OTF

The club want him gone, he will go unless there are no reasonable offers, in which case there will be no panic. He's still contracted for another three years.

You're a bit of an odd one to pick a fight over something like this, but no part of legal closing down results in taking out a players exposed leg in mid air after the ball is well on its way.

Yep, and part of his value will be influencing Mitrovic. He has the experience that coupled with Mitros ability could help to bring the Serbs game along. That and the mere fact that there is another option in the same style of player will help keep him motivated. There's more to it than just the 90 minutes.

About the second yellow card that resulted in a red; it was so late and he wasn't even close to the ball. I'd be furious if one of our players was on a yellow and did something like that.

Ewerk is right.

Yep!

Perez and Shelvey competing to see who can butcher the shot on goal more thoroughly.

He's a regular Dan Guthrie.

I hope he wasn't talking about goals.

Shelvey is a fucking cunt. No two ways about it. Have a look at his face when he trots out onto the field, and again as he plods around the pitch avoiding putting in effort. I don't think we'll ever find out if he has any redeeming qualities as a footballer because he doesn't care enough to try.

Colo and Enrique playing the ball out from the back in the championship were like the Harlem Globetrotters. We've got nothing like it now.

The players dictate the mentality. Anita, Colback and Hayden in midfield offer very little in attack.

The championship will be a learning experience for him for a while. He went out in this one too defensively minded.

Yep, there was a definite lack of heart out there. Hopefully Diame proves to be a midfield leader. Part of the reason we were so successful last time we were relegated was because we had accomplished technical defenders who showed composure and could play the ball out from the back. Mostly Coloccini but also Enrique stood out in that respect. Already we're seeing worrying signs of hoofball from the back. Hanley, Lascelles and Dummett don't have the confidence or ability on the ball from what I've seen. Mbemba will have a go, but has an error in him. Ironically I think Rafa went with Hanley partnering Lascelles to deal with their physical presence up front when it was precisely their inability to do so that lost us the game. In our last championship season Andy Carroll was just about our best defender for set pieces, hopefully Mitrovic comes to the party on that front or else we'll be crucified by set pieces ad infinitum.

We could have done with him on the left today.

Love myself some Olympics.

Proverbial reality check. Two clear penalties, but we were in the whole pretty shite. No balance to our attack and our defense was weak. In all his games for us I've not seen enough from Lascelles to convince me he's a good defender let alone worthy of captaincy. Talk is cheap.

First proper chance that, probably should have done better. Shame to say that about our best player thus far.

The other was never a red, but the pen was blatant.

If we defend like that for set pieces we'll be conceding goals from them every game. Absolutely shocking upon review. Very early of course, but that's the bread and butter of the championship. Rocket up them please Rafa. Half time change?

Ouch. No marking there, looks like it should have been Lascelles picking him up.

Ordinary that lack of a penalty there, but no surprise. Can only guess that he thought he was trying to get him arm out of the way, problems is his arm should not have been in the position it was to begin.

Annoying how twitter is character limited. The full message was: Rafa Benitez says Dwight Gale & Alexander Mitrovic had a finishing competition in training to see who would get the no9 shirt. He was pleased to announce Shola Ameobi as the new no9.

Atrocious tackle, shocking officiating. If Danny Guthrie was involved they would have let it slide.

This is quite the hilarious appointment. He's fucking gash as we all know. Precious little for him to lose from this appointment also, he gets to skip out of Sunderland a hero with them set to see out their inevitable relegation.