OTF

It's being used to pay Sports Direct for the PR advice they provide to the club. That and filling in the bore hole that was paid for with transfer funds 5+ years ago. We're also paying the full wages of some of the additional dead wood that have returned from loans. And don't forget that the stadium hasn't been renamed so we've forgone that massive windfall because the Geordie masses would rather be in a relegation scrap than have a club that's effective in securing funding from sponsors. Take a look at our demurely adorned ground where we've opted for the traditional beauty of a football stadium over garish advertisement hoardings ad infinitum. Also now that we're into the 6th year of our latest 5 year plan things might be a little unclear.

Merino could be better than Shelvey in games against top opposition. Shelvey is positionally useless in defense in such games so just being there has Merino on equal footing. He should have more defensive awareness and a better engine given his age. From the tiny bit we've seen he has a good temperament.

To be fair to Rafa's interview after the match they were pretty shittt questions because the answers were known. Of course he's disappointed in Shelvey, every right to be furious. The gets asked questioms about Ashley as though the two of them are routinely in contact. The fewer direct interactions Rafa has with Ashley the better as far as I'm concerned. The media are loving the hysteria they're building around this. Ashley is throwing fuel on the fire with his interview which confirms once again (as if we needed it) that he is completely out of touch with what the supporters want and with football in general.

sad but true.

Talk of a broken foot for Lejeune. Fucking typical if that turns out to be the case.

Harsh I reckon. Alli's run was class and for the second their fullback basically kicked it off their forwards foot, very hard to defend against that.

I'll let you off on a technicality this time you wily fox, but let it be known that I'm watching you.

Yep, the way he moved towards Lascelles then changed his angle to run goalside of Manquillo hitting full speed as he did was exceptional. Absolutely no chance for Manquillo to react. To top it off he finished like a world class striker. Takes having confidence in not only your own ability but also that of your team to makr a run like that with such conviction. Despite a relatively poor game that was the moment when Tottenham's class shone through. Atsu was ironically head and shoulders above the rest of our outfield players today, outstanding effort.

Appreciate the positivity in that. In the same vein this may give Merino a chance to impress. After all that I'm most disappointed that Lejeune is injured. Hopefully it wasn't a bad one.

A bit sexist there Noelie. Tut tut.

Can't wait to read Shelvey's heaftfelt apology for letting down his teammates, the manager the fans and himself.

Commentators and studio 'experts' had picked him before the match. The studio has been Tim Sherwood was embarrassing with his half time analysis of him. He also accused Newcastle of never trying to win at half time.

It truly is, we have a knack for doing this, so much so that my reaction was somewhat dulled.

Good finish that.

We've surely signed more than our fair share of dipshits in recent times. Shelvey, Barton, Bowyer, Owen spring to immediate mind.

May get to see how Merino is in our next three, or finally de Jong perhaps.

Now the commentators are suggesting that Ritchie should have been sent off, never said the same for Kane and his tackle was much worse and actually resulted in an injury. I can't say I've missed the biased commentary.

Nice save Elliot.

Aye, a moron. He'd been otherwise anonymous.

Hayden has been untidy IMO. Looks nervous and suspect on the ball. Agree about Perez, he has a knack of making the wrong decision on counter attacks.

Yeah I'd have him slightly behind our current crop for the remaining games, a risk selecting him in those I'd say.

Atsu and Ritchie's hair have been highlights for me.

The nerve if Mbemba there

Just over 30 and we've lost two defenders to injury. Not what we needed given our difficulty recruiting.

Can't believe he had a whinge about getting a yellow for that. Doesn't look good for Lejeune. Was having an excellent debut.