The Official Newcastle United Thread

[fathomfive]

Forgot we were playing tonight, which really scuppered my Fantasy Premier League team for the weekend.
However, a great result against a difficult team.

[TX1]

Well executed plan from Rafa, have to admit did not expect three points before the match.

[Chicken Chaser]

Great result, hard work paid off. Rondon could have had a wonderful free kick but saved by the post.

I hope that Rafa sticks around, with his backroom team, he has worked wonders with this squad.

[ellroy]

True, interviews he gave yesterday certainly give the impression he wants to stay. He seems to get the club, in the same way he got Liverpool. Just hope the fat man can do at least one good deed this year.

[Adam B]

Isn’t there some odd deal that Rafa is fined if he leaves his contract early?

Keeping him and giving him 50m net in the summer is a no brainer surely

[ellroy]

Not odd, usual type of contract if you leave before completing the agreed terms piece.

[Scaleybrat]

Adam B said:

Isn’t there some odd deal that Rafa is fined if he leaves his contract early?

Keeping him and giving him 50m net in the summer is a no brainer surely

Rafa’s contract is done at the end of the season. He’s free to walk if he so wishes and nobody would blame him if he did. For once, he has the FCW on the back foot but I expect no change in the situation, in a positive sense. If no money is coming, Rafa is going.

[ellroy]

Interesting game tonight. One that I think Brighton need to win in order to have a chance to be safe, and wouldn’t harm us if they did manage to, because other than that their run in is pretty bloody awful.

[ellroy]

Brighton right in the midst of it now.

This ain’t over yet...

[skahigh]

Could easily see Brighton failing to pick up any more points given their games and current form, they have the look of a thoroughly demoralised team hoping for a bit of luck to get them going.

Four points from Fulham and Palace might be enough to keep Cardiff up.

[ellroy]

That’s what I was thinking, but we probably need a bit more after that result in my opinion as well.

[skahigh]

ellroy said:

That’s what I was thinking, but we probably need a bit more after that result in my opinion as well.

I think we're fine now, given goal difference Cardiff would need two wins and two draws minimum from their four games to overtake us, I think that's massively unlikely.

[ellroy]

Really interesting analysis on Perez. Does go to show some of our fans clearly don’t have a bloody clue as to what they’re watching at times...

https://www.premierleague.com/news/1184572?sf21130...

[DoctorX]

ellroy said:

Really interesting analysis on Perez. Does go to show some of our fans clearly don’t have a bloody clue as to what they’re watching at times...

https://www.premierleague.com/news/1184572?sf21130...

“Indeed, statistically, he is the most effective forward in the Premier League for the defensive side of the game.

Nobody makes more interceptions, tackles or ball recoveries.”

[ellroy]

I should add, I read somewhere a few months back, that Rafa had asked him to work defensively even though he’s playing in the ten area.

I suspect that’s because Rafa knew we needed to be very tight given the paucity of attacking options we had at the start of the year and GD may well make a difference in the round. If that’s the case, and I think it is, its fair to say that swathes of the criticism he’s received are really not justified.

[ellroy]

Interview from Rafa is worrying, not surprising, but worrying never the less.

Can’t help, but feel it’s 50/50 if he stays. If he’s allowed to leave Ashley and Charnley thoroughly deserve all the crap that’s coming their way.

[fathomfive]

Well that's just outright assault.

[ellroy]

And breathe.

[SydneyBridge]

Ten points clear of Cardiff, think you will be safe with that

[DoctorX]

HWTL