aimaad22

Queue the justification about playing a weakened team to protect league performance but we've heard it all before. Another embarrassing cup exit. Sucks whatever way you look at it. The fact we've got bigger problems and a long term outlook (for the time being) means most of us arent really bothered by this though.

Colback is there under Styles. Playing in their own half.

From when I started following the club that is 2000 onwards

Not how they defined it at the beginning of the article.

Always thought we've been lucky with keepers in general. Even had solid back up most of the time. Sels was on the cards therefore.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2017/01/18/premier-league-championship-asked-fans-yo-yo-clubs-prefer/ 2 relegations in 22 seasons and we're a yoyo club? What kind of pathetic yoyos do you have in this country?

That would be class

Yeah those are really annoying sometimes, especially last year when we were so poor and half the team including him didnt seem to give a shite or have a clue half the time.

No significant weaknesses

I can understand what Tooj is saying but the organizers should look at improving the value/prestige of the tournament at least. Holding it every 2 years and at a time when viewership is likely to be low just doesnt help at all. Seems to be lazy incompetence rather than sticking by tradition.

Should have shown the kind of metal Pardew and Carver did, hanging in there grinding it out when everyone absolutely hated their guts. Now thats manly resolve.

Yeah probably. You can kind of see from these lads' twitter/instagram posts that they were made to feel part of something important, as opposed to making up the numbers because we dont give a shite about the cup. Gouffran has found his place, having the odd good game at this level providing cover for 2-3 positions. Encouraging that he can put a shift up front, might be a go to for us if Murphy struggles in the games to come.

First FA cup win since 2012 ffs What a difference Shelvey makes to this side. Nice to see the younger kids get a game, they'll be hopeful of getting a run out against Oxford too now. Can only help boost morale around the place.

Does seem to be an element of reading too much into the situation here. But with Ashley's history you really never know. Even if Rafa does stay on for a few years we can expect these alarm bells to ring every now and then. Whether its click bait or genuine concern leading from the fact this really is the last chance of anything good happening to us under Ashley.

More to do with the knowledge that this being nufc things are bound to go haywire at any moment. Doesnt help with Ashley sniffing around the implode button finding the perfect spot to plant his fat arse on it.

Yes. Mirror running a story about him already wanting to go back to his favoured transfer model. Buying young from Europe and selling on. Its shit like that which will eventually blow over and create the next Ashley disaster. I think the man really is beyond learning.

Seems we struggled through apparently Scored decent goals. But it clearer with each passing game this defense will need a complete revamp to cope at a higher level. Not catching too many of the games myself but it seems to be the general opinion. Are Lascelles and co playing rubbish in general or is it the tendency to make errors at crucial times?

Yes but as PL has said it might take a bit more time before Rafa has things set the way he wants. Considering the years of rubbish we've accumulated in the squad he's making do a lot for the time being. Which takes me back to my earlier point about it possibly being a good thing that the shortcomings are becoming painfully clear for all to see Might make his transfer business aka building the long term project a bit more easier.

Glaring lack of cutting edge in recent games * I meant it in terms of across the squad. Minus Shelvey and Ritchie perhaps, there's near zero creativity or flair.

Yeah it might not be the worst thing ever for our glaring lack of cutting edge to be highlighted so prominently right now. A window and a half to do something about it before next season.

Compare Colback to Bowyer/Smith if you must, useless headless chicken runners extraordinaire.

Yeah Im just saying that was the general consensus, that we'd pull away at the top this time of the year. Colback/Gouffran/Dummett/Anita etc. They'd kill to be just limited

This was supposed to be the time when the 'superior' strength of our squad would become evident increasing the points gap at the top of the table

I'd happily have Rafa here for the next 10 years, and personally I put yesterday's defeat down more to it being one of those days but what in the world makes people think him or any other great manager cant make a mistake ffs.