Howay

They reminded me slightly of us (at times) under McClaren, passing the ball around aimlessly causing no threat whatsoever. The funny part about people moaning about us effectively "hanging on" against Huddersfield today is that if it was the other way round and we watched our side spend 94 minutes controlling all of the ball and creating no clear cut chances whatsoever there would be a massive amount of frustration about it but when the other side is doing it we were just luckily hanging on. They were crap tbh, and we allowed them to have the ball in nonthreatening areas while sitting on a lead.

Aye that's it like, with the clip of some of the players we've got we're never going to look amazing. It's also simply not Benitez's style, he looks to counter what the opposition likes to do and as you say the last two games he's done that perfectly. I think when we go up (hoying away the false modesty of saying if now) we'll see our lot open up a bit more and play some "better" stuff, as I think we'll buy some canny players if Benitez hangs about, and perhaps more importantly teams will give us more space to operate as they wont be looking to put 11 behind the ball and shut us down like they have the majority of games. However we're never going to look like Brazil 1970 or Pep's Barca, we'll always be pragmatic and look to be solid defensively first, but as I said earlier it's honestly fucking brilliant to watch an NUFC team not look like they're in full on panic mode when under heavy pressure like that. Bloody love Rafa, hope he stays on past this season as it's going to be a real punch to the cock if he walks out and we get some absolute slug like Kinnear in again and we go back to watching a disorganized mess every week. Regardless of how much of been enjoying our lot recently, it is still exceedingly difficult to watch Colback try and play football honestly man the lad is an utter disgrace, even Dummett and Anita have parts of their game they do well but he seems to struggle in every aspect. Rafa's subs were good again today in all.

Alternatively we could have tried to outpass probably the best passing and pressing sides in the league with Jack Colback, Dummett, Anita, Diame, etc. you have to pick your battles on a game by game basis which is what Rafa did today, we let them have the ball and showed incredible patience under pressure, then showed complete composure in the attack scoring 3 times with the few chances we got. Impressive imo.

Agree fully, the last two games have honestly been some of the most impressive I've seen from NUFC sides in fucking years. Rafa got his tactics spot on in both games, I agree with what ewerk is saying in all once we took the lead I was never particularly worried about losing it as we controlled the game without having the ball. We directed everything down the flanks and their only chances were 25 yarders from wingers cutting inside out of frustration, Darlow saw every chance a mile off and there was no danger. We've proven to everyone we're the best in the league with these two performances tbh. Honestly when was the last time any of us have watched an NUFC side look that fucking comfortable under pressure? Their back ups got a goal against Man City but couldn't buy a goal today against our lot (soft pen aside).

The best team that didn't create a single clear cut chance. As someone said it was like Swansea a few years ago (one of Pardews best tactical games), they just had 70% of the ball in the middle of the pitch while a goal down why the fuck would we chase them up and open ourselves up? (I know you're not saying they were the best btw Strawb).

He has no case tbh. We got a soft pen, they got an even softer one. The ref handed out yellows to our lot second half while worse tackles from their lot went unpunished. You can't blame the ref when you don't create a single proper goal scoring opportunity man. Benitez completely showed him up today tbh. He basically said "I knew they were all fart and nee shite so let them have the ball so we could counter" in his post match interview. We scored nearly anytime we made a concerted effort to attack ffs. I'll be chuffed if they get promoted because on that evidence they'd be cannon fodder. How's all that for Willy waving.

Dummetts cross was brilliant iyam.

He likes to live dangerously outside of footy. I was waiting all game to say it as I didn't want to jinx it but that Van La Parra bloke for them was an absolute fucking clogger. Must have touched the ball a hundred times and did fuck all of note with it other than make Darlow pull off one save that would be saved basically every time.

Quality that, did it in a way our lot wont be that knackered from it either. Not impressed by Huddersfield tbh, we could have been out there for the rest of this week and they wouldn't have got near a proper goal. Btw Adios is firmly on team willy waver now.

Aye they won't have a keeper for next match as both will have injuries from embarrassment.

:lol: utterly fucking stupid by Huddersfield sending the keeper up for that.

Yellow for Mooy surely man

Some cross eyed bloke coming on for them.

That was an impressive cross by Dummett.

Diame with a Shelvey-esque ball there.

If Huddersfield fans have any complaints about this ref after the first half he's more than done enough to even it out now.

Hell of a pass by Ritchie there

Diame is hard to watch at times like.

Ritchie has been class today btw.

Good tackle by him after I said that though. I'll keep slagging him off.

Anita is a complete waste of space. No way he's better defensively than Yedlin.

Yup.

The ref was desperate to give that. I fucking knew it

Brown fouling Gayle who was clearing the corner. Nowt given. The ref seems to be favoring them a bit after leaning our way first half.