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How long can Rafa last?

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castoff said:
Yes, I agree he's targeted teams that he's thought you could beat with 4-4-2 which is fair play but my mag mates tell me its still been a fairly cautious 4-4-2 in practice. The problem he'll soon have is that you're now running out of those teams and is he going to stick or bust with 4-4-2 against the better sides? Like I say, under current form, somewhere down the line, draws aren't going to be enough. We know the predicament only too well ourselves.
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Off the top of my head I'm sure we played 442 against Burnley, Man Utd, Watford and Bournemouth.

I honestly think that if we spend some money in January we'll be able to play our preferred 4231, with a better striker and a better #10. Switching to that should make us much harder to beat and we should see these narrow losses turned to draws or wins.

If Ashley stays and we don't invest (like he promised we could) we'll struggle and will be relying on other teams having worse ends to the season.
 
What A Waster said:
One of those games you automatically expect a defeat in. Even a decent performance is seen as a bonus
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I got pelters on twitter off mags when I suggested Benitez was wrong to play 442 v Utd. Everyone of them saying they didn't play 442 and I 'should do my research'. Even Mark Douglas prior to the game said it was 442, then after because they lost changed it to 'a 442 that wasn't even a 442'.

It seems people may be rewriting what happened to absolve Benitez of any responsibility except what you are saying is the complete opposite of what others are saying so I have no idea who is in denial.
 
Reiver said:
Would you accept Benitez being sacked off as a condition of a takeover?
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Depends on the context; If the new owners are throwing billions at Simeone, then obviously. If the new owners want to bring in Redknapp and give him buttons, then no.

I know you want to corner me into either writing off a takeover to keep messianic Benitez, or blindly get shot of a good manager to get rid of satanic Ashley, but it's a silly question because, as per usual, context is king.
 
samaistonsrightfoot said:
I got pelters on twitter off mags when I suggested Benitez was wrong to play 442 v Utd. Everyone of them saying they didn't play 442 and I 'should do my research'. Even Mark Douglas prior to the game said it was 442, then after because they lost changed it to 'a 442 that wasn't even a 442'.

It seems people may be rewriting what happened to absolve Benitez of any responsibility except what you are saying is the complete opposite of what others are saying so I have no idea who is in denial.
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Joselu and Gayle started, so if not a 442 then a 4411. Still went with two strikers imo
 
The Fish said:
Off the top of my head I'm sure we played 442 against Burnley, Man Utd, Watford and Bournemouth.

I honestly think that if we spend some money in January we'll be able to play our preferred 4231, with a better striker and a better #10. Switching to that should make us much harder to beat and we should see these narrow losses turned to draws or wins.

If Ashley stays and we don't invest (like he promised we could) we'll struggle and will be relying on other teams having worse ends to the season.
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That seems a fair assessment of your situation. Do you think you need a striker and a number 10? Or even an attack minded ball carrying CM perhaps?
 
The Fish said:
Depends on the context; If the new owners are throwing billions at Simeone, then obviously. If the new owners want to bring in Redknapp and give him buttons, then no.

I know you want to corner me into either writing off a takeover to keep messianic Benitez, or blindly get shot of a good manager to get rid of satanic Ashley, but it's a silly question because, as per usual, context is king.
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Reiver said:
Just answer the question or don't, it not Crown Court ffs.
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No context allowed.
 
Brian Griffin said:
I think Brendan would be a good fit for you.

I'd worry he'd win a cup to be honest.

Rafa isn't the answer here.
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Ashley won't spend the money to get Rodgers away from Celtic
Rodgers won't want to leave Celtic for anything but an elite job
Rodgers wouldn't want to join Newcastle under Ashley
 
castoff said:
That seems a fair assessment of your situation. Do you think you need a striker and a number 10? Or even an attack minded ball carrying CM perhaps?
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Those two positions were Rafa's priority in the summer. The board wouldn't sanction a million pound loan payment for Abrahams. Getting him on loan would've freed up money elsewhere for a 10. If we'd got Abrahams in early as planned there was also time to let one of Mitrovic or Gayle leave. Leeds had a £15m bid for Gayle rejected in the final days of the window. If we had another striker in, Gayle could've went and the money used for a 10.
 
castoff said:
That seems a fair assessment of your situation. Do you think you need a striker and a number 10? Or even an attack minded ball carrying CM perhaps?
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A number 10 dramatically changes our chances imo. A decent #10 would improve the performances of so many vital areas; striker, wide men, and the centre of the park too. They cost a lot, though.

Definitely need a striker, Gayle will score a few, but not enough, and doesn't hold the ball up at all.
Joselu works hard but doesn't score enough and doesn't hold the ball up well
Mitrovic holds the ball up and can score, but doesn't work hard enough and is a madhead.

I'd also like to see a specialised left back as Dummett is all we've got thus far.
 
The Fish said:
Depends on the context; If the new owners are throwing billions at Simeone, then obviously. If the new owners want to bring in Redknapp and give him buttons, then no.

I know you want to corner me into either writing off a takeover to keep messianic Benitez, or blindly get shot of a good manager to get rid of satanic Ashley, but it's a silly question because, as per usual, context is king.
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That's no problem, you've answered it.

You'd accept Benitez being sacked.

That's fair enough.
 
wonder how close he is to walking?
if the take over ... which still looks on (haggling over cost and pentalies) ... somehow goes south ... will he walk?
 
The Fish said:
Ashley won't spend the money to get Rodgers away from Celtic
Rodgers won't want to leave Celtic for anything but an elite job
Rodgers wouldn't want to join Newcastle under Ashley
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I doubt he would leave for many clubs to be honest. He's in a cushy job where he has no competition so he can quite comfortably live in his own bubble where he thinks he's the greatest manager to have ever lived.
 
One win from 10 - Rafa is doing a cracking job for him being labelled the greatest boss in the history of the universe. When will the Geordies realise he isn't that good?
 
What A Waster said:
Those two positions were Rafa's priority in the summer. The board wouldn't sanction a million pound loan payment for Abrahams. Getting him on loan would've freed up money elsewhere for a 10. If we'd got Abrahams in early as planned there was also time to let one of Mitrovic or Gayle leave. Leeds had a £15m bid for Gayle rejected in the final days of the window. If we had another striker in, Gayle could've went and the money used for a 10.
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Is this your opinion or fact.
As for the Gayle bid who turned that down Rafa or Ashley.
 
The Fish said:
Ashley won't spend the money to get Rodgers away from Celtic
Rodgers won't want to leave Celtic for anything but an elite job
Rodgers wouldn't want to join Newcastle under Ashley
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Thowt the Mergs were bigger than Barca?

Rafa on the Rerps.........
 
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