23rd December 2017 3pm The ex-Olympic Stadium Probably less wxciting than Xmas shopping with the Mrs. Need 3pts. Cant see anything less than a 3-0 away win to start an unbeaten Christmas period.
Just seen the team we are ****ed... Three nil home win... No merino... Diame starts plus Henri... Jesus christ
1Elliot 22Yedlin 6Lascelles 2Clark 19Manquillo 30Atsu 24Saivet 10Diamé 11Ritchie 9Gayle 21Joselu Substitutes 3Dummett 7Murphy 16Aarons 17Pérez 18Mbemba 25Haidara 26Darlow
What that team shows us is Mike Ashley FC. I'm shocked by the line up in truth, but there must be good reason for it - though winning away doesn't seem to be the desired outcome. Therefore it appears to be a political statement to force an action. Hopefully it may jolt Ashley of the potential of losing over half the value of his investment when his good Championship level side return to their natural home next season.
Jesus just seen the line up. What the holy hell is that all about. No point saving players for Man City surely? Claims others have picked up knocks? Since when. Midfield looks weak, where is the creativity coming from? We so need a win today, but worried about this line up. Is Rafa doing this on purpose to make a point to Ashley, you have to wonder what his thinking is.
I had a dream last night that I'd forgotten about football until after New Years and then went back to check results. Newcastle had beaten West Ham 3-1 away and drawn 0-0 away to Norwich on boxing day. I remembered it when I woke up and had forgotten we were playing West Ham away today, the Norwich prediction is unlikely though given they're in the Championship... Anyway I'm confident of a 3-1 win for us. Even checked the odds (35/1)! No logic in this, logically we're getting beaten again.
That line-up is a joke. I love Rafa but there's no way Diame/Saivet is near our strongest team - leaving out better players doesn't highlight lack of strength in depth it highlights you being a bit of a nob. The last month I can handle the results but the selections have felt political and have cost us points.
Whenever we have games less than a week apart Rafa rotates to save players legs. Only problem with that strategy is we have just announced a line up for a PREMIER LEAGUE game with MO DIAME and HENRI SAIVET in central midfield. It's like throwing the match and saying "here, have the points". Manquillo and Joselu also in there (and Haidara on the bench) just to rub the salt in. You actually have to ask yourself have a few of them been out on the piss and Rafa's dropped them because that line up is well out of left field.
**** sake. We’re going to get mullered. I’m already pissed off as I’ve spent too much in the Metrocentre and this has sent me over the edge! If I’m in the news tomorrow, it’ll say “rampaging Yorkshireman tears up Metrocentre in Rafa fuelled rage”
