Of course, you looked a solid outfit and it wasn't just for the last 5 games this season either, it's all about progress and making the right investment as well as having a bit of luck. Nobody should be thinking anything is impossible for next season after this one just gone.
I hope you're wrong! Hate west ham with a passion!!! (Sadly I do think you're right though!) - Bilic is a good gaffer. As much as the owners are arseholes they are well versed and well oiled financially! The thing they may struggle with is the fact that their new stadium isn;t as "tight" as the Boleyn was. The Boleyn the fans are nearly on the pitch (much like at Roker Park) but in the new stadium, they're further away and may not have the same intimidating atmosphere! Only time will tell (hope the latter part is right - simply because I hate the ****ers!!)
They're big favourites to win in G, there's no way you can expect them to ignore that, they've never been favourites to win anything since the 2009 national bedsheet awards.
Everybody is expecting that stadium to have the atmosphere of a crematorium mate, they'll probably fill the running track with bubble machines and cockney wide boys peddling out butt-plugs from Dave n Dave's clearance lines.
I'm not sure and reserving judgement! But I can;t see it being like the Boleyn as I've been to the BOleyn a few times and the closeness of the fans to the pitch must be intimidating. It is much easier making a noise that impacts on the players ehen you're close to the pitch - it's often lost when further away
I expect us to come straight back up regardless of whether or not Rafa stays. I'll be raging if we don't win the league at a canter, tbh.
On Rafa, I think what we NUFC fans have realised is that Rafa is the best manager we are ever going to get. He's way above our station, he was last season and he definitely is now we're in the Championship. If he stays it will be down to the fans and the atmosphere created on the last day of the season against Spurs. No vitriol, no jeers, just 90 minutes of support and chanting Benitez' name. There's a reason he has been around all the top clubs in Europe and it's not because he's a ****e manager. One poster earlier used the fact that he only got two points from Sunderland, Norwich and Villa as a criticism. If you are cherry picking 3 games then fine, but that's a ridiculous comment. We got 12 points from Rafa's 10 games, comfortably enough to stay up over the course of a season. Also, barely any different from Allardyce's 35 points from 28 (?) games. And Allardyce had a transfer window and much longer to work with the players. So these "Allardyce = god, Benitez = chump" comments just don't hold up to scrutiny. More tellingly for Benitez is our last 6 games. After a while of him trying to get things right, we clicked and started to play some really good football, winning 3 and drawing 3, including games against Man City, Spurs and Liverpool. We simply brought Rafa in too late. I'm not one of these who says I'd rather be in the Championship with Rafa than the Prem with Allardyce. I'd rather be in the Prem with Hitler than in the Championshp. But if we come up next year which we really, really should, we'll be in a fantastic position with an owner who is hopefully going to continue spending, a world-renowned manager and a fan base who has proved it's loyalty and quality. This relegation is a setback but our future is bright and the fans have recognised that. I will be devastated if Rafa gets another offer and leaves.
There might just be a chance of that, it's about time someone took over from that halfwit as official Newcastle United spokesperson.
I'll be incredibly surprised if you don't come straight back, I don't think Villa, even with new owners, will be first time. There's absolutely no positivity about Villa that club has been dying for years, that's a 3 year turnaround for me. On an unrelated topic, I just caught a traffic warden ticketing my car that had been paid by phone, can someone provide an alibi cos I may or may not have been overly aggresive. Ha
You actually believe that bold bit don't you! IF he stays it'll be because of the lining of his pocket by fat Mike - don;t kid yourself that he'll stay for you lot!
I think it'll be more down to whether Ashley will be willing to bend over for him and let him do as he pleases.
I don't see Villa as competitors next year. I think Derby, Norwich and whoever loses the play-off final will be up there. Can see Brighton slipping down the league, it was now or never for them this year IMO. The only reason we wouldn't win that league is because of an attitude problem with our players. I know you won't want to give NUFC fans any credit, but it's true, he's fallen in love with the club. And your comment makes no sense when you break it down instead of just trotting out cliches - whatever Rafa is going to be getting paid he could quite easily go and get the same or more elsewhere. His last club was Real Madrid ffs where I assume his payout went into the tens of millions. If he stays, it will be because of the fans and the warmth he has felt for the club. If he is motivated only by money, I can GUARANTEE you he won't be here next season.
That's also part of it and Rafa has pretty much said so with his heart/head comments. And he is quite right to demand that - we should be willing to do whatever it takes to keep him. It's far too long since a manager had control at our club. Rafa could fix the last 10 years of shambolic ownership if he gets his own way. Starting with the fraud Graham Carr going through the back door.
I know they do in Bishop Auckland too as I was warned when having a go at one that it was all being filmed I think it's a country-wide thing.
