played across the face of goal and he'd be nowhere to be seen.

 

maybe this loan spell is just what he needed. his manager there is serb too i think so may have something to do with it.

 

also we dont know what went on in training.

 

shelvey's got turned himself round, may be mitro will also.