Rafa Benítez (now unemployed)

[TRon]

I honestly think our best chance of staying up is Rafa and his boring defensive football. We haven't got the strikers to risk playing an attacking game, and usually the weaker teams who are at least well organised, are the ones that stand a better chance of staying up. The talk about must win games is pointless at this stage of the season. We need 16 more points, we got another one today, could have been better, but at least we got one.

[triggs]

Leaving Ritchie on was absolutely inexcusable. We were dying for Murphy to come on, and he blatantly settled for a point whilst Ritchie just slowed down every single bit of play we had in the most painful fashion.

 

Shite, complete wrong approach today.

Wrong.

 

Feel free to tell me why.

Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in  3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained.

We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO

Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most...

I think its clear that it was tactical at that point considering he took off Shelvey for a more defensive player and didn't even use our last sub, which would've been a great time to get Ritchie off for Murphy if we were going for it

 

[Heron]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

[mrmojorisin75]

I honestly think our best chance of staying up is Rafa and his boring defensive football. We haven't got the strikers to risk playing an attacking game, and usually the weaker teams who are at least well organised, are the ones that stand a better chance of staying up. The talk about must win games is pointless at this stage of the season. We need 16 more points, we got another one today, could have been better, but at least we got one.

 

Spot fucking on. Rafa is correctly making this season a war of attrition. It's the only way.

[Heron]

Leaving Ritchie on was absolutely inexcusable. We were dying for Murphy to come on, and he blatantly settled for a point whilst Ritchie just slowed down every single bit of play we had in the most painful fashion.

 

Shite, complete wrong approach today.

Wrong.

 

Feel free to tell me why.

Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in  3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained.

We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO

Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most...

I think its clear that it was tactical at that point considering he took off Shelvey for a more defensive player and didn't even use our last sub

Who came on for Shelvey? Merino. If so...then your talking shit...but I'm not certain.

 

[triggs]

Leaving Ritchie on was absolutely inexcusable. We were dying for Murphy to come on, and he blatantly settled for a point whilst Ritchie just slowed down every single bit of play we had in the most painful fashion.

 

Shite, complete wrong approach today.

Wrong.

 

Feel free to tell me why.

Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in  3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained.

We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO

Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most...

I think its clear that it was tactical at that point considering he took off Shelvey for a more defensive player and didn't even use our last sub

Who came on for Shelvey? Merino. If so...then your talking shit...but I'm not certain.

Merino isn't more defensive than Shelvey in your opinion?

[Heron]

Leaving Ritchie on was absolutely inexcusable. We were dying for Murphy to come on, and he blatantly settled for a point whilst Ritchie just slowed down every single bit of play we had in the most painful fashion.

 

Shite, complete wrong approach today.

Wrong.

 

Feel free to tell me why.

Settled for a point?! We should have been 3 up at half time and if we didn't have two 1 goal in  3 chances strikers we would have been. Swansea deserved nowt but to be beat today and we failed to put them to the sword because in my opinion ion lack of confidence and not quality. We do shit at home because half of the fans are utter fucking Doyls who should fuck off to Warner brothers if they want to be entertained.

We clearly settled for the point once we got it back to 1-1 which is completely the wrong thing to do when playing the worst team in the league at home IMO

Na. Certain players lacked urge cy but that wasn't tactical. I'm fairly certain. Ritchie is terrified of taking a man on any time of the game and that's what stand sour for me most...

I think its clear that it was tactical at that point considering he took off Shelvey for a more defensive player and didn't even use our last sub

Who came on for Shelvey? Merino. If so...then your talking shit...but I'm not certain.

Merino isn't more defensive than Shelvey in your opinion?

Shelvey is basically CB for 70% of his game. So no. Definitely not.

[mighty__mag]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

 

Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some.

 

Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring shit, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though.

 

I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat twat still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more piss taking from the hierarchy.

 

If we get nobody through the door that will give us what we need to stay up, I think he will fuck off.

 

[Guest neesy111]

Shelvey's mainly a CB because he can't be arsed to move across the game imo.

[Heron]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

 

Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some.

 

Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring shit, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though.

 

I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat twat still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more piss taking from the hierarchy.

I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor.

[Heron]

Shelvey's mainly a CB because he can't be arsed to move across the game imo.

Aye. That's part of it like...

[mighty__mag]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

 

Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some.

 

Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring shit, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though.

 

I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat twat still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more piss taking from the hierarchy.

I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor.

 

Any points are good points. I agree with all sides of the debates when it comes to us, thats why I can see with some members arguments that they are unhappy with our hopeless approach at home, and our cautious style, instead of bossing the whole game at home when you know a side is there for the taking.

 

I love hearing the St James roar on motd when we go at sides and attack, its what most of us were attracted to in the first place. But sadly its missing at home atm because we are not going with that approach.

 

??

[Heron]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s shit and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

 

Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some.

 

Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring shit, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though.

 

I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat twat still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more piss taking from the hierarchy.

I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor.

 

Any points are good points. I agree with all sides of the debates when it comes to us, thats why I can see with some members arguments that they are unhappy with our hopeless approach at home, and our cautious style, instead of bossing the whole game at home when you know a side is there for the taking.

 

I love hearing the St James roar on motd when we go at sides and attack, its what most of us were attracted to in the first place. But sadly its missing at home atm because we are not going with that approach.

 

[emoji1303]

I appreciate your sentiment. However, on the subject of fans, it's the cat we have 26,000 there wanting to be entertained and sighing / booing at every opportunity that I'd also killing us. For every roar there's equal discontent. We knew where we'd be pre season yet some only remember the last pass. We're not alone like but there's no such thing as fans these days. Not in the UK. Just customers. Speaking in the majority of course.

[Altamullan]

I honestly think our best chance of staying up is Rafa and his boring defensive football. We haven't got the strikers to risk playing an attacking game, and usually the weaker teams who are at least well organised, are the ones that stand a better chance of staying up. The talk about must win games is pointless at this stage of the season. We need 16 more points, we got another one today, could have been better, but at least we got one.

I thought that last season some over ‘restricted’ defensive set-ups at home almost cost us the Championship title. This season I fear the same may cost us Premier League survival. If Rafa was playing pontoon, I reckon he would almost always stick rather than twist. Was always going to be this way, and whilst I would always opt for Keegan (or Robson) over Benetiz style wise (all have/had great values and are admirable men, in their own right) I am not even complaining. He is how he is. I do wish we would just really go for it at times, seek to put the opposition under as much pressure as possible; have more s*** or bust last 20 minutes. Surely we had a decent chance of beating these today with a Murphy (or Aarons) chucked on and ‘a rip them to bits’ instruction passed to the whole team.

[Guest chopey]

Shelvey's mainly a CB because he can't be arsed to move across the game imo.

Aye. That's part of it like...

 

TBF Shelvey did a lot of chasing down yesterday and his efforts were appreciated by the crowd

[morla84]

We would have won comfortably today with a decent striker. As it happens, the knackers in the stands started getting more impatient second half and I was surprised we managed to nick a draw. Been quite a few games this season where I think we would have won comfortably if we'd got that opening goal. A 10 goal striker and we'd be up in 7th or 8th.

[UncleBingo]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s s*** and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

 

Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some.

 

Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring s***, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though.

 

I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat t*** still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more p*ss taking from the hierarchy.

I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor.

 

Any points are good points. I agree with all sides of the debates when it comes to us, thats why I can see with some members arguments that they are unhappy with our hopeless approach at home, and our cautious style, instead of bossing the whole game at home when you know a side is there for the taking.

 

I love hearing the St James roar on motd when we go at sides and attack, its what most of us were attracted to in the first place. But sadly its missing at home atm because we are not going with that approach.

 

[emoji1303]

I appreciate your sentiment. However, on the subject of fans, it's the cat we have 26,000 there wanting to be entertained and sighing / booing at every opportunity that I'd also killing us. For every roar there's equal discontent. We knew where we'd be pre season yet some only remember the last pass. We're not alone like but there's no such thing as fans these days. Not in the UK. Just customers. Speaking in the majority of course.

 

I know what you mean about some of our fans mind. Loads near me offer absolutely nothing in terms of support, but love to get on the team's back at every given opportunity, when they can be bothered to look up from their phones that is.

The old goat in front of me spends the entire game sighing and shaking his head, I've had to bite my tongue as I'm there with my son, but he's getting right on my tits.

[Tsunami]

With our lack of quality we need to make more chances as our conversion rate isn’t great. This hits us hard at home, we’ve been better away as chances created on the counter attack can give the more clear cut chances as the opposition are caught out of shape.

 

Swansea didn’t press us in the first half yesterday and that allowed us to play higher up the pitch. Both Gayle and Perez should have done better with their chances. I’m struggling to understand why we didn’t come out at a high tempo in the 2nd half. Swansea changed their style and played higher up the pitch and we conceded the ground.

 

Swansea really were terrible and we nearly lost. The mentality at home has to change, 2 points from 21 can’t get much worse and it will send us down. We can’t rely on picking up points away from home.

 

Getting a proper goal scorer would be fantastic but it’s unlikely to happen so why not be more expansive at home?

[Heron]

Shelvey's mainly a CB because he can't be arsed to move across the game imo.

Aye. That's part of it like...

 

TBF Shelvey did a lot of chasing down yesterday and his efforts were appreciated by the crowd

He did yesterday, to be fair. Playing to be away maybe?

[Heron]

We would have won comfortably today with a decent striker. As it happens, the knackers in the stands started getting more impatient second half and I was surprised we managed to nick a draw. Been quite a few games this season where I think we would have won comfortably if we'd got that opening goal. A 10 goal striker and we'd be up in 7th or 8th.

[Heron]

Sorry like... But we should have been 3 up by half time. Lack of a quality striker cost us. Anything else is just stupid. Bored to f***ing tears of people following the mantra that if a team is doing bad it must be the managers fault. Mindless f*** spackers following the Sky Sports / Premier League mantra. Have a word with yourselves man. Tits.

 

Agreed. But we didn’t and as such it was 0-0 at half-time. What we did second half was allow a totally awful Swansea side to take the lead, dominate possession and basically have the second half. When you are dominant and creating chances you keep going, keep knocking on that door, eventually one will go in. We just didn’t turn up second half, a complete contras to the first half.

 

Again there is no excuse for that.

 

If we go in 2-0 up then you can relax etc. Go in 0-0 despite having the best chances and unlucky not to lead and surely you keep going. But oh no, not Rafa at home. Negative, boring, counter productive and total nonsense. This kind of ‘result’ can send you down. Swansea will draw huge confidence from this, for us it’s another game in the league at home we’ve failed to win.

 

It’s definately a ‘tactic’ of the manager because he was constantly instructing certain players to not get too far forward, to hold a line, to drop back and when the captain tells the keeper not to release the ball early and then bollocks him for even thinking about it, despite a break on and the crowd pushing for an early release...

 

It’s like the manager is happy just not to lose at home.

 

Me, I don’t get it or the tactics, it’s s*** and costing us big time. Swansea were there for the taking and one of the worst sides I’ve seen at home, yet second half they bossed it. First half only one winner and comfortably so, but only if we kept playing in the same vein...

 

Second half. It was like a different team, a different game.

I'll be honest. I always appreciate your opinion because I have this sense that you come from a similar footballing background to me, and I see your point. For me, 1st half we piled pressure and should have been 2up at least. 2nd half, we tried to let them come on so it would expose them on the counter. Given the results away from home that isn't stupid, but we paid the cost. At 1-1 we should have went hell for leather and instead we cautiously pressed. It was frustrating, but we've taken 4 points from Swansea this season which is good. All being said. We didn't win today because of a lack in quality (again) and not Benitez. He isn't void of criticism but after the last ten years of Ashley this probably the first team you can say you like and are proud of for a decade (at least).

 

Naa prefered our last champo side that gained promotion over this.

 

And our side with Demba ba Tiote Cabaye etc. Although managed by a cock end.

 

Are you feeling alright?

There's a difference. I enjoyed them. They did well. But we are now something to be proud of. Imagine if Benitez had that same crop of players man...

 

Yes but if we are proud of them why if we are not blaming Rafa are we blaming them instead. Its constantly mentioned this is the worst side in years, only again today the worst in the league by some.

 

Im not really proud of this side or much of a fan of the football, its dull boring s***, but im not daft enough to not understand Benitez trophy haul speaks for itself, if we lose Benitez we will never get a decorated manager again for a good while. But all the same there has been games where collectively Rafa has been as much at fault as the players. Benitez cant really be blamed for Dwight Gayle being a poor header of a football and missing good opportunities, he could be blamed for crap and poorly timed subs though.

 

I hope he gets to deliver his true ambitions with us and is backed. But with the fat t*** still here this will be another window where he might just not be thick skinned enough to deal with more p*ss taking from the hierarchy.

I think that his dull, methodical approach could be the difference between us staying up or enjoying one more game with a win that's all. 4 draws are better than 1 wins nd 3 losses. It's that sorta craic... Even though what I have said is over simplistic. FWIW I agree with the rest of your post. He isn't blameless but he is the smallest contributory factor.

 

Any points are good points. I agree with all sides of the debates when it comes to us, thats why I can see with some members arguments that they are unhappy with our hopeless approach at home, and our cautious style, instead of bossing the whole game at home when you know a side is there for the taking.

 

I love hearing the St James roar on motd when we go at sides and attack, its what most of us were attracted to in the first place. But sadly its missing at home atm because we are not going with that approach.

 

[emoji1303]

I appreciate your sentiment. However, on the subject of fans, it's the cat we have 26,000 there wanting to be entertained and sighing / booing at every opportunity that I'd also killing us. For every roar there's equal discontent. We knew where we'd be pre season yet some only remember the last pass. We're not alone like but there's no such thing as fans these days. Not in the UK. Just customers. Speaking in the majority of course.

 

I know what you mean about some of our fans mind. Loads near me offer absolutely nothing in terms of support, but love to get on the team's back at every given opportunity, when they can be bothered to look up from their phones that is.

The old goat in front of me spends the entire game sighing and shaking his head, I've had to bite my tongue as I'm there with my son, but he's getting right on my tits.

Aye, it happens all over the ground just more in certain sections. Ridiculous. I don't really get it, people pay their money so are entitled to do as they please, but it's just sheer idiocy that these people think they're actions are at all beneficial. Not just that these same people probably say to their mates in the pub that all they wanna see is a team that gives their all, then when they go to the game go on like that. Arse holes.

[Heron]

With our lack of quality we need to make more chances as our conversion rate isn’t great. This hits us hard at home, we’ve been better away as chances created on the counter attack can give the more clear cut chances as the opposition are caught out of shape.

 

Swansea didn’t press us in the first half yesterday and that allowed us to play higher up the pitch. Both Gayle and Perez should have done better with their chances. I’m struggling to understand why we didn’t come out at a high tempo in the 2nd half. Swansea changed their style and played higher up the pitch and we conceded the ground.

 

Swansea really were terrible and we nearly lost. The mentality at home has to change, 2 points from 21 can’t get much worse and it will send us down. We can’t rely on picking up points away from home.

 

Getting a proper goal scorer would be fantastic but it’s unlikely to happen so why not be more expansive at home?

As much as I love Benitez I do think the team were instructed to let them come out second half to create space in behind.

 

Someone said about Benitez sticking or twisting either in this thread or in another, every time Benitez has twisted (Tactically) this season it's been somewhat of a struggle. He should probably have stuck with what we did first half yesterday and he should never have went to 442 as so many idiots kept whinging about.

 

We simply don't have the quality so the formation we play currently is the most suited one for us.

[Tsunami]

With our lack of quality we need to make more chances as our conversion rate isn’t great. This hits us hard at home, we’ve been better away as chances created on the counter attack can give the more clear cut chances as the opposition are caught out of shape.

 

Swansea didn’t press us in the first half yesterday and that allowed us to play higher up the pitch. Both Gayle and Perez should have done better with their chances. I’m struggling to understand why we didn’t come out at a high tempo in the 2nd half. Swansea changed their style and played higher up the pitch and we conceded the ground.

 

Swansea really were terrible and we nearly lost. The mentality at home has to change, 2 points from 21 can’t get much worse and it will send us down. We can’t rely on picking up points away from home.

 

Getting a proper goal scorer would be fantastic but it’s unlikely to happen so why not be more expansive at home?

As much as I love Benitez I do think the team were instructed to let them come out second half to create space in behind.

 

Someone said about Benitez sticking or twisting either in this thread or in another, every time Benitez has twisted (Tactically) this season it's been somewhat of a struggle. He should probably have stuck with what we did first half yesterday and he should never have went to 442 as so many idiots kept whinging about.

 

We simply don't have the quality so the formation we play currently is the most suited one for us.

 

Swansea were awful on the ball in the first half and we should have pressed them and really got the crowd going. We let them into a game where they had nothing going for them.

[Guest chopey]

That young Scottish lad that doesn't wear shin pads up front for them was a total non entity for them

[Robster]

I honestly think our best chance of staying up is Rafa and his boring defensive football. We haven't got the strikers to risk playing an attacking game, and usually the weaker teams who are at least well organised, are the ones that stand a better chance of staying up. The talk about must win games is pointless at this stage of the season. We need 16 more points, we got another one today, could have been better, but at least we got one.

Spot fucking on. Rafa is correctly making this season a war of attrition. It's the only way.

I agree with this also.